About External-Frame Backpacks

People have toted their belongings and gear around for centuries in external-frame backpacks of one form or another. The first wooden external-frame backpacks provided a more efficient means for carrying heavy loads than a simple strapped bag. Today's highly-engineered models, which can cost from $75 to $300 or more, are made of lightweight metal tubes. Despite their long dominance, external-frame backpacks have fallen out of favor. Most hikers now opt for internal-frame backpacks, a weight-shifting innovation that caught on in the 1970s. But external-frame backpacks still offer advantages and benefits that many hikers prefer.

History

Hunters used crude external-frame backpacks in ancient times to transport a kill. Because they were light, yet rigid and strong, external-frame backpacks were widely utilized in the military and mountaineering communities for centuries and well into the twentieth century. Known originally as knapsacks, the term "backpack" took hold in the United States in 1910. Once a mainstay of hiking, external-frame backpacks have been eclipsed by internal-frame backpacks. Invented in 1967, internal-frame packs place more weight on a hiker's hips, providing for better balance and enhanced agility.

Function

In modern external-frame backpacks, a nylon pack-bag connects to a supporting tube frame typically made of aluminum or other lightweight metals. These backpacks excel at carrying heavy loads along trails. External-frame backpacks typically feature a roomy interior storage area and plenty of handy exterior pockets. It's also easy to tie tents, cooking utensils or other gear onto the backpack's external frame.

Size

For the best fit, an external-frame backpack should be sized to a hiker's torso length instead of his height. To determine torso length, measure from the crest of the hipbone to the base of the neck. For overnight and multi-day trips, the pack-bag should have at least 3,000 cubic inches of space.

Considerations

External-frame backpacks have a high center of gravity and are best suited for less challenging terrain. Biking and skiing are not recommended for people wearing external-frame backpacks. Balance and the proper distribution of your gear are key considerations. A sleeping bag and pad should be strapped to the bottom of the frame to keep your back straight. Placing a tent on top of the frame will act a counterweight to the sleeping bag. Clothes, food and larger gear go in the middle, with smaller items and personal supplies in the outside pockets.

Benefits

Though less popular than internal-frame backpacks, the traditional external-frame backpack offers several benefits. External-frame backpacks are ideal for carrying heavier loads. They tend to be cheaper and easier to pack and unpack than internal-frame backpacks. External-frame packs also provide better air circulation for the hiker's back, making them cooler to wear on hot summer days.

Resources

• Guide to backpacks