Luggage has recently undergone significant changes,adaptation of the important changes that backpackshave followed, during the last ten years. The large families of luggage dedicated to adventure are divided between backpack suitcases, classic backpacks, and wheeled bags. Their weights have been significantly reduced to meet the regulatory requirements of airlines,which, more and more often, limit their offers to 20 kg per bag per person; these requirements have also evolved the sizing of luggage,now restricted to intermediate dimensions.
Roller bags
The roller bag is a very convenient bag to move quite heavy loads without too much fatigue, in urban or landscaped environments,to get on foot from one means of transport to another, such as from an airplane to a car or a train. They are most often equipped with a telescopic handle to improve comfort, and in some cases, removable or retractable straps,which allow the bag to be transported as a backpack over short distances, such as stairs or when the ground becomes impassable.
Backpack suitcases
The backpack suitcase is the typical model of the "backpacker"; the bag is carried on the back using comfortable straps, with a padded back, multiple carrying handles and a possible shoulder strap. The straps are retractable or removable,and access to the contents is facilitated by a large opening overthe longest length.
Classic backpacks
The classic backpack is tubularin shape, equipped with straps, and accessible from above. They have many pockets,and it is especially effective for adventurers moving with their package,when trekking for example. It exists in many volumes and dimensions,allowing to find the bag suitable for each activity.
Panniers and pouches
Thepanniers and pouches are accessory bags of smaller dimensions, which make it possible to keep close to you the goods essential to the trip and of high value (passport, money, electronics, camera …).
The volume of the bag
The volume of the bag, standardized,is expressed in liters. The choice of bag must be made according to the type of shipment and its duration,which will require to take more or less material with you:
- backpacks with a capacity of less than 30 liters are reserved for dayshipments. To simply take with you a bottle of water, cereal bars, a warm garment and a windbreaker, a bag from 10 liters to 20 liters is perfectly suitable.
- bags from 30 liters to 40 liters are suitable for shipments of two to three days,with night in shelter (i.e. with a "meat bag", food, a windbreaker, a warm garment, a bottle of water, personal belongings and possible equipment)
- bags from 40 liters to 60 liters are suitable for a two- or three-day shipment in complete autonomy (i.e. with tent, sleeping bag, kitchen utensil and food)
- the bagsfrom 50 liters to 80 liters meet the needs of an outing of more than three days to several weeks in autonomy, depending on the material to be worn.
- there are backpacks with modular capacity,allowing to add volume when necessary, by a bellows system. A 60-liter bag with 10-liter extension can be a good compromise for long shipments, but the content of which can vary significantly.
In the majority of brands, backpacks have the indication of their volume in their product name: for example, the "Forclaz 60" of Decathlon contains 60L.
The comfort of carrying
1. The two fundamental criteria: back height and belt
The back height makes it possible to adjust the bag to the morphology of the wearer and to optimize the comfort of carrying.A well-adapted bag makes it possible to carry 60 to 70% of the weight of the bag on the hips,and not to overstretch the shoulders. The choice of the right backpack will therefore depend mainly on two essential criteria: the size of your back and the grip on your hips.
- Measure the length of your back: ask a loved one to measure the height of your back using a meter of couturier between the so-called C7 vertebra located between the shoulders and the waist, corresponding to the hollow between the hips. You get the length of your back. Compare in the technical descriptions of the bag the existing sizes to find the one that best corresponds to your back length, and the adjustment possibilities to best suit it. Some bags have a system of adjustable straps that can be repositioned, using a scratch or a ladder,to best adapt them to your morphology. This very convenient system can nevertheless add weight to the empty bag. Also make sure that it is held well, to prevent it from getting out of control during walking or during dynamic efforts.
- Check the placement and quality of the belt: loosen all straps and belts, then adjust the back height if the bag has this option; the ventral belt must then be above your hips,on the iliac bone, pass under the navel, without compressing the belly too much and be padded enough to be pleasant on contact.
In store, load the bag with 7 kg to 8 kg, with the help of the seller, and execute its adjustment to verify that it suits you perfectly. A poorly tuned bag or a poorly distributed weight will give you sore shoulders.
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Women's bags are designed to adapt to female morphology; shorter and narrower than the men's models, they also have belts and straps adapted to the feminine forms.
2. Load reminder straps
- The load booster straps are located at the shoulders. The stabilization straps are located on the sides of the hip belt. They make it possible to finely adjust the sharing of the load between the lumbar and shoulders, and find the right position between balance and comfort (see >the adjustment of the backpack).
- The chest strap,which connects the two straps, helps improve the stability and placement of the bag on your shoulders.
- Their presence is a real advantage,which becomes essential for bags of more than 50 liters.
3. The porting system
The carrying system is more or less sophisticated depending on the bags.
For loads of less than 10 kilos, backpacks with inner frame should be preferred, as they bring more comfort and more stability. The most modern ones use flexible armatures that ensure a good carryover of the weight on the hips, and that accompany the movements of the walker, providing him with a good balance.
For loads greater than 12 or 15 kilos,it is better to opt for external reinforcements.
4. Ventilation of the back
The ventilation of the back provides additional comfort, avoiding that contact with the bag does not cause sweating of the back,promoting the evacuation of moisture. Two technical solutions are commonly offered on current bags:
- relief structures, madeof foam, which creates a vacuum space between the bag and the back and allows air to circulate;
- thenets, stretched on a frame external to the bag,offering both comfort and ventilation.
5. The weight of the empty bag
The weight of the empty bag can be an important criterion if you want to travel light or for certain activities (climbing, mountaineering …). The weight will depend on several factors, some essential such as the carrying system,others convertible such as the number of pockets and zip,or accessories.
Currently, it is possible to find on the market bags of 50 liters of so-called ultralight weights, that is to say, less than 1 kg.
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The equipment of the bag
1. Access to the bag
The most common standard loading system is top loading. On some models, themain pocket can be partitioned into two compartments,by a net, the lower part of the bag being made skilfully accessible by a Zip located at the bottom of the backpack.
There are also Zipper opening systems on the side or front of the bag. These devices add weight, points of weakness, but allow access to the entire bag immediately, without having to take anything out.
2. Pockets
The trend is to disappear pockets on the most recent bags. The type of pockets, their number and the ease of access are important factors:
- Elastic pockets: plated against the bag when they are empty, they are stretchy and allow you to place a gourd or a cereal bar. They represent a very good compromise because they hardly weigh down the bag.
- Belt pockets: arranged in the lumbar belt, they serve as an extra pocket like a "banana".
- Zip pockets on the front of the bag: intended for more bulky accessories or equipment, they most often open vertically or can also exist in the form of a net.
- Zip pockets on top of the bag or flap: small in size, these pockets are present on the majority of bags and are characterized by the simplicity of their access. Some are located inside the bag (to place your identity papers for example)
- Zip pockets on the sides of the bag: they can be useful but should not penalize by their weight and become superfluous by their number. They are very useful for placing a gourd in it. The expandable mesh models are a good compromise between utility and lightness.
3. Attachment points
To attach sticks or an ice axe,the bag must be equipped with fastening loops on the outside of the bag. It is also possible to have side and upper straps allowing both to compress the bag by tightening,but also to slide rain coats, jackets, hiking sticks, sleeping bag and tent canvas, when the bag is very loaded. It is also possible to find various clips to ensure some of these functions.
4. Water pocket compartments
Some bags are equipped with an internal compartment for water pocket, with opening for the pipette and clip to attach the pipe to it.
5. Waterproof covers
The majority of bags have their interior treated with a waterproofcoating,often made of polyethylene,but which will often prove insufficient, the water seeping through the seams and Zip closures. The best solution is to equip your bag with a waterproof cover,very useful in case of rain or humid atmosphere. These covers also exist in accessories.
The basic criteria
Dimensions: they depend on the material transported and the requirements. Please note that airlines impose restrictions on the dimensions of hold baggage and carry-on baggage. Dimensions must be compatible with the duration of the journey/
The empty weight: 1.25 kg to 2.5kg on average for intermediate volumes, from 2.5kg to 4.5kg for over 60L.
The quality of the canvas and its robustness: prefer canvases such as cordura®, nylon coating, polyamide, polyester. For off-road use, prefer solid and waterproof laminated TPE.
The quality of the castors, which must resemble those of the roller-on-line, made of urethane: during the rolling test, they must be silent and not oppose any resistance (the bag must "roll by itself"). They must be equipped with sidewalk protection. Avoid pivot castors, which make the trajectory of the suitcase uncontrollable.
The price is around 90€ to 300€, with a median price of 120€.
The volume: opt for bags from 40L to 160L, depending on the uses.
The essential accessories
The presence of pockets: inside and outside, it is also useful to have a shoe pocket, an internal separator, in the form of a net, allowing to share the interior space.
The existence of a telescopic handle: if this handle tends to weigh down the empty luggage, it is necessary for the comfort of traction; indeed, a bag equipped with a simple handle makes its use difficult, the bag rubbing and hitting the back of the legs permanently. The handle, retractable, must be resistant, open and close without forcing, and be able to lock in the open or closed position. It is often made of aluminum tube. Note that the quilting of the bottom of the bag on either side of the telescopic bars avoids leaving traces on the clothes stored flat on the bottom of the bag.
Carrying accessories: check the existence of a shoulder strap, removable if it is planned to fly.
Reinforcements and protections
The chassis and its rigidity: a chassis bag will be heavier but will better protect your effects when passing through the hold and when direct contact with the ground in an upright position. It must be able to stand alone, even empty for more comfort. The chassis is usually made of PVC or molded injected ABS
Reinforcements: placed on the corners and the bottom, they avoid damage during the passage in the hold.
The existence of external compression straps: they make it possible to stiffen the bag and protect it during the passage in the hold, and to facilitate the closure of the Zip when the bag is very loaded
Other selection items
Removable straps: if they exist, they must be able to be easily stored in a special storage pocket if possible zipped, and not to protrude, so as not to be damaged during the passage in the hold. They must be padded and ergonomically adapted to the human body. They can be supplemented by a hip belt and a lumbar support if it is planned a durable back carrying. The quality of the seams, double, and wireless disjointed.
Security: check the possibility of installing a padlock on the external Zip.
The existence of an identification window: it allows you to mark your luggage, identify it quickly, and maximize the chances of finding it in the event of loss at an airport.
Other accessories
These include external water bottle holders, dirty laundry pockets, retractable anti-fog covers, back-end equipment holders, padded PC pockets.
The possibilities of combination: some bags allow to combine a large travel bag and a small backpack with straps, which comes to be fixed on the first, facilitating a group carrying of the two bags together.