What's the bottom line? If you're spending your hard-earned savings on a backpack, choose one that'll last. Here are the signs of good quality and manufacture: reinforced seams, tightly woven nylon fabric, sturdy zippers (size #10 or larger), and bar tacking (reinforced stress points).

2torial #0825: Learn2 Choose the Right Backpack (Continued) Choose a loading design Again, there is lively debate on the virtues of each design, but the bottom line is the same--there's always a trade-off. Every good aspect has its negative result. Top-Loading: Based on the traditional rucksack, top-loading packs have one big hole at the top. Pro: These are stronger and more moisture resistant than panel-loaders. Con: They require more careful packing than panel-loaders, both to balance the load and to make items easily accessible. Panel-Loading: These have a large U-shaped front zipper, allowing access to more of the pack. Pro: You can find things faster, and don't have to pack as carefully. Con: You can't pack this as fully as a top-loading model, and zippers can fail. Hybrid-Loader: The best of both worlds. Usually a top-loader with vertical side zippers. Step 5