How to choose a backpack for trekking

Choosing a backpack for trekking may seem trivial, but there are some very important factors that need to be taken into account to make the right choice.

In this article, I’ll show you how to choose the ideal backpack for your trekking, explaining the types of hikes, the factors that influence this choice, and the main **deuter** models for different user profiles.

Understanding outdoor activities

When we look at a mountain range, we can be surprised by the diversity of activities happening simultaneously in the same natural environment. The image below — frequently used in my courses and presentations — illustrates this clearly:

In the same place, like the first mountain in the illustration, we find:

• A cyclist doing a one-day activity or a mountain bike crossing with a pack specifically designed for riding self-supported;
• Someone doing a traditional trekking route, with a larger, heavier load-carrying pack;
• Someone on a day hike or ultralight trekking, with a smaller pack and, in the case of ultralight trekking, minimalist gear;
• Someone practicing trail running, with a small, lightweight pack designed for performance;
• Cyclists doing bikepacking or traditional cycle touring.

The environment is the same. What changes are the choices: type of activity, duration, level of self-sufficiency, type of overnight, equipment volume and weight — and, as a consequence, the ideal backpack for each situation.

Similar gear, different needs

Although the activities are different, there’s a common point among them: the need to carry gear. Whether running, hiking, or riding, everyone uses some sort of backpack or load-carrying system. However, these systems vary a lot depending on the activity:

• Trail running packs prioritize low weight, body-hugging fit, and quick access to hydration and nutrition;
• Traditional trekking packs focus on load capacity, comfort (load transfer), and robustness;
• Ultralight trekking packs focus on minimalism and low weight;
• Cycle-touring panniers are designed to avoid compromising bike stability, and bikepacking bags are engineered to improve aerodynamics and mobility.

Although the initial examples cover different outdoor pursuits, in this article I’ll go deeper only into trekking backpacks.

Technical choice: the right pack for each modality

Specialized brands like deuter, with more than 125 years of tradition, develop backpacks for each type of outdoor activity.

The images below show how deuter segments its product line according to these activities. You can see the wide variety of models available — not to mention the variations within each category!

This specialization allows users to gain more comfort, efficiency, and safety by using a backpack designed exactly for the modality they practice.

Weather, altitude, and season: essential factors in choosing your pack

As seen earlier, the same natural environment — such as a traverse in a mountain range — can host different outdoor activities. But there’s another crucial point to consider: weather conditions and time of year.

In the same geographic area, conditions can vary quite a bit. A summer trekking trip, with dry weather and mild temperatures, will require fewer (or lighter) clothes and a lighter, more compact sleep system. The same traverse in winter may require bulkier cold-weather clothing, sleeping bags rated for lower temperatures, and extra accessories to face intense cold — thus requiring a backpack with greater volume and load capacity.

When we broaden the analysis to different environments, another decisive factor comes into play: altitude. High-mountain activities, such as climbing the Aconcagua or Denali, demand more specific equipment to withstand extreme conditions. Therefore, the gear is heavier, bulkier, and more technical, which directly impacts the choice of the backpack that will carry it.

In short, in addition to the activity type, weather, biome, altitude, and season are determining factors when choosing the ideal backpack for each situation.

Hiking vs. Trekking: what’s the difference?

To choose the right backpack for a trekking trip, we need to better understand some concepts — among them, which types of outdoor walking exist.

When we talk about walking, a variety of terms comes up: hiking, trekking, backpacking, thru-hiking, randonnée, bushwalking, and more. The confusion is understandable, as the terminology changes from country to country — and even among practitioners.

Because I’ve worked with European brands like deuter since 2001, I’ve adopted the European concept here, which clearly distinguishes two major groups:

• Hiking
• Trekking

The key difference: sleeping in huts or camping

The main distinction between hiking and trekking lies in self-sufficiency and overnighting:

• Hiking: hikes done without the need to camp. They can be day hikes — like a walk in the Floresta da Tijuca (RJ) — or multi-day hikes, such as the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, where we sleep in hostels.
• Trekking: hikes of two or more days with overnights camping, which requires carrying shelter, sleep system, and cooking system, among others.

Trekking — the focus of this article

Since trekking is characterized by multi-day hiking with camping overnights, the user must be self-sufficient. They should carry their shelter system (tent or tarp or hammock, etc.), sleep system (sleeping bag, sleeping pad, etc.), cooking system (stove, pot, etc.), and other items.

Trekking can be practiced in different styles, classified according to base weight — a topic we’ll address later.

A didactic example: Petrópolis x Teresópolis Traverse

The classic traverse in the Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos (RJ) is an excellent example of the variety of approaches:

Trail Run: Traverse done running in 1 day, with a lightweight pack; Day Hike: One-day hike, starting very early and finishing the same day; Multi-day Hike: Three days, sleeping in the park’s huts; Trekking: Three days, camping at designated sites.

This example shows how the same traverse can be experienced in completely different ways, and each will require a backpack with specific characteristics.

Petrópolis–Teresópolis Traverse – Photo: Mario Nery

Types of trekking: classified by base weight

Base weight is everything in the backpack excluding consumables (food, water, and fuel). The classification of trekking types based on base weight is as follows:

The lighter the gear, the smaller the backpack can be — but it’s essential to maintain safety (and comfort, as much as possible), especially in cold climates.

It’s worth noting that, in the chart above, I included weights in pounds because this classification was made in the United States; for convenience, I added the conversion to kilograms.

Backpack classification by volume

Traditionally in Brazil, backpacks are divided into:

• Daypacks: up to 35 liters
• Mid-size packs: between 35 and 50 liters
• Expedition/load-hauling packs: over 50 liters

With the growing popularity of ultralight (UL) trekking, packs with “daypack” volumes are also used for self-supported trekking — as long as the gear is light and compact.

How to choose your trekking backpack

Now that it’s clearer why there are so many types of backpacks for different activities, styles, and contexts, we reach the central point of this article: how to choose the ideal backpack for your trekking.

One of the most common mistakes made by beginners (and even by experienced users) is to start at the end: choosing the backpack before defining the rest of the gear. The correct process is exactly the opposite.

A backpack isn’t the starting point but rather a final answer to a series of prior decisions. After all, it’s impossible to know which pack you need without first knowing the volume and weight of everything you’ll carry: tent, sleeping bag, clothing, cookware, food, water, and fuel.

Therefore, the first step is to size the pack’s contents — which includes both base weight (gear inside the pack) and consumables (items used over time, like food and water). Even a light base weight may come with a significant volume of consumables, depending on trail length and characteristics, which will require a larger pack with higher load capacity.

Load capacity vs. volume

When choosing a backpack, two main factors should be considered:

1. 1. Internal volume (in liters): defines the total space available to organize and store items.

Attention: Some brands, mainly in the ultralight segment, consider total volume including external mesh pockets.

1. Load capacity (in kg): indicates the maximum weight the pack can carry comfortably, not just what it can “withstand” structurally.

Here’s an essential point: load capacity (and thus comfort) isn’t about the pack’s raw strength — it’s about ergonomics. A good trekking backpack transfers most of the weight to the hips through the load-transfer system (shoulder straps, back panel, and hipbelt), relieving the shoulders. This efficient transfer can reach 70% or even 80% of total weight, reducing fatigue and preventing pain — what we call reduced perceived weight. Perceived weight is what we feel on our shoulders.

On the other hand, some prefer lighter packs with minimal structure, even if that means carrying more weight on the shoulders. That choice is valid — as long as it’s conscious and aligned with the trekking style and the user’s physical limits.

Checklist: how to choose your trekking backpack

1. Define the activity you’ll do (hiking, multi-day hike, or self-supported trekking);
2. Analyze the scenario: destination, biome, weather, altitude, and season;
3. Choose the right gear for that scenario (shelter, clothing, sleep system, etc.);
4. Plan your food and define the appropriate cooking system (stove, pot, fuel);
5. Calculate base weight: weigh or research your gear if you don’t have it yet;
6. Estimate consumables: water, food, and fuel needed for your days on trail;
7. With those numbers in hand, shortlist packs with compatible volume and load capacity;
8. Finally, refine the choice based on the features you value (hipbelt pockets, front opening, bottom access, hydration compatibility, trekking-pole/ice-axe attachments, etc.).

deuter trekking backpacks

Although there are countless backpack brands in Brazil and worldwide, in this article I present deuter packs. Because the brand offers many models, we can make didactic comparisons among different backpacks based on volume, load capacity, and intended use.

deuter offers backpacks with different weights, volumes, and load capacities — i.e., the ideal weight the pack was designed to carry comfortably. Below are the main models recommended for trekking (including packs traditionally seen as “daypacks,” but which fit the ultralight trekking logic):

Conclusion: a technical choice aligned with your journey

Choosing the ideal backpack for your trekking isn’t an isolated decision — it’s the result of deeply understanding the type of activity you’ll do, the gear you’ll use, and the challenges of the natural environment you’ll face. Volume and load capacity are just numbers if they’re not aligned with your style, goals, and real needs.

By understanding the logic behind backpack categories, the different types of trekking, and terrain conditions, you start making more conscious decisions — which directly impact comfort, safety, and enjoyment on the journey.

And if you want to go even deeper, I recommend watching our exclusive live session “Trekking e a Mochila Ideal para cada Jornada”, available on Gear Tips Plus. In the video, I show different backpack styles, share real field experiences, and answer common questions from those who are starting out — or already progressing in their outdoor activities.

Happy trails — and may your backpack always serve your journey, never work against it.

This post is also available in: Português (Portuguese (Brazil)) Español (Spanish)