Capacity Guide
Capacity in litres is the most useful number on a backpack and the least intuitive. This guide sets out what each range actually carries, and which Ridgework packs sit in it.
One thing worth knowing first: litres measure the main compartment, not the pockets, and makers measure them differently. Treat a quoted capacity as a close guide rather than a precise volume.
Under 25L, a day
A laptop, a charger, lunch, a bottle and a layer. This is the commuting and day-hiking range. Below about 20L you are carrying essentials only.
- Ultralight Hiking Daypack, 270 g, our lightest
- Slim Hiking Backpack, 640 g
- Slim Laptop Backpack 15.6 Inch, 12 cm deep
- 24L Business Laptop Backpack, fits a 16 inch machine
25 to 35L, an overnight
Everything above plus a change of clothes and a wash bag. This is the most useful range for most people, and the one that covers both a working week and a weekend away.
- 26L Roll Top Laptop Backpack
- 30L Travel Backpack with Shoe Compartment
- 30L Insulated Cooler Backpack, holds up to 48 cans
- Roll Top Laptop Backpack 16 Inch
35 to 50L, a long weekend
Three to five days of clothes, shoes kept separate, and a laptop. This is where a backpack starts to replace a cabin bag, and where airline personal-item limits start to matter.
- 35L Foldable Hiking Backpack, packs into its own pouch
- Expandable Travel Backpack 40L
- Travel Backpack, in the 40L size
50L and above, multi-day
A full kit for several days outdoors. At this size the harness matters more than the volume: you want an adjustable shoulder system and a belt that actually carries weight on your hips.
- 75L Tactical Hiking Backpack, 2260 g, rain cover included
A note on expandable packs
Several of our travel packs expand by 7 to 10 cm, which moves them up a range when you need it. Two things to keep in mind. Expanded depth can push a pack past some airlines' personal-item limits, so check your carrier. And an expanded pack carries less comfortably than a pack that is the right size to begin with, because the load sits further from your back.
Still unsure?
Email support@ridgework.shop with what you need to carry and we will tell you which pack fits, including if the answer is that none of ours does. We reply within 24 hours, seven days a week.