Finding the Right Fit: Womens Hiking Backpack

As women have gotten more involved in the camping and hiking world, backpacks have become more specialized so that they are not longer only made for men, causing women to have to find the smallest men's pack possible. Today, backpacks are sized so that women's hiking backpacks are readily available, having a smaller frame so that it can fit a woman's torso more readily. Women's hiking backpacks should be fit to each individual so that it forms properly to the spine and distributes the weight properly to the hip area rather than the back. There should also be a chest strap for packs that are made to carry heavier loads so that the shoulders are not pulled back and the pack stays in the correct position.

Types of Packs

There are different types of women's hiking backpacks that are made to fit various hiking situations, weather, and supplies. For instance, there are women's hiking backpacks that are water resistant or water proof. Class one women's hiking backpacks are water resistant and can protect the contents from splashes of water and light rain. At the other end of the spectrum there are the class five women's hiking backpacks which can withstand being submerged up to twelve feet without allowing any water into the pack, thus being a useful tool for scuba divers and search and rescue teams.

Besides waterproof packs, women's hiking backpacks come in varying sizes, from holding only a few small items, to holding everything she would need for a long expedition. There are hip packs that hold up to ten liters. These packs do not have shoulder straps and are only designed to carry small items and water bottles. The next size of pack is a day pack which carries ten to thirty-five liters. This type of pack is designed to go on short day hikes where there are not many supplies needed and do not have many pockets or ties to help with supplies.

The average women's hiking backpack is one that holds between thirty-five to sixty liters and has many different pockets and straps so that supplies can be placed in many convenient locations for camping trips. These women's hiking backpacks usually come in extra small, small, medium and large so that every size of woman can be fitted to the length of her torso. This ensures that she will be comfortable while hiking and carrying anywhere from twenty to forty pounds, since the weight will be placed mainly on her hips.