hiking/backpacking pack

grimtongue said:
I used a Gregory Z65 most of last season. Got it new from an outdoor store for under $300. Super huge and very comfortable, even with upwards of 50 lbs. I almost got a comparable Dueter for even less scratch but the Gregory won me out. Def try to go somewhere that you can try them on loaded up. Most good outdoor stores will have sandbags or phone books layin near the packs, load one up, with the boots you intend to wear, and walk around the store for half an hour. The Dueter and the Gregory felt the same to me at first but at about 20 min. I could definately tell that the Gregory carried better, for me. Everyone is different. I can't stress this enough, a day with an ill fitting pack is murder.
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should i bring my own weights in case they dont have anything?
 
Like others have said, you just can't pick out a pack effectively without putting it on your back with weight in it and testing it out. I went through this last year and ended up going with a Z55 Gregory. It came down to this or an Osprey for me, but the way the straps are attached at the top of the pack on the Gregory won me over. I liked some of the features on the Osprey better, but comfort is king when it comes to a multi-day pack. That being said, Gregory's, at least the Z series are meant for lightweight and comfortable on the trail, not built to be a super tough travel bag.
 
roar-k said:
How do you carry your tools? I am asking because if you do not have them in a container/case of their own you may want to consider a pack that will help you organize your tools, or at least something that has a break away organizer.
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sorry i didnt see this before. but yeah they all come sperate nothing to hold them lol i have seem that some packs have add-ons and things like that do you think something like that would work well?
 
depends on the size of the tools but there are a bunch of organizer bags that attach with molle strips. i'd just take them and go look at a bunch of those and see what works best for you.

cricket
 
Also keep in mind where you will be hiking. Some places require bear canisters, they can take up ALOT of room in a pack. Some people recommend that you take all your own personal gear to the store to load the pack. Seems like a little bit of over-kill but at least you will know that the pack will meet all your requirements.
 
I have a Maxpedition pack. I love it BUT..... after using it for a bit now I think I would choose a less complex pack. All of the pockets and organization are great, but when they are built into the pack itself it can be cumbersome to navigate. Which of the 34 pockets is what I am looking for in.... is it in a sleeve inside one of the 34 pockets or is it in the mesh divider or the blah blah blah? All the while having to deal with the pack itself as you look through it. Maybe I am just forgetful.

I want to get a nice open pack that lets me stuff it with my own organizers and pockets. When I need something I can see and grab the green pouch that has my batteries, or the red one that has my zip ties and just pull it out and go through it. That way too, depending on what I'm doing I can include individual bags/pouches instead of having to unpack the 34 compartments of my Maxpedition pack. Which I do now to make the pack lighter when I just want to use it while riding my bike.
 
Just get the sitka,i had several maxpedition bags but this one is a keeper
sitkaJPG.jpg
 
He's talking about hiking 37 days in peru and you're recommending bags I couldn't get to my mailbox and back with.... anything under 4000 cubes is not really gonna do it...and I'd be looking at 6...

As mentioned before... getting it fit, esp for that many miles...is going to be key. You're traveling halfway around the world for this trip, or a quarter, I digress... Taking even a 100 mile drive or more to get a pack fitted correctly is going to be worth it...well worth it. Plus it sounds like you've got a few decent trips planned in the near future...It'll do you well.
 
thank you everyone:) i go down to denver and am cutting through cheyenne to go to place to try them on this satureday and sunday:) thank you everyone
 
grimtongue said:
Also keep in mind where you will be hiking. Some places require bear canisters, they can take up ALOT of room in a pack.
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Yes, he should keep in mind where he's hiking. Not a lot of bears on the Inca Trail... :p


seanystrangle said:
thank you everyone:) i go down to denver and am cutting through cheyenne to go to place to try them on this satureday and sunday:) thank you everyone
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:thumbup: You will like STP. During my Tahoe years, if I bought anything at a brick & mortar store it was at the excellent Reno STP. STP has a pretty good selection of low-, medium-, and even some high-end packs at closeout prices. For carrying tools I would tug at the stitching and look closely. Your $300 will go far at STP -- I doubt they have much priced above that, although the original retail prices were.

STP is like a commercial garage sale. You never know what you'll find. The inventory on their website does not always match what you'll find in the store. They usually have some Gregorys -- you can do much worse in the load hauler category. I once carried a Gregory Shasta for 2000 miles with loads of 20-75lbs. I don't carry heavy packs anymore, but if I did I would look for a Mystery Ranch, a Bozeman-era Dana Designs, Kifaru, some Ospreys, or a Gregory.

ETA: Some people like North Face packs but I've found them increasingly gimmicky and/or over-specialized. They have become kinda the mall-ninja equivalent of mountaineering.

seanystrangle said:
should i bring my own weights in case they dont have anything?
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It would help. Most boutique outdoor shops have weights but STP is not a boutique. Just bring your archaeology tools, a jacket or two, and a few bottles of water.
 
tradja said:
Yes, he should keep in mind where he's hiking. Not a lot of bears on the Inca Trail... :p


:thumbup: You will like STP. During my Tahoe years, if I bought anything at a brick & mortar store it was at the excellent Reno STP. STP has a pretty good selection of low-, medium-, and even some high-end packs at closeout prices. For carrying tools I would tug at the stitching and look closely. Your $300 will go far at STP -- I doubt they have much priced above that, although the original retail prices were.

STP is like a commercial garage sale. You never know what you'll find. The inventory on their website does not always match what you'll find in the store. They usually have some Gregorys -- you can do much worse in the load hauler category. I once carried a Gregory Shasta for 2000 miles with loads of 20-75lbs. I don't carry heavy packs anymore, but if I did I would look for a Mystery Ranch, a Bozeman-era Dana Designs, Kifaru, some Ospreys, or a Gregory.

ETA: Some people like North Face packs but I've found them increasingly gimmicky and/or over-specialized. They have become kinda the mall-ninja equivalent of mountaineering.

It would help. Most boutique outdoor shops have weights but STP is not a boutique. Just bring your archaeology tools, a jacket or two, and a few bottles of water.
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awsome thank you so much i shall brin my stuff with me and just see how it pack and how it feels thank you :)
 
When you consider Kifaru and teh like, take a peek at Eberlestock also. They ahve several that are'nt simply for toting a long-gun. I'm currently waiting on a FAC Trak that sounds olike it might do the trick for the OP...


blake
 
seanystrangle said:
thank you everyone:) i go down to denver and am cutting through cheyenne to go to place to try them on this satureday and sunday:) thank you everyone
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Where were you headed in Denver? They have a lot of places to go, not to mention an REI Flagship store. It an old train station, suggest it be a mandatory stop. Have fun!
 
Osprey packs are really nice. Great designs, and well made, and comfy.

37 days, Id wanna try before I buy. Like an REI or something.
 
Spenceds said:
Where were you headed in Denver? They have a lot of places to go, not to mention an REI Flagship store. It an old train station, suggest it be a mandatory stop. Have fun!
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im not too sure where in denver honestly im going with a friend who used to live there he said he can take me to the places:) im hoping REI is one of the places:) thank you agian everyone
 
blake g49 said:
When you consider Kifaru and teh like, take a peek at Eberlestock also. They ahve several that are'nt simply for toting a long-gun. I'm currently waiting on a FAC Trak that sounds olike it might do the trick for the OP...


blake
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For the price Eberlestock charges they should sell made in the USA packs IMO.
 
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