I need a good packback? Can you help?

If you prefer water bottle pockets and a sleeping bag compartment/bottom access in that size and price range, you might check out the Mountainsmith Lookout 45 or larger Falcon 55.
I stalked online dealers' sales for awhile, and got my Lookout 45 for $102 shipped, IIRC.
No complaints, though the length adjustment for the shoulder straps is accomplished by a strap being tightened or loosened with a buckle under the padding and needs to be tied off to keep it from loosening under load.
Since I have more use for a lumbar pack or smaller backpack, I think of it as my "occasional use backpacking pack", and am very happy with it after a couple of uses.

Along with the more popular brands, check out Deuter packs, too, if you can. The ones I've looked at have been pretty solid packs with good features, and very comfortable suspensions. I have some durability concerns about the way the harness is attached on the lighter ones, and the Osprey Atmos series, but have not actually heard or read of either tearing up.
Deuter Aircontact 55+10(which is not one of the ultralight ones) is the model I was thinking of, and would have liked to have checked out when I bought the Mountainsmith.

ebay is probably worth a look after you narrow it down. Lots of people buy backpacks and rarely if ever use them.
 
I can't believe nobody has mentioned the Kelty Coyote! Or the Kelty Lakota! Excellent value for these packs to be sure.

Coyote
KeltyCoyoteBackpack-293x300.jpg



Lakota
kelty-lakota-4000.jpg
 
desmobob said:
I second the advice to keep an eye peeled for a deal on the Sierra Trading Post site. I picked up some great packs there over the years, including a Lowe Alpine Crossbow 90 and a Kelty Redwing.

Also, don't forget to consider your size when choosing a pack, not just as far as sizing the pack goes. A person packing size XXL Tall clothes (especially bulky cold weather clothing) needs considerably more volume than someone packing size Small clothing. Same goes for food... a big person tends to need a large volume of food.

A five-day pack for a smaller person may be a three-day pack for a bigger one.

Stay sharp,
desmobob
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good advice !!

Myself I'm partial to Kelty Redwing, been tried and tested for decades.....

works for me.....
 
I have an Adventure 16 pack with the adjustable metal frame. The belt is cone shaped so it fits my hips well. When I did pack, I tried to keep about 80% of the pack's weight on the hips and let my sholders just guide the pack. I don't know if the soft or internal frames allow this kind of weight distribution. Having the weight on my hips was very comfortable for smooth trails.
 
blade, that depends on what kind of supports are in the pack, I have two "internal frame" packs, one has a sheet of thick neoprene, and one has full aluminum bars, and a large thick plastic sheet for structure. one is a day-pack, the other a full blown hiking pack. internal frame can be a bit of a misnomer.
 
I just went though this, and decided on the Osprey Atmos 50, I'm 5' 11' 175 lbs and measured out to the large pack.

It's a bit more than you may want to spend. It just arrived a few days ago, it looks good, It looks like it will fit me well, there are a bunch of adjustments and if I find a dealer that's set up for it I can have the hip supports molded to me.

6439.47179_e.jpg
 
check out Kelty bags. they make a great bag for the money..excellent quality at a price that won't make you gag.
 
Thanks for all of the input. Glad I asked. I really like the sound of the gregory Z55. But I definitley need to try one on. Almost jumped at the blue medium last night for a hundred. Would kick myself if it did not fit though. I wear a size 30 length pant and I am almost 6 feet tall, so I think I probably have a large torso. The reason that guy is selling his is because it is too small.

Going to have to do some research as to where I can try one on.
 
Oh and I definitley will look for a deal. No problem owning one that someone took hiking once.

Just out of curiousity, how dod I distinguish a newer second generation Gregory from a first gen.?
 
jackman2 said:
Thanks for all of the input. Glad I asked. I really like the sound of the gregory Z55. But I definitley need to try one on. Almost jumped at the blue medium last night for a hundred. Would kick myself if it did not fit though. I wear a size 30 length pant and I am almost 6 feet tall, so I think I probably have a large torso. The reason that guy is selling his is because it is too small.

Going to have to do some research as to where I can try one on.
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Check to see if a REI store is in your location. They will let you try the pack on and adjust it to fit, then add weight to the pack and let you walk around the store for a little while to see if you like it.
 
All I can really add to this thread is my EMS Blackfoot is now 21 years old and still going strong, my wife's EMS pack (can't remember the model) is 19 years old and still being used all the time.

My Lowe packs are more like the ones you are considering, and they are all over 15 years old, and no issues or problems. My Son's Jansport last a little over a year before it gave out.

But for quality/price, I love EMS for gear.
 
There are a lot of good packs out there, and a lot of features that draw different people to them. Personally I have a GoLite Pinnacle and love it. It is the lightest pack I could find, and that was the primary selling point for me. At 1 pound 14 ounces I dare you to find a lighter 4400 cubic inch pack. I shaved a whole 4 pounds off my pack weight switching to this from my old pack.

The downsides, I hate to admit it but every pack has downsides. For the weight you only get 2 pockets and 2 mesh pouches, which isn't a downside alone. The downside is the fact that the main pocket is only accessible from the top of the pack. I find digging for stuff in the bottom of the pack a pain in the butt. I get around this issue by thinking out how I pack it in advance and putting items I need frequently in the front pocket or at the top of the main pocket. At $175 full retail it is not the cheapest pack, but if you look around you can find it a lot cheaper. I paid about $120 for mine (who pays full retail? =)

If you are not in a hurry I would recommend watching steep and cheap, I have seen some of the other packs listed in this thread up there for as much as 60% off, and on a $200+ pack like the Gregory's run, that is no small amount of money saved.
 
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^ should be noted that the Pinnacle is a frameless pack, frameless packs typically provide good weight savings- at some expense of the weight you can comfortably carry

technique in proper packing a frameless pack (even a framed pack, but to a lesser extent) is vital in how comfortable it carries

I use both (framed/frameless) depending on load/duration/geography
 
It is indeed a frameless pack, with a little padding in the back being the only real support. I should also note I went from an old external frame pack I have had since boy scouts to this pack. Like Mt said, it does take some getting used to packing it, or you end up with very uncomfortable bulges in the back (probably another downside).
 
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