I've got a few family wild camping trips planned and don't think any of my current packs will cope well with the load, which could well be in excess of 20 or even 25kg. I've seen a few Lowe Alpine load haulers with the TFX back system on offer and wondered if anybody on OM had any experience of these packs, and what they thought of them. Is there much difference between the TFX 7, TFX 8, TFX 10 and so on?
I don't think theres much difference between the TFX7,8 etc. I have a womens rucksack with TFX5 system, which although older, I found comfier for ME than the same rucksack with the newer TFX system when I tried them on. But they all felt pretty similar.
My rucksack was about 14kg on my long extended trip and I haven't gone heavier than that, however I'm only 46kg so that was pretty heavy for me.
Generally I would advise the TFX systems but everyone is a different shape and you really need to try them on in the shops with a significant weight in them I suppose.
but everyone is a different shape and you really need to try them on in the shops with a significant weight in them I suppose.
Exactly!
I have an old Lowe (bought in '88) and I've yet to find anything I prefer for really big loads. But some friends looking for a sack have found it purgatory and much preferred my Macpac Ascent. Lowe can certainly build good load luggers but as Beanie says, try them on in person with a representative weight.
Oké lightweight family camping and hauling big loads, it's needed anyway cause young kids cannot carry that much. Personally I think the Lowe bags, the arcteryx bags, th osprey bags aren't good enough for this. For one they are too small (<100 litre) and for second however they can be good for 25 kg, they are not made to constantly carry that weight. Your supposed to loose some weight during the trip (hence the expension possibilities on named brands that make <100 l bags).
family load haulers:
Bergans 3810 Powerframe or a bit smaller a bergans 4390 Finmark or softpack from Bergans, a Viking or Alpinist
Another personal favourite of mine is The klatermussen Mjolner.
Furthermore good frame types can be found in the states Ti Goat is working on a UL fixed carbonframe, Kifaru has some decent loadlifters...
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