It's the time of year when we're most likely to be heading for the hills but which rucksacks are best for shipping those essential supplies? Shoptalk investigates.

I love to go a-wandering along a mountain track

And as I go, I love to sing, my knapsack on my back

Fal da re-e-e, Fal da ra-a-a...

OK, hands up who remembers Family Favourites and that awful children's choir? We can't now get that silly song out of our heads and it's all because we've been looking at day packs. Not the big, serious, heavy-duty jobs for people who run up and down mountain peaks before breakfast, but luggage for the rest of us - those of us who like a day out walking, via a decent pub, and just need somewhere to store the map, phone, spare jumper and emergency picnic and bottle of water in case the pub is further than we thought.

It looked so easy. Shops are full of small rucksacks - children lug them back and forth to school. But we knew what we wanted and it proved quite hard to find. Here are some points to consider:

* A proper rucksack is designed so the weight is carried on your shoulders. Bags designed for school have a built-in schoolboy slouch. Possibly stylish, but terrible for the back. As most children don't walk to school anymore, it's unlikely to cause them great damage, but if you're struggling up a one-in-three hillside, it could make a difference.

* Double zips are recommended. Otherwise, every time you want something from your pack, you have to open the whole thing up and everything falls out. Irritating at best. Disastrous if you've stopped in a thunderstorm to get out your waterproof.

* Best to have a couple of inside pockets. You need to be able to find things like your purse or plasters easily.

* And also outside pockets. You don't want a drink bottle inside the main bag as it could leak - disaster. Plus, you don't want to have to unpack everything to find it. You need to be able to check the map. Often.

* Shoulder straps should be comfy. We're not being picky, but if you're wearing a thin shirt, and certainly a sleeveless shirt, a minor niggle can soon be a major agony, especially after sunburn

* It's good to have an air channel back. (This just means that the back of the rucksack isn't flat against your back and gives a bit of room for air to flow.) Not exactly sophisticated, but it helps.

* The rucksack should be waterproof. Last summer, the big risk was sunburn. This summer, the forecast is none too good. Although most rucksacks are made of pretty tough material, they can still leak round zips. You can buy a wrap-round cover for your day pack, but some of them come with an integral cover, which makes life easy.

* Consider the capacity. If you're just strolling, you don't need a massive backpack. Capacity is measured in litres. (Who pours litres of liquid in to their rucksacks?) Children are more likely to carry their own things if they have something small and light to carry - with about a five litre capacity. A 20 litre backpack will hold a couple of jackets, jumper, picnic and probably a good book or two.

* Waist straps are a nice extra if you're going to be carrying heavy loads. But we don't plan to get that serious.

SPECIAL PURPOSE BACKPACKS

THERE are some that are just picnic bags nicely insulated and sometimes equipped with plates and cups - excellent for what they do, but where do you put your jumper?

Hydrating systems are for cyclists, serious walkers or very thirsty people - basically they mean you have a glorified straw so you can keep drinking while you're walking along. Vital in some circumstances but probably a bit OTT for the average family stroll.

WHERE TO LOOK

SPECIALIST outdoor and walking shops. Yes, general sports shops have lots of backpacks, but a lot of these tend to be aimed at slouchy students. For instance, we liked the Quicksilver range - lots of zips and pockets - but they wouldn't have done the job we wanted.

The specialists also know what they're talking about and are more likely to get you the right bag for the job you want. Prices range from eye watering right down to very cheap. You don't have to spend more than you need and expert advice could save you money.

TRY THEM ON

NOT as daft as it sounds. It might only be a little back pack for an afternoon stroll, but you could still be wearing it for a couple of hours at least, so it needs to be comfortable, so comfortable that you can forget about it.

OUR FAVOURITES

FOR CHILDREN OR SMALL LADIES

Peter Storm Zebedee, £6.99

Main pocket, zipped outside pocket and two mesh pockets. Comes in bright pink and purple with butterfly motif.

Gelert Kan Go, £5.99

Absolutely basic - main pocket, one zipped outside pocket. Comes in a range of bright colours, including pink and purple.

FOR ADULTS

Plenty to choose from if you look carefully, but we liked:

Berghaus Cubic 20, £22

The biggest we'd want from a day pack, this is quite a serious item. Two big main pockets, outer pocket mesh bottle pockets and a dinky little thing in the straps for your mobile. Nice squishy comfortable shoulder straps, waist straps and lots of hooks and things for fastening. Separate waterproof cover costs £5.95.

Regatta Survivor 15, £12.99

Not quite as big as the Berghaus - 15 litre capacity rather than 20 - and possibly not as toughly made. But it has two big pockets, outside pocket, side pockets, padded mesh back with cooling channels, waist straps, toggles and fasteners. It also has a built-in waterproof cover that you can just whip out from the base. At this price, it has to be worth trying.