I am confused about the capacity figures that backpack manufacturers claim. With particular regards to daypacks it seems that the figures advertised are always about 20% higher than what the pack actually holds. And how many cubic inches do I need for a daypack or a week-long pack? Submitted by - Jeane, Fort Collins, CO You are not alone in your confusion. We often test packs that claim the exact same capacity, but find that one holds much more gear than the other. It is somewhat baffling—especially because the measuring process has been standardized for several years. The standard entails using 20mm plastic balls as the filler. Packs are loaded up, then emptied and then contents are dumped into measuring devices. According to the standard, capacity measurements should not include any compartments that are not entirely sealed by zippers—such as shovel pockets, bottle holders, compression pockets, etc. But I suspect that some of the overstated daypack figures you mention erroneously include the capacity of these pockets.

It can be very deceiving and frustrating, especially if you’re shopping online and don’t have the ability to compare sizes in person. Another point of confusion is that some packs are measured in cubic inches and some are measured in liters. Most companies are stating capacities in liters these days, but not everyone. In general, a daypack will be under 2,500 cubic inches or 40 liters. Weekend packs are typically 2,500 to 4,000 cubic inches or 40 to 65 liters. Weeklong packs range from 4,000 to 6,000 cubic inches or 65 to 95 liters. And expedition packs are 6,000 cubic inches or 95 liters and up. The most foolproof way to be sure that you’re getting the size you need is to compare in person. Bring your typical dayhiking load to the store with you to make sure it fits. But if you’re shopping online, it pays to ask questions. Make some phone calls (to the manufacturer, not the online retailer) and pry. It just might save you 15 bucks in return shipping. Find a selection of at JayMaq Outdoor Gear!

Shop for the perfect backpack for camping, hiking, books & more. Choose from a variety of styles and colors and enjoy the great low prices on every single Backpack. Find the one you are looking for in the following: & , , .f-stop tilopa camera backpack Name (A - Z)backpack gossamer gear gorilla Name (Z - A)tccc backpack Price (Low > High)brasilia xlg backpack Price (High > Low)asus g74sx laptop backpack Model (A - Z)adidas wkf backpack

Model (Z - A)link is to this year's version of the same product - weights may varyCLOTHES WEIGHT in OUNCES ___ extra socks(1)smartwool l.h. & (1)wigwam liners 3.77 ___ marmot lightweight DriClime thermal top ** 4.83 ___ marmot lightweight DriClime thermal bottom ** 5.11 ___ rei ultralight fleece liner gloves 1.20 ___ patagonia expedition fleece gloves 1.62 ___ OR gore-tex "lobster claw" rain mitts 1.31 ___ rei windstop fleece cap (covers ears & neck) 1.62 ___ mec northern lite primaloft vest 7.83 ___ mec northern lite primaloft pullover 11.70 ___ marmot precip rain/wind parka w/stuff sack 12.88 ___ marmot precip rain/wind pants w/stuff sack 7.80 Subtotal for Clothes: 59.67 SHELTER & SLEEPING SYSTEM ___ SD ultra light year tent, poles, stakes, ___ western mountaineering ultralite sleeping bag, 20-25 degrees,(.8 oz ripstop, 750+ fill down) 30.00 ___ mt.washington closed-cell mattress 7.37 Subtotal for Shelter & Sleeping System: 84.37

___ mountainsmith mountainlight 4000 pack (approx 4000 cu in) ** 41.87 ___ equinox pack rain cover 3.67 ___ stuff sacks, freezer bags, & garbage sacks (not already accounted for), 4.00 Subtotal for Packing: 49.54 ___ katadyn mini ceramic water filter ___ 2 platypus 1-liter water bottles 2.00 ___ evernew titanium cook pot w/lid (.9 liter) 4.87 ___ mesh �kitchen� bag (includes condiments, lexan spoon, toothbrush & powder) 2.80 ___ primus micron cook stove w/piezo starter 3.46 ___ matches (backup for cook stove) 0.35 ___ bear bag 3.49 Subtotal for Cooking (without food & fuel): 25.19 ___ zeiss monocular (in fleece pouch) 2.25 ___ suunto a1000 compass 0.78 ___ maps (2 @ .2 oz per map) 0.40 ___ paper, pencil, reading specs 0.49 ___ petzl zipka led headlamp w/ 6 AAA batteries (3 are xtra) 3.42 ___ (1) white photon micro light 0.21 Subtotal for Navigation: 7.55 ESSENTIALS & OTHER ITEMS

___ first aid kit 6.00 ___ (*) swiss army classic knife ~ ___ (*) waterproof matches ~ ___ (*) firestarter ~ ___ (*) duct tape ~ ___ (*) fox plastic whistle ~ ___ all (*) items in small freezer bag 3.30 ___ sun glasses in hard case 2.61 ___ skin-so-soft bug guard/sun block 3.00 ___ sting-eze bug-bite/bee-sting relief 0.78 ___ spf-30 lip balm 0.35 ___ tent repair kit 0.49 ___ expedition sewing kit 0.74 ___ pack towel 1.52 ___ toilet paper 1.50 Subtotal for Essentials & Other: 20.29 Subtotal of Subtotals: 246.61 PACK WEIGHT AT START OF 7-DAY OUTING NOT INCLUDING FOOD, WATER & FUEL: 15 lbs 6.61 oz ___ Fuel for 7 days (includes extra): 18.20 (7.8 oz + 3.5 oz + 2 cans (11.55oz + 6.65oz) ___ Food for 7 days (23 oz per day x 6 "full" days): 137.00 (first morning, fill-up with high-octane food at the trailhead & the last night, feast at the local pizzeria or whatever) (average amount carried at any given time.

This will vary depending on water availability.) Total Weight in Ounces: 433.81 TOTAL PACK WEIGHT AT START OF 7-DAY OUTING: 27 lbs 1.81 oz THE GEAR I WOULD BE WEARING This is typically what I would be wearing while carrying the 27 pound pack. ___ cotton or wool baseball cap 2.00 ___ marmot lightweight DriClime thermal top 4.85 ___ patagonia activent vest 5.00 ___ altimeter with neck lanyard 2.00 ___ hiking shorts 6.25 ___ smartwool light hiker socks & liners 3.77 ___ montrail hurricane ridge gtx shoes 30.00 ___ msr pure carbon trekking poles 17.00 OPTIONS THAT REDUCE WEIGHT ___ western mountaineering caribou sleeping bag, in the stuff sack (instead of WM Ultralite) 22.00 ___ bibler bivy sack (in place of tent) 20.00 OPTIONS THAT ADD WEIGHT ___ extra socks(1)thorlo hiking & wigwam liners 4.80 ___ PUR hiker water filter 12.38 ___ two 16oz nalgene water bottles 6.03 ___ mini gaitors 3.70

___ patagonia midweight thermal bottom 7.00 (instead of marmot lightweight bottom) ___ ground cloth / tarp 6.00 ___ bug mesh pants 3.00 ___ patagonia puffball micro-loft jacket 17.50 ___ feathered friends volant gtx/down jacket 18.95 ___ marmot gore-tex stormlight parka w/stuff sack 18.50 (instead of marmot pre-cip parka) ___ marmot gore-tex stormlight pants w/stuff sack 10.50 (instead of marmot pre-cip pants) ___ mountainlight 5200, 5200 cu in 46.00 (instead of mountainlight 4000) ___ cribbage game in fleece pouch 4.25 ___ insulated mug w/o lid 4.35 ___ insulated mug lid 0.50 ___ therm-a-rest ridgerest mattress 9.00 ___ therm-a-rest ultralite mattress 16.00 ___ slinglight chair w/o headrest 17.00 ___ therm-a-rest ultralite chair 10.15 ___ therm-a-rest open-cell sit pad 5.70 ___ streamline fishing hand-line & tackle 4.00 ___ telescopic fishing rod & daiwa UL7 reel 9.65 ___ olympus epic camera w/xtra film & mini-tripod 7.85

___ leica 8x20 binocular (in its fleece pouch) 8.70 (instead of zeiss monocular) ___ camp 6-point crampons 8.00 ___ kahtoola KTS ultralight 10-point crampons 19.20 ___ camp XLA 210 ultralight ice axe 8.64 ___ voile ultralight snow shovel 23.00 ___ northernlites elite snowshoes 37.75 MY TYPICAL 7-DAY BACKPACKING FOOD SUPPLY Keep in mind the importance of carrying extra food for emergencies. Believe it or not there is extra food factored in here. pretty close to the actual backpacking food resource that I took for a 7 day trip on The Pacific Crest Trail - I came back with leftovers. typically don't have a voracious appetite on short trips, but longer trips require different planning and, ultimately, more caloric intake, in order to maintain strength and stamina over the long haul. of us must become intimately knowledgable about our own requirements. The list below is only "typical" for me -- not necessarily for anyone

___ gourmet coffee bags, sealed in foil packets--12 ea.@.20 oz 2.40 ___ instant cereals--oatmeal w/ raisins, 7-grain, blueberry granola--each in a one-pint freezer bag--6 ea.@ 4 oz 24.00 ___ altoids peppermints 2.00 ___ energy bars--7 ea.@ 2.5 oz 17.50 ___ fruit leather, individually wrapped, grape, apricot--6 ea.@.7 oz 4.20 ___ dried berries & cherries 6.00 ___ string-cheese, jerky (beef or turkey) & bagels 15.00 ___ instant soups--chicken noodle, cream of chicken, pea soup--each sealed in foil packets--6 ea.@.6 oz 3.60 ___ corn tortilla chips--crushed and put in 1-gallon freezer bag 12.00 ___ mountain house freeze-dried corn-3 ea.@ 1.75 oz 5.25 ___ mountain house freeze-dried dinners-- sphagetti, chicken polynesian, lasagna, beef & green peppers--6 ea.@ 5 oz 30.00 ___ special treats: mountain house freeze- dried strawberry fruit crisps-- 3 ea.@ 2.5 oz 7.50 ___ stash herbal tea bags, sealed in foil

packets, various flavors--licorice root, ruby mist--7 ea.@.10 oz .70 ___ alacer E.mer'gen-C electrolyte/vitamin/ mineral supplement powder: 4 packs per day--24 ea.@.11 oz 2.64 Allowance for wrapping materials not already included in stated weights: 4.21 Total Weight in Ounces: 137.00 TOTAL BACKPACKING FOOD AT START OF 7-DAYs: 8 lbs 9.00 oz MY TYPICAL 7-DAY FIRST / LAST-AID KIT ___ sewing needle & thread ___ two 4 x 4 sterile dressing pads ___ two 12-ply 3 x 4 sterile gauze pads ___ two 3 x 4 sterile non-adherent pads ___ one sterile, cotton-tip applicator ___ one swabstick saturated with compound ___ two benzalkonium, antiseptic towelettes ___ two isopropyl alcohol swab--clean wipes ___ two triple-antibiotic ointment packets ___ one knuckle band-aid ___ two extra-large band-aids ___ one telfa "ouchless" adhesive pad ___ five butterfly wound closures ___ eight medium bandaids