Bags designed to be carried on one's back, secured with shoulder straps. Containers for carrying supplies while traveling or hiking.
Compound word from 'back' and 'pack', first used in the early 20th century. The concept evolved from military knapsacks and Native American carrying bags, becoming popular for recreational use after World War II when military surplus gear entered civilian markets.
The modern external-frame backpack was revolutionized in 1967 by Greg Lowe, whose aluminum frame design distributed weight so effectively that it made multi-day hiking accessible to ordinary people, not just seasoned mountaineers. Interestingly, the human spine's natural S-curve makes us perfectly adapted for carrying loads on our backs - we're one of the few animals built for this type of load-bearing.
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