A backpack

A backpack (also called rucksack, knapsack, packsack, pack, Haversack, or Bergen) is, in its simplest form, a cloth sack carried on one's back and secured with two straps that go over the shoulders, but there can be exceptions. Light weight types of backpacks are sometimes worn on only one shoulder strap, or in the hand liken an ordinary bag. The Plymouth Backpack was a front wheel drive concept car, released in 1995. ... The word knapsack can refer to: a backpack the knapsack problem an American band, Knapsack (band) Category: ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1458x1467, 934 KB) taken and contributed to de by de:User:sjr File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1458x1467, 934 KB) taken and contributed to de by de:User:sjr File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The word sack can refer to: Look up sack in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article is about the body part. ...

Backpacks are often preferred to handbags for carrying heavy loads, because of the limited capacity to carry heavy weights for long periods of time in the hands. Large backpacks, used to carry loads over 10 kg, usually offload the largest part (up to about 90%) of their weight onto padded hip belts, leaving the shoulder straps mainly for stabilising the load. This improves the potential to carry heavy loads, as the hips are stronger than the shoulders, and also increases agility and balance, since the load rides nearer the person's own center of mass. This article is about the terms most basic meaning; a purse is also a race track term. ... For other uses, see Hand (disambiguation). ... Bones of the Hip In anatomy, the hip is the bony projection of the femur, known as the greater trochanter, and the overlying muscle and fat. ...

In ancient times, the backpack was used as a means to carry the hunter's larger game and other types of prey as a way of easier transport. In the cases of larger hunts, the hunters would dismember their prey and distribute the pieces of the animal around each one packing the meat into many wrappings and then into a bag which they place on to their back. The bag itself was made up of different animal hide and skin (depending on what sorts of animals were in the area) and sown together by the intestines of said animals, which were woven together tightly to make a sturdy thread-like material.

Terminology

The word backpack was coined in the United States in the 1910s. Knapsack and packsack were used before; they now occur mainly as regionalisms in North America. The word rucksack is a German loanword mainly used in the UK: 'der Rücken' means 'the back' (the part of the body) in German. The name Rucksack is cognate with Danish Rygsæk, Norwegian Ryggsekk, Dutch Rugzak, and Swedish Ryggsäck. Alternative names include Haversack, and Bergen(from the manufacturer's name Bergans, used for a backpack supported by an external frame, usually associated with the British Armed Forces). For dialects of programming languages, see Programming language dialect. ... A haversack, or havresack (through the French frog Ger. ... The armed forces of the United Kingdom, commonly known as the British Armed Forces or Her Majestys Armed Forces, and sometimes legally the Armed Forces of the Crown[1], encompasses a navy, army, and an air force. ...

Backpacks can often simply be referred to as "packs", especially in outdoors contexts; though sometimes ambiguous compared to other bags such as saddlebags and duffel bags, context is generally sufficient for identification. Medium size seatbag mounted to road saddle Illustration of medium size seatbag maximum capacity In cycling, a saddlebag or seat bag is a bag attached under the saddle, used mainly to hold bicycle repair equipment, such as spare inner tubes, tube patches, glue, repair tools and waterproofs. ... A duffel bag (or duffle bag), is a large cylindrical bag made of cloth with the closure at the top, often also refered to as a kit bag The name comes from Duffel a town in Belgium where the thick cloth the bag is made of originally originated. ...

Backpack designs

Backpacks in general fall into one of three categories: frameless, external frame, and internal frame. A pack frame, when present, serves to support the pack and distribute the weight of its contents across the body more easily (generally by transferring much of the weight to the hips and legs), so most of the weight does not rest on the shoulders, restricting range of motion and possibly causing damage from pressure on the straps. Most are capable of being closed with either a buckle mechanism or a zipper, though a few models use a drawstring for the main compartment. Range of motion or (ROM), as used in the medical and weightlifting communities, is the achievable distance between the flexed position and the extended position of a particular joint or muscle group, or more precisely, the measurement of that distance. ... Archeological bronze buckles from southern Sweden A buckle (from Latin buccula) is a clasp used for fastening two things together, such as the ends of a belt, or for retaining the end of a strap. ... This article is about the fastening device. ...

Frameless

The simplest backpack design is a bag attached to a set of shoulder straps. Such packs are used for general transportation of goods, particularly by students, and have variable capacity. The simplest designs consist of one main pocket. This maybe combined with webbing or cordage straps; while more sophisticated models add extra pockets, waist straps, padded shoulder straps, padded backs, and sometimes reflective materials for added safety when the wearer is out at night. In general these packs can be produced inexpensively. Webbing is a strong fabric woven as a flat strip or tube of varying width and fibers often used in place of rope. ... Rope is also the title of a movie by Alfred Hitchcock Coils of rope used for long-line fishing A rope is a length of fibers, twisted or braided together to improve strength, for pulling and connecting. ...

Some outdoors packs, particularly those sold for day hikes, ultralight backpacking and mountaineering are sometimes frameless as well. Ultralight backpacking is a style of backpacking that emphasizes the use of the lightest-weight equipment available. ...

External frame packs

The more traditional type of frame pack uses a rigid external frame which is strapped on the back and in turn carries and supports a cloth or leather sack and potentially strapped on items. External frames were traditionally used to carry heavy loads (20 kg / 40 lbs and more), giving the wearer more support and protection and better weight distribution than a simple, frameless strapped bag. Wooden pack frames have been used for centuries around the world (Ötzi the Iceman may have used one in Copper Age Alpine Italy [1][2], though some archaeologists believe the frame found with the body was part of a snowshoe), and such gear was common in military and mountaineering applications right up to the 20th century [3]; metal versions first appeared in the mid-20th century, and plastic designs towards the turn of the 21st. Modern pack frames are usually made from lightweight metal tubes, generally aluminium but sometimes also using titanium or scandium alloys. The frame typically has a system of straps and pads to keep the sack and the frame from contacting the body. The open structure has the added benefit of improved ventilation and decreased sweatiness. The fabric part of the pack occupies part of the frame's length, but the frame typically protrudes above and below. These areas of the frame allow bulky items (such tents, sleeping bags, and thermal pads) to be strapped on. Thus the main compartment is smaller than that of an internal-frame pack, because bulky items (tents, sleeping bags, thermal pads) are strapped to the parts of the frame not occupied by the main compartment itself. This may result in a less smooth load (annoying in dense forest) and less control over the movement of the center of gravity of the pack. While less popular than internal-frame gear, some manufacturers (such as Kelty, Jansport, and Coleman) continue to produce external packs, and military packs are often external-frame designs as well. “Ötzi” redirects here. ... The Chalcolithic (Greek khalkos + lithos copper stone) period or Copper Age period (also known as the Eneolithic (Aeneolithic)), is a phase in the development of human culture in which the use of early metal tools appeared alongside the use of stone tools. ... For other uses, see Snowshoe (disambiguation). ... An open crevasse. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the... Aluminum redirects here. ... General Name, symbol, number titanium, Ti, 22 Chemical series transition metals Group, period, block 4, 4, d Appearance silvery grey-white metallic Standard atomic weight 47. ... General Name, symbol, number scandium, Sc, 21 Chemical series transition metals Group, period, block 3, 4, d Appearance silvery white Standard atomic weight 44. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A sleeping bag is a protective bag for a person to sleep in, essentially a blanket that can be closed with a zipper or similar means, and functions as a bed in situations where it is impractical to carry around a full bed. ... Thermal pads or ground pads are thin, lightweight pads that are common among hikers, backpackers and budget travelers. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A sleeping bag is a protective bag for a person to sleep in, essentially a blanket that can be closed with a zipper or similar means, and functions as a bed in situations where it is impractical to carry around a full bed. ... Thermal pads or ground pads are thin, lightweight pads that are common among hikers, backpackers and budget travelers. ... Kelty (owned by American Recreation Products) is a manufacturer of backpacks, tents, and sleeping bags. ... The JanSport logo JanSport is a popular brand of backpacks owned by VF Corporation, one of the worlds largest apparel companies. ... Coleman Company, Inc. ...

Internal frame packs

An internal-frame pack has a large cloth section in which a small frame is integrated. This frame generally consists of strips of either metal or plastic that mold to one's back to provide a good fit, sometimes with additional metal stays to reinforce the frame. Usually a complex series of straps works with the frame to distribute the weight and hold it in place. The close fitting of the back section to the wearer's back allows the pack to be closely attached to the body, and gives a predictable movement of the load; on the downside, the tight fit reduces ventilation, so these type of packs tend to be more sweaty compared to external frame packs. The internal construction also allows for a large storage compartment. Internal-frame packs may provide a few lash points (including webbing loops and straps for sleeping bags and other large items), but as the frame is fully integrated and not available on the outside, it is difficult to lash a large, heavy item so that it stays fixed and does not bounce, so most cargo must fit inside. Internal-frame packs originally suffered from smaller load capacity and less comfortable fit during steady walking, but newer models have improved greatly in these respects. In addition, because of their snug fit, they ride better in activities that involve upper-body movement such as scrambling over rocky surfaces and skiing. The improved internal frame models have largely replaced external frame backpacks for many activities. This article is about metallic materials. ... For other uses, see Plastic (disambiguation). ...

Backpacks in daily use

In many countries, backpacks are heavily identified with students, and are a primary means of transporting educational materials to and from school.^[1] In this context they are sometimes known as bookbags or schoolbags. The purchase of a suitably fashionable, attractive, and useful backpack is a crucial back-to-school ritual for many students.^[2]

Typical school backpacks generally lack the rigid frame of an outdoor-style backpack and include only a few pockets in addition to the main holding space of the pack. While traditionally very simple in design, school backpacks are often made with padded straps and backs as well as additional reinforcement to hold large numbers of heavy textbooks, as well as safety features such as reflective panels to make the wearer of the pack more visible at night. It is very common for schools (especially colleges and universities) to sell backpacks decorated with the school logo. The University of Cambridge is an institute of higher learning. ...

Specialist ergonomic back packs are available that are designed to protect young backs and distribute the weight across the strongest muscles and relieve pressure on the neck and spine.

Backpacks are sometimes worn as fashion accessories, in which they perform the same function as a purse.^[3] Some such backpacks designed specifically for women are no larger than a typical purse, and are generally associated with younger, often college-age women. For other uses, see Purse (disambiguation). ...

Special-purpose backpacks

Camera backpack

Some backpacks are specifically designed to carry certain items. Common examples include backpacks for small, high-value items such as laptops and cameras (see photo);^[4] backpacks designed to hold laptop computers in particular generally have a padded compartment to hold the computer and are especially common in college and university settings. It is also possible to buy "picnic basket" backpacks that come with plastic dishes and utensils, a tablecloth, etc. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 687 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Backpack Canon Inc. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 687 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Backpack Canon Inc. ... An ultraportable IBM X31 with 12 screen on an IBM T43 Thin & Light laptop with a 14 screen A laptop computer, or simply laptop (also notebook computer, notebook and notepad) is a small mobile computer, typically weighing 3-12 pounds (around 1. ... For other uses, see Camera (disambiguation). ...

Backpacks (often made of clear plastic) are sometimes used as a type of packaging, particularly for educational toys and games targeted at children. In retail settings, loss prevention rules sometimes require employees to use clear plastic backpacks (as well as purses) to carry materials to and from work to prevent loss by employee theft. Loss prevention is a form of private investigation into larceny or theft. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

There are also single-strap packs that are essentially a hybrid between a backpack and a messenger bag. Messenger bag by Timbuk2. ...

Inexpensive, very simple packs that combine the drawstring and straps into a single piece of cloth or webbing are occasionally sold for use at sporting events and the like. Some high-end retailers (notably Apple Stores) use a similar design for their shopping bags as well. Apple Inc. ...

Rolling backpacks are backpacks with wheels on the bottom and an extending handle to ease carrying objects inside the backpacks. Because of its design, rolling backpacks reduce the strain on one's back, which is more ergonomic than regular backpacks, though rolling backpacks can be carried on the back as well.

Backpacks for professional use

Backpacks are a standard part of the carrying equipment of soldiers, especially infantry, in most countries, and military-style packs are regularly available to civilians in military surplus stores. Well-known examples include the United States ALICE field pack and the British Army PLCE rucksack attachment, both of which are widely available to civilian markets both as actual military surplus (new or used) and as replicas. Such packs are often, though not always (e.g. the USMC's ILBE pack), external-frame packs, with the pack itself lashed or pinned to a metal or plastic carrying frame. Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme in World War I Infantry or footmen are very highly disciplined and trained soldiers who fight primarily with small arms(rifles), but are trained to use everything from their bare hands to missle systems in order to neutralize... Military surplus are goods, usually matériel, that are sold at public auction when no longer needed by the military. ... Original components of ALICE circa 1973 US Army infantryman wearing ALICE circa 1973 US Army infantryman wearing ALICE circa 1973 LC-2 Individual Equipment Belt LC-1 Entrenching Tool Carrier LC-1 Field First Aid Dressing Case LC-1 Small Arms Ammunition Case LC-2 Water Canteen Cover LC-1... Personal Load Carrying Equipment (PLCE) is the current tactical webbing system of the British Army. ... The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the United States armed forces responsible for providing force projection from the sea,[1] using the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces and is one of seven uniformed services. ... The Improved Load Bearing Equipment is the United States Marine Corps new pack designated to replace the existing ALICE and MOLLE packs currently in service. ... Cotter pins: A. new B. as-installed C. spring type D. cross-section of traditional design A cotter pin is a metal fastener that is bent during installation, similar to a staple or rivet. ...

Many police tactical units, as well as players of military-style combat games such as paintball and airsoft, use military-style backpacks and webbing for storing gear and ammunition. There is also a small but thriving industry devoted to creating historical reproductions of military gear; such companies generally produce period-appropriate uniforms and other gear in addition to backpacks. This article is about Special Weapons And Tactics. ... A woodsball player firing at opponents from behind cover. ... Four players laying down fire on an objective that they plan to attack. ...

Some more recent military/tactical designs, especially the MOLLE and ILBE packs used by the United States armed forces, are covered with webbing loop attachment points for increased carrying capacity. United States Army soldier wearing MOLLE gear MOLLE, pronounced like Molly, the feminine name, is an acronym for MOdular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment. ... Webbing is a strong fabric woven as a flat strip or tube of varying width and fibers often used in place of rope. ...

Backpacks for leisure and travel

Backpacks are sometimes used as luggage, particularly as carry-on bags for airplane travel. The Luggage. ...

Backpacks form an essential part of the gear of the outdoor trekker and the urban backpacker, allowing more mobility and compactness than would be available to someone carrying most of their gear and clothing in a suitcase. Backpacking is a subculture of generally youthful travellers exploring the planet on a limited budget. ... A typical suitcase A suitcase is a narrow box-shaped bag, usually made of cloth or vinyl that more or less keeps its shape, has a handle at one end and is used mainly for transporting clothes and other possessions during trips. ...

In addition to their use in outdoors pursuits, backpacks are sometimes used in other sports as well. Hydration packs, sometimes used by runners and bicyclists, carry water (in either a bladder or a rigid bottle) and have a tube connected to them from which the wearer can drink without removing the pack; this feature is also included in some more general-purpose hiking backpacks. Backpacks that carry skateboards have also become more popular in the youth culture. A hydration pack is a type of hydration system built as a backpack or waistpack containing a reservoir or bladder commonly made of rubber or flexible plastic. ... A standard skateboard An old-school skateboard 1970s surfer print fiberglass skateboard A skateboard is a four wheeled platform used for the activity of skateboarding. ...

Backpacks for outdoor activities

Large internal-frame backpack

One common special type of backpack (sometimes referred to as a "technical pack" or "frame pack") is designed for backpacking and other outdoors activities. These type of packs are more complex than most other backpacks. Compared to backpacks used for more day-to-day purposes such as schoolbooks, such packs are designed to carry substantially heavier loads, and as a result most such packs attach not only at the shoulders but at the hips, using a padded hip belt to distribute the majority of the weight of the pack to the legs and not the back. The often heavily padded and sometimes semi-rigid shoulder straps are mainly for balancing the weight. They usually (except for those used in ultralight backpacking) have a metal or plastic frame to support and distribute the weight of the pack. Larger packs of this type tend to have a subdivided main compartment. These trekking packs often have several pockets on the outside; they may also have lash points on the exterior (either directly attached to the frame or webbing loops), so that bulky items may be strapped on, although depending on the pack design and type of trek most backpackers will try to stuff everything into the pack. Multiday packs typically have a content between 60 and 100 liters (and are about 3ft /1 meter tall). Smaller packs with similar features are available for shorter trips. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1161x1369, 596 KB) Summary A large backpack for trekking (Berghaus Vulcan) Author: LHOON Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1161x1369, 596 KB) Summary A large backpack for trekking (Berghaus Vulcan) Author: LHOON Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... This article is about backpacking in the wilderness. ... Ultralight backpacking is a style of backpacking that emphasizes the use of the lightest-weight equipment available. ... Webbing is a strong fabric woven as a flat strip or tube of varying width and fibers often used in place of rope. ...

The most common materials for such packs are canvas and nylon, either ripstop fabric for lightweight packs or heavier fabric such as cordura for more typical usage. Most such packs are purpose-designed for the outdoors market; however, it is not uncommon for military surplus packing gear to be sold to outdoorspeople as well for the same purpose. The cheaper versions of the outdoor packs are often favoured by city trekkers; as they have a large volume and still carry relatively easily. Look up Canvas in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses of this word, see nylon (disambiguation). ... Ripstop (also incorrectly called ripstock and also ribstock) is a woven fabric that has another type of single or double thread woven into it. ... CORDURA was the registered name of a certified (nylon) fabric from DuPont [1] . Today, it is the registered name of a high-performance Nylon66 product manufactured by INVISTA, a wholly-owned division of Koch Industries, Inc. ... Military surplus are goods, usually matériel, that are sold at public auction when no longer needed by the military. ...

Outdoors packs, in addition to the distinction between external-frame and internal-frame, can be further subdivided based on the duration of trip a pack might be expected to be used on; daypacks hold supplies for a single day's hiking (size about 20-30 litres), while "weekender" bags can hold two to three day's worth of gear and supplies (sizes about 40-50 litres). Larger packs generally have no specific names but are designed to distribute the weight of increased numbers of gear and supplies for longer-duration trips (60-100 litres); such packs often include complex ergonomic support features to simplify the carrying of large amounts of weight. A third type with little or no frame at all, similar to the bookbags used by students and made of light fabric (often nylon ripstop, as mentioned above), is used in ultralight backpacking to eliminate the weight of the frame and heavy fabric used in more typical outdoors packs. Despite (or perhaps because of) their lesser weight, such packs are seldom less expensive than more typical, regular-weight packs. Ultralight backpacking is a style of backpacking that emphasizes the use of the lightest-weight equipment available. ...

In addition, outdoors packs are designed for specific purposes such as kayaking/canoeing, rock climbing, mountaineering, cross country skiing, and other such activities. Packs used in competitive strategic sports such as paintball and airsoft are often based on or actually are military gear. Look up kayak in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article is about the boat. ... Climbers on Valkyrie at the Roaches. ... An open crevasse. ... Cross-country skiing (aka XC skiing) is an adventure and fitness activity as well as a competitive winter sport popular in many countries with large snowfields, primarily in Europe and Canada. ... A woodsball player firing at opponents from behind cover. ... Four players laying down fire on an objective that they plan to attack. ...

Daisy chain

A daisy chain is a small strip of webbing stitched to the pack at regular intervals to form multiple loops. This allows a backpacker to secure many different types of objects to the exterior of the pack. The elementary meaning of daisy chain is a garland created from the daisy flower, generally as a childrens game. ... Webbing is a strong fabric woven as a flat strip or tube of varying width and fibers often used in place of rope. ... A loop is one of the fundamental structures used to tie knots. ...

See also

• Bindle
• Briefcase
• Ditty bag
• Duffel bag
• Fanny pack
• Hydration backpack
• Messenger bag
• Musette bag
• Papoose
• Portmanteau (travelling case)
• Purse
• Satchel (bag)
• Suitcase
• Swag bag (in the Australian sense, not the promotional gift bag)
• Shoulder straps
• Tote
• Wheel

This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... A duffel bag (or duffle bag), is a large cylindrical bag made of cloth with the closure at the top, often also refered to as a kit bag The name comes from Duffel a town in Belgium where the thick cloth the bag is made of originally originated. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Messenger bag by Timbuk2. ... Musette can refer to several things: A type of bellows blown bagpipe found in rural France; also called musette de cour). ... A papoose (from the Algonquian papoos, meaning child) is an English loanword whose present meaning is an American Indian child (regardless of tribe). ... A portmanteau (from 16th century French, plural portmanteaux) is a large travelling case made of leather. ... For other uses, see Purse (disambiguation). ... A satchel is a bag used by many people to carry books, and other objects in. ... A typical suitcase A suitcase is a narrow box-shaped bag, usually made of cloth or vinyl that more or less keeps its shape, has a handle at one end and is used mainly for transporting clothes and other possessions during trips. ... This article is about the Austrailian use of the term meaning a portable shelter. ... Promotional items or promotional products refers to articles of merchandise that are used in marketing and communication programs. ... A shoulder strap may be one of a number of things: A length of fabric or other flexible material (such as leather, vinyl, rubber), used to suspend an item, often of some weight, from the shoulder(s). ... A totalisator or totalizator (tote board in common parlance) is the name for the computerised system which runs parimutuel betting, calculating payoff odds, displaying them, and producing tickets based on incoming bets. ... For other uses, see Wheel (disambiguation). ...

References

Notes

USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. ...

Bibliography

External links

• Backpacking Backpacks | Outdoor High Adventure
• Packing a hiking bag, an article giving advice about several considerations.
• "The Ditty Bag" from Get Out! magazine