Looking for help on sizing...

O

ohski

Joined
Apr 24, 2009
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My 22 liter day pack is still doing well (purchased in Singapore late 2002) but I want something larger... something light enough to use on overnighters but sturdy enough for a 3 day hike.

I went to REI today and even with haveing a pack in mind I think I confused myself. :confused: What size pack should I be looking for... I tend to overpack some if that helps.

Thanks, Ski
 
Grab the items that you would carry on these kinds of trips off the shelves and load them up in the pack. It'll give you an idea if your gear will fit.
 
A 22 liter pack is roughly 1340 cubic inches. Pretty small for a three day, but that depends on your location, season and skill level. I was doing weekend camping with an outstanding 38 liter (23 cu inches) Osprey pack. It was really a two-day pack, however I was packing extra food for the family. It was a tad small for much beyond that, but if I was going solo, it would be perfect for a 3-day trip.

If REI isn't too far, pack all your items up in gallon and quart sized ziplocks and carry them down to load up some packs. I do like a good expandable collar for light/bulky items like a jacket or fleece...it doesn't throw balance off and allows you to still pack it without cluttering the outside of your pack.

ROCK6
 
My 22 Liter ( a Dueter) is a daypack and gets used a such... I'm trying to find the right size for a 3 day... REI isn't that far at all but I'm not going to pack all my stuff up and take it there, sorry but that really isn't something that I would do.

I have been looking at the Osprey line of packs... They measured me and even loaded a few packs down with weight for me. Like I said, I thought I knew what I wanted untill I actually went and looked (read that as checked out and tried on) at them.

Anybody with more firsthand, "been there, done that" don't buy XX size pack...?

Ski
 
it depends on a lot on your gear/experience/geography- I've done 4 day hikes w/ my 24 liter Golite Ion. this is solo and definitely on the side of roughing it (although a 15# pack lets you eat up the miles :))

if you don't want to take your "stuff" to REI, then write it all down and find the equivalent piece off the shelf and load it up at the shop

if your gear is really on the light side a 35-40 liter pack should work for a couple or three days out, if not probably in the 40-50 liter range

REI has a great exchange policy (bring it back for any reason) so it's a pretty good place to shop if your unsure of exactly what you want

I had a Osprey Exos 46 that worked great for me- plenty of room for 3 day trips and w/ a little care in selection of gear/food/water I could get 7-8 days out of it
 
if your gear is really on the light side a 35-40 liter pack should work for a couple or three days out, if not probably in the 40-50 liter range
Click to expand...

Yea... This is where I'm at right now... I was really not trying to put too much info into my post to see other peoples thoughts were. I had originally thought the 32 liter Kestrel (online only) was the ticket, but once I got to the store and started looking, a pack that size wasn't that much bigger than what I'm using now (as a day pack). Soooooo... now I'm looking at the 48 - 50 liter packs.

Who knows, maybe I'll get both and retire my Dueter 22 :confused:

Ski
 
take a look at the base weight of the pack, and if the larger one isn't massively heavier, you can always tighten down the compression straps. I'd go for the 40L, granted, where I camp, lots of extra gear is the norm, with the weather we get.
 
I wouldn't take all my gear to the store either. What I would do is:
  1. First. have a general idea of size based on your planned use.
  2. Next, I'd have someone there help you choose a pack that fits properly. (Torso length is key here but so is hip belt/shoulder strap shape & position.)
  3. Add some weight to the pack and wear it around the store. They will usually have sand bags on hand for this purpose.
  4. Buy the pack, take it home and pack your gear into it. REI has a very forgiving return policy. Make sure you have all the clothing, gear and food you plan to take on hand. If it all fits, wear the pack around the neighborhood for an evening stroll. If not, look at what is left over and determine how much more pack you will need. (Or what can be left home.)
Good luck.
 
Pritch said:
I wouldn't take all my gear to the store either. What I would do is:
  1. Buy the pack, take it home and pack your gear into it. REI has a very forgiving return policy. Make sure you have all the clothing, gear and food you plan to take on hand. If it all fits, wear the pack around the neighborhood for an evening stroll. If not, look at what is left over and determine how much more pack you will need. (Or what can be left home.)
Good luck.
Click to expand...

Good advice. Pack sizing is a two-edged sword. You of course want it big enough for what you normally pack with the ability to expand just enough to hold some extra layered clothing when adjusting to activities and temperature shifts. If you get it too big with the intent to "compress it down", human nature as a pack-rat often leads to filling it up with unnecessary items that just add unneeded weight and bulk.

Let us know what you end up with...

ROCK6
 
Well.... since I do tend to over pack I think it will be better to just buy 2 packs. First one to be purchased now (maybe today) will be the smaller of the 2. The second will be of the 50 liter variety.
If all goes well I’ll take the new pack out early next week and do some woods walking. I’m not training for anything in particular but my back has been feeling very good lately and with the cooler weather I have been itching to get out more.
I actually went out 3 times this week… (2) 5.3 mile woods walks and (1) 10+ miler. Maybe I’ll start a new thread with a couple of pics…

Ski
 
IMG00060-20100927-1526.jpg


Current day pack... for woods walking. About 11lbs loaded (lots of toys :eek: )

Ski
 
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