When you buy a rucksack for walking you want to get one which will cater for all your needs. The most important thing is that the rucksack is comfortable.
But after a few hours walking it probably won't be comfortable any more! If you are looking to be self-sufficient and walk long distances, a larger rucksack would definitely be advised, but otherwise a daysack will suffice. I'm sure it will be obvious which sort of bag you'll need.
If you are going on an expedition for something like Duke of Edinburgh award then you'll need a rucksack with a capacity of 65 litres or more.
Try to get the best rucksack you can, especially if going long distances, because it will pay off a lot when you are walking.
Since my expertise lie with Duke of Edinburgh walking I'll talk about larger 65 litre bags.
Things to look out for:
The bag should have a hip and chest strap. If it doesn't you really need to reconsider. For long distance walking with a heavy pack you will want to hold about 50% of the weight on your hips. So make sure the hip strap is padded/comfy too. You can always get some foam and attach it afterwards if it isn't padded enough for you.
Although not essential, good ventilation for your back will make a big difference out on the hills. If you have a sweaty back and shirt when you stop you are likely to get cold sooner, putting you at risk from hypothermia. You won't want to be sweating too much either. I should think most bags have reasonable ventilation for your back anyway nowadays.
The back needs to be well padded and adjustable too so that you have no problems on route. An adjustable back is also helpful if you are likely to grow in the next few years. You won't want to be buying another rucksack in a couple of years.
Check that the bag has adjustable compression straps so that you can really cram your kit in, and a sleeping bag compartment. The sleeping bag compartment can be really useful if you just want to get to your sleeping bag and not have to take everything else out of the bag.
You can get bags with a hole in the top for a platypus hose. This can come in pretty handy but it again isn't essential.
No rucksacks are waterproof. You must overcome this with waterproof liners that come in the form of plastic bags or waterproof sacks, depending on your budget. But one thing some rucksacks will provide is a waterproof cover. This is a cover that you can put around the outside of the bag, and it stops the bag from getting quite so wet. These can be quite useful since they'll stop your bag from becoming a lot heavier in pouring rain.
The last thing I'd take a look at is the pockets and front of the bag. It can be really handy to have some easily accessible pockets at the sides. They give you the opportunity to grab a snack or some water without taking off your rucksack. The front of the bag is important because some bags have features which come in handy. Such as a place you can clip things to or extra pockets and straps. So look out for that.
This article was written by Daniel Hinchliffe, author of The Walker's Guide, http://walkersguide.blogspot.com
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