Choosing the Right Backpack: Internal Vs. External Frame

Where You Go and What You Carry Makes a Difference

How important is choosing a backpack for your wilderness adventure? It will make a difference in where you are able to go and how easy you get there. It will determine what kind, and how much gear you can carry.

A backpack will serve as your luggage in the wilderness. Take your time and pick one that will serve you for many trips. I recently retired a Kelty external frame pack after nearly twenty-five years of woods, airports and buses. The green external frame pack pictured in this article is the new one, still a Kelty. It has been on three Colorado excursions and many Missouri trips. Maryês pack, the black internal frame, has traveled to Colorado four times and been lugged across Missouri.

Most hikers choose between two types of backpack, internal or external frame. All packs have some things in common. It is the differences where making the right decision is crucial.

Internal and external packs both carry the varied gear a backpacker needs. Think about how many days you would average on the trail. Each pack is rated in cubic inches for how much space is available inside the main compartment and additional pockets. Check the manufacturer tag for the size and for how many days worth of stuff they recommend it can hold. The majority of modern backpacks have a waterproof sleeve inside to hold a water bladder with a convenient hole for the drinking hose to go through. Of course, they both have shoulder straps and padded hip belts. Most have a load lifter strap at the top for lifting a loaded pack without using the shoulder straps. External and internal packs diverge after considering the basics.