What is a good length for a first backpacking trip?

Just a few miles roundtrip is fine: Plan on shorter distances than your typical day hike because walking with a heavier pack is slower and more difficult. Aim for a few hundred feet of elevation gain: If you've hiked much, then you know that mileage alone doesn't tell the full story.



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A 30L – 50L backpack will be just the ticket. It will be able to hold all your sleeping, cooking, and camping gear you need for trips up to 5 or 6 days.

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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.

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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.

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2-3 Day Packs: 35-50 liters 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.

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Their capacity lets you carry an extra layer, food and gear for day trips. 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.

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The sweet spot lies somewhere in the middle: a backpack between 40-70L is fine for a long-term trip – the trick is not to stuff it full.

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There's a scientific reason why 2-week vacations are actually a waste. A two-week vacation might be twice as long as a one-week vacation, but don't expect to have twice the memories once you get back. According to psychologist Daniel Kahneman, shorter vacations are typically just as good in hindsight as longer ones.

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For a multi-day, or weekend hike, a 45L to 55L backpack offers enough volume for the average backpacker. The extra capacity allows for carrying more food, water, fuel, and some comfort items you might leave behind for a single night trip.

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The 60L pack size has enough space for 5-6 days of food and ultralight gear. The pack can be compressed down with the roll top and side compression straps for short trips or use the top strap and base straps to lash extra stuff to the outside for long carries.

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Size Matters (but Bigger Isn't Better) Like a few other things in life, size matters when it comes to choosing a backpack — but not in the way you might think. Based on many years of dragging excessively large backpacks around the world, I have to say bigger is not better. You do not need an 80 or 90 litre pack.

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A 40 liter backpack is the best size for traveling in Europe as it's small enough to fly carry-on only. If you aren't up to the challenge of travelling with a 40 liter pack, you just need to make sure that you choose a backpack you will be comfortable carrying for long periods of time.

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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.

MORE DETAILS