The right rucksack for the Rothaarsteig
The right rucksackrucksack for a tour on the Rothaarsteig
The stages are planned, the accommodation is booked and the anticipation of the Rothaarsteig is growing. Now is the time to start planning what you need to take with you on your tour. One of the most important pieces of equipment is undoubtedly the rucksack. It should not only store food and weatherproof clothing, but also be comfortable to carry.
The requirements for a rucksack vary depending on whether you transport your luggage yourself or have it transported from accommodation to accommodation with the help of a transport service.
Hiking rucksack or touring rucksack?
If you decide to have your luggage transported, a rucksack for day hikes is perfectly adequate. We recommend a hiking rucksack with a packing volume of between 15 and 30 liters. The key advantage of a hiking rucksack is that it has a ventilated carrying system. The pack sack is kept away from your back by a tensioning device. This is done either with the help of a back net or, even more reduced, with two straps. This creates a gap between the back of the hiking rucksack and your back, allowing air to circulate. The ventilated carrying system of a hiking rucksack thus ensures that moisture from perspiration evaporates quickly and makes it comfortable to wear. A sweaty back cannot be completely avoided, but it can be significantly reduced.
A lightweight hip belt also secures the rucksack and adapts flexibly to your movements. Ideally, a hiking rucksack should have side pockets for items that you want to access quickly during the tour. An integrated rain cover is just as useful as a hiking pole holder. If you are hiking the Rothaarsteig for several days and are carrying your own luggage from A to B, a - larger - touring backpack is recommended. touring rucksack. This usually has a packing volume of between 35 and 50 liters. Designed for carrying more luggage, it is equipped with a padded carrying system that transfers some of the weight to the ergonomically shaped hip belt and thus relieves the shoulders. To ensure the correct positioning of the hip belt, the carrying system of a touring backpack can be adjusted to your own back length.
Backpack models especially for women
For women there are special women's modelswhose fit is specially adapted to the female physique. They generally have a shorter and narrower backpack back, more curved shoulder straps and more tapered hip fins.
As not all women are the same, the ideal fit always depends on the individual physique. Not all women need to buy a special women's backpack. Unisex models can also fit perfectly. It always depends on the fit of the backpack and not on the name. By the way: women's backpacks can also be an alternative for very slim and petite men - don't be afraid of the name!
Extra tip: It's a good idea to try on the backpack before you buy it and load it with a realistic weight (!). Because a rucksack is like a shoe. Not every model fits everyone perfectly.
Conclusion
Whether you choose a hiking or touring backpack depends on how long you want to be out and whether you want to transport your luggage yourself or have it transferred. No matter which option you choose on the Rothaarsteig: The choice of rucksack should be carefully considered - after all, it will be with you for the entire tour, on your own back.