Archive for January, 2009

If you are considering purchasing a backpack for the sole


Posted in: Camping Backpack     

If you are considering purchasing a backpack for the sole purpose of camping, hiking or hunting, most experts would recommend a nylon backpack, or any other waterproofed material. But what most would definitely stay away from is leather backpacks. While they are attractive, stylish, and very soft, leather backpacks are not exactly the kind of gear you want to keep your camping gear dry in a torrential downpour when you are walking around in the middle of nowhere with nothing but the wet clothes on your back. In that situation, you want to know for sure that whatever you have packed into your backpack is dry and safe. Leather backpacks are not the best bet for keeping things dry and safe when you are camping.

Most modern backpack manufacturers have really stopped making leather backpacks for use when camping, hunting, and hiking and other long term outdoors adventures. Apparently, these companies have resorted to using high grade synthetic materials that are easily waterproofed. This makes it much easier to produce, and creates a much more reliable product for the avid outdoorsman.

Most leather backpacks are now made as trendy and expensive alternatives to the standard school yard book bag as opposed to the heavy duty use camping pack. It is true that some manufacturers still used reinforced leather bottoms for their packs, but the days of completely leather backpacks seem to be over. While the reinforced leather bottom on a pack may be a good idea, making an entire pack out of the same reinforced leather would probably make a pack that was way too heavy to carry and way to expensive to produce and purchase.

Most of the leather backpacks that you can find in stores now are geared towards the student or workaholic on the go. These packs come with specialized pockets not for hydration equipment, maps and compasses, but for things like MP3 players, hand held organizers, and laptop computers. The shoulder straps are often not padded correctly with a durable material, but rather are made of a foam material that will break down before you reach the first mile of an off trail hike. As mentioned above, the main pockets and the body of leather backpacks nowadays are made of non-reinforced leather which means that they would probably rip open the first time you tossed it to the ground after a long trek.

The basic point is that even though leather backpacks are very pretty and very useful for urban events like going to the library or the coffee shop, or even walking around the mall, if you are dedicated hiker and camper, you will want to look into more durable packs that are designed for campers needs.

Parents may be so used to carrying their childrens possessions


Posted in: Camping Backpack     

Parents may be so used to carrying their childrens possessions that when the time comes to take Junior on his first camping trip, they may be tempted to just carry all of Juniors gear for him. This is a bad idea for many reasons. As an experienced camper, you know how important it is to learn what to pack, how much your gear weighs, and how to cut down on the amount of stuff you bring so you can get around as easily as possible. Children wont learn these things unless they have the experience of packing their own kids backpacks and being responsible for their own gear.

Kids backpacks need to fit properly. It is just as important to fit your kids backpacks as it is to fit your own. It may be even more important if your child is new to camping and has a tendency to be uncomfortable doing new things.

Many kids backpacks have optional torso adjustments so you can adjust the length of the backpack up or down the backpack frame to fit your childs height. Kids backpacks that load from the top are often the easiest for them to use because there are not too many large side pockets. Also, a top pocket makes it easy to put a sleeping bag or any other gear in the pack. You want to make sure that the waist belt on the kids backpack adjusts to fit the size of your child. Some kids backpacks have little pockets attached to the waistband. These pockets are located on the childs front and they can use the pockets for little items they may pick up on the trail. Or, these pockets can hold small toys.

You may want to choose kids backpacks with easy access pouches for water bottles. Some even come with liter sized bottles that have a tube to make drinking from the bottle easy the child does not even have to take the bottle out of the pack to drink.

Certain kids backpacks offer a handle on the top of the pack. This allows the parent to help the child put on the pack by making it easy to lift the pack from above. Zippered pockets on the top of the backpack allow the child to keep their toys or flashlights in a safe place. Zippered pockets on the bottom of the pack give your child a place to store his dirty laundry or muddy shoes so the clean clothing and gear doesnt get dirty. Also, look into finding kids backpacks with mesh pockets. This will help your child find his gear quickly.

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