Rucksack or Backpack
The Americans call them backpacks and the British call them rucksacks. Whatever you call them they are probably the most versatile form of luggage available today.
These days we see backpacks in use everywhere. They are particularly popular with school children and students who sometimes call them schoolbags or bookbags. Exceptionally versatile and practical, a backpack can provide a secure means of carrying school and college books along with lunch and other student essentials in one convenient holdall.
The term ‘rucksack‘ is actually derived from the German word ‘Rucken’ which means back. The term backpack was originally used early in the 20th century by Americans who had previously been using ‘knapsack’ and ‘packsack’.
These days there are numerous, varied backpack designs used for a multitude of applications from high-speed hill walking to carrying laptops. Some are equipped with frames, either internal or external. The frame is there to distribute the weight of the pack and helps to alleviate pressure on the shoulders from the shoulder straps. Larger backpacks will tend to have either internal or external frames.
Backpacks have long been used by the military enabling soldiers to carry essential kit while on marches. Modern specialised military backpacks, such as the Molle, are modular in design. The term ‘Molle’ stands for ‘Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment’. This type of rucksack can be expanded with additional, modular components that can be attached to the webbing vest.
Rucksacks designed specifically for backpacking and trekking generally have additional straps at the hips to distribute the sometimes heavy loads that need to be carried. In these designs the shoulder straps are mainly used for balancing the weight which is distributed to the legs.
Whatever you call them, rucksacks, backpacks, knapsacks or packsacks they are the most versatile, practical and ubiquitous forms of luggage available today.
By Tony Gee
If you are looking for a rucksack I recommend Ray Mears Woodlore Store where you can find some top quality backpacks.
