[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Need Backpack Recommendation (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 12/28/2016 10:00:25 AM EDT
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Some guys from my church are organizing a backpacking trip on the AT for a weekend in February. This will be a relatively low-speed endeavor with planned hiking of 5-6 miles per day. I did a good amount of backpacking when I was in college, but that was 20 years ago. I spend a decent amount of time in the outdoors these days, but my interest center on hunting, fly fishing, and car camping with the kids. I am pretty much set on gear for this trip, except I think I need a new backpack. All I have is the Kelty that I used in high school and college, and I think I need an upgrade.
I prefer external frame, but there don't seem to be a lot of choices, so I may go with internal. Also, I am 6'4", which complicates the selection and fitting process. I am considering an Eberlestock V90 Battlehip, but I am seeking advice from the hive first. What say ye? Recommend me a backpack. |
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ULA Circuit
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Quoted:
I am considering the Eberlestock V90 Battleship Any pack that is called the "Battleship" is going to be heavy as shit. 8 lbs 12 oz. 
A 99L pack is way too large for 99.9999% of all backpacking. If you have that much space, you're going to fill it with shit you don't need, and you're going to be miserable. Go with a purpose-built lightweight backpack and avoid these overly huge load haulers. |
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Your height doesn't mean Jack.
Your torso measurements do. So go get measured . Watch the series on REI's YouTube channel and have your buddy/wife/kid take it. This will help with pack size selection./adjustment. For external packs your pretty much limited to kelty. Internals ride different..have to be packed different .etc. 3-5 days. Look for a pack that's 4000ci+. Bigger if your gear isn't pack friendly. Aka big bulky junk. Whats your shelter,,water,,bag set up. That's the bulkier items outside of winter clothing. Brands Kelty Ospery Georgory Go lite North face Or Go the tier 1 super shove a gun in it..10lbs empty ruck. Oz's make pounds...... Remember that. |
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Gregory Stout 45 - On sale for $125
https://www.rei.com/product/880998/gregory-stout-45-pack My favorite pack that I own is the Osprey Kestrel 38. It's got a great fit, is small enough for a day hike, but could equip me for a weekend trip if I needed. It's a little too small for anything more than 2-3 days, though. There are bigger versions of the pack for that. But I'm not going to take a 48L pack with me on a day hike like I would the 38. |
I was expecting you wanted something cheap and was going to recommend a Teton pack from Amazon, then I saw you mentioned Eberlstock. 
Short answer: Go to REI. They will fit you to a pack which fits your frame. They don't sell any shitty brands IMO, though I am somewhat partial to Osprey. |
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I've got a 65 litre North Face pack. I got it on sale a few years back. I like it a lot. It can pack up in size or down. If I want to pack heavy I can suspend my tent and sleeping pad down low. Light: a hamock goes inside. I can do a week worth of food and gear and keep it under 40lbs. I also use it when I travel solo since it works as a carry-on.
Packing with friends is great. Split up who carries what. Bring one stove per two people. Same goes for water filtration. Bring a Sven Saw for firewood. I always pack a small folding REI camp chair. It's worth the weight for the comfort. |
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What's wrong with your current Kelty?
Is this a one weekend deal or are you planning 50 hikes in 2017? You are with a church group and a weekend hike within a day from the parking lot. Don't over think it. Do the hike and spend money next time once you asses. That is if you decide to hike again. You don't need an eberlestock for a one weekend church trip. Unless you are a gear whore. Then spend $ as you see fit |
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Get the right sized pack from ULA. Take your own measurements and select the size according to their charts. The circuit is good up to 35# load and the ohm up tp 30# load. These are super light, comfortable and what the cool kids use on the AT |
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OP, not to be nosey but what sleeping bag are you carrying. I missed the part about February.....I did the section from Springer to Fontana in mid to late April and it got down into the low teens. I have a North Face Bag that i bought back in 2004. It has synthetic fill, and I think it is rated to 20 degrees. I have used for a couple of extended trips, but it is in very good condition. I think it weighs about 3.5 lbs. It has been stored uncompressed. I think I will check the weather when the trip gets closer, and if it is going to be sub-freezing, I might get a new bag. |
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Gregory Baltoro 65. I love mine.
That said, go to REI or another place and get fitted. Toss on a few packs they have there and walk around the store for a bit with some weight in them. A pack that doesn't fit SUCKS to fucking carry. From my trip on the Teton Crest Trail. 
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| osprey, go to an actual hiking store and get it fitted to you. I use one in the Rockies in April bear hunting and camping out of the pack. We walk up to 15 or so miles the first day then only a few miles the days between with all our gear and rifle. Pack out the hides and meat on the way out. You also might want to consider getting your boots now to get them broke in. I have had the same pair of Lowas for 8 years. Probably have 500 miles on them. (conservatively guessing) |
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It has been said in this thread already, many times. It can't be said enough.
GO TO REI. GET FITTED FOR AN OSPREY. Take your sleeping bag and compression sack with you, in fact take any bigger pieces of kit you think you'll be shoving into this pack with you, so the guy fitting your pack will know which one to pick. I've got an Aether70, Kestrel38, MantaAG28, and one of Ospreys school type packs. For anything more than a single overnight, or anything where I was going to walk more than 5 miles, I'd take my Aether. The AtmosAG65 would be what I'd buy if I didn't already have the Aether, the AG50 is on my list. Edit to add that I've had something like 10 Kifaru packs over the years, and while they were bombproof, they were all too heavy, and nothing like as comfortable as my Ospreys have been. High priced cordura packs for non warzone use are just silly. |
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Quoted:
osprey, go to an actual hiking store and get it fitted to you. I use one in the Rockies in April bear hunting and camping out of the pack. We walk up to 15 or so miles the first day then only a few miles the days between with all our gear and rifle. Pack out the hides and meat on the way out. You also might want to consider getting your boots now to get them broke in. I have had the same pair of Lowas for 8 years. Probably have 500 miles on them. (conservatively guessing) I have a pair of Danner Acadias that I have had for ten years that will likely go on this trip. They are insulated, sturdy, and very well broken in. The rest of my major gear out will look something like this: MSR Whisperlite international MSR Miniworks 3x Nalgene bottles ( I don't like bladders in the field on multi-day trips, too hard to clean) North Fact 20 degree synthetic bag Sierra Designs tent (it is a small two man I have had for about ten years, I forget the model) Glock 20 carried in Wilderness Safepacker (if my total load is too heavy, I might go with a S&W 637) REI base layer 5.11 pants fleece jacket Marmot Goretex shell stocking cap plenty of thick wool socks |
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Quoted:
It has been said in this thread already, many times. It can't be said enough. GO TO REI. GET FITTED FOR AN OSPREY. Take your sleeping bag and compression sack with you, in fact take any bigger pieces of kit you think you'll be shoving into this pack with you, so the guy fitting your pack will know which one to pick. I've got an Aether70, Kestrel38, MantaAG28, and one of Ospreys school type packs. For anything more than a single overnight, or anything where I was going to walk more than 5 miles, I'd take my Aether. The AtmosAG65 would be what I'd buy if I didn't already have the Aether, the AG50 is on my list. Edit to add that I've had something like 10 Kifaru packs over the years, and while they were bombproof, they were all too heavy, and nothing like as comfortable as my Ospreys have been. High priced cordura packs for non warzone use are just silly. Thanks. All the replies have been helpful. I tend to like my gear to be over-engineered, which make the Kifaru and Eberlestock offerings appealing, but I am going to head to REI and check out an Osprey. I will likely get a larger one, for versatility, but try keep my load to a minimum. |
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Quoted:
Thanks. All the replies have been helpful. I tend to like my gear to be over-engineered, which make the Kifaru and Eberlestock offerings appealing, but I am going to head to REI and check out an Osprey. I will likely get a larger one, for versatility, but try keep my load to a minimum. Keep in mind that a large pack doesn't always mean versatility. Sometimes it's too easy to overload yourself with a large pack, whereas a smaller pack will force you to keep things light. |
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It's gone, Jim. It's back, Bones. My Trail Co is the new company, and they're making a lot of the GoLite designs. I have a GoLite Pinnacle, and I love it. The MTC equivalent is the "Light 70L". I'm also interested in the Sierra Designs Flex Capacitor - looks neat. |
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I have a pair of Danner Acadias that I have had for ten years that will likely go on this trip. They are insulated, sturdy, and very well broken in. The rest of my major gear out will look something like this: MSR Whisperlite international MSR Miniworks 3x Nalgene bottles ( I don't like bladders in the field on multi-day trips, too hard to clean) North Fact 20 degree synthetic bag Sierra Designs tent (it is a small two man I have had for about ten years, I forget the model) Glock 20 carried in Wilderness Safepacker (if my total load is too heavy, I might go with a S&W 637) REI base layer 5.11 pants fleece jacket Marmot Goretex shell stocking cap plenty of thick wool socks I'm willing to bet that you're better outfitted than 99% of casual church-group backpackers. Take a hard look at that SD rain fly. If it's sticky at all on the inside, the waterproofing is likely shot. That happened to my SD Lightning 2 after about 10yrs - SD gave me 1/2 off + free shipping on a replacement. |
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Call the bag a 30* now. Put on a wool base layer and you should be ok in a tent. What sleeping pad do you use? I have a couple of Exped mats that I love. If it's a basic thermarest you can add a blue mat underneath for more warmth Yes, I have a basic thermorest. I will upgrade bag and pad as needed depending on the weather forecast. Temperature can vary quite a bit in the are where we are going. Good suggestions. |
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Some guys from my church are organizing a backpacking trip on the AT for a weekend in February. This will be a relatively low-speed endeavor with planned hiking of 5-6 miles per day. I did a good amount of backpacking when I was in college, but that was 20 years ago. I spend a decent amount of time in the outdoors these days, but my interest center on hunting, fly fishing, and car camping with the kids. I am pretty much set on gear for this trip, except I think I need a new backpack. All I have is the Kelty that I used in high school and college, and I think I need an upgrade. I prefer external frame, but there don't seem to be a lot of choices, so I may go with internal. Also, I am 6'4", which complicates the selection and fitting process. I am considering an Eberlestock V90 Battlehip, but I am seeking advice from the hive first. What say ye? Recommend me a backpack. I guess if its low-speed on the Appalachian Trail, no one is going to die unless they have a heart attack or are eaten by a pack of hungry wolves. I have never been on a backpacking trip. Have fun. |
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I know folks love Osprey, and they make a decent pack. But after hiking 200 miles of the AT with an Atmos AG 65 I had a few complaints.
1. Mine squeaks like crazy. Nothing you can't ignore for a bit, but ultimately very annoying. 2. The side pockets where I kept my water bottles have a compression strap running over them. If you cinch the compression strap, water bottle insertion is difficult. If you leave it loose...why have a strap there at all? Poor design. 3. Hip belt pockets are too small and too tight to easily get your hand in. I ended up fishing items out with two fingers. Moderately irritating. 4. Too heavy. Much lighter packs out there. |
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Quoted:
Keep in mind that a large pack doesn't always mean versatility. Sometimes it's too easy to overload yourself with a large pack, whereas a smaller pack will force you to keep things light. Quoted:
Quoted:
Thanks. All the replies have been helpful. I tend to like my gear to be over-engineered, which make the Kifaru and Eberlestock offerings appealing, but I am going to head to REI and check out an Osprey. I will likely get a larger one, for versatility, but try keep my load to a minimum. Keep in mind that a large pack doesn't always mean versatility. Sometimes it's too easy to overload yourself with a large pack, whereas a smaller pack will force you to keep things light. 
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| Go to a store that has many different brands and choose a quality brand that fits you well. Most packs will carry all your gear and get the lightest most durable pack you can afford. When I was on the AT weight was a major factor. A proper fit helps better distribute weight and is a blessing. I like deuter. |
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Quoted:
Some guys from my church are organizing a backpacking trip on the AT for a weekend in February. This will be a relatively low-speed endeavor with planned hiking of 5-6 miles per day. I did a good amount of backpacking when I was in college, but that was 20 years ago. I spend a decent amount of time in the outdoors these days, but my interest center on hunting, fly fishing, and car camping with the kids. I am pretty much set on gear for this trip, except I think I need a new backpack. All I have is the Kelty that I used in high school and college, and I think I need an upgrade. I prefer external frame, but there don't seem to be a lot of choices, so I may go with internal. Also, I am 6'4", which complicates the selection and fitting process. I am considering an Eberlestock V90 Battlehip, but I am seeking advice from the hive first. What say ye? Recommend me a backpack. Eberlestock Skycrane II - outfit yourself with enough gear strapped to your back to self sustain for 30d and watch others cower in awe and wonder. Seriously though, what's your budget and do you expect to use it after for other activities? I really do think the Skycrane II broken down to it's little brother + butt pack state would give you more than you need but allow much more flexibility and growth for other activities in the future. ETA - And stay away from external frames. There is a reason the industry (and the military) has moved away from them. They are an added complication that only serves to move your load further away from your body increasing the leverage on you and your lower back. Internal frame design has progressed to a point where they are just as good or better than any external frame with the added inherent benefit of carrying your load closer to you. |
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Quoted:
What's wrong with your current Kelty? Is this a one weekend deal or are you planning 50 hikes in 2017? You are with a church group and a weekend hike within a day from the parking lot. Don't over think it. Do the hike and spend money next time once you asses. That is if you decide to hike again. You don't need an eberlestock for a one weekend church trip. Unless you are a gear whore. Then spend $ as you see fit This. Is this the first of many trips? Or a one-off? And those older Kelty external frame packs are well built and should be just fine for a few days of slow hiking. I have a 20 year old Lowe Alpine that I still use. As long as you take care of it, it will take care of you. |
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Osprey, Gregory, Deuter, Kelty, REI.... and so on. All make great packs. They all have different features and weights, but you really cant go wrong with any of them.
Determine what gear you have and that is going to dictate what size pack you need to buy(without buying smaller/lighter equipment). GET FITTED!!! REI, EMS, Local ma and pa packshop. That S, M, L on the pack is not how much it carries, it is the torso lengths that it fits. Capacity is just a byproduct of torso lenght the pack is built for. What is your torso length? height has nothing to do with it.. you could be all legs and a short torso.. or you could be a really long torso with short legs and still be 6'-4". Get it measured. C7 Vertebrae to the iliac crest is what determines torso lenght for packs. Every pack feels great empty when you are trying them on... load it up then put it on. A good all around one that I am going to suggest trying is the Deuter ACT Lite 65+10. -freeride21a (former certified gregory packfitter) |