How to Choose Your Own Backpack Size – If you own as many backpacks as we do, you may have noticed that the categories for them are based on litres rather than exact measurements. While choosing a backpack, it’s important to consider the volume, or bag capacity. For instance, a 15-liter backpack is adequate for daily activities but perhaps insufficient for an overnight excursion.
Given a bag’s dimensions, describing its volume can be challenging. Compare the following two of my favourite bags: The Rains Small is 15.7 inches by 11.4 inches by 3.9 inches, whereas the Herschel Heritage is 18 inches by 12.25 inches by 5.5 inches. When compared side by side, they appear to be fairly similar, yet the Rains carries nine litres while the Herschel holds 21.5.
What unit of measurement is best for you and how exactly are litres measured? To find out, we spoke with manufacturers of backpacks. We have more recommendations than any one person could ever need once you’ve decided on the number of litres that will work best for your need. You can find options for individuals How to Choose Your Own Backpack Size who prefer purses and totes in our guides on the Best Backpacks, Best Messenger Bags, Best Recycled Bags, and Best Camera Bags.
How to Calculate Volume
You might think of water when you think of litres. There is a drier method to accomplish it, despite the fact that certain manufacturers may load their bags with liquids and tally the quantity as they go. Most manufacturers use little plastic balls, claims Ahren Bonnema, product design manager at JanSport (think Ping Pong balls).
We place the balls in a bag, close the bag, and then pour the contents into a sizable graduated cylinder with lines denoting litres on the side, according to Bonnema. Although it seems a little archaic, it is remarkably accurate and is the industry standard for most pack brands.
You would assume that something like volume would be consistent from brand to brand because it should be universal. “I’ve measured probably hundreds of competition packets myself, and it’s not unusual to find discrepancies,” says Bonnema. Many discussion forums and Reddit conversations support this. The reviewers at Tree Line Review discovered a discrepancy between the reported volume and the volume they measured. (They substituted pinto beans for the balls!) They didn’t examine any bags made by JanSport.
This is annoying, especially considering that the majority of us don’t have a large supply of pinto beans on hand. Fortunately, the majority of us don’t require such an exact capacity measurement. You may confidently assume that a running backpack with an 8- to 10-liter capacity will work if all you need it for is to hold your phone, jacket, and some food. All that’s left to do is determine your intended use for the bag.
How to Choose Your Own Backpack Size
What are you going to do? Look for a bag with the appropriate-size laptop compartment if all you need to carry in your backpack to work is a laptop, wallet, chapstick, and notebook. In this scenario, I transport my 13-inch MacBook using the Rains. But, the volume of the backpack becomes more important if you need it to serve as a diaper bag, carry a semester’s worth of books, or go hiking and camping.
A wonderful video reference comparing sizes is available at Backpackies. This is the general size recommendation we make in light of that advise and our testing:
- less than 10 litres This size of slings and waist packs is suitable for daily necessities.
- 10–19 litres 13-inch laptops and light loads
- 20–29 litres the ideal for students and 15.4- to 16.5″ laptops
- 30–39 litres For oversized tasks and weekend excursions
- 50–80 litres For campers and hikers
You want huge bags made for your specific activity when it comes to large bags, especially those made for hiking. According to Bonnema, “there is a big difference in comfort between a 70-liter multiday backpacking bag built to carry heavy loads for days on end and a 70-liter duffel designed to carry stuff a relatively short distance.” Even sprinting through New York City to get from work to Grand Central Station may be taxing on my shoulders; I don’t hike or camp.
Hence How to Choose Your Own Backpack Size, before you spend money on a new bag, consider what you’ll use it for and how much weight you can carry comfortably. You should visit a store where you may try on a variety of possibilities if you believe that bags never fit you well or if you have very specific size and fit requirements. Liters are a nice beginning point, but what counts most is how the bag feels in your hands and whether it has all the pockets and zippers you require.
