Pin down the capacity you need by looking at your gear - if you have an old rucksack and you know its capacity then use this to guage what capacity you need. If it's for winter as well as summer use you'll need extra capacity for extra, bulkier gear - if you are buying a backpacking rucksack you need to factor in space for food, be it 3 days, 5 days or more.

Hipbelts are critical to a comfortable carry. I would only consider a pack without a hipbelt if I was carrying an ultra minimalist daypacking load - otherwise a hipbelt is a must. Some are simply webbing with a plastic buckle - these don't add anything to comfort but they do add stability - all that's needed if you're running with a very light load. For everything else we think a padded hipbelt is essential, when teamed up with an internal frame the combination transfers the load to the hips where it's easiest to carry and will ensure you don't get sore shoulders. Although the usefulness of a good hipbelt on a pack without a frame will depend on how well you can stiffen the pack.

After you've chosen your back system and capacity, consider the features you need - these will be down to personal taste but things to look for:

• Hip belt pockets - worth having but are they big and easy to get into, or small and not much use?
• External mesh stuff pockets - great for packing away a wet flysheet or waterproofs. Side pockets can be used to store inverted trekking poles.
• Hydration bladder - is there an internal pocket with a tube exit port?
• Lid or no Lid? - Many lightweight packs don't have lids, just a rolltop closure. This saves weight and a good design is just as weather proof as a lid, but lids usually have at least 2 pockets which can keep you organised.
• Vented backs - we don't stock them because they tend to be heavy, and anyway a load that transfers well to the hips will naturally sit off the back allowing a degree of venting. You can pull it closer using straps when you need stability on steep slopes.

A few things to look out for then when choosing your next pack. Follow the links below to view our range of lightweight rucksacks & for more advice contact us here or give us a call.