Buying Guides & Articles:Hiking Backpacks

Believe it or not, sunburn is the single most common backpacking injury. It's a potential problem on just about any trip, no matter where it is or how long it lasts... Read more

For any activity that involves more gear than you can carry in your pockets - hiking, climbing, a full day at school - you can find a daypack that will make the... Read more

Internal frame backpacks have a streamlined shape because the frame, a flexible one, is inside the backpack. Since the pack is flexible and carries close to the body, it... Read more

Picture, if you will, a really crummy backpack - say, a burlap bag chock full of russet potatoes with a pair of hemp-twine shoulder straps sewn on. Sure, it'll carry... Read more

The keys to buying a backpack are fit and capacity. While fit should be determined by your body type, capacity (the types and amount of gear a pack is capable of... Read more

You've planned, shopped and prepared. Now it's time to load up and head out. What's the smartest way to get all that gear into your backpack?... Read more

The 10 Essentials are all about peace of mind. During a routine backcountry trip you may have no need for several of these items. But if something unexpected occurs, you... Read more

Make sure a backpack's hipbelt is positioned on your hips,not your waist.A hipbelt should straddle the 2 prominent bones on the front of your hips, known as the iliac... Read more

Once you pack your backpack, how do you safely get that big honker on your back?... Read more

You can spend big bucks on a high-tech pack, but if it doesn't fit right, you won't be comfortable. REI's pack-fitting experts share their tips here for getting the... Read more