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Article: THE FIRST STEP BEFORE HITTING THE TRAILS: BE PROPERLY EQUIPPED.(Getaways)
- Article from:
- Seattle Post-Intelligencer
- Article date:
- May 28, 1998
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1998 Seattle Post-Intelligencer. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of the Dialog Corporation by Gale Group. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Consider comfort your most compelling consideration in selecting backpacking gear: proper fit for things you wear, lightweight and ease of use for other articles.
Here's a short list of equipment, with tips based on experts' advice and my own 20 years of tramping trails with a load on my back.
Backpacks: Most hikers are choosing internal-frame packs because they ride closer to the body, provide better balance and tend to be lighter. The traditional external frame pack, however, allows more ventilation of sweat and handles heavier loads better.
Variations in body size and shape make it mandatory that you try on several before buying. Find one ...