New Pack

Zini

Zini

Joined
Aug 17, 2010
Messages
388
Hey all,

I'm in need of a new pack for going backpacking. Needs to be comfortable and have a fair amount of room. This pack will be used for most 1-3 day hikes. I'd like some MOLLE attachment points on the pack as well.

I've been recommended by a friend to get an Osprey Atmos 50 pack but figured I'd get ya'lls opinion first.

Thanks!
 
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I could use some advise as well. I got a maxpedition falcon II recently but Its more of an overnight pack. Too small for multiple days and lacks a large compartment for clothing storage.
 
I use a snugpak rocket for my stays mostly. With the side pouches it is 60 Liters. Longest I ever did was 10 days in the Cairngorms in Scotland with it.

They run about $150 or so. bensbackwoods carries um.

edit: I should add that these kinds of packs aren't anywhere near as comfortable as trekking packs like Osprey, Kelty, etc, but they are more...how do I say...rustic. More military style, etc.
 
I have an older Osprey Finesse (Made back when Osprey were bomb proof packs) I like they're suspension system alot, but in my opinion they leave a little to be desired in durabuility these days.

Depending on what you are looking to spend I would look at the Kelty Redwing 50

Here is some info from a previous post I did on it...

KELTY REDWING 50
Capacity – 3100 ci / 51 Liter
Weight – 3 lbs 9 ounces
Dimensions – 25x18x14.5 Inches
Material – 420D Polyester Ball Shadow
Suspension – Fixed
Size Purchased - M/L: 17.5" - 21" / 44 - 53 cm

This seems to be a well thought out pack. It carries comfortably with 35 lbs of gear. Side pockets fit a 1 liter Nalgene bottle perfectly. Front slip pocket is convenient for maps and compass. Organizational pockets are ok for flatter items. The Suspension System does not stand up to the comfort of other big name packs, but is quite comfortable considering the price tag. The pack has webbing on the bottom that alternates from 2 inch to 1.5 inch loops, and works great for strapping on a sleeping pad or tent. The daisy chain on the front is one thing I don’t care for, I would prefer some Molle / Pals webbing on this panel. Also there is not hanger for a hydration bladder, this does not matter much to me personally because I am not using a bladder, but I would imagine some who would prefer something to hand their water bladder from. All in all I am very pleased with the Kelty Redwing 50 for a 3 day / 3 season pack.

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x2 on the Kelty Redwing 3100. Tons of room for darn near everything but the kitchen sink, and you could probably lash that to it as well if you wanted to. Great build quality, comfortable loaded to the gills, and enough pockets to really divvy up your kit to the point where you can really organize and prioritize for quick access. The only thing I added to mine was to sew in a small clip to hold up my hydration pouch inside. Check out Sunnysports.com for a good deal on one.
 
Decklin said:
Thats where I got mine from. Shipping was pretty quick.
Click to expand...

Quick shipping, packed well, and the best price I've ever found. Not to sound like a damned infomercial, but that site has good prices on most everything in general.
 
i don't hoof it much, but thats cause i'd rather float then walk. canoeing is the way to go in my books however with every trip there comes a couple km's of portaging.

http://cascadedesigns.com/sealline/packs-and-duffles/pro-pack/product

thats the pack i use. it might not be fancy with a tonn of different pockets but it does keep things dry. hell it even floats if you flip.the straps are flat so you can carry the canoe and pack at the same time on longer trips. it might not fit your bill, but overall it's the best choice for water related trips.

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^a quick trip past a beaver dam
 
for 3 or 4 day trips i've been using a camelbak talon for the last couple of years, i've got a camelbak trizip coming that i'll use in a couple of weeks on a 4 day camping trip. for longer trips i still carry a milsurplus framed pack, expands to take a huge amount of gear and has a seperate bag for the sleeping bag. the suspension system is very adjustable and works really well too.

i'll post pics in a couple of weeks from the campout.

take it easy
cricket
 
"How about a 5.11 Rush 72?"
This is a really great pack, for carrying stuff from the house to the car and then the car to the ticket counter.
It's well made and has pockets for everything, but it's heavy and doesn't really have the suspension system designed for trail use.
I use mine for carrying extra gear in my trunk and used it last Summer, to travel to Chicago to visit family. Got a weeks worth of Summer clothes in it with room to spare.
Highly reccommended to travelling in style or maybe car camping with a lighter pack for day trips.
 
I'm sure I was alive and experiencing things before I bought my first Kifaru, but I'll be damned if I can remember anything.
 
cricketdave said:
for 3 or 4 day trips i've been using a camelbak talon for the last couple of years, i've got a camelbak trizip coming that i'll use in a couple of weeks on a 4 day camping trip. for longer trips i still carry a milsurplus framed pack, expands to take a huge amount of gear and has a seperate bag for the sleeping bag. the suspension system is very adjustable and works really well too.

i'll post pics in a couple of weeks from the campout.

take it easy
cricket
Click to expand...

Let me know how you like that TriZip Dave. I really wanted to get one but couldnt fit my gear in 2300 ci, thinking I may still get it for a winter day pack or summer light over night bag.
 
I love my Alice pack and frame system. You can attach a lot of stuff to it, and I made my own frame so it sits perfectly around my waist taking most of the weight off my back.
 
I personally always grab one of my Maxpedition bags/packs and do very well with it but, I have a good friend that I hang out in the mountains with and he always sports one of the Osprey packs and swears by them, they do have a good selection and reputation.
 
your going to be hard pressed to find a more comfortable pack than the gregory triconi 60 or the baltaro 70. I have been using the gregory palisade 80 for about a year and it is pretty awesome and super comfortable.
 
I've used many different brands and styles of hiking packs, from high tech ultralight to military "unbreakables", and I always come back to Osprey as a nice middle ground.

They're the most comfortable packs I've found, and for the most part they're extremely well designed. People who say they aren't durable enough are nuts. I've carried mine through sharp talus fields, clearings filled with brambles and thorns, tossed them down snowy slopes, you name it. Not a single rip or tear on any of my Ospreys, just a few scuff marks.

Right now I'm running an Osprey Kestrel 48 litre as my extended stay camping bag. It's great.

If you're going to put any serious mileage on your pack, get a civilian styled hiking bag. Forget the pretty military styled packs we all tend to love here, and get something that WONT kill your back. You aren't getting shot at in Afghanistan. You don't need a milspec pack. I carry a hardcore molle bombproof pack as my day bag / bushcrafting bag (since it looks cooler and I'm basically still a kid playing with his green plastic army men) but honestly they're no good for real hiking and mountaineering.

But whatever you get, just make sure to try the bag on before you buy it!! The most important thing is that the hip belt actually rides on your hip, and thats where the majority of the weight of the pack will be located. The shoulder straps shouldn't be carrying much weight at all -- just stabilizing it. If the belt rides up on your belly even an inch (like a lot of military packs!) DON'T BUY IT! Get one that fits your torso properly.
 
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