This is a guest post by Scott Kelby, author of The iPhone Photography Book.

One of the most impressive features of the iPhone is its ability to shoot super-wide panorama images that capture way more of the scene we're standing in front of than a standard iPhone picture would give. 

Since you see more of the scene, it gives the viewer a sense of being there. That's a massive advantage for the outdoor photographer.

Not only does it capture more of the scene, but the fact alone that it's a long, thin panoramic image-and not the standard-sized iPhone photo we see day in and day out-makes it more interesting to the viewer. 

Besides giving us a more expansive view of the scene, shooting a "pano" gives us a much higher-resolution image because it's a bunch of photos all stitched together to make one big image. 

This is helpful if you decide to print your pano (more on this in a moment) because you'll have more than enough resolution to make a giant print. 

By the way, if you've ever seen an Apple billboard on the side of a building, 20-stories high, and it says, "Shot on the iPhone," and you thought, "Oh, come on now, how can that be?" it's because they got the resolution to put up that massive image by shooting in Pano mode.

You're not looking at just one iPhone image on the building-that's a whole bunch of photos stitched together to make one giant image. 

Pro Tip: Use an iPhone case to help protect your phone from accidental drops and damage while shooting outdoors.

Plus, shooting a pano is easy: You open the Camera app on your iPhone, and right above the round shutter button, you'll see a list of the Camera app's shooting options. 

The default is Photo, so swipe to the left on that list until Pano is selected and appears right above the shutter button.

You'll now see a large, white arrow on a thin, yellow line appear in the center of your screen. 

Press the shutter button to start taking your pano, and as you start panning across the scene from left to right, you will want to keep that white arrow as centered on that thin, yellow line as possible so you get the best results. 

This is much easier to do if you pan slowly through the scene (and, if you go too fast, it will tell you, right onscreen, to "Slow Down"). 

When you're done, tap the shutter button again, or it will automatically stop when you get to the end of the yellow line. 

That's all there is to it: open the Camera app, choose Pano mode, and keep that white arrow centered along that yellow line as you pan, and your iPhone will do the rest. 

So, now that you know how to make a panorama on iPhone, I want to share five of my favorite tips for shooting them to help you capture your best outdoor pano images. Here we go!

Shooting iPhone Panoramas

1. You Don't Have to Only Shoot Wide Panos

Although we consider panoramic images wide, your iPhone's pano feature works just as well for shooting tall panos. 

So, the next time you're standing in front of a waterfall, a soaring sequoia tree, or a fantastic tall building, turn your iPhone sideways (so that the white arrow and yellow line are pointing straight up). 

Start at the waterfall's base (tree, building, etc.) and pan up to its top. It will stitch this tall image together perfectly, just as it does with the wide panos. 

2. Don't Shoot "Too Wide"

If you are thinking of sharing your image on Instagram or Facebook, don't make your pano too wide because it has to fit in a horizontal space in the app, and if you make a very wide pano, it's going to be tiny when you post it. 

But, beyond that, panos tend to look their best when you don't go too wide-I try to go around twice or three times as wide as a regular photo when I'm panning, and you'll usually wind up with better-looking panos.  

3. Don't Let the Arrow and Line Distract You

When we shoot in Panorama mode on iPhone, that white arrow and the yellow line on your screen can take over your composition. 

By that, I mean it's easy to focus on putting the yellow line where it's easy to see that you're more focused on that line than composing a great shot. 

Your pano might look better if your camera is aiming a bit upward, or downward, or at some angle, and that's the most important thing-making an interesting composition-not centering the already centered line and arrow. 

So, try to ignore where that white arrow and yellow line are while you're composing the shot and instead, mentally focus on what would make the most interesting pano of the scene you're standing in front of. 

Only start paying attention to the arrow once you press the shutter button (and keep it centered on the yellow line) and ignore it the rest of the time. You'll come away with better-looking, more intentional panos. 

Also, try not to put that yellow horizontal line centered right along the horizon. That makes for some boring panos. 

Either put the horizontal line in the bottom third of your scene (if the sky is fascinating, so your pano shows more sky), or at the top third (if the sky is dull and you want to show less of it), and you'll make more dynamic panos. 

4. How to Shoot a Backward Pano

We generally shoot our panos from left to right (the same way we read), but if you want to shoot your pano from right to left, it's easy: tap once directly on the white arrow near the left side of your screen, and it flips over to the right side, facing back toward the left. 

Now you can shoot your pano from right to left. 

By the way, when you shoot panos, it's easy to find them later because Apple's Photos app automatically separates all your panos into a separate album. 

To find all of your panos fast, launch the Photos app, tap on Albums at the bottom of the screen, and then scroll down (keep scrolling-it's down there) until you come to Media Types, and you'll see an album already there called "Panoramas."  

Tap on it to see all your panos sorted by the time and date you took them. 

5. Printing Panos

Panoramic images look fantastic on your home or office walls, and a great way to print them is to print them on canvas. 

Because canvas, by its very nature, is so porous, it's also very forgiving on things like sharpness or resolution, so your iPhone panos look great when printed on canvas. 

The source I use to print them is canvasdiscount.com, and if you sign up for their newsletter, about every two weeks, they will send you an email with deals that are so cheap you can't believe they're legit. 

Literally, like 90 percent off on these- or two-day-only discounts, and I wait until those deals come around to make my canvas prints. 

I just looked on their site, and their 16x30" cinema-format canvas with a standard frame is only $39, which is incredible. And, that's not even the newsletter special-that's just listed on their site for anybody. 

Related: Create Custom Maps with Visited Travel App

Well, there you have it-five of my favorite tips for making (and printing) your best iPhone panorama images ever! 

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ALL IMAGES BY SCOTT KELBY UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.

Buying a new backpack is a challenge for all travelers. You want a sturdy material that doesn't wear and tear while hiking and can withstand a decent amount of rain.

You need to look for the correct size as a bag with little room for all your stuff is a waste of money, but it would be difficult to carry around if it's too big. 

Whichever backpack you end up choosing, you have to carry it on your back. And since men and women are not built the same way, the weight of a backpack is distributed differently across their bodies.

So if you are a woman buying a backpack for the first time or replacing your old rucksack for new adventures, you can factor in these differences to make a better purchase.

Backpacks for Women - Are They Different?

Do women need a different backpack? Or is it just a marketing gimmick created by travel gear companies to appeal to women wanderers- a profitable market segment?

Many women hikers would scoff at the idea of women backpacks and feel that companies are imposing their ideas of femininity on them.

But the differences between men and women's backpack goes beyond feminine colors. Let's take a deep dive and understand.

While the same fearless spirit fuels their intrepid adventures, there is a difference in the way men and women carry weight on their backs.

Men have wider shoulders and a longer torso, while women have narrower shoulders and a slender torso.

Also, women have a stronger lower body. So when they put on a rucksack, men tend to carry more weight on their shoulders, while women balance more weight around their hips.

Considering these differences, there are a few modifications in the design for women-specific backpacks, making them a better purchase for women travelers. 

Differences in Design

S-Shaped Shoulder Straps

Backpacks designed specifically for women have different shoulder straps. The straps are curved and set closer together to give a better fit to their narrow shoulders.

Whereas unisex backpacks or backpacks for men have J-shaped shoulder straps. These straps would fall in the middle of the chest of the wearer.

The J-shape straps can be uncomfortable for women with fuller breasts, which get painfully squished with such straps. Loosening the straps doesn't help much because the backpack would move from side to side while walking.

That's why backpack makers came up with S-shaped straps that are suited to the feminine contour.

Men with an athletic build would also appreciate these curved straps, allowing for more movement around the armpit region.

Hip Belts

Women's hips are curvier and have a greater weight-bearing capacity as compared to male bottoms. Their waists also have a smaller circumference.

A backpack is designed to place more weight on the hips than the shoulders is more comfortable for a woman while hiking or climbing.

That's why the hip belt of backpacks for women is narrower than other backpacks. The straps have more padding to prevent the narrow straps from causing discomfort while walking.

The straps are flared upwards, so when you put them on, they get appropriately placed on your higher hip bones.

Torso Length

The torso of an average woman is shorter than the torso of an average male. So a backpack of shorter length, covering the torso but not going beyond it, is better for their physique.

Whether you are a man or a woman, your backpack should not bob over your head or sag down below your hips.

It would be uncomfortable to put it on and move around, and it could also lead to aches or injuries. That's why you shouldn't head to a store and simply buy the biggest bag available.

If you are a woman, buying a women-specific backpack in the required capacity would be more suitable for your body.

Backpack or Suitcase: Which One Should You Buy

It's not that we don't like suitcases. They are great for a short trip or staying at one destination for a long time.

But if you plan to circumnavigate the world (or haul long distances), then a backpack is the right choice for you. 

• You won't have to plan your trip worrying about your luggage- you can be in a luxury Airbnb one day and on a hiking trail in a village the following day. Your backpack is equally suitable for the cobbled roads of European destinations as it is for the rugged Himalayan landscape of Nepal. 
• Your hands would stay free, so you can use your Google Maps to locate your hostel. And with the backpack on your back and your carefree adventure, you could officially call yourself a backpacker.
• You also won't have to wait at the baggage claims area if you are traveling with a backpack. You don't have to worry about traveling on a bus as you could simply keep your bag with you.  You can easily take it up on a flight of stairs or get on an escalator. You can squeeze it in a tiny space or climb a hill carrying it. 
• You don't have to worry about dragging a backpack on an uneven surface and wearing down the wheels. Backpacks are also quite rugged and can withstand years of exposure to elements of nature.

While the pros favor a backpack, you could always depend on a suitcase if you are going on a short trip to a comfortable location.

Many folks don't want to haul a backpack due to existing issues like backaches. In that case, it's easy to find lightweight suitcases which are great to travel with.

If you are a business traveler, then a suitcase would go better with your professional persona (and keep those formal dress-shirts unwrinkled).

How to Choose the Best Travel Backpack?

With the wide variety of travel backpacks available, buying your first backpack is puzzling. Apart from the women-specific features that you should look for, there are essential considerations to make.

Size or Capacity

The backpack size is the first thing that you need to look for. You can't have a backpack that's too small to hold all the things you need for your trip.

An over-packed bag is difficult to carry, and packing too much stuff also overly stretches the material and ruins the zips.

You can't buy a backpack that's so huge that it towers over your head. It's very uncomfortable to balance such a bag, and it is terrible for your back.

Also, there is a maximum weight that all of us can carry, depending on our body weight and height.

So basically, we are talking about a bag that fits everything you need for the duration of your trip.

If you don't like to travel for more than a couple of days, you don't have much to worry about here. But if you are in for long adventures, then we have more to discuss.

You need a spacious bag that can hold everything together and still has some extra space left but is not bigger than you or weighs you down. 

Here is a guide that can help you decide the correct size.

Daypacks

20 to 30 liters

If you believe in packing light and are heading out for a day hike, a daypack will serve you well.

The size accommodates enough for one to two days if you prefer to pack sensibly. Daypacks are great for night camping or desert hikes. 

A daypack comes with straps to fit your camping gear. And it has enough space and multiple zip enclosures to store a two-liter hydration pack, food items, first-aid box, space blanket, and light insulation layers.

You can also utilize your daypack for other purposes- you can take them to your office, gym, or when you need that a spacious bag for picking stuff from a store.

10 to 20 liters

This daypack is strictly for light-packing for a one-day trip. It has sufficient space for your food, water, emergency essentials, and light-weight clothing.

Less than 10 liters

This backpack is suitable for storing your hydration pack and a snack for a small hike or a long run or keeping your extra stuff accessible when you are on a trip.

Backpacks For extended trips

While daypacks are great for a one-day adventure, you need a larger backpack for longer journeys. 

40 to 50 liters

These backpacks have enough space to store all the things you need for a 4 to 5-day trip.

They could also be used for hiking or camping, as they can easily hold your sleeping bag, a two or three-person tent, mattress, your clothing and personal items, and the foodstuff you need for the adventure.

50 to 60 liters

These backpacks are more spacious, so if you like to carry extra stuff for comfort or your tent or sleeping bag is heavier, then it could be the right choice for you. You can keep more clothes or more food based on your plans. 

And for an average man or woman, the weight and the bag's size would be suitable enough to carry around.

For a hardcore adventurer who knows what to pack and what not to, a 60-liter backpack is enough for a couple of weeks.

(Then, some folks live several months out of their bags! But that's a territory not all travelers would charter, yet one can take cues from these folks on utilizing a backpack.)

70 liters

A 70-liter backpack means more space, which means you can keep more stuff. But more stuff would lead to more weight.

So you need to size yourself up and see if this bag goes well with your physique and body weight. Buy it only if your body is capable of carrying it, whether you are a man or a woman.

More than 70 liters

This backpack is strictly for folks who do some kind of trail work, like hauling supplies to a base camp and beyond.

Unless you are tall, well-built, and physically strong to carry heavy loads, we would not recommend a backpack this huge.

Features 

Many brands such as Kipling, Loungefly, UTO, Adidas, Motile, and such make backpacks with many features. Check some important features you need to see in your next bag.

Top-loading vs. Front-loading

Top-loading backpacks have a drawstring on the top. Hiking-style packs are usually top-loading.

The top opening is excellent for shoving down your sleeping bag and accommodating all your clothes and stuff around it.

But if you plan to vacation in a city and pack your outfits in a top-loading backpack, you would have to empty your whole bag to find your favorite skirt and that cute blouse.

You could opt for a front-loading backpack with a long zip-enclosure on the front for such trips. It makes packing and locating your clothes a lot easier. 

What's better is that you can also find bags with a top as well as a front enclosure. Such bags would give you the freedom to top-load or pack from the front so that you can use the same bag for hiking and the trip with your girls!

Other variants are panel or clamshell loading backpacks.

Front-loading bags have a long zipper for opening the bag, but a panel loading backpack lets you open a front panel or a flap. This makes it easier to pack and essentially gives you the convenience of loading your backpack like a suitcase.

External Frames vs. Internal Frames vs. Frameless

External frame backpacks are heavy and are suitable for carrying a hefty load with lots of gear.

You won't see many adventurers with these as external frames have become obsolete, and makers have come up with better, lightweight alternatives.

Even if you get inspired by the travel movies of yore, don't invest your dime in an external frame pack.

Instead, opt for a backpack with an internal frame. Nowadays, most packs come with an inner structure that distributes the weight properly over your back and hip.

The internal frame is built of carbon or strong plastic, making it lighter than those old external frames. Also, there is no risk of the bag getting caught on anything. 

There is also an option of buying a frameless backpack. They don't have a supporting structure in place, so they are helpful only for travelers who pack pretty light and move quickly.

Frameless backpacks are often equipped to keep your back cool and sweat-free, and they can be easily squeezed into a suitcase. 

External Water Bottle Pocket vs. Internal Hydration Pocket 

If you prefer to carry a water bottle on your trips, then you should look for deep pockets on your backpack. Many low-quality or cheap variants have shallow water bottle pockets.

Frankly speaking, these don't serve any purpose as your bottle would easily pop out while you are walking around with your backpack.

Most hikers and travelers prefer a hydration pack over carrying a water bottle. That's primarily because they hold two liters of water (more than your average water bottle), and you can easily sip water from its pipe, even as you walk.

While if you carry a bottle, it's a bit of a pickle to take it out from the pocket and thrust it back again after drinking.

If you are more comfortable with a hydration pack, you can look for a bag with a separate pocket for it.

Many bags have this feature, along with a port and a clip that holds the water tube in place so that you can sip water without stopping in your tracks.

Back Ventilation

No woman (or a man either!) would feel comfortable after getting swamped with sweat on their backs after walking or hiking with their backpacks.

Many companies use open-cell foam and mesh lining on the back and shoulder straps to make the backpacks more breathable. This feature doesn't improve the backpack's overall performance, but it increases the comfort factor.

Padded Shoulder Straps

When you load your bag and put it on your shoulders, the shoulder straps weigh your shoulders down. If the straps are thin, they will cause significant discomfort to your shoulders.

You should always look for padded shoulder straps as they even spread the weight on your shoulders, make you feel comfortable, and last longer as well.

Sleeping Bag Compartment

While you can easily pack a sleeping bag inside a rucksack with more than 50-liter capacity, a separate sleeping bag compartment would simplify the whole packing process. 

Lockable Zippers

Each compartment of your backpack should have two zippers so that you can put a lock on them. You can always buy TSA locks with a special valve that TSA can open to check your bags.

Removable DayPack/ Hipbelt

Some backpacks come with a removable part that can turn into a daypack or a hip belt. If you plan to leave your luggage behind and roam around the town for a day or set a base camp at a place to do day-hikes, you don't need to take an extra small bag with you for the purpose.

You can simply use the detachable part to keep your wallet, water bottle, snacks, and other essentials.

Contoured/ Padded Back

A contoured or lumber-shaped back is comfortable to carry. And the shape of the bag leaves a space between its material and your back, allowing your back to breathe freely.

Compression Straps

These are useful for compressing and holding together your gear and temporarily attaching any other item.

Drawstrings/ Bungee Ties

You can use these to hold and carry the items you don't want to keep inside your bag, like your sleeping bag or dirty shoes.

Rain Cover

While a backpack can bear some moisture, you need a rain cover to protect it from the pouring rain. Many packs come with a rain cover and a pouch or a flap to store it so that you don't have to buy one separately.

Pockets

A bag cannot be 'the bag' unless it has multiple organizational pockets. An ideal rucksack should have numerous pockets at strategic locations so that you don't have to dump everything in the main compartment and empty the whole bag to search for something important.

• Outer pockets - To store small, lightweight items that you would not want to keep inside the main compartment.
• Elasticized side pockets - Pockets that are stretchable and deep, used for holding water bottles or any other object.
• Shovel pockets -  A shovel pocket is rugged enough to store gears with sharp surfaces. These pockets are located on the backside of the pack, and you can keep your layers or crampons inside them and take them out quickly.
• Hip belt pockets - To snuck in stuff that you need quick access to, like your energy bar or sunscreen. You can take them out without off-loading your backpack.

Fit

We have discussed how backpacks made for women are designed to give them a better fit. The backpack fit plays a crucial role in ensuring weight distribution and comfort. 

To get a good fit, you should get yourself measured. Ask a friend to measure your torso.

You can place your hands on your waist just above your hips and have the distance between these areas to the base of your neck measured. Most women have a torso length of 14 to 18 inches. 

Since backpacks are available in many sizes, you can use your measurements to compare and choose the right size for your back.

You could also go for a backpack with adjustable suspensions if you find yourself confused between bag sizes.

Hip Belt Size

Since women carry more weight on their hips, they should pay extra attention to the hip belt size.

Women with a slender waist and smaller hips might find the hip belts of unisex or men's backpacks too big for them. That's why women's backpacks have smaller hip belts to fit the female form.

To ensure that the hip belt has a good fit for you, you can take your hip measurements before you purchase a backpack. Remember that the hip belt should cover your hip bone and not your waist, so you need to measure yourself accordingly.

Also, look for padded hip belts for extra comfort. After fastening the padded hip belt, there should be a gap of three to six inches between the belt's padded areas (over the buckle).

This will ensure that the belt is neither too loose nor too tight for you, and you won't have trouble while traveling with your backpack.

Weight

Any man or woman should not carry more than 20 percent of bodyweight. For example, if you weigh 60 kgs, your backpack's total weight should be around 12 to 14 kgs. 

Always buy a lightweight backpack in your desired capacity to maintain the total weight of the backpack.

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Before You Wander Away

Buying a new travel backpack is exciting as well as daunting, as a wrong purchase might spoil your travel experience.

If you are a girl gearing up for her next adventure, remember these tips before you head out to purchase a new backpack for yourself.

We would also suggest you buy or order from a store with an easy return policy- so that you can pack the new backpack, put it on and ensure that it's comfortable before you hit the roads.

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This story is brought to in partnership with TopOfStyle.com.

Traveling these days can be risky, with threats from disease to petty thieves, to cybercriminals. That's why you must take all the proper precautions before you begin your trip. 

Whether you're journeying for business, an emergency, or just have itchy travel feet, the following tips can improve your safety and security.

1. Download a Contact Tracing App

Many countries across the world, such as Canada, Australia, the U.K., South Korea, and Singapore, have launched national contact tracing apps to support the fight against COVID-19. 

These apps help healthcare workers identify, inform, and monitor people who have been diagnosed with an infectious disease.

If you have been in prolonged contact with someone who has tested positive in the last few weeks during your travels, the app can help you take the necessary precautions. 

For example, if you were in the same airplane cabin as someone who tested positive for COVID-19, the app may advise you to get tested and observe quarantine measures.

2. Use the Right Laptop Bag

According to research company Gartner, a laptop is stolen every 53 seconds. Many of these computers are stolen from buses, cafes, restaurants, shopping malls, and airports. 

To avoid losing your precious data, keep your laptop in a nondescript bag when traveling instead of a branded one.

For example, if you're carrying an expensive MacBook, avoid using a laptop blag that features the Apple logo. 

Here are some other steps you can take to keep your computer safe from petty thieves while traveling:

• Always keep an eye on your laptop while traveling. Store it close to you, whether you're on the plane or the bus.
• Make sure your hotel room is locked if you leave it behind. Keep it secure in a large and heavy suitcase.
• Buy a sophisticated laptop lock to stop thieves from opening your computer.
• Enable your laptop's "find my computer" system to locate your machine if it's misplaced or taken.
• Set a strong login password that features numbers, alphabets, symbols, and letters.
• Take advantage of biometric verification features if your computer has them.

Use cloud computing to back up your data regularly in case you lose your system. Use an encrypted hard drive to secure your vital data.

3. Install the Best Cybersecurity software 

Cybercriminals always keep an eye out for travelers to steal their data. 

You should visit a cybersecurity expert like Malwarebytes to download the latest and most proactive cybersecurity tools. For example, a highly rated Virtual Private Network (VPN) service will encrypt your data, hide your IP address, and even secure a public WiFi connection. Likewise, advanced antivirus software can stop dangerous spyware in its tracks.

A VPN is an excellent tool for a traveler because it even secures public Wi-Fi spots, which are usually exploited by cybercriminals. 

Within minutes, a hacker can copy your confidential information through an unsecured Wi-Fi network and gain access to your credit cards and banking info.

Likewise, it would help if you used advanced antivirus software to shield yourself from malware attacks. Malicious software like ransomware and spyware can result in all kinds of problems while traveling.

Although traveling can leave you exposed, proper hardware, software, and precautions can help you minimize risk and enjoy your adventures.

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This story is brought to you in partnership with Malwarebytes.