Hanging a backpack for storage

Personally I would not hang them, just lay them on the shelf.

But if I was hanging I would make sure nothing was inside the pack.

I have to admit though I have no reasoning for this and I'm sure they'd be fine as you described.

I don't think that you will have any problems with hanging them as long as they are either empty or have low weight in them.

I have a number of small day pack on the back of a closet door on hooks with about 3 lbs of gear, no problems.

Being off the floor, they are probably in better shape….less dirt and dust.

Use your common sense judgement and you should be fine…unless you are using something like Cuben for your pack.

Tony

Since the haul loop is designed for picking up a loaded pack I can't see how hanging it by that could possibly be bad for it.

Worst case scenario you may get a peak/point in formed into the haul loop. Anything worse would be indicative of faulty manufacturing. Look at any outdoor gear shop, all the packs are hung by the haul loop with seemingly no adverse effects.

I have stored all my packs this way for decades, no problem. The haul loop is plenty strong.

I have a large screw in an exposed joist in my workshop ceiling. I took a length of line and tied a series of overhand loops in it and hung it from the screw. My packs hand from the loops with carabiners. I hang poles, hats and snowshoes the same way.

Like the others have said, the haul loop is designed to withstand the weight of the pack. An nearly empty pack won't phase it one bit.