Time for a new Pack

“My old pack is finally history, and I find myself in a unique position in my life where I can afford a really good pack. I often enjoy reading your posts, and would be really interested in your opinions on a replacement. At this point, the longest hikes I am able to do are week long, but I would like to get something that I can use for many years to come (don't we all?).”

“Well Compost, you're sure to get a range of opinions on this. (Also, a search of old threads will give you lots of those opinions.)

From past discussions, Dana and Gregory have a number of fans on TT, but there is a new cadre of fans for some lightweight packs (can't remember the brand, is it PacLite?) who will give you some ideas, too. And there are those who will tell you that you don't have to spend a lot to get a decent pack, either. Besides boots, the most personal fit issue for BPing.

Me, I'm an odd guy out in this category. My new pack that I got last spring is a VauDe Grand Canyon. Wonderful adjustable suspension, not too huge (about 4,500ci) or heavy (about 5 lbs), well made, enough for a week out, and waterproof w/o a raincover.”

“I have a kelty yukon now....just got it and i love it! its not fancy or anything...just good and simple without to many moving parts
-important since im blond!”

“I think that arcteryx packs are the best on the market. But I would go by fit. If it dont fit you or feel good dont get it.”

“Arcteryx Bora 80 gets my vote. Not the lightest by any means but definitely one of the better made. It will haul a week's worth of gear and last many-a-year.”

“You can narrow down the field by looking at features weight etc but the decision should be based on trying them out. Most quality outdoor stores will have "bean" bags you can put in the pack to simulate a load and let you walk around.

Example, last year I bought a new pack for my son. We went to the local REI and he tried on about 8 different packs. North Face, Dana, Gegory, Arcteryx, Lowe, Mountainsmith all the usual suspects. In the end he picked the Lowe Alpine as it fit his body the best. It is a bit heavier then some of them but the way it fit more than compensated for the wieght. We put in enough bean bags to simulate a load of about 35 lbs. More than he usually carries.

Although you will get lots of good advice and lots of comments on personal favorites, the only way to go is try it before you buy it.

Of packs I've tried, I like Lowe Alpine, and recently I tried a Jack Wolfskin Trailhead III that may just be my next pack.”

“check out how osprey fit you also. they are top quality.”

“I just purchased the Trailhead III. It weighs in at 6 lbs empty, has slightly less than 5000 cu in storage space, For a test hike, I over loaded it with everything I could think of and it weighed in at 60 lbs...way too heavy for a back packing excursion, but this was a test. I went out for an 8 miler (flat) and felt like I could have gone on forever. the harness and belts, are great...there are adjustizers all over the thing. My last pack was a kelty Trekker...the JW smokes it it heck. Gonna give it its maiden voyage in Late Jan on the Ozarks ECT hike...will give a better review after the hike, but I think its gonna be great. $200.00 you can read a review of it on the infamous backpacker website. www.jackwolfskin.com will get you to a good pic. Its sweet.”

“Gregory have the most comfortable harness I've ever put on.”

“Another to consider -- I believe at least one TTer has one and has lauded it -- is the Kelty Flight, which Campmor has on sale for $109 (list $200) right now. 4,500ci, Spectra cloth, and 1 lb. 6 oz. for the main pack, so must be about 2 lbs with included pockets. If I hadn't just got a new pack, I'd certainly check it out. That's a lot of weight to cut off your load.”

“most of the brands listed here are great, but some of them felt like sh!t when i put them on.

i now realize that it does no good to drop the names of a favorite pack. i have a few favorites, and you will, too. you just need to get out, try them on, and see which fits you best.”

“GoLite packs

Looks like they've come out with several new ones. I've got the Gust medium and it rocks!”

“I second WD's opine about Gregory, I quite envy radman's Gregory Forester, that'll be my next (and sometime soon pack). ....Unless I can just steal rad's, and get away with it, hehehe. I really like them Go-Lite Gusts too that steve owns, but ya hafta know what you're in for with that one, like how to pack lightish, and how to pack that particular pack. Same needing some knowhow for the Kelty Flight, but for what you get on that price that pekka mentioned... dayum that be a real sugar deal!

I'll have me a Gust too prolly next summer, the Bear's got one, that should say enuff bout that!

I agree with the awesomeness of Arc'Teryx, kodiakman, but that price, nahh, they can keep'em.”

“Steve what did you pay for your Gust pack? I absolutely cain't 'memeber what Bear gave for his, and I wuz right dang there! It it's still for sale, I see one for 70.”

“If your considering lightweight you might want to check out the g-4... www.gvpgear.com I have one and really like it. The weight is below a pound..perfect.. this is the pack that Brian Robinson used while hiking the Triple Crown this year...”

“I know it's unlikely but if you can, go and try a Macpac. Good quality canvass, Probably one of the most supportive harnesses you'll find.”

“I bring all the gear I plan to carry in the pack with me to the store including water.

Load up the pack you want to try as if you are going out on a week-long trip and walk around with in on. Then load it like a weekender trip and walk some more.

The only way you will know how the pack will feel when loaded is if you load it with your own stuff.”

“NA, I spend $105 for my GoLite Gust. If you can find one for $70, snap it up.”

“I give the Kelty Flight my vote. There on sale at Campmor for $110.00 The full pack weight is 3.5 lbs and it will carry 8 days worth of gear fine. It is also able to be striped down to only it's main bag which weighs under 1 lb. You'll see what I mean if you go check it out at Kelty or Campmor.”

“Methanx I will if it's still up for grabs steve. Bunyip, a cupla others here have mentioned Macs, but they are not readily available here in the US that I've seen. Sgt Rock has one I thank, I'd like to check'em out sometime.”

“I found this today...

Subject:
FS:Dana Designs Terraplane, Med, perfect condition
Date:
31 Dec 2001 13:34:17 -0800
From:
slowrey@mhc.edu (scott)
Organization:
http://groups.google.com/
Newsgroups:
rec.backcountry




This is a Bozeman made Terraplane from a few years ago. I've used it 4 times
and it's in perfect condition. Forest green & gray. Medium frame, belt & straps.
Curreent price is $450+

Sell for $200”

“China Chas, really? you like your Lowe Alpine? I hate mine. It only carries 35 lbs max. Too small for a week long trip... Also, it weighs like 6 or 7 lbs. Ridiculous.

My next pack will probably be a golite or some other high tech (expensive) lighweight variety.”

“Yeah Biz, I like my Lowe. It's an Outback 70. It is around 6 lbs but hey, even with that my normal load is 30 lbs so I don't worry so much about the pack weight. After 4 years and hundreds of miles, the pack is almost a part of me. ;) If I want to go lighter for less nights I use a much smaller pack and drop my load to around 20 lbs.

I think it all comes down to fit for the individual. Sherry has an Australis 70 that we got dirt cheap. She's only luke warm about it.

Like I said in the other post, I'll probably get a new pack for this summer and I'll get the Jack Wolfskin. For me, I love the fit. Again, not the lightest pack but I'd rather go for comfort when it comes to the pack. I can cut weight elsewhere. The go-lite stuff is great but let's face it, I have carried winter loads up to 50 lbs and I don't think those ultralight packs are made for that. I'd rather have the flexibility. I already have too much gear, well at least according to Sherry. :O”

“The pack dilema.

Have you ever found that your pack feels like a different beast under different loads (I don't just mean the obvious of dramatically increased weight)?

I'm trying to decide between an Arcteryx and an Osprey model. I am leaning towards the Arcteryx pack even though the Osprey feels a little more comfortable because of the Arcteryx's load bearing suspension allows for more flexibility.”

“Check out McHale's packs. I've heard nothing but good things about them and he custom makes the pack to your measurements.”

“I have an Arcteryx bora 65. I have taken it on week long hikes. I think it has about 4200 ci but that way I dont take all of crap that I would if I had a bigger pack. I have carried up to 60 lbs and it fitts me good. But if the Osprey feels better then go with that. It is a lot of money to waste on something that does feel good.”

“ChinaChas those lightweight packs ain't made for those kinda loads. I don't really care to have a big loader doing a small load trip. Over the next year I'll wind up with a very lightwieght GoLite for anything under 5 days, and a Gregory Forester for 5 and up, or mebbe even 6 or up depending on season. For overnights or weekends I've a 2000 cube Mtnsmith Peak and 2700 cube Lafuma Eiger 45, which I like pretty good. I'm looking for an Arc'Teryx Bora 40 too, if I can find one with a decent price, to try out.

And really the Forester at 5 lbs is some too heavy, but I will be in bigbear country with a bear cannister, and I'll want the packability and sturdy support of Gregory's fit.

bacpac izat a classifieds site?”

“Well, Happy New Year Naked.

I agree on the light weight pack large load. My weekender is a Jansport 2400 that I can carry everything I need at a bit less than 20 lbs. including food and water. Above that I will trade pack weight for comfort.”

“Northern Mountain Supply has Osprey packs on sale for 50% off and Gregory for 48% off at the moment if anyone is interested.”

“So ultimately we should have more than one pack?”

“not since i got my forester. it's the only pack i use, now.”

“Well right back atya Chas!! That's about my weight for a weekender too.

Baby you've got my #! Wonderful thanx!!! I'll check it out gal, KillerDeals is where I got my Bibler Bivy.

Gear Slut most deffinitely you'll want a cupla packs for diffit outings. Unless of course you ONLY do weekends, or ONLY do long distance hikes. This is the case for me anyhow.

Radman I really cain't go along with that, altho that Forester is sorta that good actually.”

“i've used it for both. heck, i even squashed it down, for a dayhike, at fiery gizzard!”

“Purdy cool rad. Ahh bp no luck utall, they don't have the Forester or the Aether 60. They do have the crampons I'm lookin to get at 30% off tho. I'll hafta thank if that's enough off for me, still puts 'em at a hunnert :(

About a month ago I saw the Forester for $150, now I wish I'd gotten one.”

“i do have another daypack that i normally use, tho. i only squashed the forester because it was all i had with me.

150?!?! man, you must feel like a sucka, now!”

“Yeah, but I've got til May. I'll then hafta have a bigger pack for a Rim hike.”

“For flat ground I went with the Dana Designs Longbed--it is an external frame and huge. I can put all my gear in and still have room for a twelve pack..”

“So in between the ultralights and the heavyweights, you can find the Osprey Aether series. The 4,000 ci. Aether 60 weighs about 3lbs and can do the job if you use a down bag and tarp/bivy. They also have an Aether 75, that is larger in case you do not have compressable items, etc. I find that the full waist belt and comfortable framesheet outweigh that lighter ultralights, i.e. GoLite, but the lighter weight fabric and efficient construction keep this model well below the typical 6-8 lbs. for similarly sized packs. For me, I think I have settled for this combination of comfort, support and weight. With a 2 lb. bag, 2 lb bivy, 1 lb pad, and this pack, I have a base weight of about 8 lbs. Add a few pounds of clothes, cooking gear and food, and I am all set for 5 days. There are two external water bottle pockets, and a lid pocket, as well as a stuff-it pouch on the back of the pack. I did a winter 3 day hike with this pack at about 31 lbs. total. Summer should be around 25. Northernmountain.com is having a sale on this brand....

ST”