|
Although the term "Backpack" was said to have been coined in the
United States in 1910, it was not a new concept. The Backpack also
known around the globe as Knapsack, Rucksack and packsack appears to
have been around since Man first walked upright. It is proven that is
easier to carry heavier loads when utilizing a backpack rather than
attempting to carry the same load in hand. The
Backpack design
improves potential to carry heavy weights by dispersing the weight
across the hips, back and shoulders. In centuries old, hunters would
carry larger game that had been quartered utilizing the animals skins
as the backpack. This method not only allowed the hunters to carry
more weight , it freed up hands for their weapons.
Modern Backpacks have improved and evolved into complete system
of backpack, gear pockets, Molle Loops and much more. Backpacks
has found it's way into almost all walks of modern life -
Children's book bags, Hunting, Day trips, Vacation travel, Law
Enforcement, Military and much more.
Backpacks in general fall within four basic categories -
Frameless, Internal Frames, External Frames and bodypack.
Frameless -
The simplest design of backpacks is a single
pocket bag attached to a set of shoulder straps. Many frameless
backpack systems now utilize hip padding, chest and hip straps.
External Frame Packs -
External framed backpacks originally were
designed to carry heavier loads than the older frameless packs.
Although the first backpack frames are reported to have been made of
wood they are now constructed of lightweight metal alloy tubing or
graphite fiber. The list of new frame backpacks are too many to
discuss in this short article., just Google them.
Internal Frame Packs -
The internal frame backpack is
a rather young invention compared to the other styles available as it
was invented in 1967. Greg Lowe who founded Lowepro specializing
in backpacks and other forms of carry bags. The internal frame pack
has a large cloth section in which a small frame is integral. See
Google for more info.
|