Andinia.com - Product Review: Brigade Quartermasters

Brigade Quartermasters - Backpacks

Offers a variety of backpacks for all kinds of outdoor adventures.

Your backpack is one of the most important components of your outdoor gear; don't purchase one too big, and don't overload it.

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Something that rarely concerns us when purchasing a small backpack is how versatile and comfortable will it be while we transport it in all sorts of vehicles. It may seem paradoxical, because we don not strap on a backpack while we sit, but nevertheless, we probably feel its presence.

Small backpacs are used for carrying survival kits, ice and rock climbing equipment in the case of mountaineers, or some sandwiches and perhaps a pullover or jacket in the event of weekend trekkers, hunters or any other outdoor enthusiast, for that matter. But we give little consideration - if any - to how are we going to use the small backpack in which we rely while outdoors during the rest of the time: the fact is that we will tend to use such backpacks in our daily lives, while we commute to work, go to the classroom, etc.

Yesterday we were two flying an Alon Ercoupe FO-2 over a stretch of nearly 200 nautical miles (about 380 Km), a task that takes about three hours in such an aircraft. Those who know the Ercoupe probably also experienced what is to sit there for three hours carrying some luggage: you feel like a sardin steering the can where it lives. So, this fairly long trip in a crammed space led to this particular comment.

The Ercoupe is a nice aircraft; too bad it doesn't have a cargo pod. You have to place everything behind your head, and the cockpit is bubble-shaped; so, there is almost no room there, and if two people fly, you can only carry about 9 kg of luggage. You can't say it is a cargo plane. However, there is plenty of room below your seat and legs, even if you are the pilot. The sad thing is that not all bags and small backpacks could fit in there not because of their volume, but their shape.

A similar thing has been probably experienced by you while travelling in airliners, buses and trains; you have very little room to place your bags over your heads, and then put them below your legs. And you end travelling quite uncomfortably (even more than in the Ercoupe, we say). But the problem is the same: more often than not, is the shape of the bags or backpacks, instead of their size, weight or volume, what matters. So, we recommend you to get a flat backpack; it is better that it expands laterally while it begins to be filled, than to the back. These tend to work much better below your legs.