How to Choose a Hiking Pack

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[00:00:00.00] Text, L.L. Bean, How to Choose a Hiking Pack

[00:00:03.61] Nicole, L.L.Bean Flagship store

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[00:00:04.06] So the most important thing when you're picking out a pack for your adventure is going to be deciding what you're going to be using it for. So are you going to be on a day hike, a multi-day hike, or a long expedition?

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[00:00:15.40] Text, Day Pack, 15-30 Liters. She holds a backpack and points out the features as she describes them.

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[00:00:16.00] So for a day hike, my go-to pack is the Stowaway Pack. This is a family of packs. So it also comes with a sling and a hip pack, if that's your thing. You can literally use this to do anything, from going to the beach, going to the trail for a day.

[00:00:30.04] If you're hiking into a body of water, which is one of my favorite things to do, you're not going to want to wear your hiking shoes once you get there. So it's nice to also have that pocket for your lighter-weight sandals. You have this pocket here, which is great for your cell phone-- it's the perfect size-- or for your keys. You have your little keyring there, so you don't lose those.

[00:00:48.28] And then, the Stowaway family actually stows into itself. So it's something that you can just keep right in your car or in your purse even, and bring it with you anywhere.

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[00:00:58.56] Text, Multi-Day Pack, 30-50 Liters

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[00:00:58.63] Our Ridge Runner 30 makes a great multi-day pack. You want to really keep your multi-day pack around 30 to 50 liters. The frame on this is inside the pack and it actually has this nice mesh that keeps the pack away from your back. You even have pockets on the hip straps, so that you can keep little things in there that you can just grab quickly. There is a ton of space in these 30-liter packs, plenty for a three-day hike certainly.

[00:01:26.56] So for longer hikes, we all know that you need to pack everything but the kitchen sink. So for that, we actually have our White Mountain 70.

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[00:01:33.54] Text, Expedition Pack 50-70 Liters

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[00:01:33.88] This is a 70-liter pack for a long expedition. You really want to have a pack that's anywhere from 50 to 70 liters.

[00:01:41.62] I want to start with the back because the cushioning on this is amazing. You have the lumbar support on the lower back here. And then, you also have this nice ventilated cushioning throughout the back.

[00:01:53.03] You have all of these pockets, which is going to be huge for being able to put your raincoat in there. You don't want to have to dig to the bottom of this 70-liter pack to get your raincoat out. Plenty of room for water bottles. You actually have two different water bottle pockets. This 70-liter pack is really going to be the go-to pack for your really long adventures.

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[00:02:13.72] Text, Fitting Your Pack

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[00:02:13.87] One of the benefits of coming into our store is that one of our expert camping guides can actually help fit you perfectly. But if you're shopping online, there are a few things that you want to keep in mind. You want to make sure that, first of all, you're getting the right size bag for your trip. So this is a 50-liter bag. This is going to be great for a multi-day hike or a longer adventure, if I'm able to pack lightly.

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[00:02:35.72] She puts the backpack on.

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[00:02:35.98] So one of the first things we want to do is to adjust the hips.

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[00:02:39.72] She grabs the hip straps on her right and left sides.

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[00:02:39.94] So the hip straps are here. They are cushioned, which is awesome, and ventilated. But you want to make sure that it sits right above your hips.

[00:02:47.89] The whole point of the shoulder and hip straps are to redistribute the weight from your back to your hips because your hips can just help balance you out a little more. It's going to help avoid injury and just lead to a safer, more comfortable hike anyway.

[00:03:03.28] What I love about this pack is that I can just get right into these pockets with any little things I might need throughout the course of the day.

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[00:03:10.24] Opens and closes the zipper pockets on the hip strap.

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[00:03:10.84] So next, I'm going to go ahead and put my chest strap. And then, you want to just adjust it so that it's comfortable and snug to your body. You definitely want to put weight in the pack before you go on a long hike because otherwise, you're not going to know how it's distributed. You know the pack fits properly when the top of the shoulder strap is right at the top of your shoulder and when the hip straps sit right on your hips.

[00:03:35.23] So once again, the things that you want to consider when you're buying your pack for your next adventure-- you want to make sure that you're getting the right pack for the job. So think about, are you going on a day hike or are you going on a multi-day hike, or a really long trek? And next, you just have to have the right fit.

[00:03:52.49] So your best bet is, of course, going to be to come into a store and try on. But when you're shopping online, just really look at the size of the pack and make sure that it seems right for your torso and your hips. I can't wait to see you out on the trail.

[00:04:06.79] [MUSIC PLAYING]

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[00:04:06.80] Text, L.L. Bean, Be an Outsider.

[00:04:12.79] Photo of a hiking group walking up a rock overlooking an expansive vista with rolling hills in the distance while the sun sets.