what size backpack do I need...

“I'll be going to Ireland this september for 19 days and I'm planning on just bringing my pack. I won't be hiking all across Ireland but I will be in and out of Hostels and on trains, as well as walking, etc. I have chosen to just take a pack but I'm worried about the size that I need. I could use some input. Thanks! oh and I'm a woman, 5'4". :) Thanks!”

“i don't know about the pack but you might want to invest in one of these guys



http://www.pac-safe.com/www/index.php?_room=3&_action=detail&id=11”

“Being in Ireland you shouldn't have to pack beer and ale. Just pluck it from the trees.

I think for you to get a serious response, we would have to know what your resupply situation might be. Can you get provisions at the hostels? Towns along the way? Can you mail to drop points in Ireland? If you're going 19 days with no resupply, you might want to pull a trailer. More info please.”

“Sounds like you're just taking clothes and personals? For three weeks, I'd keep it at 2000 ci or less. Mail back anything you buy. The less you pack, the happier you will be. M

I used a pacsafe for a year through South America and credit it with nothing ever disappearing out of my backpack when it was left in a room (locked it to the bed frame, usually).”

“Something like the Kelty Redwing 2500 WS should work great, it's the women's version of the 2650. I've asked about the Redwing in another thread and it's gotten some good reviews here and elsewhere.”

“Not that I’ve ever cared much, but I’ve heard that many Europeans frown on backpacks. Maybe it makes folks look like gypsies or something, I don’t know. I’m not sure whether it’s the same on the continent as it is in Ireland.

If I were traveling through Europe, I’d give serious consideration to this Victorinox pack:

http://www.worldtraveler.com/jump.jsp?itemType=CATEGORY&itemID=764

The Standard Traveler, at 22”, counts as carry-on luggage. I’d use something that I can carry with me on trains, planes, and automobiles. This is a recommended method of travel by Rick Steves of Europe Through the Backdoor fame. If you happen to go to a nice hotel, a nice restaurant, or to a town where people are giving you the evil eye for using a backpack, you can use it as wheeled luggage.
last edited: 4/26/07 7:02:55 PM”

“Thanks so far for the info...here's some additional information for you.

As I stated before this is not a backpacking trip. I will be walking places that I may have to take my backpack BUT it is not a hiking trip. It will be so much easier to have a pack instead of luggage. I plan on really just taking personal and clothing and I plan on really just taking a weeks worth with me and wearing things a few times or washing if I need to. I won't be bringing food or a tent or any other things that normal backpackers might. I decided on a backpack because I plan on eventually taking some backpacking trips but for now, I'm just concerned about this trip. Not sure if that is enough info, I'm pretty new at all this. Thanks for your help! Nimblefoot, I'm not sure if the resupply questions really apply to me since, like I said, this is a "serious" hiking trip ...or really one at all. :)”

“It's not about the size, it's how you use it.



Sorry, wrong thread. I repeat that mantra to myself often for some reason.”

“If you plan to travel posh and in style, living the high-life of european jetset, stay at the Grand Hotels, then it's probably more appropriate to have one of those wheeled little suitcases, to store your cocktail dresses, pumps, high-heels and all those necessaires.
If you stay in B&Bs and hostles a backpack is just fine. Never anywhere on the British Ilse or Ireland have I been turned away because I came with a backpack. Lots of young people travel with backpacks. You're not getting an evil look. Even if you are just walking from the plane to the train to a bus to the hostle you will be glad to have a backpack.
Food supply: wow, don't worry, the next supermarket or fish&chips shop is just around the corner, you won't starve. If you want to have an inexpensive meal for lunchtime then o to the next pub. They always have such simple all time goodies like a jacket potato, or all all-day irish breakfast.
Enjoy!
Where in Ireland are you going? Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland?”

“Euro Hike-I'll be all over Ireland (northern and republic) with a few days in London and a few in Scotland. Mainly Ireland though and I cannot wait! Basically I will just be walking to and from places but a backpack seems much more convenient then rolling luggage. No posh travelling for me! :)Basically, I just wanted to know what size pack will hold a weeks work of clothing and personal items. I will only be taking the necessities with me. I definitely don't want too large of a pack but definitely don't want too small of a pack either. I just need a heads up as to a good size for a pack. Thanks again for the input.”

“Hey starsandsurf, that sounds like a wonderful trip. In two weeks I am going on a hiking trip in Scotland.

I have the ladies version of the Lowe Cerro Torre backpack. It has 55+15 liters volume. I think that is an equivalent of 3960 cubic inch? That is big enough to carry everything I need, be it for a week of backpacking or four weeks of city hopping. I am a rather petit lady. If you're taller and stronger you may even carry a larger backpack.”

“We did Ireland via hostels with LLBean rucksacks & were glad we didn't have anything larger. It's hard to get on & off of public transportation with a large pack.
http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?storeId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&categoryId=32924&sc1=Search&feat=sr

2000 cu in. only.

Plus, you end up doing a lot of walking to get from transportation to hostels so a small pack is key. We took just a single sheet that we sewed into a sleeping sheet for the hostels, as they supply blankets, pillows.

We washed clothes as we went so took things easy to wash out, just a few changes. We went for 6 weeks & still got by with just a small pack.

Have fun! Hope you can make it to the Ring of Kerry region:
http://groups.msn.com/IrishHostellingOnline/ringofkerryhostellinks.msnw”

“for just me i could easily get by on 2500 ci but then i would only take two pair of underwear, turn the inside out every other day, and wash them on the 4th day in the hotel sink. hell, it's europe. nobody would notice.”

“Yeah right, and you won't need to bring your lady shave kit. Just let your hair down - it's Europe. And you can run around bra-less under your blouse. And if you leave your cowboy hat and the spurs at home you will be just fine with 2500 ci.

PS: Jimmysan, next time you visit Scotland leave your underwear at home! Real man don't need them, only sissy boys, English and Yanks do. It's a lot more hygienic than your practise of wearing four day old underwear. Aye!”

“Argh!!”

“lmao!”

“Oh, and one thing you must not, under no circumstances, leave at home when traveling the British Isles: your sense of humor - the one realy essential item to get around :-)”

“I hope you like porridge? In Scotland you get it with every breakfast - with a pinch of salt, not sugar!

Englishman: In Scotland, (yuk!), everybody eats oats. In England we feed it to the horses!
Scotsman: Aye. That's why english horses and scotish men are the best in the world!
last edited: 4/29/07 12:22:30 PM”

“Bam!”

“English men and Scottish horses...

This is, of course, once you learn to tell the difference. Until then it can get a little dicey.”

“No worries, Nimblefoot. The bloke with the hairy legs and skirt must be scotish. The horse with the smelly underwear is english, and if it wears a cowboy hat it is...
Jimmysan, do you wear a cowboy hat?”