PICKING THE RIGHT BACKPACK: TIPS TO KEEP IN MIND
Just as important as the gear that you choose to bring is the pack that will be carrying all of that gear. The right backpack can ensure that you have everything you need, while the wrong backpack can leave you struggling to find room or make tough cuts for vital pieces of equipment. However, it is important to remember that the best backpack is not the same for all survivalists and still carries an inherent benefit to consequence ratio.
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TIP #1: PICK A BACKPACK WITH ENOUGH SPACE
This factor may seem a bit obvious, but it is important to remember that the larger the pack and the more gear you carry, the heavier the load. If your location requires you to hike for more than ten miles over treacherous terrain–especially if the most dangerous part of the path lies at the end of your destination–then an overladen pack, while useful, may present its own kind of existential risk.
Enough space should be understood as “just enough, and no more.” If your pack offers an abundance of room, you will surely be tempted to fill it with more gear than is “necessary” for one rationalized reason or another but truly just adds more weight to the load.
TIP #2: DON’T FORGET TO CHOOSE A PACK THAT IS LIGHTWEIGHT
Speaking of weight, the gear that you are carrying is likely to exceed thirty pounds and maybe more than fifty. In this regard, it makes little sense to use an all leather backpack. Sure, a fine grain leather backpack will be both stylish and durable, but that leather is liable to add anywhere from two to five more pounds to your load, depending on the pack’s size.
Instead, a durable polyester is a better material for your backpack to be made out of. Polyester is far lighter than leather and more durable than nylon. Keep in mind, there are varying degrees of polyester quality so be careful that you do not skimp on the cost or you are liable to end up with a poor quality pack.
TIP #3: CHOOSE THE HIGHEST QUALITY PACK YOU CAN GET
Speaking of quality builds, there is another reason to choose polyester over most other materials. Aside from being lightweight, polyester is also naturally chemical, puncture, and water resistant. Moreover, it is relatively easy to find a polyester that has been treated to make it fully waterproof.
In terms of general durability, you will want to purchase a pack that is rated at least 600D. Keep in mind, the weave rating of polyester can go well above 1000D, but those will generally cost more as well. You should also look for a pack that has reinforced seams and maybe even rivets.
TIP #4: MAKE SURE YOUR PACK IS COMFORTABLE
Considering you will likely be walking for miles, it is important that the load you carry does not cause undue strain on your body in general and back in particular. An injury which inhibits your ability to move freely can be more dangerous during a disaster than the disaster itself. As such, you will want to make sure that the pack is comfortable and distributes the weight carried evenly and high on your back.
You can alleviate some of this by how you arrange your gear in your pack. However, the majority of the comfort will be determined by your pack’s straps. For maximal comfort, the straps should be wide with thick padding to prevent digging into your shoulder. Moreover, the straps should be designed so that the leverage of the weight sits higher up your back rather than lower.
TIP #5: GET A PACK WITH A GOOD AMOUNT OF COMPARTMENTS
With the multitude of gear that you will be carrying, some items will inevitably be useful in more situations than others. For instance, unless you are in a frigid environment, your blanket will likely only be necessary once you have stopped traveling for the day. This allows you to pack it in the main compartment and not near the top.
However, other pieces of gear, like lighting, fire starters, certain water filters, and the like, are not only used more often but are smaller as well. Because of this, you do not want to place these items in the main compartment where they may shift to the bottom and become difficult to retrieve.
This is why you will want to ensure that your pack has numerous compartments and pockets of varying size. Moreover, spots to clip carabiners and lanyards are also important. Any feature that allows the easy storage and retrieval of often used gear should be given a moderate priority.
TIP#6: LAST BUT NOT LEAST, CHOOSE A PACK WITH A COLOR THAT DOESN’T CATCH ATTENTION.
Finally, your pack should be inauspicious. Normally, the opposite is true. More often than not, it is advised that packs are brightly colored or fashioned with reflective strips. This serves to alert hunters to your presence or make it easier to locate you if you become lost.
However, during a disaster, people can be as much of a threat as the natural environment. Keep in mind, over fifty percent of the population is not prepared for a disaster, so seeing someone who is may present too much of a temptation to pass up–whether malicious or sympathetic. As such, it is better to not be seen, and a pack that blends into the surrounding environment should be preferred.
THIS EXCERPT SHARED FROM SURVIVOR'S FORTRESS.
For more info head to, https://survivorsfortress.com/bug-out-bag-list-and-guide/