Camping Gear – Do You Know the Difference between His and Hers Backpacks?

When it comes to camping gear, few people stop to think that there just might be a difference between gear designed for men and gear designed for women. Of course, most people think that men will want gear to safely carry items like hand guns, crossbows and other ‘manly’ items, but is there any real difference other than perhaps color? Do you know the real difference between his and hers backpacks?

1. Women’s Backpacks Have Narrower Shoulders

The first real difference is in the breadth of the shoulders. Obviously, most women have narrower shoulders than men so the shoulder straps will be narrower to reflect this difference in anatomy. The purpose of a backpack is to carry weights safely, but the wrong width of straps can place the weight in the wrong area, causing major pain at the end of the day. A good tip here is to find a backpack with well-padded straps to keep your bones from becoming bruised – and believe it or not, they really can!

2. Hip Belts Are Different Based on Gender

Women are obviously a bit (a bit?) shapelier than men, so belts on a backpack will reflect this as well. The purpose of the belt is to take some weight off the shoulders, just like shoulder straps, and are meant to distribute weight evenly on the back. Finding the right belt on a woman’s backpack ensures that weight will be evenly distributed by working in conjunction with the shoulder straps.

3. Length and Overall Size

Let’s face it. Women are generally smaller than men. Yes, some women are six feet and taller, but that is not the norm. In 2010, the average height for women in the United States was approximately 5’4” and the average height for men was 5’10”. That is a significant difference, and as a result, the torso will be longer on men than on women.

The Ultimate Purpose of Backpacks Must Be Considered

Length is important when it comes to camping backpacks as they are going to be holding various amounts of weight. Remember that the ultimate purpose of a backpack is to ease the burden on the back, bones and muscles. Unevenly distributed weight can cause more problems than you would care to think about, some lasting a lifetime.

When you start looking for camping gear, there may not seem to be a huge difference between his and hers camping backpacks, but there really are significant differences. Make sure the pack you carry will not place undue strain on muscles and that the pack allows you to walk with proper posture. By ensuring the right distribution of weight you should be able to stand up tall and straight. The wrong backpack, too short or too long, will almost always put the weight where it isn’t supposed to be. Now, with all that said and done, it’s time to think about what to pack – but that’s another story for another day.