I've finally talked my wife into backpacking so I'm starting to look at equipment. Trouble is, I don't know what I need. I have just about decided on the boots, Danner, because I've owned a pair of the Ft. Lewis boots, and I loved them. Now, the pack. We would probably not be spending more than two or three nights out. We would mostly camp in the early Spring/late Fall.
We would be carrying sleeping bags so the pack would need to accommodate that. I'm not familiar with the size capacities. I'm thinking an internal frame is the way to go, but don't know which brand. Thanks for all input.
I forgot to mention that I am average size I guess,5-8, 180lbs., if that matters with the pack size.

The conventional wisdom is to purchase your pack last. That way you are sure everything fits.

I still have not figured out why the pack screams out to be one of people's first purchases when they start buying gear, even though the most logical method is to purchase the pack last, in other words, purchase the pack to fit you and your gear and not the other way around.

Hi Lee and welcome,You should read the posts previous people have made asking the same question. Please add some information to your profile and tell us where you intend to go and what you intend to do in what weather. You question is written in a very "I don't have the slightest idea what I'm doing" manner. Rent a pack or borrow one or put your gear in a grocery bag until you find out what the rest of your gear will be and how large of pack you need. Do not start out with a small one. Do you have any other gear? My advice is not start ot with buying gear that looks cool to have and instead conentrate on what you might actually need. By the way you can run Virtual Girl while posting here, it makes it a lot more interesting.
Jim

I agree with this. So many people, myself included, spent far too much $$$ on gear that was wanted, instead of gear that was needed. So take the time, read through posts and gear lists and then make a generic gear list for yourself and then look for those items-- this way you will only purchase what you need.

Welcome! If you haven't already found them, there are lots of excellent articles for beginners and on gear selection listed in the left-hand column of http://www.backpacking.net/, the home page of this site. That includes packs and tips on how to fit them. For example, the key measurement for a pack is not your weight or height but your torso length, which doesn't necessarily relate to either. One of those articles will tell you how to do this key measurement. Get someone else to do it; when I tried to measure myself I came up several inches different each time!

Another good site for gear selection is Mark Verber's website. Lots of ideas and tips for gear, including low-budget alternatives.

When we think of backpacking, inevitably the pack comes to mind first. Unfortunately, you will NOT know what size you need or what kind of suspension you need (directly related to the weight you will carry in the pack) until you have the rest of your gear. In the meantime, rent or borrow, which will also get you more familiar with different packs.

Everyone's giving you good tips. Renting or borrowing gives you that missing piece - what you will need to have to be happy. Packs are like clothing, they need to fit you - get something that has the right torso length and the right hip belt, and you can carry it all day. You should get your back measured and then your hips and keep those numbers handy for when you're pack shopping. Not everyone has a long torso, even the tall folks. "Medium" may be my shirt size, but "small" is generally my pack size, for example.

Shoot for a pack weight of less than a third of your body weight. Being lighter will make you happier. Look at the gear lists on the home page of this website (the forum is only part of it).

The other variable is whether you will need a bear canister. Not all packs play well with bear canisters. Look up park websites and read food storage regulations, then google on the APPROVED bear canisters for that area to find pricing for renting or buying them if the jurisdiction won't rent them to you (they often do). Many popular locations no longer let you hang food because too many people who went out there before you did it improperly and taught the bears to really look for and do anything to get those stuff sacks full of oatmeal and trail mix. This is a good thing to figure out before you get the pack because it's the pits to get everything else, get the pack that works perfectly, and then find out that last four inches you need just isn't there and the seams are going to burst... (Ask me how I know! :P)

Thanks you for all of the replies. I didn't even know about the torso thing Lori.

Lots of people want to buy the pack first for two reason:
1. Its backpacking and you can't go without one. So, they think, lets get the pack and then put everything in it.
2. How do many people pack for vacation? They get out their suitcase and then start throwing things in it. That just get transfered to backpacking.

It take thought and experience or training to reorder the process to: figure out what I am taking THEN figure out what I will put it in.

From your post, I'm making an assumption that neither you nor your wife have done any backpacking. If that's true, and you haven't already bought it, your first piece of gear should be a good introductory (repeat: introductory) book on backpacking. I'd suggest Karen Berger's Hiking and Backpacking (A Trailside Guide) - it's not too overwhelming, and doesn't take a "Thou Shalt Go Heavy" or "Light is The Only Right" position. She discusses the main pieces of gear you need, then refers you to stores and catalogs to make the choice that's right for you.

Personally, I'd suggest you get your other gear together first, then buy your packs. My guess is that, if you tend toward lighter-weight gear and synthetic sleeping bags and insulating clothes, considering you'll be sharing tent, kitchen, and water filter, I wouldn't be surprised if your first pack wasn't about 4,000 cubic inches, and your wife's about 3,500.

If you become overwhelmed by the gear that's available, one way to shortcut it is to look at MSR's "Fast and Light" line; they make very good gear, and you can get a good idea of what features to look for. If you're looking for lower prices, a lot of REI's house-brand gear is good (though I no longer own any, preferring lighter weight choices to the dismay of my wallet.)

Come back and ask questions as you need to when you're picking your gear out. Good luck, and enjoy it.

I basically wanted to start backpacking again after a 22 year hiatus. I did day hikes as I accumulated a winter bag, pad, and tent over the last few months. Tested the stuff in campgrounds when weather was really cold so I didn't have to deal with noisy families and drunks.

Once I had those, I tried on a few packs at the local Backwoods for the one that fit and also had the pockets I wanted. Then bought the pack and a spring/fall bag and a liner for summer.