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Good Sized Backpack
What are your opinions on a good sized backpack (in cubic inches) for being out 1-3 nights? I'd have a sleeping bag, tent (that could be strapped to the bottom), and all the other basic stuff. I've been looking at some that are 6,000 to 7,000 cubic inches. Is that overkill?
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*************ENDLESS WINTER************** -
Wow, thats a huge pack! Are you going to Vinson!?
For the summer, I would get <4000 Cu In. Treat yourself to a Down bag, and find a partner to share a tent with. Better yet, take advantage of the many Leantos sprinkled throughout the ADK.
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I've got a EMS Summit Internal frame 6500 which I have been happy with.
The only knock on it would be that you're giving away six pounds before you even put anything in it.
I use it for overnighter and weekend trips.
If I am doing a long hike, I use my Granite Gear lightweight.
with the 5000-6500 size you can pretty much carry everything you could possibly need."If future generations are to remember us with gratitude rather than contempt, we must leave them more than the miracles of technology. We must leave them a glimpse of the world as it was in the beginning, not just after we got through with it." Lyndon B. JohnsonComment
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IMO, the main problem with a pack with that much space is you will find a way to fill it - even if it means extra junk that you don't need and won't use.Fly Fisher's Anglers Association- a fine drinking club with a fishing problem
www.GoFlyFish.orgComment
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i've been using a Kelty Redcloud 6400 for 5 years... i love the thing, i have a long torso and this pack fits perfect..... and yes you can fit everything you need in the thing...
i used to use a 3500 and found that the pack was just not for me, i could fit things i needed, i could find anything and the pack really never fit me so well.. oh well just another pack to have hanging around for others to use....
oh yeah, i've used my large pack for 2-7 nights out on the trail with no problem....
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summer or winter
It depends on the season you will be using the pack in. I like a bit of a larger pack in the winter. It allows me more room for bulkier gear, and when you are cold you don't have to pack things perfectly to fit. I love compression straps and cinch cords. In the summer when you don;t need as much stuff like bulky warm clothes, spare clothes, extra fuel, and os on you should be able to use a much lighter and smaller pack. In my opinion 7000 cubic inches is pretty damn large. Best thing to do is to figure out how much space all your stuff will take up and allow like 10% more room in your pack, works for me. Good luck to ya!The ability to endure agony and pain makes the moment of triumph only sweeter....Comment
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I've been very happy with my approximately 4500cu inch pack for several years. It's plenty big for 2-3 nighters and if stuffed full has gotten me through 5 nights.
I am looking to lighten up this year and am shopping for 3000 cu inch pack.“One of the penalties of an ecological education is that one lives alone in a world of wounds.” ~ Aldo LeopoldComment
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I second these sentiments. I use a 5400 Kelty and it's never run out of room. Like Scott says, the larger the pack the more you'll pack. And as Redhawk says, it's adding overall weight.Originally posted by ADackR
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Yeh, but you forget to mention that you have another 1000 CU straped, clipped, attached, tied or taped to the outside!!Originally posted by fvrwld
(and it's all cooking gear)"If future generations are to remember us with gratitude rather than contempt, we must leave them more than the miracles of technology. We must leave them a glimpse of the world as it was in the beginning, not just after we got through with it." Lyndon B. JohnsonComment
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I don't know how to post a spreadsheet in the forum, but this link will take you to a table I put together a few years ago for the Delware Valley AMC Chapter, back when I lived down there and was a tripleader.
Just note, if you are planning on going ultralight, you will probably need to ratchet the sizes down a notch
Backpack Capacity GuidelinesRick
The measure of your ignorance is your belief in tragedy. What the caterpillar calls the end of the universe, the master calls the butterfly...
...unknown...Comment
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Thanks Rick, very helpful info!*************ENDLESS WINTER**************Comment
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Follow the spread sheet its a good set up. 6000 is huge for a weekend trip unless you are planning on killing a deer and want to pack out the meat... Go with a 3000, or 3500 ci. But the biggest kicker is the tent and sleeping bag you've got. Put the tent on the outside and your fine but if the sleeping bag is big that'll eat up alot of your room. If that's the case then something a touch bigger might work.
Good rule of thumb, you'll fill to the size of your bag(almost always) so if you don't need the room don't buy the room.
Specifically I'd look at.... EMS summit pannel loader, Marmot eiger(not sure if its big enough), black diamond sphynx, kelty redcloud(3100 ci), granite gear latitude.
Hope that's some leads. A entry level bag(that'll work just great) should run you 100 bucks, some that are lighter or better designed will run more, ex. granite gear latitude. Ideally you want a narrow bag that sits along your spine(look at the marmot eiger for example). The Kelty is a nice pack but a little wider and farther out from your back than the others and therefor it'll hold weight not quite as well. Anyway just some ideas.....Comment
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Look here for some backpacks.
The owner of this company started Mountainsmith out of his garage way back when. These packs should last a lifetime and are handmade out in Colorado.Comment
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I got one of their cataloges last year, and the prices were a bit outrageous regardless of warranty/implied lifespan.Originally posted by ken999
Sure you get what you pay for, but on the other hand a Honda gets you A to B as well as a Mercedes.Comment
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I don't see anything outrageous about them, they are built to last and priced accordingly.Comment
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