I need a rucksack/backpack

Myakka

Myakka

Joined
Feb 9, 2004
Messages
1,447
I am looking to purchase a rucksack/backpack to carry my bushcraft gear in to the bush. I also might use it on weekdays to take my laptop into my office the days I ride my motorcycle to work. The three features I need to have are: I dont want a waist belt just shoulder straps, I need into to have at least one nalgene water bottle/canteen, and finally I dont want it to big some where around 20-45 liters. Does anyone one have any ideas?
 
Walk into an REI with a few hundred bucks in your pocket. They will show you many good models. They will even fit it to your torso.
 
Try a Camelbak Motherlode....you can take the waist strap off easily enough...plenty of room (our GI's use it to travel home on the plane and use it for their everyday bag), has a built in Camelbak for everyday use for H20 plus has lots of flexibilty, pockets etc. You can easily put a laptop in it.

I use it for my daily "Get back" pack for anything 3 hours or closer to home.
 
Myakka said:
I am looking to purchase a rucksack/backpack to carry my bushcraft gear in to the bush. I also might use it on weekdays to take my laptop into my office the days I ride my motorcycle to work. The three features I need to have are: I dont want a waist belt just shoulder straps, I need into to have at least one nalgene water bottle/canteen, and finally I dont want it to big some where around 20-45 liters. Does anyone one have any ideas?
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Assuming you are in the UK, check out Vaude packs. Many have simple, removeable waist straps and external water bottle pockets. I would add a padded laptop sleeve to accomodate your computer gear. Arcteryx makes some very nice day and urban packs on the 20 liter side. I use one for cummuting and it is bombproof.

There's a big difference between a 20L and 45L pack. If you are going to ride with it, I would keep it on the small side to keep your center of gravity low as well as the aerodynmaics.
 
Myakka said:
I live here in the States, Tampa, Fl
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DOH!

Lessee... no REI stores in Florida--- what's up with that? Vuade is still good. The North Face has a bunch of packs that make good commuters and day packs and several have hipbelts that tuck out of the way and external bottle pockets. They have a good range of packs in the size you want too. You can buy them with laptop sleeves, but I think they are all sewn in, which makes them less appealing for day hikes.

Someone else mentioned LL Bean. Their "classic rucksack" is simple and inexpensive ($40). I've liked them since they first came out. LL Bean has a bunch of campus/commuter packs and a liberal return policy.
 
+1 for Camelbak. I have a BFM and I really like it. The waistbelt is removable.
 
What sort of bike do you have? Is it possible to strap the bag to your seat? That's what I do. I often moto-commute as well, and have wondered whether I want anything strapped to my back with hard objects in it, in the event of an "unscheduled dismount".
 
I just made the changeover to Kifaru. Highly recommend them, but you do pay for them.
 
I've used a LL Bean Classic since high school... yeah, it was an early model. Still holding up, even after being pressed into BOB and camping duties for a while.

I had the Blackhawk version of the Eagle Becker pack, made before they moved thier prod overseas. Decent, but the pockets were smaller than I wanted. Still a fine pack, but I'd recommend the Eagle version of it right now, BHI's reputation isn't what it was even a few years ago.

I looked at the Tactical Tailor Three Day Plus, almost went with it. I own quite a bit of thier gear, two thumbs up on all of it, so I can't imagine that their pack isn't just as good.

What I have now is the SpecOps THE Pack. Very well designed, very rugged. My only real grumble is the design of the waist belt but it's easily enough removed and replaced with something a little more capable when I want or need a waist belt.

All of these are in your size range, and all but the Bean pack are hydration compatible if you really feel the need. But the Bean is the only one under a $150. :)
 
Sounds like you're looking for two different things. If you intend to do extensive back-packing, a pack that fits your torso and has a padded waistband that transfers the weight to your hips is the way to go. Otherwise, there are hundreds of daypacks that will do. A waistband to keep the daypack from flopping around and a chest level clip to keep the shoulder straps from slipping off your shoulders are good features. LL Bean offers a great daypack; I've used one for a decade now and it looks good for another ten years.
 
I've used a standard A.L.I.C.E. pack for about 17 years now (same one). I just slip the frame out when I want to shoulder only, and it carries anything I need, and then some. Plus it's bullet proof. The only other pack I ever had that I liked as much was an old Kelty. That big aluminum square frame and the canvas bag packed out many moose. Anyhow, that's my recommendation. ALICE pack will never let you down.
 
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