The History of The Appearance of a Tourist Backpack and the Review of Backpacks

Posted by Kimberly J. Moore on February 27th, 2018

History of backpacks

We had an acute desire to release these very hands. We know many prototypes of a modern backpack. This and all kinds of nodules, and knapsacks, and sashes, but the most ancient and close to the modern backpack can be considered a find made by anthropologists in 1992 in the Alps on the glacier Similown, south of Innsbruck.

Scientists have discovered a perfectly preserved body of a prehistoric man with a leather backpack on his back. The model of the prehistoric backpack was on a U-shaped frame made of two vertical hazel bars joined (for rigidity) from below by two horizontal larch boards. In that very backpack were his belongings. The find was dated to the year 2700 BC, from which it follows.

Various devices with straps were from Roman legionaries; Templars during the crusades carried their things on a wooden frame with straps. With the best backpack for hunting behind his shoulders traveled Jesus Christ, Buddha, Lao Tzu and many less enlightened travelers. Indians of pre-Columbian America carried the goods on a board, to which were fastened shoulder straps and straps on the forehead.

Backpacks began to spread widely in the XVII-XIX centuries thanks to the military. Foot soldiers and grenadiers made long transitions and it was very important for them that their arms remained free for weapons, but all the necessary cargo was nearby, without losing mobility at the same time.

It was the military backpacks that became the prototypes of the first tourist and mountaineering backpacks. In the 1920s and 1930s, the first Soviet backpacks for tourism appeared, nicknamed "Kolobok" among the people, later processed into the famous "Abalak" backpack.

 In the West, backpacks were developed and modernized mainly by mountaineers themselves, travelers and mountain guides. They became the founders and ideological inspirers of modern leaders of "backpack" production. Among them were Hermann Bouhl, Reinhold Messner, Low brothers and many others.

They designed backpacks for different directions of tourist activity. Today, most manufacturers distinguish several types of backpacks.

Expedition Backpacks

This is, first of all, the most complex and technological expedition, tourist, backpacks for long trips, medium and heavy trekking, mountain expeditions. As a rule, these are backpacks in volume from 70 liters, with a complex adjustable suspension system, rigid frame construction.

The main priorities in choosing such a backpack model should be not so much ease (although it is extremely important), how much reliability and comfort. If the backpack is correctly filled and fitted to the features of your back, you will hardly notice an extra hundred gram. 

Backpacks of this type must always be measured in the store. Ask sellers to load them at least 7-15 kg. Only in this way you can correctly adjust the height of the suspension, the length of the straps and the belt. The belt should be given special attention, since, with proper adjustment, it is on the hips that up to 60% of the weight of the backpack will be distributed. 

The belt can be rigid and "float", i.e. Move relative to the perpendicular plane of the backpack. A "floating" belt is certainly preferable since it allows you to move freely over rough terrain, without shifting the load on your shoulders.

Most modern expedition backpacks have an adjustable suspension system for shoulder straps. "By eye" or with the help of measuring instruments determine the length of your back (it is characteristic that this length is not directly proportional to growth). Then move the straps to the desired division. This year, there was a fundamentally new Axiom® suspension system.

It allows you to adjust the length of the straps directly on the move when the backpack is already dressed and the belt is fastened on the hips. This, of course, is much more convenient and practical not only for the initial setting but also for driving on steep climbs and descents to relieve unnecessary load from the shoulders when the back stretches and contracts.

Most expedition backpacks have several entrances to the main compartment, which is very useful when you need to get the necessary things on the route. Just pay attention to the additional hinge, pockets, mountings for carpets, sticks, ice axes, cats. Hanging equipment should not interfere with walking, clinging to each other, behind the backpack fabric.

One of the best examples of expedition rucksacks is Lowe Alpine Cerro Torre Axiom +

This is an expedition backpack with a volume up to 90-95 liters with a rigid floating belt, an anatomical adjustable suspension system, three accesses to the main compartment, a variety of mounting options and facades on the facade, additional pockets on the belt. An additional set of lines is attached to the backpack if it is necessary to increase the space under the valve.

Inside the backpack, you will find a bag for the hydration, which is easily unfastened and turns into a small backpack-purse, which is very convenient for long journeys, when the backpack is in the car, and you have nowhere to put the change and snack.