Backpacks and school bags

Daypacks and school bags are perfect for everyday activities, including your kids' school days and casual hikes. Most models, unless they’re ultralight and designed to pack away into a pocket or another bag, feature a lightly padded back panel but lack a rigid internal frame. They’re ideal for carrying loads under 10kg, as the weight is supported by your shoulders rather than your hips. At MEC, you'll find a wide selection of daypacks from top brands like Osprey, Gregory, MEC Label, and more.

Daypacks

Daypacks encompass a wide range of smaller backpacks, each designed for specific activities. Day hiking packs often include mesh panels for enhanced breathability, helping prevent overheating on the trail. Mountain biking daypacks are built to keep your gear close to your body, improving balance and stability as you navigate rugged terrain. For travelers, ultralight daypacks make excellent companions. They are easy to pack into larger bags and typically meet most carry-on size requirements, making them ideal for globe-trotting adventures.

School bags

School and office packs are best built for the weekly days at the office or at school. They come with large compartments for laptops, textbooks and lunchboxes while also providing plenty of secondary slots for your many office or classroom essentials. While they work great for carrying just about anything, these bags aren’t recommended for your big hiking or camping trips, as they aren’t built to withstand the rough side of the elements. Backpacking packs are better for outdoor adventures.

Packs for kids

Kids’ packs are just smaller versions of adult packs. They’re engineered to keep your adventurers comfy on short day hikes or the walk to school, with helpful features like padded straps, a DWR finish and reflective details for better visibility.

Fitting a pack

Regardless of the pack's size, if it's properly fitted and adjusted, it should feel like an extension of your body. Here's how to measure your back length:

• Locate the most prominent vertebrae in your neck, at shoulder level.
• Find the top of your hipbone and trace a line around to the center of your back.
• Measure the distance between these two points—this is your back length.

Load the pack with about 8–10kg of gear and loosen all the straps, including the stabilizer straps at the top of the shoulder straps.