21–35 liters: This is the sweet spot for most hiking and travel daypacks. There's enough capacity to hold food, clothing and some extras, like a camera and a book. 36–50 liters: These larger packs are ideal for trips that require additional clothing and gear, such as climbing, mountaineering or non-summer hiking.
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40-50 Liters (The Ultralight Thru-Hiker)Expect to fit everything you could fit in a smaller pack, plus: A food bag that can hold up to 5-6 days worth of food. A pot for cooking. A camp stove and fuel.
A weekend backpack like a standard 40L backpack is big enough to carry a backpacking sleeping bag, small tent, and pad, as well as extra clothing and layers. Other things you'll need to carry include a small stove, food and basic cookware, plus a water filter/purifier, first aid kit, and navigation tools.
A weekend backpack like a standard 40L backpack is big enough to carry a backpacking sleeping bag, small tent, and pad, as well as extra clothing and layers. Other things you'll need to carry include a small stove, food and basic cookware, plus a water filter/purifier, first aid kit, and navigation tools.
This is why most new backpackers think they need a larger backpack to travel, but with some clever organising and good packing cubes, a 40L backpack could just be the perfect size. You'll be incredibly surprised at just how small of a space you can fit everything you need for 3, 6 or even 12 months.
For a 2-month trip through SEA, I'd personally recommend a 40L backpack. It's a good balance between carry-on size and having enough space for all your stuff. Plus, it's versatile enough to use for day hikes as well as leaving at hostels/hotels.
Pack Weight for Backpacking and HikingA loaded backpacking pack should not weigh more than about 20 percent of your body weight. (If you weigh 150 pounds, your pack should not exceed 30 pounds for backpacking.) A loaded day hiking pack should not weigh more than about 10 percent of your body weight.
A weekend backpack like a standard 40L backpack is big enough to carry a backpacking sleeping bag, small tent, and pad, as well as extra clothing and layers. Other things you'll need to carry include a small stove, food and basic cookware, plus a water filter/purifier, first aid kit, and navigation tools.
Is a 40L backpack big enough for traveling? 40 liters is definitely big enough for traveling, as long as you're not an over-packer. It's a good idea not to go for an overly large backpack - overpacking can be as troublesome as under-packing.
This is why most new backpackers think they need a larger backpack to travel, but with some clever organising and good packing cubes, a 40L backpack could just be the perfect size. You'll be incredibly surprised at just how small of a space you can fit everything you need for 3, 6 or even 12 months.
10 to 19 liters: For light loads and 13-inch laptops. 20 to 29 liters: Best for students and 15- to 16-inch laptops. 30 to 39 liters: For super-size workloads and weekend trips. 50 to 80 liters: For hikers and campers.
The average capacity of a pack was 52 liters, with the average base weight starting at 20 pounds and dropping down to 16 by the end of a successful thru hike.
21–35 liters: This is the sweet spot for most hiking and travel daypacks. There's enough capacity to hold food, clothing and some extras, like a camera and a book. 36–50 liters: These larger packs are ideal for trips that require additional clothing and gear, such as climbing, mountaineering or non-summer hiking.
It is the perfect size for travel, just don't pack it full. A 40L backpack half empty weighs essentially the same as a 20L backpack stuffed full. I did 4 months abroad with a GORUCK GR2 34L a few years ago.
Carrying CapacityPacks tend to range from 30L capacity to 70L and beyond. But what size backpack do you need for the Appalachian Trail? When making your considerations, know that packs with a 50L to 65L carrying capacity are the most frequently used by thru-hikers.