Personal Reccomendation

The Art of Choosing a Backpack: A Five Part Series
By Don Miller

Part Five: Personal Recommendation

The last four months our backpacking series of articles have discussed types of backpacks, why to travel with a backpack, how to fit a pack and how to pack a backpack. As mentioned previously, the variety of backpacks available today staggers the imagination and confuses the buyer. Thus, we would like to share our personal recommendation.

Carol and I purchased the REI Mars Pack which retails at around $195.00. This is in the medium price range. It is an Internal Frame backpack. Referring to article one in the series, the primary disadvantage to the internal frame pack was the Black Hole. Many packs load from the top which means the first items packed are difficult to find and retrieve. Those items are under so much stuff the next time you see them is when you are unpacking at home. The REI Mars Pack eliminates that drawback. It has a huge horseshoe zipper on the front panel which allows total exposure to the inside of the pack and it's contents. It can also be used as a top loader if you are a creature of habit and miss your old pack.

The top of the backpack (called a lid) is removable and can double as a daypack. Personally we carry camera bags which we use as daypacks and camel packs for water and snacks. What we like about the lid are the two zippered pouches. One is hidden underneath the lid and may be used for maps, keys or documents. The other is at the top of the lid and I personally like it for items I need quickly after a long train or plane ride. For me, that would be toiletries like a toothbrush and paste, soap, travel towel, hair brush or other stuff you would like quick and easy access to without having to open your entire backpack. It is amazingly large.

The front panel (area you unzip to get to the interior of your pack) has a zippered pocket protected with a water proof zipper for more storage.

The bottom of the interior has a zippered sleeping bag compartment which separates it from clothes and other gear in the pack. If you are not carrying a sleeping bag (which we do not), it may be handy for segregating clean and dirty clothes or just unzip and not use it.

Both sides toward the bottom of the pack have small zippered pockets perfect for gloves, small flashlights or other gear. External mesh pockets are found adjacent to those pockets and they may be utilized for water bottles, energy bars or whatever you choose.

A concave head pouch provides comfort and freedom of movement. It would be possible to expound on every technical detail about this specific bag but it would be overkill. The Mars Pack provides easy access to the main body of the backpack for ease of access to your belongings. It provides several other storage areas for whatever and however you travel and personally pack. It is comfortable, has a ton of room without being excessively huge and plenty of adjustments on the shoulder and hip straps.

Carol and I used this particular backpack for two weeks last summer and had no problems with it. It was comfortable, easy to pack and unload and had plenty of room. Whatever pack you choose, make certain it fulfills those simple, basic requirements.

Part One: Types of Packs

Part Two: Why a Backpack?

Part Three: Fitting a Backpack

Part Four: Packing a Backpack