I've looking in a few different stores in Leeds and also went up to Chevin Trek(sp?) in Otley in the middle of last week and checked out some of their stuff esp the Deuter stuff. I don't know whether its just me but there seems to be a difference in size between different brands even if they are listed as being the same e.g. 60L. A Deuter 60L seems to be different to a Berghaus to a Lowe Alpine etc etc. I do now believe though that instead of thinking I need 75L I believe I may be able to fit the tent, sleeping bag and other things I'm taking into 50 to 65L instead. Some 50L from certain brands look big enough to me but with other 60L looks quite small. I am hoping to go to Ambleside, maybe also Kendal and Penrith tomorrow to check out a wider range of places selling rucksacks especially Deuter and LA as I really like their stuff. I have seen one or two smaller sized packs upto 50L by Osprey that I really liked and think they look like great packs even though I've only recently heard of this brand. I could end up buying one of their products for single day use. I loved the grey and dark colours as well on their I believe it was a 40 or 50L pack in Cotswolds in Leeds. The Aircontact Pro 60+15 in Chevin Trek did look quite big as did a lot of the other similar size sacks they had and I'm sure I can go a tiny bit lower. Maybe the 50+15 instead type of size. That could be my multiday pack and then something 50L or lower for single day use. John
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 What about the OMM Villain 45+10? A great pack that would do the job handsomely.
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and you can get it on ebay for £50.00 Check out the ebay alert for link
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| Edited: 06/03/10 22:53 |
 I have an osprey aether 70, but they also do 60 and 80L versions, with each version in various back lengths. I think its a great pack and its most comfortable pack (especially when loaded) that I have ever owned. Mine is last years model - they have just introduced a new version with more bells and whistles, so I got it on sale. BTW, just checked - the aether 60 gets good user reviews on this site
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Small backpacks are less comfortable, if you go for a small backpack (less than 60 liter) than ultra light weight equipment is very important. If you do not have ultra light equipment you can better go for a backpack with a comfortable belts and carry system for heavier equipment. Good brands with larger backpacks are Osprey, Lowe Alpine, Bach, Bergans (for extreme big packpacks), Gregory and MacPac. Which brand you should buy is more depending on how they fit on your body. For instance backlength should be long enough that the load lifters are above your shoulders. A nice fit of the belts along your shoulder is also important. Try backpacks in the shop with weight in it! Do not stare to a specific brand, just ry out differnt brands, each brand is more suited to a certain type of body. You'll find it out if you invest some time with trying out different brands in different shops
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 Take the kit you want to pack to the shop, pack it into the bags and try them on. Then you will know for sure that (a) it'll fit and (b) which is most comfortable. Why wonder, when an experiment will give you a definitive answer? Pete.
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John - I'm in the same boat as you, looking for a new sack. However my additional criteria is that it must be about 1kg. That what happens when you decide to reduce pack weight. You get the contents down then when the new contents have a lower pack size you can get a smaller and lighter sack. However some friends who have been undergoing the same process have told me that among the main players you actually get heavier sacks at the lower backpack volume range. For example Lowe Alpine at about 50 litres can be 2.2kg whereas their 65 litre can be about the same. I've also noticed that there are a lot of 1.0-2.0kg sacks at the 45/50 litres but not many at 1.0kg or less with back reinforcement. You tend to have to have the golite types without the reinforcement. I've also noticed that the OMM sacks are not really that light considering they have little reinforcement only the pformat pad. They seem to be about 1.2kg for the 45-60litre range. Although I like their extras such as the MSC and various pockets on the sides and hipbelts. I guess that is where the weight has mounted up. I have been looking at Aiguille sacks. I can get a custom extra length sack with a volume of 47plus extra volume due to length increase for £85. I've weighed one at the shop and it was 1.0kg. It did have the lighter spec fabric on the front and sides of the body and the standard heavier weight on the base, back and straps where the extra durability is needed. Also a British company that manufactures in Britain. A most unusual thing these days. I've also spoken to people who have used guides who had their sacks which is a good sign IMHO. John - If you have a look at the Aiguille site for a sack like what you might want then call them to discuss additional extras you might be surprised. I was with the way they offered several changes at no extra charges!
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I agree with Peter about the kit thing. If I get the chance to do it I fully intend to take a holdall full of my camping gear to see if the larger aiguille custom sack they had there would (a) take the gear and (b) would be comfortable enough to carry it over some distance. Kind of your criteria I guess too.
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 A lot of places now have sand bags that can be used to load a sack for trying out. My vote goes with the Osprey Aether 60. Far and away the most comfortable and versatile sack I have ever owned. I have even used it as a day sack as the compression straps can be really effective. I find it especially usefull on DofE training trips as I can get away with only one sack for expeds and day trips. Steve D
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 Sizing differs between brands because there's no recognised standard for pack volume measurement. Usually it's based on filling packs with beads or balls, but even then, things vary from brand to brand. I'd use the official capacity as a starting point, but not something that's always comparable.
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Not to forget the different venting systems and how they impact on bag shape and size. A vote for Osprey here too. I have the Atmos 35 and though I realise it may be too small for you, if their larger bags carry anything like this you'll believe you are carrying a bag much much smaller. I think that the different lengths of the back allow you to get one that's almost a custom-fit, allowing the weight to be carried across the back and not just on one point. How many other manufacturers do this I don't know, but I am impressed. Damian
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If I get the Aiguille it will be made to exactly fit my back length. I believe it is the C7 vertebrae to the top of thehips that most rucksack manufacturers measure between. I think the exact back length on a fixed length sack is the best option for stability of the sack. The airspace sacks I find sometimes decrease your stability, which is worse if you have weight in your sack. On top of that Both my friends and I believe that you actually lose volume with some of the Osprey airspace sacks. It seems to eat into the useable space of the sack. I've heard this before. Osprey are good sacks which is why they are stealing a march on market share in the UK. Same with Golite. Certainly if the numbers of them I'm seeing in the Lakes. Also I have been seeing more of the Alpkit Gourdon dry bag rucksacks these days. A great daysack IMHO.
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