Skip to content

Advice : Contents | Online Shop : Rucksacks

Small Rucksacks | Large Rucksacks | Rucksack Advice | Glossary of Terms | Back

BACKPACK & RUCKSACK BACK SYSTEMS

About Rucksacks and Backpacks

Whether you call it a rucksack or a backpack, when you set off on a walk carrying all you need to stay out over night on your back, you will need a comfortable one. Choosing the right one can make the difference between an enjoyable trip and a nightmarish one. The most important feature to consider is the back system. For loads much over 12 kg (26 lbs) a padded hip belt is needed so you can carry most of the weight on your hips, which are designed to bear weights, rather than on your relatively weak shoulders. This belt must fit properly and the key to this is matching the length of the pack to the length of your back.

Berghaus Rucksacks 15L 20L 25L 30L
30L 40L 50L Rucksacks
50L 60L 70L Backpacks
North Face Base Camp Duffle BagNorth Face Hydration PacksVaude Baby Carriers

Small Rucksacks

Small rucksacks are designed for light loads and therefore a simple harness system is sufficient. In general, small rucksacks do not have a frame. A waist belt and chest strap are often included to provide stability, and light padding of the shoulder straps and back gives greater carrying comfort. Most manufacturers also incorporate a ventilation / air cooling system in their rucksacks. A combination of air channels and special mesh in body areas promotes the circulation of air and increases comfort.

The North Face Aerofoam Backpanel consists of soft, breathable, laminated Aerofoam that is compressed and released whilst hiking. This facilitates airflow through air channels to keep your back cool and dry. The VauDe Aeroflex System achieves similar results by using a mesh panel between your back and the back of the rucksack. The Karrimor Coolmesh back system ensures airflow, keeping the back dry and comfortable. The system is lightweight as no frame is used and it can be easily adjusted on the move. The harness and belt are anatomically shaped and filled with closed cell foam for excellent load bearing.

Lowe Alpine Air Cooled Rucksack Back System.

Lowe Alpine's lightest rucksacks and beltpacks use another system, the Wicking Back System. The use of a hydrophilic (water absorbing) polyester fabric means that moisture is transported away from your back. This helps to keep your back dry and ensures maximum comfort. The polyester fabric is laminated onto foam to give a rapid drying, quick wicking body contact fabric.

The Air Cooled Back System from Lowe Alpine (opposite) shows some of the typical features found on the back systems of small rucksacks.

 

Online Shop : Rucksacks | Glossary of Terms | Advice : Contents

Large Rucksacks

With larger rucksacks and heavier loads, a more sophisticated back system is essential to provide a stable load distribution. The majority of the weight is transferred to the strong muscle groups around the pelvic girdle, reducing strain on the weaker back muscles and spine. To maintain stability however, a proportion of weight has to be carried through the shoulder harness to hold the rucksack on the back. Manufacturers have developed various systems taking these points into consideration.

Rucksack brands include: Lowe Alpine, The North Face, VauDe, Salomon, Berghaus, Aztec, Camelbak.

Berghaus Rucksacks

The Berghaus Bioflex System contains fluid that responds to the body’s natural movement. When you twist, it twists. When you flex, it flexes. When you bend, it bends, that’s the simple principle behind the Berghaus innovative Bioflex Rucksack!

What does this mean? Well, most rucksacks have rigidity to them. If you bend over or twist round to look over your shoulder you can feel this rigidity, i.e. the rucksack stays is a straight position. The Bioflex rucksack is designed to mirror the shape of your back. When you bend over the Bioflex rucksack will follow the arch or your back. If you twist round to look over your shoulder, then the Bioflex rucksack will twist round too, through its centralised pivot point. The Bioflex system provides optimum load transfer and keeps the rucksack's centre of gravity in tune with your own, resulting in reduced fatigue and increased comfortable when compared to other rucksacks.

Lowe Alpine APS Rucksacks

"Comfort, unbeatable durability and an easily adjusted fit-to-size" - this was the Research and Design brief for the Lowe Alpine APS (Advanced Paralux System) rucksacks.

Customizing: Two aluminum staves within the back of the rucksack play a vital role. Crucially, they transfer a proportion of the load from the shoulders to the hips, while simultaneously flexing to absorb jolts. The staves are pre-shaped in an elongated 'S' to match the average back profile. The alloy is malleable by hand, so your pack can be customized for a precise fit. Once reshaped and refitted, customized staves behave exactly as before.

Strength: The APS frame is tougher than it looks. What you can't see beneath the plastic cover are the eight lines of stitching that secures the adjustable web to the shoulder harness. Independent tests have shown that this crucial component can withstand a load in excess of 300kg (660 lb.). You need never worry that the APS harness will fail.

Comfort: Special bi-laminate foams are used in APS waistbelts and back pads. Bi-laminate foams work best because pads should support as well as soften. The closed-cell layer provides shape and firm support, while the open-cell layer ensures contact comfort. Lowe Alpine bi-laminate foams 'memorize' their original form, and so retain shape and resilience even after prolonged use. The APS Series 9 uses 3-dimensional Spacer mesh in body contact areas, allowing breathability and airflow.

Reliability: Part of the beauty of the APS is its simplicity. There's no complex machinery in there. Lowe Alpine is the only quality backpack manufacturer still insisting on stitched construction throughout. With no riveted metal or plastic parts to break, all Lowe Alpine packs can be maintained in the field simply by using needle and thread. The APS has been designed for no-fuss customization. Adjusting the back length takes just 30 seconds. That done, all other fine tuning adjustments - such as to redistribute the load between the shoulders and hips - can be made while you are on the move.

Lowe Alpine APS Rucksack (Advanced Paralux Back System).

VauDe Rucksacks

When looking to save weight, simple is better. The VauDe Tergoform Vario rucksack suspension system is testimony to that theory. A sheet of lean polyethylene is combined with an adjustable aluminium A frame. This is attached to a thickly padded back that features a central air channel and a soft hydrophobic (water repellant) fabric cover. A die-cut anatomically curved shoulder harness is added - this can be adjusted up or down using the ingeniously simple Vario latch. The system is completed with a removable dual-density foam hip belt.

Vango Rucksacks

Vango Quick Adjust Rucksack The Quick Adjust back system is easily adjustable and has extra stabilising through a "uni-rigger" base stabiliser. It is ideal for backpackers or trekkers going for a trip round Europe or for a week in the Alps. It offers the perfect combination of comfort and fast, easy adjustment.
Vango Self Adjust Rucksack The Self Adjust back system guarantees excellent comfort and ventilation. The simplicity of the 4 option adjustable back length combined with the padded hipbelt and harness ensures perfect comfort and equal weight distribution when in use.
Vango Air Force Rucksack The Air Force back system is simple with effective back breathability. A continual flow of air is circulated between your back and the rucksack, preventing any moisture accumulating.

Online Shop : Rucksacks | Glossary of Terms | Advice : Contents

See full range of discounted outdoor gear:

CheapTents.com, Adventure Centre, 240 Manchester Road, Warrington, Cheshire, UK. Tel: 01925 411 385