choosing a backpack
I borrowed my mom’s pack on this last trip (very similar to this internal frame model), so I don’t have a whole lot of personal experience in this area.
But! REI has a handy guide for choosing the backpack that’s just right for your trip. Frame, capacity, comfort and extras - everything is taken into consideration.
Hope this helps!
If you are a woman and plan on backpacking for a longer amount of time, I love this backpack:
http://www.mountainsports.com/msmain.asp?Option=Detail&Detail=051542
It is fitted for a woman’s body, so it’s really comfortable. It also has a detachable, smaller backpack for day/weekend trips that has a secret pocket in it for valuables. I am small and relatively weak, but I was able to carry 3 month’s worth of crap on my back with no problem.
My only problem with the backpack is that it can hold a LOT of stuff, and if I have room to overpack, I will, and so I did. I ended up sending back a bunch of stuff with friends who visited (seriously - high heels?! What the hell was I thinking?!)