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Camping, hiking, and trail climbing is known for its wear and tear on your gear. With all the different companies around, how do you know which one to choose for your adventure backpack? Most companies have a specialty that makes it easier to pick some of the top choices in the bag you need. To pick the bag that is right for you, you’ll need to know what you want to use it for. Need something rugged for the mountains, or light and easy for casual bike rides? Need hydration on those long jaunts, or just a place to pack the essentials? Each bag has a different form and purpose and knowing what you need will be your first step in finding the bag that is right for you.

The North Face has superior ratings and designs that include laptop bags designed for trails. Everything from The North Face is stylish and functional, making it a top choice among outdoor enthusiasts.

CamelBak is the choice if you are looking for hydration bags, where you will need easy access to your water supply. This was the company that invented hydration bags, so they know what they are doing in this category.

JanSport, also a top rated bag company, has been around since 1967 and is the choice of choice among children. It’s the name on most backpacks seen in the schools. This doesn’t mean it’s not a very good choice for outdoor use, as it also gives you messenger bags and different laptop bags to consider. It’s the choice for the latest styles and look that you may want. The JanSport Elefunk is a great multi-pocket bag that has tons of storage space in a smaller pack. It’s perfect for college campuses and those smaller trips out in the woods.

High Sierra has solid ratings, and is the supplier for the U.S. Ski Team. If you are looking for features for a more inexpensive price, High Sierra is the brand you want. It’s rugged and will serve you well. The Long trail 90 is an excellent bag for those long camping adventures.

Kelty is the choice if you prefer the original backpack. It’s good for those that do this for a weekend activity or just to relax and unwind. It combines affordability with reliability.

If comfort is your first priority, look no further than Mountainsmith. These bags are stylish in looks and offer many different choices between messenger bags and lumbar packs. The gear duffels are ideal for avid campers. The Sling bags are designed with comfort and simplicity in mind, including room for your PDA, MP3, and a host of other items in its generous pocket design.

Gregory uses their bags to focus on design and quality. They are always looking for the next big thing. If you tend to lend yourself to the newest most techy item on the market, then you’ll be shopping for a Gregory pack. Try the Whitney, a durable bag with plenty of accessible pockets in a sturdy backpack design.

Victorinox, creators of the Swiss Army Knife, offers bags and cases with the same form and function of their knives. High rated with customers, they are lighter than comparable bags yet have more packing space. These are lovely if you want the very best packs to use. They wear very well and have exceptional quality.

Brand name isn’t what’s cool or hot today; brand name tells you what the bag was meant to do. These brands all have some form of specialty, and knowing that specialty will help you decide what bag is right for you. Now that you know, shop away and find the adventure bag that is right for your hiking, camping, running, or trail needs.

Article by Tina Samuels from AssociatedContent.com

You may not leave your armchair very frequently, but in your mind, you scale Mt. Kilimanjaro on a regular basis. With your dreams of adventure and excitement, it is no wonder that you are attracted to the rugged Maxpedition backpacks. You feel like you could do anything with a pack like this and it isn’t like you’ll never use it. In fact, it will come in handy when you are hot on the trail of the woodpecker you saw on the nature trail at the park the other day or biking to work to save on the high price of gasoline.

Whether your adventures are in real life or your daydreams, a Maxpedition is a great backpack choice. These durable packs have several great features:

• Many models allow you to add on other options, such as water reservoirs, very easily.
• They are so sturdy and tough that they are popular with military and law enforcement groups. If Navy Seals don’t wear out these packs, then hard-playing civilians should be pleased with the durability of the Maxpedition, too.
• Pen holders and secret pockets for valuable electronic gadgets, such as cell phones, are also available in many of the different Maxpedition models.

If you have a lot of shoulder pain from using backpacks and want to switch to a less stressful alternative, you may want to take a close look at Ameribag packs. Ameribag has created a healthy back bag design that helps reduce the stress placed on your shoulder or your back. This useful and innovative bag design supports the weight of your load throughout the entire pack instead of having all that weight hang from your pack’s shoulder straps.

While the majority of Ameribag’s healthy back packs are made in the sophisticated sling style, you can find these packs in more traditional back pack styles, as well. The traditional pack style may look the same as other backpacks at first glance, but you’ll feel the difference when you are wearing it. This pack is designed so that your hips hold the majority of the weight, allowing your back and shoulders to be pain free.

Unlike some manufacturers, Ameribag didn’t sacrifice functionality for health benefits and style. These bags have plenty of pockets for organizing your items. In fact, most of them even include key ring clips and credit card organizers, which means you can leave your wallet or purse at home when you hike.

Hey - for anyone who is looking for an incredible deal on the North Face Surge laptop backpack, eBags.com is selling last year’s version for just $89.99.  I’ve looked around and can’t find any other sites selling it for this low…they’ve only it in got Black, but heck who cares at this price?!  In fact, eBags has something like 75 different bags from The North Face on sale right now, and free shipping applies to most of them (over $50).

One of the most recognizable brands, Mountain Hardwear is now at eBags.com.  This product is top of the line for all of your outdoor activities.  Their daypacks, backpacking packs, and duffels are perfect for hauling the laptop to and from campus, or hauling all your gear in the outdoors.  Also, there happens to be a sale going on right now!

Save your brain cells for chemistry class. We’ve made your backpack shopping a no-brainer.

Durability is the most important feature when selecting a backpack. The design and fabric must withstand constant abuse and be able to survive the school year. Don’t be lured into buying a cute bag that’s cheap. Instead opt for one of these three backpacks that combine functionality and style.

Victorinox delivers reliable luggage and bags that are sleek and timeless. For the single-strappers out there (those who shun the traditional method of backpack wearing with dual straps), we suggest the Lingo Lifestyle Round Trip.

The Lingo Lifestyle Round Trip features a padded monostrap, which is comfortable and hip. For those going to school in the steamy southern states, you’re going to love the moisture-wicking fabric on the back that keeps you cool and dry. Music fans will appreciate the fleece-lined pocket for iPods and the like. ($39.73)

Under Armour prides itself on the toughness of their products. The Varsity Backpack is no exception. Even the bulkiest lineman on the football team would struggle to demolish this bag. Constructed from hexagon ripstop and ballistic nylon, this backpack will undoubtedly make it until spring final exams. We found the anatomically shaped shoulder straps extremely comfortable - even when the bag was fully loaded with textbooks. ($49.99)

JanSport is a well-trusted name in the world of backpacks. From trail packs to school packs, they’ve got a bag that fits the bill. One of our favorites among the school backpack offerings is the Big Squirt. Choose from great colors like Purple Echinacea and Citronella Green. What else is there to this bag? How about a fully integrated hydration system! Load up your favorite beverage into the side pocket and hook up the beverage tube and you’ll be sipping your way to happiness - with your hands free. Neat freaks will be thrilled with the front utility pocket - it’s a perfect spot to keep life’s essentials. ($27.93)

Picking the right backpack is essential to getting the new school year off to a flying start. And remember: don’t put your back-to-school shopping off until September. For the best selection of backpacks, start shopping now.

Article by Nicole Feliciano from AssociatedContent.com

If you’ve ever had to be carted off of a mountain trail on a stretcher because you collapsed from dehydration, then you weren’t using a Camelbak backpack. Camelbak has been designing backpacks that contain hydration systems for over ten years. Most packs have the ability to keep water cool for several hours, which means that grabbing a sip on the go is actually a pleasant experience. While these packs place an emphasis on getting water to the wearer quickly and easily, they do have other attributes, too:

• For biking enthusiasts who prefer to listen to their favorite tunes instead of the mellow sounds of nature, an easy to access holder for MP3 players is a common option.
• For those who can’t bear to stop playing outdoors as dusk falls, packs with reflective properties are available.
• Options such as breathable mesh and streamlined design are available for packs designed for bikers. This can help you keep up high speeds, since the packs do not catch the wind as much as less low profile models.
• If you are really getting close to nature with sports like rock climbing and kayaking, you may want to check out packs with waterproof pockets.

If you love outdoor activities, such as hiking, skiing, biking or climbing, then you probably know how frustrating it can be to try to use a pack that seems like it was designed by someone who spends most of his or her downtime vegging out on the sofa. No one can really design an effective backpack unless they’ve been spending time in the great outdoors. Black Diamond backpacks are popular with outdoor enthusiasts because the people making design decisions spend time in the outdoors, too.

When you shop for Black Diamond packs, you’ll notice features like hydration systems, tool loops and super tough shoulder straps. You’ll also notice that there are packs that are much less expensive than some of the others. These packs are geared toward people who are new to the sport the packs are designed for. They are well made and very functional, but don’t have all the bells and whistles of more expensive packs. Often, these more basic packs are smaller, as well, which makes them the ideal choice for teens who want to learn to hike, ski or climb. As the beginner becomes more skilled, he or she will probably want to upgrade to a slightly more expensive pack to take advantage of more options.