A backpack is your companion for the duration of your adventures. It can make your travel easier or it can make your life on the road hell. It holds everything you need to make your days on the road more comfortable. At best, recognizing that your backpack must suit your body and your planned activities can make choosing a practical affair. For a most comfortable adventure, it is important to find the right kind of backpacking travel bag before embarking on one.

Here are some points to consider when choosing your appropriate backpacking travel bag:

1. The Pack Volume or Capacity. How much do you plan on carrying for the duration of your trip? If you are a frequent traveler, you are, more or less, familiar with how much you usually carry on a trip or on certain kinds of trips. Consider the activities and the gears that you usually carry when travelling. Pick something that can hold most of the things you pack whenever you travel. Find out about its capacity. This is usually indicated by a number. Measure its capacity by walking around with it and your stuff inside. Consider buying the ultra light gear especially if you are a woman.

2. The Internal Frame Design. The internal frame is important especially when your planned activities include much balancing – mountaineering, skiing, and hiking or trekking. The slim and light design can provide greater freedom for the arm movement. Nevertheless, big-framed backpacks can carry more weight and has more compartments for a more organized stuff. The ventilation can also be restricted in internal-frame backpacks while the big-framed bags allow more air to flow. A tension-mesh suspension system helps to address the ventilation problem. Compare the features of stays and frame sheet before making a final decision.

3. The Fit. If you intend to do a lot of adventure on foot, get a really good-fitting pack. Get those ones with adjustable suspension systems that are easy to adjust. Take note of the size and the weight as well. There are several types in the market; read the “Sizing and Fitting a Backpack” to make an informed decision.

4. Packbag Materials. What shall it be – nylon, Cordura or silicon-coated nylon? Find something that balances durability and weight.

5. Extending Capacity. If you need features that can extend capacity, consider getting backpacks with a top lid that can be detached to double as waist packs for short trips during the day. Look for those that have elasticized holsters or pockets on the sides to hold the water containers.

6. More extensions. If you want more of your stuff to find a place to hang or dangle in your backpack, get one that has the right attachment points to it for ice-axe loops, crampon patches, and daisy chains. Get one with a shovel pocket that can be used to hold many items aside from a shovel.

7. Rain Protection. Backpackers who have plans of going hitch-hiking and trekking must seriously need to consider water-proofed bags. Check out the seams and zippers because these are the parts through which rain water can find its way into your stuff inside. While a trash bag can help keep your stuff dry, there is nothing better than having a bag that is completely water-proofed.

8. Hip belt. This part must snugly fit your hip. Check out their adjustability and the comfort. There are bags with interchangeable belts that can provide more customized fit. Some of these have pockets that can hold items like a digital camera, energy food bar, GPS and such.

A backpack travel bag is like a home to a backpacker; it holds all his or her possessions that are important to go through the day and night as one tries to survive the challenges of backpacking travel. Thus, when buying one, it is important to pay attention to details.