Recommendations on a hiking pack

dePaul

dePaul

Joined
Aug 8, 2000
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This summer, me and my buddy will attend a 10 days hiking trip. We will be passing areas with a lot of overgrowth and low branches so I suppose a pack with an internal frame is the obvious choice?

Now, can you plz suggest a decent pack in the range of $200?

Thanks,
~Paul~
 
Hey, sounds likeit'll be a cool trip. I haven't kept up with the world of backpacks lately, so I can't currently suggest a certain model/brand. However, I can give you some general suggestions (I hope you find this info useful):

-try on the backpack before you buy it, unless you are well-experienced. Backpacks are like boots - no two fit alike. Every person has a different frame and, therefore, needs a different size and shape of bag. A ten-day trip is a long one, if your pack is miserable to carry.
-if you can get into a store to try out packs, take along the gear you will want to have with you. This way, you will know the size and dimensions that you need. Also, you will be able to compare fit while holding your gear.
-to find the length of your back (and, corresponsingly, the size of pack you need), measure in a straight line along your spine, from the large, bony vertebra at the base of your neck (I think that is #7) to the point inbetween your upper-most hip bone (also called the iliac crest). Backpack lengths are sized to accomodate that section of your back. Some packs are very adjustable, some are very specific.
-the pack weight should ride more on the upphips than on the shoulders. However, this can be adjusted for certain types of hiking. The shoulder straps should not pinch or rub you raw.
-when choosing a backpack, the most important feature is how it fits on you. Secondly is price and features. An internal frame pack could very well be the way to go, but don't wolly rule out external frames; in my experience, I often find an external frame pack to be more comfortable and convient.

Good luck and, if I come across any more specific info, I'll pass it on. Hopefully, the others will be able to chime in. :)
 
Take a good look at the ultralite packs. They've made advances that have the weights at around 3lbs for the pack, with performance on par with much heavier packs.

Some names to look at;

GoLite, Osprey and Gregory are probably the best known.

Many others have entered the field in the last few years, including Kelty. While I had shied away from Kelty for a while now, I've been hearing good things about their new lines of ultralites.

a few links to check:

back country gear

adventure racing

REI

kkimo
 
Kifaru (may cost more but if you don't want it at the end you can sale it easy)
Kifaru.net is the page, it's down right now though should be up shortly
 
Hi from Calgary!!!

It's been a lot of years since I've done any of the back stuff but....from what I can recall. One thing to check on the internal frame packs is to ensure that the internal struts can be taken out and bent to the contour of your back. It's not that they can't be bent otherwise, just a bit more convenient. Internal frame packs tend to hug your back very close and hence can be very hot in warmer climates. External frame ones, if you can find good ones, are a little better this way. Most of the internal frame packs do not have many pockets on the outside which is a good thing if you are going thru brush, etc, but can be a bit of pain if you need to get at stuff.


As mentioned earlier - fit is very important. If you can, either take your stuff, or try to get equivalent stuff where you are shopping to make sure everything fits. The mid range to high range packs tend to have a lot of adjustments for comfort. The one I had was a Lowes, it was about $250 CDN and it was the only one that I could find that had external pockets. I think it had about 6 in various sizes, and a large one on the cover. Lots of attachment places for adding pouches/pockets, etc. I used it for about 8 years and then handed it off to my son when he became a Venturer leader (I was a Scout Leader for about 7 years).

Hope this helps - gord
 
Some other packs to look at would be arc teryx and dana designs. Also, check around, you can find places that are clearing out last years $350 model for $200.

The other piece of advice that I'm going to echo is figure out what you are going to be taking. If you don't need a 7000 cubic inch pack, there is no reason to buy one that big. Weighs more, costs more in general. I have a 2800 cubic inch pack and have taken it for excursions like you mention and have had plenty of space. (for what I need, not the kitchen sink.)
 
I use an ALICE pack, and before you say "Dang, I dont want any bulky box like that on my back for ten days", even though it is uncomfortable it's a pretty good pack. I havent hiked alot with it, but if you pack it right and cinch everything down tight, it's allright.

A great thing about it is that it doesnt come up high enough to snag branches and brush, it's a ruck and it goes out, instead of up.

I'd give the ALICE a 4 out of 10 for comfort, but a 10 for durability.
 
One good place for deals is www.campmor.com. They have a section for web bargains and hot deals, and you can sometimes find stuff really cheap.

It would be best, though, to try before you buy.
 
I reccomend:

www.duluthpack.com

They are well designed, built super tough, more durable than synthetics, and just plain cool. I have a portfolio made by them and its awesome. Do a search here on Bladeforums, I heard about them here.

The next item I'm getting is some Duluth Pack luggage.
 
Thank you all for the various head ups. This is far harder than I thought :confused:

I suppose I'll have to try a pack IRL and not just order one online. This procedure will limit the number of options radically!

I'm still not sure if I should choose an internal or external frame pack. How 'bout those hydration systems like camelbak? Any good? Do I need it?

Should I choose an ordinary pack or the military style (these sure look yummy) pack? I'm not too excited in the color explosion of most of the packs out there. The military packs colors are more to my liking (sand, OD, forest green, not camo though).

Thanks again,
~Paul~
 
Paul,

It really is critical that you try on whatever you are going to buy. If it doesn't fit, it's going to hurt. Would you buy hiking boots without first trying them on? I think internal frame is the way to go, but it all depends on which one you find that fits you best. If you can, try and put some weight in them when you are at the store. You can't really tell if a pack fits by just strapping on an empty one.

Camelbak and other hydration systems (ie bladders with tubes) are really nice for the hands free and weight distribution features but they are certainly not necessary. Dehydration is a problem when you are carryin g heavy loads, so it's nice to be able to take a sip every so often without having to get out your canteen. If you do get one of the hydration bladders I would reccomend against getting one without it's own stand alone pouch. Even if your pack comes with an internal pocket for the bladder, you'll probably find yourself getting annoyed with having to unpack in order to dig it out when it comes time to refill. I have a camelbak that has it's own pouch, which I attach to the outside of my pack. Refilling is a snap, plus if you are going to day hike, you can just attach it to your belt or daypack and off you go. I would still get a few Nalgene bottles besides, though. If you are going for ten days then you will want to have a minimum of 2 liters on your person. I ususally have a spare liter or two in the Nalgenes, which I use to fill up my camelbak when I get the chance.

How are you going to purify your water, BTW? I like and use a Katadyn Hiker model, but there are others as well. Iodine tablets also work, but 10 days straight is a long time to be tasting them...

Then there is the cook stove issue...
 
I worked at Eastern Mountain Sports for a number of years throughout high school, college and graduate school. I can tell you that, having access to any pack I wanted, I settled for an Eagle Industries A-III for weekend trips and a Dana Design Big Horn for anything else. You can't go wrong with the Dana Packs for comfort, they are second to none. A little more pricey but worth every penny. The eagle pack by the way is the most rugged and best built day pack on the market!

Kev
 
Definitely try one on first. After reading all the reviews in major magazines, I tried a whole bunch of very expensive backpacks and discovered that my old Army alice pack was more comfortable than the rest. I also love the external frame for lashing points. Most people don't like it, for me, it's a 10 out of 10, especially being as cheap as it is.

Your mileage will definitely vary. Whatever works best for you is the right answer.
 
All the advcice given above is good. May I recommend a book on this and other topics?

The Complete Walker. The latest edition, by Colin Fletcher and Chip Rawlins, discusses this issue and many others in great detail and in an entertaining manner.
 
One more thing to keep in mind, if you can find a shop that can help adjust the pack to you when you try it on that would be ideal. Many new packs have the ability to move the shoulder straps up and down and in and out to make them fit better, along with adjusting the hip belt and other features on the pack.
 
Once again thank you all for all the good advices! I think I'm beginning to get a a grip :)

In conclusion:
1. Don't buy anything before you've tried it on
2. Don't buy a pack just because it sports a well known name
3. Internal as well as external frame constructions have their pros and cons
4. Don't buy a too large a pack

Please feel free to add to this list,
~Paul~
 
Trout Tamer said:
-try on the backpack before you buy it, unless you are well-experienced. Backpacks are like boots - no two fit alike. Every person has a different frame and, therefore, needs a different size and shape of bag. A ten-day trip is a long one, if your pack is miserable to carry.
-if you can get into a store to try out packs, take along the gear you will want to have with you. This way, you will know the size and dimensions that you need. Also, you will be able to compare fit while holding your gear.
Click to expand...
Some great advice there.
Pay attention to the hipbelt, how it rides and how well it is padded. How that pack feels standing in the store, and how it feels ten miles down the trail may be two different things.
Look into renting a pack. Some of the outdoor stores I've been to rent out equipment, and not just cheap stuff. I got my Dana Designs pack for $159 less than the "sticker price" because it had been rented-an internal strap was frayed on one side. Other than that it was like new. They'd even tagged it with the regular price, apparently not realizing it had been used until I pointed out the strap.
Plus, a rental sounds like a good idea to me, rather than buy a pack for a one-time trip, and you'll also find out through your own experience if it's a good choice if you do decide to buy for future use.
I own some great gear, some that were excellent choices thanks to blind luck, gear guides, and online reviews, while some items(even though there is nothing wrong with them) I wouldn't buy again, simply because they weren't the best choices for my actual needs. Good gear will last you a long time, but it's not cheap. It's worth putting some time and thought into your purchases.
 
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