Packs Must Fit Body, Wallet The Trail You Travel Will Determine Which Type Of Frame Is Best Suited For Your Needs
Parents are practical in shopping for a backpack to fit their child.
If it’s cheap, they’ll buy it.
On the trail, however, a few other elements should factor into the decision.
A family that backpacks only during spring, summer and fall can probably find value, function and versatility in fit at the lowest cost with external frame packs.
But if you also expect to head out in winter on snowshoes or skis, a good internal frame offers better performance and comfort through four-season use. “Internal frame packs are the choice for more active sports such as skiing, climbing and going into steeper terrain,” said Jim Ledford of Mountain Gear. “They fit closer to the body to reduce the effect a pack has on your balance.”
Slim internal frame packs don’t interfere with the poling technique of cross-country skiers. Internals also are becoming the pack of choice for long-distance hikers.
But only recently have manufacturers offered a selection of internal frame packs built to fit smaller bodies.
The fit of the pack is critical, especially for skiing. A little slop in the shoulders can let the pack shift from side to side and cause you to fall.
Fit can account for comfort or aching muscles at the end of the day.
Fit can spell the difference between a dream trip and a nightmare in tricky snow conditions.
For this story, six packs designed for smaller bodies were tested last week on girls ranging from 11-13 years old. Three packs rose to the top of the heap for various reasons.
The other three models got thumbs down for being unnecessarily expensive (over $200) to be practical for kids, or for being heavier than 5 pounds, which is simply overkill in a kid’s pack.
Perhaps the best pack for value and function is the REI Rising Star 98. This is a copy of the very similar, but slightly more expensive Lowe Alpine Systems Australis ND 60.
Third on the list is the Camp Trails Scirroco 55, the lightest of all the packs, with a bare minimum 1/4-inch padding for the hip-belt.
Kids who are going to carry loads under 20 pounds could do very well with this pack, considering it’s half the weight and half the cost of anything in its field.
The catch is that the Scirroco has virtually no adjustment for torso length.
The REI and Lowe packs have ladder adjustments for the shoulder straps that allow for a wide range of fit to cover years of growth.
They also have much better padding in the hip-belt and shoulder straps to accommodate the gain in weight a growing child will be able to carry.
The REI pack is slightly easier to adjust than the Lowe pack. It’s less expensive and slightly lighter.
The Lowe hip-belt has a superior contour, but the gripper material on the lumbar area of the REI pack helps prevent the pack from slipping down the slim hips of young girls and boys.
Lowe stopped using the gripper material on the lumbar after some users complained it pushed down their pants.
The Lowe pack has some nice bells and whistles, such as an ice axe fastener, buckled sleeping pad straps and a lower compartment with a zip-out divider, plus a little more volume.
These features may not be necessary, and they account for the slightly higher cost than the REI pack.
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo
MEMO: These 2 sidebars appeared with the story:
1. FITTING AN INTERNAL FRAME PACK The critical measurement in buying an internal frame pack is not the carrier’s height, but rather the torso length - the distance from the top of the hip bone to the top of the shoulder. After selecting a pack that can be made to fit your child’s torso, make these adjustments: 1. With shoulder straps loose, put on the pack and tighten the hip-belt. Half of the hip-belt should be over the highest point of the hip and the other half below. 2. With the hip-belt properly fastened, adjust the ladder-yoke system so the yoke is between the shoulder blades below the shoulders, allowing the shoulder straps to wrap snuggly over the top of the shoulders (Note: High-end packs may have more sophisticated systems for adjusting torso length.) 3. Bend the internal stays to the contour of the back if necessary. 4. Load the pack with about 20 pounds of gear. Make minor adjustments to the form of the stays and shoulder strap placement. The shoulder straps should wrap around shoulders snugly when hip-belt is in place, but the carrier should be able to loosen quick-release shoulder strap adjustments to put all the weight on the hips. 5. When donning the pack on the trail with different clothing combinations, adjust the hip-belt first, then the hip-belt stabilizing straps, then the shoulder straps followed by the shoulder strap stabilizing straps. SOURCE: Rich Landers and Eureka Packs and Tents
2. VALUE PACKS Here are comparisons of three internal frame packs selected for function and value to fit a wide range of body sizes, including kids roughly 9 years and older. These packs are available in Spokane-area retail stores.
1. REI Rising Star 98 Torso fit: 12”-23” Volume: 3,305 cubic inches Weight: 4 lbs. 3 oz. Price: $95 Features: Top-loading with one compartment.* Designed to carry substantial loads. * Easy-to-change Velcro ladder-yoke adjustment for torso length. * Densely padded hip-belt with adjustable hip angle and load stabilizer straps, plus gripper lumbar pad. * Breathable mesh foam padded back is nice feature. * S-curve shoulder straps with sternum strap and load lifter straps. * Fitted top lid attached, yet allows for extension. Hood has two pockets, one designed for a hydration bladder. * Expansion collar with two drawcords allows pack to extend taller, while compression straps allow it to be snugged for dayhiking. * Two long mesh pockets on sides for water bottles and wands. Elastic shock cord web on front for wet gear, sleeping pad etc.* Haul loop, lash tabs.
2. Camp Trails, Scirroco 55 Torso fit: 15”-18” Volume: 3,250 cubic inches Weight: 2 lbs. 12 oz. Price: $60 Features: Top-loading with one compartment; also has front zipper opening to main compartment. Lightweight and a joy to carry, but sparsely padded hip-belt and ultra-light construction not designed for heavy loads. * Torso length not adjustable. * Curved, tapered shoulder straps with sternum strap and load lifter straps. * Top hood attached; does not allowed for extension. Zippered top pocket. * Compression straps allow for over-stuffing or snugging down for day use. Web pockets on sides for water bottles. * Haul loop.
3. Lowe Alpine Systems, Australis ND 60 Torso fit: 13”-18” Volume: 3,600 cubic inches Weight: 4 lbs. 8 oz. Price: $160 Features: Top-loading with two compartments, the bottom accessible with zipper opening. Zip-out divider coverts pack to one compartment. * Designed to carry substantial loads. * Buckle ladder-yoke adjustment system for torso length. * Thickly padded hip-belt system with nicely contoured hip-belt and stabilizer straps.* Contoured shoulder straps with sternum strap and load lifter straps. * Top hood allows for extension; hood pocket has key hook inside and lash tabs on top. * Expansion collar with one drawcord allows pack to expand taller, while compression straps allow it to be snugged for dayhiking. * Buckled straps for sleeping pad. * Two short elasticized bottle or wand pockets on sides. * Reflector shock cord web on front for wet gear, etc. * Haul loop, lash tabs, ice axe holder.
1. FITTING AN INTERNAL FRAME PACK The critical measurement in buying an internal frame pack is not the carrier’s height, but rather the torso length - the distance from the top of the hip bone to the top of the shoulder. After selecting a pack that can be made to fit your child’s torso, make these adjustments: 1. With shoulder straps loose, put on the pack and tighten the hip-belt. Half of the hip-belt should be over the highest point of the hip and the other half below. 2. With the hip-belt properly fastened, adjust the ladder-yoke system so the yoke is between the shoulder blades below the shoulders, allowing the shoulder straps to wrap snuggly over the top of the shoulders (Note: High-end packs may have more sophisticated systems for adjusting torso length.) 3. Bend the internal stays to the contour of the back if necessary. 4. Load the pack with about 20 pounds of gear. Make minor adjustments to the form of the stays and shoulder strap placement. The shoulder straps should wrap around shoulders snugly when hip-belt is in place, but the carrier should be able to loosen quick-release shoulder strap adjustments to put all the weight on the hips. 5. When donning the pack on the trail with different clothing combinations, adjust the hip-belt first, then the hip-belt stabilizing straps, then the shoulder straps followed by the shoulder strap stabilizing straps. SOURCE: Rich Landers and Eureka Packs and Tents
2. VALUE PACKS Here are comparisons of three internal frame packs selected for function and value to fit a wide range of body sizes, including kids roughly 9 years and older. These packs are available in Spokane-area retail stores.
1. REI Rising Star 98 Torso fit: 12”-23” Volume: 3,305 cubic inches Weight: 4 lbs. 3 oz. Price: $95 Features: Top-loading with one compartment.* Designed to carry substantial loads. * Easy-to-change Velcro ladder-yoke adjustment for torso length. * Densely padded hip-belt with adjustable hip angle and load stabilizer straps, plus gripper lumbar pad. * Breathable mesh foam padded back is nice feature. * S-curve shoulder straps with sternum strap and load lifter straps. * Fitted top lid attached, yet allows for extension. Hood has two pockets, one designed for a hydration bladder. * Expansion collar with two drawcords allows pack to extend taller, while compression straps allow it to be snugged for dayhiking. * Two long mesh pockets on sides for water bottles and wands. Elastic shock cord web on front for wet gear, sleeping pad etc.* Haul loop, lash tabs.
2. Camp Trails, Scirroco 55 Torso fit: 15”-18” Volume: 3,250 cubic inches Weight: 2 lbs. 12 oz. Price: $60 Features: Top-loading with one compartment; also has front zipper opening to main compartment. Lightweight and a joy to carry, but sparsely padded hip-belt and ultra-light construction not designed for heavy loads. * Torso length not adjustable. * Curved, tapered shoulder straps with sternum strap and load lifter straps. * Top hood attached; does not allowed for extension. Zippered top pocket. * Compression straps allow for over-stuffing or snugging down for day use. Web pockets on sides for water bottles. * Haul loop.
3. Lowe Alpine Systems, Australis ND 60 Torso fit: 13”-18” Volume: 3,600 cubic inches Weight: 4 lbs. 8 oz. Price: $160 Features: Top-loading with two compartments, the bottom accessible with zipper opening. Zip-out divider coverts pack to one compartment. * Designed to carry substantial loads. * Buckle ladder-yoke adjustment system for torso length. * Thickly padded hip-belt system with nicely contoured hip-belt and stabilizer straps.* Contoured shoulder straps with sternum strap and load lifter straps. * Top hood allows for extension; hood pocket has key hook inside and lash tabs on top. * Expansion collar with one drawcord allows pack to expand taller, while compression straps allow it to be snugged for dayhiking. * Buckled straps for sleeping pad. * Two short elasticized bottle or wand pockets on sides. * Reflector shock cord web on front for wet gear, etc. * Haul loop, lash tabs, ice axe holder.