Squamishrock

In Soviet industry started to produce the serial backpack tourism in the early 30-ies of the last century. With various minor modifications such shapeless bags survived to this day, gradually moving from the level of climbing in the category of "to testify." Then came the famous "abalakovsky" backpack, so called by the name of its founder, the famous Soviet climbers pervovoshoditelya at the peak of Communism (at that time - the peak of Stalin). Abalakovsky backpack was not something unique, he borrowed best European experience in the design of equipment - in the pre-war years in the Caucasus are often visited German and Austrian climbers, so that our climbers had the opportunity to explore their experience. Later became the industry to produce a simplified and much less convenient option "abalakovskogo" backpack, and it is only recently could be bought in sporting stores. 
The next model was the legendary name Yarov, it was quite a modern backpack with side lacing and sound system of straps, but as yet without a lap belt. "Yarovskie" massively sewed backpacks for the Olympics-80, the valve of a picture of the bear and the five Olympic rings; tourists dissident was taken otparyvat this valve and pereshivat him inside out - it was called "to send the bear to a reference." As you can see, the design has always paid great attention. 

These backpacks were soft, that is, did not have a frame-machine or any other element of rigidity. Performed domestic industry and mounted backpack "Yermak". He had a lap belt and the frame of aluminum tubes. According to the statistics of accidents, "Ermak" not guilty in a broken cervical vertebra - the price is not too good design: the fall of the tourists have all chances to bang backset on the upper crossbar frame. 
It is clear that these models do not meet the growing demands of domestic travelers, so in 70 years of the 80 magnificent bloom handmade backpacks. They were превеликое a lot of diversity in designs run the eye. By the end of 80 years developed a more or less stereotyped form, in the narrow circles of St. Petersburg for some reason called "American." The basic principles are as follows: in the carcass was used as an internal hard thick foamed polyethylene sheet, an employee at the same time pad, the bag was the height of an average of about 80 cm and a width of 35-40 cm, required a wide lap belt, the top big valve to adjust the volume - lateral ties or lacing. The most important feature of a suspension system of straps, which have a third extra point of attachment on the back to the backpack does not fall off the high back of the back. These backpacks were made of the technical kapron that is produced by right or wrong. Buckle yourself vypilivali of sheet dyuralya, or household goods purchased in the steel ring for keys. In general, it was not boring. 
In the early 90's there were cooperatives for production equipment, which brought those previously shil backpacks to order. Very quickly, some of these cooperatives have become a respected company whose products we can now observe in the shops. Wide flow fled overseas models, so the choice is vast. The case for small - to choose wisely. 

Types of backpacks 

The soft backpack 
So called backpacks, which have no rigid skeleton elements. By volume it can be very large and very small backpacks. The main advantages of this design - the minimum weight, the opportunity to turn an empty bag is compact and remove, for example, in a kayak or a kayak. In order to give rigidity that a backpack should be properly put, a whole science. One option - put inside penopolietilenovy mat: a rigid sheet along the back, or scaling down a long carpet throughout the circumference of a backpack. In the latter case, lost an average of 11 liters of storage capacity. 
Correctly laid soft bag does not yield to a more advanced frame models. In Alaska, an annual competition reyndzherov, one of the stages - carrying a maximum cargo at a certain distance. The backpack with the most simple, the same as a hero was Jack London. So, the competition takes on a mountain trail about 100 kg! 

Frame backpacks 
To date, this is the most common type of backpack tourism. Most current models have a frame made of aluminum "lat" giving back backpack vertical stiffness. Less version with a plastic insert "anatomic" in all forms of back backpack. Frame backpacks are different from the easel so that the support structure is integrated into the bag, in whole or in part. In backpacks large volumes (60-120 liters) armor usually sew, and small backpacks often have a skeleton, deliberately separated from the bulk - back for ventilation. 
The usual system is a two-frame elastic plate, parallel or slightly divergent upward like the letter V. Conveniently, if possible to remove the armor and use the backpack as a "soft" - it may be necessary in the water while traveling packing belongings. 

Easel Backpack 
Brought to its logical end of the frame becomes a "machine". This term implies an external frame which embodied harness (straps and a belt), and to which is attached a single bag, or the possibility of mounting a variety of goods. We can say that the easel backpack - this is the frame with straps, and everything else you can hang on that framework to your liking. 
In the West, this kind of backpacks are sometimes called "Bergen type" (see, for example: "Encyclopedia of Mountaineering", Walt Unsworth), but not in honor of the Norwegian city of Bergen, and by the Norwegian firm Bergans of Oslo. In the 30-ies, the company received a large order for military uniforms of Finnish army, and among other items made in the light of the large number of small easel knapsack. They were so comfortable and practical, that different versions have spread all over the world. 
In recent years mounted backpacks back was lost popularity. The main scope of their use - walking trails. Especially valuable in the case of machines, particularly when it is necessary to move heavy and oversized cargo, such as when climbing or zabroske Speleological expeditions. Sherpas in the Himalayas on the machines manage to be huge plastic barrels with climbing belongings. Speleology pack to frame special transport bags and rope coils, then leave the machine on the surface at the camp, but with travel bags go into the cave. 
In the Tatras, even such a profession - a mountain porter, a man who put the goods in mountain huts. Since the work of porters is like sports, competitions, in which both professionals and amateurs, vpryagshiesya in machine porter exclusively from the sport. Compete in the speed reference output of goods at a certain height on a particular route. From time to time, attempts are made to carry cargo to record some of the huts. Most of the older and experienced porters Latso Kulanga (born 1949), using a special wooden easel backpack, in 1993, raised to a height of 1500 meters, 207 kilograms of cargo! Total weight of goods delivered Latso Kulangoy in mountain huts in 1999 was 1 003 600 kg. And all of this - a simple backpack easel (not including health, of course). There are models of machines with the possibility to attach the wheels at the bottom - is the trolley that you can roll on a level road. Another variety of machines - backpacks, chairs, especially their zhaluyut athletes orientirovschiki. Before and after the competition at this chair you can relax and change. And in a crowded Sunday train did not have to look for a place - "all of its burden with a". 

Materials 

Fabric 
On the strength of the fabric is largely dependent longevity backpack (important as seams and design features, but more on that later). 
Most backpacks sew from synthetic fabrics. The most common among them are Cordura and Oxford, the latter has another name, is widely known in our country - avizent. Oxford is softer and lighter than Cordura, but less robust. Emerging and new materials - for example, TitanTex, which vpleteny overstrength fiber. To increase the strength of some producers of reinforcing Kevlar fabric threads. Patents in most of these materials is the company DuPont. Often faced with the Chinese counterfeiting, which is cheaper but less durable. 
Cordura is a different density, marked numbers to 1000, inclusive. The higher the number, the stronger and heavier fabric. Therefore, the types of tissues combine: in most places abrade pose a heavy fabric, the less responsible units made from lighter materials. 
All of these fabrics have a waterproof layer, but it is not always possible to take clear advantage. First, through the seams backpack anyway, sooner or later, wet, and secondly, to dry, it will be very long in the third, impregnation is not very durable. Therefore, so far there are backpacks, made from a simple technical kapron, which was used 10-20 years ago. Fabric without impregnating quickly sop, but it dries very quickly. 
To ensure that the backpack does not sop the bottom (for example, that it can be put on wet grass or snow), the bottom is made of a dense impermeable fabric - from Tezy and its analogs, reaching for the manufacture of kayaks and catamarans. 
Another important point - the so-called "hot-cutting." This means that the edges of all the details of a backpack made of synthetic fabrics, must be oplavleny. Otherwise, sooner or later, under stress the fabric will shoot the breeze. If the backpack is made not from synthetics, the edges must be processed obtachany or overlock.