How to Choose an Army Surplus Backpack

Army surplus stores and websites sell a wide variety of backpacks and it is important to know what to look for when in the market for one.

The first consideration in buying a backpack is the purpose of the backpack. This is basic but you need to know for what purpose you are going to use the pack, how much you are going to carry and what you need to fit into the back. Knowing this information will help you choose the right pack for your needs.

There are two main kinds of backpacks: day and multi-day. A daypack typically can handle between 10 and 50 liters’ worth of gear. A 10-liter pack is considered to be a trail running pack and a 50-liter pack is more of a climbing pack. The carrying capacity for a backpack is either written on the backpack itself or on the sales tag. A 30-liter pack is the average size for a backpack of this type and is best suited for carrying essentials of a one-day hike. Once you have decided on the size of the backpack that you need, then you should go to a store and try them out as not all backpacks fit all bodies the same way. Many people find the most suitable backpack this way and then go online to make the actual purchase.

Daypacks come with several options and the ones you choose are based on personal preference. Daypacks can be loaded from the top or from the front, have a waist belt for added security, numerous pockets, a padded back and compression straps. The options that you choose are dependent on what is most comfortable for you and those features that you are looking for in a daypack.

Multi-day packs are used for hikes or other expeditions that will last for more than one day and need to be larger than a daypack, typically starting with a carrying capacity of 45 liters or more. This pack needs to fit such items as a sleeping bag, clothes, sleeping pad, tent, cooking gear and food. For this type of pack, it is essential that you go to a store and try on one of these packs. Stores that sell these types of packs are knowledgeable in their use and typically have special items with weight that can be put into the pack to simulate carrying a load. In this case, the pack has a frame and you need to make sure that the frame fits your body and the straps can be adjusted to get a good fit.  When buying multi-day packs you need to carefully examine the stitching to see that it is strong, feel the padding in the back panel, see whether it has an internal or external frame, count the number of compartments and see how heavy-duty are the clips and zippers.

Regardless of the type of pack that you are looking for, backpacks come with some special features that you might want to consider in your purchase. These include a waterproof exterior, internal water bladder pockets, attachments for whistles, compartments for an iPod or MP3 player with a hole for earphones, insulated compartments and reflectors for night use. The backpack you choose must be versatile, able to hold everything you need and be sufficiently sturdy for its purpose.