The great pack debate: internal or external?

By Carol Tucker

About the seventh day into a 10-day Sierra Club backpack, my trusty external frame pack (a Kelty, purchased for $85 from Sportmart in 1991) started to hurt. I mean really hurt. As if the frame had morphed into a knife piercing my back.
It was then that I noticed most of the women on the trip had internal frame packs. I tried one on and couldn’t believe the difference. It had a thick, luxurious hip belt, a cushiony lumbar pad that protected my lower back, and about a million possible shoulder strap adjustments. Plus, it was a perfect fit—and given that I am small (under 5 feet) that’s something to get excited about.
So a few weeks later when I saw the exact same pack (a Dana Design) on sale, I snapped it up. I’ve been using that pack for about eight years now, and am still quite happy with it. While I made the big switch, I have a few friends who still love and carry their old external frame packs.
Take my buddy Susan McDonough, for instance. Susan has both an internal and external frame pack, but still prefers her external for basic backpacking on trails. It has lots of pockets, and is easy to organize. It doesn’t make her back sweaty so she especially likes to use it in the summer.
“I notice everyone is going to internal frame packs so I feel like a dinosaur sometimes—but a pretty clean and organized dinosaur,” she says. If you are new to backpacking, how do you choose?
First, realize that most advice and opinions you get from backpackers are subjective, based on their own likes or dislikes. But there are some definite advantages and disadvantages of each.
Basically, internal frame packs integrate their framework inside the pack, behind the shoulder harness. The frame consists of stays, or flat bars. They can be removed and shaped to conform to your back. These packs have a narrow profile and hug your body. They use compression straps that keep the load stable.
Internals offer the advantages of flexibility and balance. They are stiff but not rigid. They move with your body and hold your equipment closer to your center of gravity. For these reasons, climbers and skiers prefer internal packs.
The main complaints about internal frame packs are that they make you sweat more, because the weight is pressed against your back. Also, they are really one big sack (although most have a separate compartment for your sleeping bag), so they can be harder to organize and pack.
External frame packs connect the nylon pack to a rigid aluminum frame. Historically, they dominated backcountry trips until internals appeared on the scene in the 1970s. Many trekkers still prefer them. They carry the load squarely on your hips. They are cooler because the frame keeps the load from directly pressing against your back. They also have lots of pockets so it’s easy to organize your stuff. On the downside, however, they have less agility and can throw you off balance when rock hopping or stream crossing.
Mark Jacobs, who leads multiple-day backpacks for the Sierra Club, had used an external frame pack for years and then switched a few years ago. He had purchased a new external frame pack that was abrasive, so decided to try out an internal frame.
Those who have gone on Mark’s trips know that his load is a little different from the norm, in that he carries a guitar. “My own personal big issue was where to lash on my guitar,” he notes. “The external frame was better for this because it provided more bracing to tie the guitar to, whereas the internal frame has just one center tying area, so the guitar is always shifting and sliding.”
Beth Powis, who also leads backpacking trips, tried an external frame pack once. “It was so heavy I couldn’t put it on by myself. That was the end of that. After that weekend, I was definitely an internal frame backpacker.”
Powis took a long time finding a pack that fit until she rented a North Face pack and experienced her first pain-free backpacking weekend. That was in 1997, and she still uses the same pack today. Interestingly, for some reason the man’s hip belt fit better than the woman’s. The trick is to try different solutions until you figure out what works.
The bottom line when choosing a pack? Most agree it boils down to one thing: Comfort.
The waist belt, shoulder straps, and other pack components have to fit, and be adjusted properly for whomever is carrying the pack, says Mark “Roadkill” Hertz, a long-time WTC instructor. Hertz, who continues to prefer a Kelty external frame pack (mainly because he hasn’t found an internal that has lots of pockets and weighs less than 5 pounds), points out that over the last 15 years, manufacturers have greatly improved the way packs fit. “There’s just no comparison between my 1985 Super Tioga and my 1998 Super Tioga,” he says.
Paul Shaffer, who recently bought a rather expensive internal frame pack after voraciously reading product reviews and gathering recommendations, suggests renting a few different types of packs before making the purchase. Ultimately, the question one has to answer is: “How does it feel after eight miles and 2,000 feet of elevation gain?”
In the final analysis, selecting a pack is quite subjective, based on each person’s physique, proportion, condition, and other preferences. Just make sure that whatever pack you choose, it has a lot of adjustable features and comes with a good customer satisfaction policy. Then saddle up and enjoy the hike.

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