Hey folk. I'm looking to upgrade from the world of karrimor to a decent overnight rucksack. I'm just getting into fast/light overnight backpacking on trails and I'm still working out what gear I *really* need to take. But I guess I want: 35-45ltr (happy to dispute this) Really light Tough Ideally a big mesh back & shoulder pads... because I sweat! Other bits of info that might be useful: I'm really thin, and about 5,10. So that might need to factor somewhere I don't want an Osprey talon because I tend to wreck gear pretty quicky and it seems to sacrifice toughness for lightweight materials. I tend to use mini drybags rather than needing a waterproof pack. Price not an issue (unless its made by NASA!) Looking forward to see your suggestions! t.
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 I'm just getting into fast/light overnight backpacking on trails and I'm still working out what gear I *really* need to takeWork it out by a process of elimination. See what you needed/didn't need last time you were out and eliminate the latter. Incrementally you'll get to what you really need. Once you're there you'll know the volume you need in your new pack. Ideally a big mesh back & shoulder pads... because I sweat! Much less sweaty than a mesh contact pad is no contact. That's actually pretty easy if you have a decent hip-belt and slacken off the shoulders a little. As long as there's a reasonably rigid frame the lumbar pad is then a pivot and there's nothing touching your back above it because the shoulder straps only contact at the front and top. A decent hip belt and a suitable frame do add weight, however. Really light Tough The very lightest materials are not the toughest, as you seem to realise anyway with your comments on the Osprey. It goes for everyone else too, I'm afraid  Pete.
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 Gossamer Gear, Gossamer Gear! They are spectacular buys at present, the dollar being weak http://gossamergear.com/packs/backpacks.html I have a gorilla and a miniposa both much tougher than youmight think and both have been up and down the pennine way and/or the pyrenees without fuss. I can't resist a £20 ($30) rucksack weighing 50g!
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 Have a look at Deuter ACT LITE range - i'm very happy with my 50+10 size, but there are smaller versions in the range. Good luck with the search !
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 Gossamer gear's newest rucksack looks interesting, you basically add whatever volume you need by means of a stuffsack/packliner, its not that light though which seems odd.
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golite peak or the jam 40 and 50ltrs i have both you have to be strict about what gear you take and how you pack them, have had 3 days food, and carried 4ltrs of water for a dry camp in the peak, i think both are great, i also have a gregory pallisade which weighs about 3kgs which thanks to golite is just gathering dust.
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 I'm a sweaty-backed-backpacker too (though I’ve been called worse) and I have come to the conclusion that trying to avoid getting sweaty in the first place just forces too many compromises and the better solution for me is concentrating on wearing the right things so that sweat (or rain!) don’t cause a chill when the pack is removed. I have a mesh-backed day pack which isn’t bad but frankly the trade-off in weight and stability (heavy and less stable obviously) isn’t worth the small improvement in sweat rate. If you’re puffing up a hill generating 5-15 times your basal metabolic rate then you’re going to sweat at some point whatever you put on your back! Now if we exclude ‘mesh back’ from your requirements we can get light and tough from many good manufacturers. My personal choice would be something from the crux range. I have an ak57, an ak30 and (recently acquired) rk30 all of which are excellent. For the size you are looking at you could go possibly manage with an rk30 which is generous for its nominal 30L, or look at the ak37 / ak47 packs. They carry really well, have extremely tough fabrics and the rk30 is effectively a dry bag so gives you an extra level of protection for your kit. The other brand I have got on well with is OMM. Their Villain and Jirishanca packs use tough materials and can be stripped down to make them lighter. I have a Classic Mountain 32 which is my running pack (about the only thing the crux ak/rk30s aren’t great for due to their minimal waist belt and the narrow gap between where the should straps meet the bottom of the pack). The Classic Mountain 32 is surprisingly tough for a light bag and does have your requested mesh shoulder straps. Definitely a range that is worth a look. Other brands in the UK that I’d put in my shortlist would be POD (they’ve recently launched a lightweight range but their classic packs are bomb proof) and the Lowe Alpine Nanon looks suitable too. You’ll notice a theme here – I’m not recommending the mesh-backed packs...  Of course there are dozens of other options and several tough-light specialists from across the pond (if you really want tough and are prepared to pay ‘NASA’ prices then check out cilogear and McHale spectra packs!). Granite Gear has some more affordable options as does Gossamer and Golite already mentioned. Some of the Gregory packs look very nice too – perhaps slightly tougher than their Osprey competitors – but I’ve no experience of these.
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I agree with Belgian-Hiker. Deuter's ACT Lite range are worth a look. I have the 40+10, which may be heavier than you want (about 1.5 kg) but it's tough and capable of carrying a big load comfortably and has an internal frame and adjustable back length. I use it in Turkey and I run hot, but find it as cool on my back as I think it is possible for a rucksack to be, and it does it without resorting to a mesh back. I'm 5 foot 10 and 68 kg, and it will easily suit someone slimmer too. A good choice if it's not heavier than you're looking for.
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Hi folk. Giving me lots of fab options to consider. Thanks massively! Particulary liking the Deuter, OMM, and Lowe Alpine options. Just wondering what folks impressions of theLA Airzone packs? (Field & Trek have them at reasonable prices right now). t.
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 Deuter, OMM, and Lowe Alpine packs are all well made and well thought out. I think the most important thing is to try them on. For example, the Deuter futura (with an 'airzone' style back) fit me well and was comfortable (I didn't get it because of its weight though) whereas the Deuter ACT trail was extremely uncomfortable. On paper I thought the ACT trail was my ideal pack, but it just didn't turn out like that because of the fit.
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 Tim, you say you want to 'upgrade from the world of Karrimor'..... considering an "La Airzone' from Field & Trek better known as Sports Direct is NOT an upgrade!
Unless your abusing a pack to the point of mindlessness then a quality manufacturer is going to be the way to go... your point of 'Price not an issue' is also good. My regular day to day pack is a Deuter... I have some specialist Arc'teryx packs for specific things like climbing and waterproofing but given a modicum of care they've all lasted superbly well.
Listen to the consensus!
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Hi. Thanks for the advice folk!- Bedouln, I hear you but is is Lowe Alpine (LA) not a quality manufacturer?? Or is there something less quality about their airzone packs? t.
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| Edited: 28/05/11 23:31 |
 I'd certainly rate a lot of current Lowe Alpine packs as quality, certainly the ones in their more specialised ranges for climbing and winter sports - not the lightest by any means (although the Zepton does ok there), but well specced, well made and comfortable (for me anyway). I couldn't say from personal experience about their more general daysacks or specifically the Airzone stuff. (The fact that F&T stock them doesn't automatically make them crap  ). I've got packs by POD, Crux, Gregory, Macpac, OMM, Aarn, (and possibly others I've forgotten  ) but the last 4 packs I've bought have been Lowe Alpine.
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Yeah Lowe Alpine make good stuff, and they're designed in Kendal too.
Field and Trek are evil (can they ever be forgiven for what they've done to Karrimor?) but they do stock good brands as well as bad.
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Tim, OK didn't realise that LA was Lowe Alpine.... yes they do make quality kit.
Formosa, Its not F&T any more its Sports Direct!
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So, went into Betws-y-coed yesterday & tried on LOTS of packs. I feel quite comfortable with the Lowe Alpine Airzone 45. Seemed to fit me well, compact for its capacity, and the 'airzone' bit sits much closer to your back/center of gravity then say a Berghaus Freeflow. So I think I'm going that way. Wish it had hip belt pockets & some gear loops so I don't have ot wear my harness as much, but meh, its close enough! Also really liked a POD & some Deuters, but for £56, its hard to knock the Airzone. Got a week to make up my mind properly now though! Thanks folk, you're all legends! t.
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Worth remembering what feels good in a shop won't necessarily feel good after a 10hr hike!
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True it is! Thanks for the reminder... although I guess not a whole lot feels so good after a 10hr hike, other than ones man points!
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I wouldn't say the osprey talon isn't tough. Although I only used mine once on an overnighter it didn't pick up a single mark. I would of kept it if it fitted me.
I'm not sold on the very lightweight packs, I'd rather have a heavier bag and more comfortable carry. Just picked up a Deuter ACT lite 50+10, looks a great bag but need to see how it performs on the hills
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Listen to the consensus! If I am honest I have seldom found that to be a useful strategy. Nor does it appear to be in this case, where it will land you with a worthy, heavy, solid sort of object that weighs far too much. Nobody should carry more than about 600g of rucksack.. but each to their own i suppose. If you don't look after your gear it will need to be heavier, to cope
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