Doing More With Less? (Backpack C.U.)

D

Duzzy

Joined
Sep 1, 2009
Messages
468
Hey All,

Right now I have a Kelty Tornado 4900. I bought it back in 2004 and I've only used it a few times. It's been a good pack, and I've never had an issue with it. However, here is my problem:

When I pack my sleeping bag, tent, and pad I feel like I don't have enough room for a whole lot else. At least not and have a pack that's easy to move in.

So, I'm looking at getting a smaller pack for overnight trips, and anything under three days. However, I'd also like it to be comfortable and small enough to take on day trips. Would something in the 3000 c.u. be enough? I was looking at the Mystery Ranch Big Sky but haven't found any reviews on BF. I also plan on reducing the weight and amount of gear I carry gradually as well; but I figure it might be easier to tailor the gear to the pack as opposed to the pack to the gear. I'd like to be able to get out more and learn Wilderness skills, and I feel that a smaller pack may be one of the things that makes it easier. Right now I wouldn't want to take my gear off-trail for any reason because there is simply too much.

Any thoughts? I'm trying to decide if I really need this, or if I'm just being a gear whore. Also, this might be better placed in the Gadgets & Gear section, but I'm not exactly sure so...
 
I am confused on the question it seems that you are saying that the Kelty pack is too small

When I pack my sleeping bag, tent, and pad I feel like I don't have enough room for a whole lot else.
Click to expand...

Then in the next sentence you want a smaller pack. Not being obtuse just trying to understand your question

4900 cubic inches is pretty big. You should be able to carry 40-65 lbs. Thats a lot of fuel and food. Good enough for a 7-10 trip. You may want to look at what you are taking.

At close to 3000 c.i. th Mystery Ranch Big Sky should be big enough to handle any three night that you can think of. If you trim your gear you could squeeze a week out of it.

For weekends or 3-nighters I could get by with 1500 ci and 15 lbs (up to to 30lbs if needed). Just depends on what gear you feel comfortable with. Remember you can hang gear in stuff sacks off the pack and strap a boatload on the outside.

If you find yourself doing a lot of weekends and 3 nighters then a smaller pack is worth buying. You will eventually find a lot of your previous essentials really aren't
 
I apologize for the confusion.

My point is that I have too much crap. I'd like to have less crap, and be able to utilize a smaller pack. However, I'd like to be able to do the same things I currently enjoy doing. I have a two person tent, a 0-degree sleeping bag, an inflatable pad, and while it was all great for group outings it's too much for a solo outing. (At least in my mind.)

I'd like to get out more, do more when I'm there, and learn more while I'm out there. However, I feel like I can't realistically do a lot of things with such a large pack.
 
A high quality inflatable pad like the Big Agnes and a one man bivy will cut down your load so that you have more room in your pack. You can always go for a hammock and a tarp instead to give you more room. One of these setups I use for winter and one for summer. A more compact sleeping bag will also give you more space, as will a compact backpacking stove. Just a few smaller items make a big difference in space and weight.
 
GhostWolf said:
A high quality inflatable pad like the Big Agnes and a one man bivy will cut down your load so that you have more room in your pack. You can always go for a hammock and a tarp instead to give you more room. One of these setups I use for winter and one for summer. A more compact sleeping bag will also give you more space, as will a compact backpacking stove. Just a few smaller items make a big difference in space and weight.
Click to expand...

That's in the future, but I figured I should start with the pack first. Would you consider a 3000 c.u. pack enough with the proper gear? Thanks for the input.
 
Should be plenty for several days to a week depending how you pack it. Just like any travel bag,suitcase,backpack, how you pack can make all the difference between a bulging pain in the back or a comfortable easy to carry piece of gear. When I am testing a new pack I drive my wife crazy. I will spend hours loading and unloading the pack, putting it on and taking it off until I figure out what load configuration works best for me. Then when I think I have it right, I'll take it out for a couple of short 2 to 3 mile day hikes to make sure it rides correctly and to work out any quirks. Then an overnighter or two before I try any longer stays in the woods. But then I can be a little OCD at times. :D Hope this helps.
 
Mystery Ranch is above reproach-you don't need a user review, with Kifaru and Eberle they are the best in the industry. The Tornado is more than sufficient for packing trips-mount your sleeping bag and tent externally. I never carry my sleeping bag and tent inside my pack. IMO, kelty makes the best civilian bags in the business (I'll plug Mountainsmith in there too). They truly understand cross country backpacking organization and durability, and are priced much lower than most other civilian bags. I'd never buy a Gregory or an Osprey over a Kelty or Mountainsmith. Check out the Approach 3.0, that may be the direction you're looking to go. External straps for your sleeping bag and tent and 3,000 cubic inches that wear like a big daypack. Real nice aluminum internal frame too, it's very flexible and supporting. A Bivvy is a great idea, it will combine your sleeping bag and tent into one small package and save you 3-4 pounds. You could also ditch the tent for something like the Kelty tarp (60 bucks).
 
I have no qualms with Kelty's quality control; I just want something smaller and I'd like to try something from Mystery Ranch or Kifaru. Unfortunately, nothing Kifaru has really appeals to me.

I'll take a look at the Approach, and I strap my pad to the outside; but I've always been weary about my tent. The sleeping bag wouldn't fit so it's a non issue. It packs down to the size of a standard pillow (e.g. not very well). Thank you for the advice.
 
Duzzy said:
I have no qualms with Kelty's quality control; I just want something smaller and I'd like to try something from Mystery Ranch or Kifaru. Unfortunately, nothing Kifaru has really appeals to me.

I'll take a look at the Approach, and I strap my pad to the outside; but I've always been weary about my tent. The sleeping bag wouldn't fit so it's a non issue. It packs down to the size of a standard pillow (e.g. not very well). Thank you for the advice.
Click to expand...

Watch places like Sierra Trading Post for cheap compression bags-most are made out of quality nylon. That should make life easy for carrying a tent externally. Also check out the Eberlestock FAC Track
http://www.eberlestock.com/F3F FAC Track.htm
http://www.eberlestock.com/Halftrack Backpack.htm halftrack, or...
http://www.eberlestock.com/F4 Terminator.htm Terminator.
These guys are on par with MR and Kifaru, out of Boise, ID.
 
3000ci would make for a huge daypack.
After upgrading shelter and bags, I chose a 45L pack that is plenty big for 2-3 days(with the newer gear), and would be good for a week if I ever actually got to get out for that long.
It's a good idea to buy the pack last, especially if replacing your other stuff. That way you can take your intended loadout and load it up in the store to try, or be able to quickly return a pack you ordered online that doesn't work out.
 
Last edited:
You have not provided info on the weight of your sleeping pad, or your tent, etc..
For example, 2 man tents can weight between 4 and 10 pounds, approximately.

Also you have not mentioned the season and environment you want to
backpack or day-hike in.
We cannot know where you should cut weight or replace existing equipment.
:confused:

I am probably at the far extreme, on this forum, with regard to packs. I like very large
back packs even for day hikes. The suspension system and hip pads on these big
packs are superior to smaller day packs, so I feel no weight on my shoulders.
I do not even notice the few extra pounds, of the pack, on my hips.

Nobody has to fill up a backpack, just because he is on a day hike. Both fools and
thoughtful people will be tempted to make snide remarks, because it looks so very
unusual on a day hike. Expect at least polite inquires as to the back pack and its
contents or total weight. Additionally, you can keep large blades on the inside of
your pack, if you so choose.;)

So, keep the back-pack that you have, and use it, on at least on day hike.

You wrote:
I also plan on reducing the weight and amount of gear I carry gradually as well; but I
figure it might be easier to tailor the gear to the pack as opposed to the pack to the gear.

This implies that you buy a new pack and shoe-horn stuff into it; or replace stuff to fit
the new pack.

Maybe that is fun, but it is irrational.
Analyze the tent, clothes, bag, water, food, other gear that you need for your activity,
get that equipment, then get a (back) pack that you need to support and contain this load.

Example: if you decide to walkabout Pheonix Az, and you need 3 gallons of water
(24 pounds) + 15 pounds of other gear, that is 39 pounds, you can not carry that with a
skimpy pack. Gear determines pack; not: pack determines gear.

BTW, if you overflow a 6500 cu inch pack, re-do the "analysis" phase.:D
I may sound so grouchy :grumpy: here, but please do not take offense (anyone),
I am sincerely trying to make sure you have the right gear & pack.
 
I am an old-school thinker when it comes to my gear. I prefer an external frame pack to an internal and I have a hard time trusting a lot of the new ultra-light gear. Probably my fault and not the gear. I also tend to be a gear junkie and pack heavy. To combat this I intentionally buy a slightly smaller pack than what I need. This forces me to make better decisions on multi-use gear. If I have a big pack I WILL fill it. It just happens that way.

As an example I am currently working on my SAR gear. I'm currently running an ALICE LBE with buttpack and two canteens. I keep extra fleece clothing strapped to the bottom and add a ranger roll in the winter. This when combined with a seperate BLS medic bag (M3) adds up to approximately 1000 cu. Meanwhile NASAR requires 1800 cu. minimum. I don't quite match their load-out either but I am very close and every bit as functional. When I eventually replace my 20+ y/o big pack I probably will not go bigger than 4000 and may end up closer to 3000. The limiting factor for me is that I want an external and most/all small externals are built for youth and don't have the torso length I need. As always what works for me may not work for you. Just another way of looking at it.
 
Duzzy said:
I apologize for the confusion.

My point is that I have too much crap. I'd like to have less crap, and be able to utilize a smaller pack. However, I'd like to be able to do the same things I currently enjoy doing. I have a two person tent, a 0-degree sleeping bag, an inflatable pad, and while it was all great for group outings it's too much for a solo outing. (At least in my mind.)

I'd like to get out more, do more when I'm there, and learn more while I'm out there. However, I feel like I can't realistically do a lot of things with such a large pack.
Click to expand...

I think the fact you're carrying a 0-degree bag and inflatable pad may be some of the problem. And do you need a two-person tent? I used to carry one until I found a light but very roomy solo tent (Big Agnes Seedhouse 1) that takes up a lot less space in my pack.

Here in the in Adirondacks, a 35-degree bag will suffice for the majority of my camping. It is a LOT lighter and LOT smaller than a 0-degree bag. In cold weather I can almost always get by with a 15-degree bag, which is still probably much smaller and lighter than your 0-degree bag.

Changing bags (if this is a possibility) would allow you to use a smaller pack and still carry the stuff you prefer to bring along.

I prefer to carry a cheap Ridgerest foam pad vs. a MUCH heavier inflatable sleeping pad. The weight difference is significant; maybe as much as a couple of pounds, depending on what inflatable pad you use.

As for packs, I don't think you could go wrong with a Mystery Ranch of any model. I have the Crew Cab/daypack lid and it's wonderful. I'll be purchasing one of their smaller packs in the future.

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
Part of the issue is that most of my outdoors expeditions previously were in Montana. And I had a buddy that always went with me. So the large pack was never an issue (few enough people that I never worried about setting my gear down and walking away for short side trips), having a two man tent between the two of us was never an issue (whoever carried the tent carried less of something else), and the pad was always strasped to the bottom of my pack.

fnc: I appreciate the candor of your reply. I knw that I don't need to fill the pack up; I just don't want the larger pack. I want something that I will be comfortable in both on and off the trail. I know that I'll be less likely to explore with a huge pack so I'm trying to find the smallest pack that will still fill my needs. I hope that makes sense?
 
Eyegor said:
The limiting factor for me is that I want an external and most/all small externals are built for youth and don't have the torso length I need. As always what works for me may not work for you. Just another way of looking at it.
Click to expand...

If you start looking at craigslist.com , you will see packs, sometimes old ones, and you
may see an old external frame of your dreams, that has very little wear. Be patient.

http://images.craigslist.org/3n43kc3o55O05S65R3a7g8a5c5520a12a1eab.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top