Tips and tricks for you and your perfect rucksack

There basically is no such thing as an all-round rucksack, since models range from classic daypacks holding around 20 litres, to trekking rucksacks with a volume up to 95 litres. It might seem appealing to have lots of space, but just remember, this time it isn’t your car or the train that will be carrying the weight, but rather you personally. That said, the rule of thumb is: As little as possible, since it will end up full in any case. A little tip: Lay out the things you expect to need during your tour to develop a better sense of what you should take with you and what you should simply leave at home. Here is a rough guide to the different rucksack categories:

• Day packs (15-20 litres & 3-6 kilograms)
  A day pack doesn’t hold much more than a drink bottle, a small snack and a thin jacket. In other words, this type of rucksack is only suitable for shorter hikes.
• Hiking rucksacks (20-30 litres & 5-10 kilograms)
  With this rucksack, you will be well-equipped for a day tour. Not too big, not too small! Pay particular attention to the back ventilation. Curved struts should push the rucksack away from your back, with the only point of contact being a thin mesh. This allows more air to circulate and sweat to evaporate faster. Naturally, this means the rucksack doesn’t rest quite as snugly against your body, though this is not a huge deal considering the intensity involved in a day tour. In addition, classic hiking rucksacks are designed as top-loaders covered by a flap. This means, it can be filled from the top and has a spacious inner compartment, along with a few outer pockets to stow items you might wish to have quick access to. 
• Alpine rucksacks (30-50 liters & 7-13 kilograms)
  These kinds of rucksacks are used for the most complex of tasks, including scrambling, alpine mountaineering, ski touring etc. The motto: lightweight and robust! On steep hikes and fixed-cable climbs, it is important that the rucksack does not have too many elaborate features on the outside that might potentially snag on protruding rocks. Alpine rucksacks generally have two major compartments, allowing them to be filled from the top on the one hand, while also featuring a pouch for accessories lower down. Useful for stowing a sleeping bag, clothing etc.
• Trekking rucksacks (60-95 liters & 10-18 kilograms)
  For adventurers away from civilization! With plenty of space for a tent, sleeping bag, camp stove, ground mat, provisions, clothing and gear. Trekking rucksacks focus on providing good padding between the shoulders and pelvis. Here, the hip strap plays an essential role since it transfers weight from the shoulders to the hips. In this case, the length of the backpack has to match the length of your back. This makes walking for hours on end with a heavy load much easier and avoids unnecessary back pain. Like the Alpine rucksack, the trekking variant features a two-compartment system. The rope is generally stowed in the accessories pouch, while the rest goes into the main compartment.

Why is it important to pack the rucksack the right way? Why can’t I simply stuff everything in and hike off into the sunset? That’s what we’ll explain to you now!

If you want to navigate the open countryside safely, you need to have the right center of gravity to avoid losing your balance and potentially stumbling. Negotiating all of those roots, streams and rocks demands a good sense of balance. With that in mind, your personal safety should always be a top priority! If heavy objects are stowed too high up in the pack, you might be inclined to sway more easily. On the other hand, if they are all the way to the outside, you might be pulled back, whereas, if they are stowed too far down, that might put an enormous additional burden on your body. So, what option did we overlook? Exactly – right in the middle of the rucksack, as close as possible to your body.