I don’t believe the calendar when it says spring is a few weeks old. It has taken forever to arrive, even though I like winter a lot. Now, there’s a summer hiking season ahead. That makes this a great time to get a new pack before heading outdoors.

Maybe you’re a first-time hiker and this summer plan on some big climbs on mountains around the state. You’ll need a pack to carry lunch, water and a jacket to stay comfortable when stopping at the summits, or if the weather turns mean.

Even seasoned long-distance trekkers become confused with the huge variety of pack types and styles in the outdoor shops.

Deciding on one can seem as tough as a long, uphill hike on a rainy day. However, by keeping a few things in mind, choosing a pack can be as easy as a flat shore walk in midsummer. The first thing you need to know is how you plan to use it.

If you want a pack for short hikes, up small hills or mountains that can be climbed in a half-day or all day, then you want a day pack. They’re sized and designed for only a few items and a lunch. That’s why they’re called day packs. It’s not because you can put several days worth of stuff in them. Most range from 1,400 to 3,500 cubic inches in interior size. Even a long woodland or shore hike can make you hungry for lunch and you’ll need someplace to carry water.

If you plan to hike in so-so weather, your pack should be big enough for a jacket and maybe wind pants. That should just about fill a daypack.

You can use the rest of the space for the few items that make up the essentials: first aid kit, toilet paper, a trowel for digging a hole, map, compass, emergency whistle, pocket knife, matches or lighter and flashlight or headlamp. These items should be a part of everyone’s pack, no matter how far the hike or the location. For instance, I have an emergency whistle in my first aid kit. The whistle has never been used in the 25 years I’ve had it, but it’s always in there.

How you load the pack is pretty much up to you. There are top-loaders with a drawstring top. Those are the simplest to load. But searching for the stuff at the bottom when you need it next can be annoying, until you figure out how to anticipate what you’ll need and when during the hike. There are zippered top-loading compartment packs. They have separate compartments or pockets so you avoid shuffling through the pack to use stuff from it. Some of the newer designs feature clamshell openings with double-action zippers. Whatever you choose, try to remember how you plan to organize your gear. That will help you decide on which style is right for you.

If you plan on a weekend or longer hike including overnights, then you need a larger pack than a daypack. The general rule is the bigger the pack, the more days worth of food and equipment you can carry. Usually called expedition or multi-day packs, they are really just backpacks. They run in size from 3,500 to more than 6,500 cubic inches. They also come in several varieties, more so than in daypacks.

There are external frames, internal frames, no frames and light packs. Frame packs are the ones with a metal frame that’s visible from the outside of the pack bag. The bag attaches to the frame, usually with clevis pins and rings. Internals are packs where the frame is not visible, but is integrated internally within the pack. There are advantages and disadvantages to both types.

Externals are durable, compartmentalized with a lot of pockets, but comfort is secondary. Internals are comfortable, able to carry more inside the main bag, but fewer outside pockets restricts access to your gear.

All come with varying configurations for packing and organizing your gear, food and sleeping bag. The same principle that you used to select a daypack can be applied to a backpack. It all depends on how you plan to load and organize your equipment.

Along with the variety of frame types there are also different access options. Some are top-loading with a spindrift collar and some sort of drawstring closure, covered with a top flap, with a zippered pocket for small or loose items. Others incorporate a front panel loading design that offers easy access, thus eliminating rummaging through your pack for your equipment. Some are a combination of the two, a top-loader with a zippered panel compartment for a sleeping bag, and a couple of outside pockets.

Once you’ve finally selected a pack that seems to work for you, it needs to fit your body. Most packs offer adjustments, usually in the form of torso adjustments for internal packs, or pins that can be relocated on externa-frame packs. Try it on in the store and make all the adjustments until you get a fit you like. If you can’t make it fit in the store, try another type, because it probably will never fit outside.

When I shop for a new pack the last thing I do, after checking the price, is open all the pockets and stuff my hands into the corners of every one. I like to check just how it will feel when I’m searching for that one item that’ll make the difference between a good morning or a cranky start, my oatmeal.

If you’re into deep research and technical comparison, get the March 2002 issue of Backpacker that is the magazine’s annual gear guide. It lists hundreds of items of interest to the backpacker or camper, including 533 backpacks listed by type of use. You’ll find charts that list capacity, weight, frame types, loading types and features of each model listed, including whether it has woman-specific components or is designed specifically for women. By taking the time to weed out the packs you’re not interested in, you’ll save time when you head to your outfitter to begin the touch, feel and compare portion of your shopping expedition.

Brad Viles is an avid hiker who lives in Ellsworth.