PACKS

Daypacks
Arbitrarily, most daypacks will have a capacity less than about 35 litres, which is enough to carry a waterproof jacket, a warm top, and some food and water. Daypacks are also the ideal repository for university and school books. Larger (>35 litres) daypacks are usually designed as weekend, or 'two day' packs, allowing more room for overnight items. Bags in this category would also be appropriate for crag packs - large enough for a rack and a rope plus sunscreen, water and food for the day.

Rucksacks
These range in size from about 50 litres for alpine/climbing packs to around 100 litres for large expedition rucksacks.

Travel Packs
Travel packs are a relatively recent innovation to the outdoor/travel scene. The basic principle is to combine a functional, durable and practical compartment with a comfortable, secure harness.

Baggage handlers are notoriously indifferent to the treatment they give luggage. Beware the traveller who buys a travel pack with too many bells and whistles on the compartment's exterior, or one without a cover for the harness during transport (you won't find them in our shops anyway). Most travel packs have capacities between 65 and 80 litres, and will have a zip off day pack, carry handle, shoulder strap, and zip away harness, and are front loading - like a suitcase.

There is another, almost discrete class of packs, that combine features from both travel packs and rucksacks, known as hybrid packs. These often aim to provide a more rucksack oriented product, and are usually top loading, but have features such as a harness cover, and carry handles. 

NOTE:
If you are mail ordering rucksacks or travel packs, and are unsure of which size to get, please give us your overall height and your back length measured as the distance in centimetres between a point level with the top of your relaxed shoulders, and a point that bisects a straight line between your iliac crests (hip bone). This will help us to evaluate, or assist you with, your choice. No sense buying a pack that's bigger than you are, nor one that won't carry the load you want it to. Please note that all volumes are approximate. No two manufacturers use the same method for determining the volume of their products.