For men who live active lifestyles and who love the outdoors they cannot be without backpacks. When going hiking or camping in the woods, one would need a sturdy container that can carry food, water, clothing and perhaps, a blanket to keep one warm. Camping out usually means sleeping under the stars and enduring the cold and oftentimes, chilly evening air.

For basketball and other sports fanatics, a good backpack must be dependable enough to carry all their sporting gear they need for the big game. So, what are the criteria in choosing a good backpack? There is really no hard and fast rule. Here are a few points that can help you decide on a backpack that will suit you to the T.

*Pack size. How much size do you need in your pack? What possible things will you be carrying in it? These are two questions that you should consider when in the market for a new backpack. For a hiker, the kind of trail he will follow is one good basis on how big his backpack should be. The longer the trail, the bigger backpack space he needs as he will be carrying more food, more clothing, more water, equipment like tent and other camping necessities. If the hike is just for a few hours, then a simple school backpack may do the job. If the trip will extend overnight or for several days, the pack needs to be around 3,000 to 4,000 cubic centimeters. For weeklong expeditions or longer, a 4000 to 5000 cubic centimeter backpack will be required. The most space for backpacks goes as high as 7000 cubic centimeters. These kind of backpacks are usually preferred by guides who need to carry extra items like a first aid kit for one and for those skiers or winter campers who need to carry with them extra equipment.

*Frames. Backpacks mainly have two types, backpacks with external frames and those with internal frames. The former has a metal frame commonly made up of aluminum that functions to support from the outside the weight of the backpack. In this type, the hiker can stuff gear and bits and pieces in the backpack with the lighter items placed in the bottom and most of the heavy stuff on top. Backpack with internal frames on the other hand has plastic or metal as support and is cinched down with straps that go from the bottom to the top. This style gives the hiker more balance when walking especially on steep ridges.

*In choosing a backpack, the one true test is how comfortable you are with it or carrying it, for that matter. So when buying one, it is usually advised that you put it on to know whether the backpack can make you a happy camper or not. It would be unfortunate for you to fidget with your bag while hiking because it is not the right fit. You may try putting on a little weight on it to get an idea on how it will feel when it is loaded with stuff. You may try adjusting the load lifting straps or get the hip belt tightened until you get the proper fitting.