OTP’s Buyer’s Guide to Travel Backpacks for Women
Photo by: Avatar 2007
Next to an occasional shower (and a sexy reason for wanting one), there’s nothing a traveling lady needs more than a solid backpack. When you’re on the road for an extended period, you’ll be spending more time with your pack than any clingy hostelmate. Unless you’re a WNBA All Star or an Amazon warrior, you probably have a curvier body, shorter torso and smaller shoulders than the average dude. Forget those one-size-fits-all numbers, the perfect backpack touches a chick in all the right places, is just the right size and won’t make her bend over backwards. So before you order the cheapest backpack online, check out our pack-picking tips for ladies.
Photo by: misscharo
There’s never a good reason for an external frame pack, unless you’re intent on pretending it’s 1972 and are willing to look like a huge nerd (you might as well go ahead and pull your socks up with some velcro sandals while you’re at it.) Internal frames are definitely where it’s at. They’re designed to contour to your spine, which allows more freedom of movement. Even better—they can be form fitting, to show off that starving traveler figure. With a lady-made pack, the hip belt sits lower so your hips support most of the weight, the chest strap is a bit higher so it doesn’t smush your boobs and the shoulder straps are closer together. A pack with plenty of compartments is handy for stowing essentials like sunscreen and panties; having a compartment large enough for dirty laundry is a bonus. Are you an easy access or a long-lasting type of girl? Front-loading backpacks give you easier access to your junk, while top loading ones are more durable and compressible. Pick your battles. A detachable daypack can be handy but can also get heavy; if you’re a light packer, consider getting a satchel instead of the daypack. Some backpacks come with wheels, which are great for glossy airport floors but crappy for cobblestoned streets. A lot depends on what sort of backpacking you plan to do. Take the specifications of your trip into consideration.
Don’t blow your pack-buying load just because that supremely sexy guy at North Face said it made you look hot. Like finding a hairdresser who doesn’t fuck up your bangs, buying a backpack requires some shopping around before you commit. Unlike a hairdresser, though, you can test drive without looking like a fool—outdoor stores like REI, Bass Pro Shop or Eastern Mountain Sports will fit you for a pack based on your frame, torso size and height. Ask them to load it with heavy gear to give you an idea of what it’ll feel like with all your junk in that trunk. Do a few laps around the store to make sure it doesn’t tug or pinch in the wrong places.
Cost Consideration Just because you test drove the sucker, doesn’t mean you have to buy it. Remember to bring something to write down your on-site research and take notes. Packs aren’t sized like shoes—each model will fit differently, so be diligent. Then get sneaky with your findings: Get online for price comparisons. Sometimes, shipping considered, you can get a great discount on the same in-store model. Just don’t get suckered into buying a backpack online without trying it on first, even if everyone on Thorn Tree is going ape-shit for the latest Deuter backpack. For a decent backpack, you’ll spend anywhere between $100 to $250. Anything less is probably child-labor quality, and unless you’re Ms. Moneybags, anything more is a waste.
OTP Tip: If you’re a label whore on a budget, head to an outlet store where you can get your North Face or Osprey backpacks at almost half the retail price. (No real backpacker will call you out on wearing last season’s Osprey Waypoint, seriously.)
Photo By: SuburbanSurvivalist
It’s Not Size that Counts Packing light is easy for most dudes, since they don’t have to lug around crap like hair straighteners or make-up bags. Ready for the cold hard truth? Neither do you. Learning how to fill your pack is as important as picking one out. Pare down those beauty supplies, and let the curls run wild. Being a lady might require a few more changes of underwear, sure, but don’t let a larger package seduce you. The bigger it is, the more unnecessary shit you’ll fill it with. Aim for a pack that holds between 40 and 55 liters. Anything larger and you’re that annoying chick whacking people in the face on crowded trains, OR you’re the sucker that has to pay extra fees to carry it on a plane. Fill it wisely: you can get everything from towels to sheets in a super compact form. Compression bags are useful for stuffing a lot of things into a really small space. Until you try on a variety of different sizes, brands, and styles, you won’t know which backpack suits you best. Getting one that’s specifically made for women means it’ll hug, instead of choke, your curves and will work those hips, instead of your back. Settling for any backpack just because it’s cheap and gets the job done is almost as bad as settling for some brotastic grad student who never goes down on you. Go for the long-haul ladies and get a backpack that loves you back.
A sassy, spunky, and spontaneous globetrottress taking the world, one passport stamp at a time.
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Hahaha that image of the giant backpack is awesome! I feel that way sometimes when I’m carrying around too much stuff.
If you are in Canada I highly recommend Mountain Equipment Co-op to get a bag.