Where does medium load end and heavy begin?
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 Fair question, particularly as there's obviously no definitive dividing line where something goes from being 'medium' to 'heavy' and if you're backpacking, a heavy load can become a medium one as the trip goes on and you consume food and fuel.
Osprey rate their 70-litre Aether pack to carry something between 22 and 28 kilos and their sturdier Crescent to manage up to around 33 kilos and I reckon the transition is somewhere around 25 kilos, maybe less.
In practice I think the C7 is fine up to around 50lb or so, which is a heavyish multi-day pack using non-lightweight stuff, but I wouldn't want to load a lot of expedition climbing kit, heavy tentage and so on into it, if that makes sense.
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 A handy wee review Jon.
I'm looking for a back packing sac, and I was considering the new C71 series. Am I right to assume it's been tweaked in the same way? (I'm assuming a lesser weight carrying capacity at 65+10l).
I'm hoping that a slightly more involved back system will keep my back in good shape, and keep my sciatica at bay...
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Yep, the Bioflex has been modded across the entire range. I personally like the way it works and the one we've had on test for a year has done a fair bit without any problems. Some people do have issues with the moving parts making a noise though...
The new Lowe Alpine packs are worth a look too. They too have movement in the hip area, but it's less pronounced. Ditto Osprey who produce some very nice packs.
When you go shopping, make sure the pack's loaded up with the sort of weight you're likely to be carrying and get the shop staff to adjust it to fit you properly then wear it around for a while, see how it feels stepping up high, walking up stairs and so on. It's impossible to simulate a multi-day trip in ten minutes, obviously, but you should get some idea of how the pack feels in use with a decent load on board.
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That's good news about the longer term test for the Berghaus.
I'll have look at the Lowe Alpine sacs as well. A few folk have suggested I try them.
Thanks for the pointers about trying the sacs out too. The usual form in shops is to stuff the sacs with plastic bags for display purposes, which is pretty useless.
I'll get out to the shops soon hopefully.
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 Ive been using the berghaus c7 pro for about a year now adn ive had no problems with it apart from the odd squeak, it was the most comfy pack i tried on, it swallows gear and i got it for a great price.
cheers
Andy
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I tend to agree with Moggy at the moment, ive got one for walking the west highland way at the end of april and wild camping along the way. This replaces my rather ancient Karrimor 75l rucksack. Ive done some 15 to 20 mile day walks at home to get used to it carrying aroung 2.5 stone of kit and i find it quite comfortable although its developed a squeak which I cant locate as im on my own and carrying the bugger. I also got mine for a great price of £97.00 I will let you know how it performed after I get to Fort William cheers Phil
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 Berghaus C7 2 70 + 10 - personal experience - very comfy, buy earplugs - the beautiful quiet wilderness is permeated by a SQUEEEEEEEEKING noise. Oh - and buy some earplugs for anyone with you in case they dislike the SQUEEEEEK.
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Great, anyone got any 3 in 1 oil?
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 The Berghaus spec:- this thing weighs 2.86kg - ridiculous!.
I'm amazed they can sell so many of these when framed supportive packs of around the same capacity are available at less than half that weight (my Golite Quest - 1.4kg).
phil wallis wrote (see) ... ive got one for walking the west highland way at the end of april and wild camping along the way...
Yikes!. It seems to be the easiest trails that attract the biggest and heaviest packs, judging by the number of people we see slogging along like carthorses. For a solo WHW at that time of year it would be my Litespeed pack (1.1kg, 49l+big mesh pocket).
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 Well I must agree Geoff I read your review on the Golite Quest - and bought one. I dont use it for many applications - just where a large and bulky load is envisaged - it has now replaced my Jaguar 55-75 - which was over a kg heavier! I dont have experience of the Berghaus but the thought of a sack that weighs near enough twice the weight of my tent is just silly. For simple overnighters I use a much small sac (AK47)
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Isn't the whole bioflex system prone to defects, especially during air transport?
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 The Berghaus spec:- this thing weighs 2.86kg - ridiculous!.
I'm amazed they can sell so many of these when framed supportive packs of around the same capacity are available at less than half that weight (my Golite Quest - 1.4kg).
It sure is a weighty beast. I swapped my Berghaus C65 for a Gregory Z55 recently, mainly because it was so heavy (2.5kg). The noise was also a bit annoying. There's no denying that it's a great carry though.
Mine is currently for sale "Hardly used, would suit strong, deaf person".
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The squeeking would drive me to despair, my mate has one and it definitley does squeek and if he's honest he wishes he'd have gone for the Osprey but wont admit it  , also the weight is ridiculous you will start out with around 6lbs on your back before filling it, try the Osprey sacks much lighter and far better designs or if you don't mind the weight go for the Lowe Alpine, a different league in quality and build, to many plastic bits to break off the back system with the Berghaus, imagine 10hrs Squeek Squeek Squeek
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 Iits worth keeping in mind the packs intended use too, as so many people buy a pack thats more than too big for their needs. One can be perfectly well equipped and comfortable with a smaller and lighter pack. An overnight - around 30 ltr couple of nights- 35 ltr + or 3or 4 nights 45 ltrs ish +or- At 80 ltrs, id expect to be able to do at least a week totally selfsufficient. Do we really need such a big pack??? and heavy too
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It all depends what you're carring, where you're carrying it, how long you're out for, if you have to carry lots of food and fuel etc. If you've bought into lighter tent, sleeping bag, shell clothing, stove etc, then chances are that no, you won't need a pack of this size for most UK trips anyway. I think the big pack market is becoming smaller as kit becomes lighter and more compact generally. Ironically the people who carry the largest loads tend to be the likes of Duke of Edinburgh Award participants or those on really tight budget because budget kit is often still heavy and bulky.
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 That's a good point about the DofE kids, Jon. I cringe when i see groups of youngsters struggling with monster loads. I wonder how many have been put off the 'outdoor' life for good by their experience? Maybe the DofE organisers need to re-think their compulary gear lists in light of modern fabrics, technology etc. I think they are stuck in the past. After all, we are meant to be helping kids get fitter with all this talk about obesity.
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Cheap, light, strong - choose two  if you have the option of cheap and light anyway. The trouble with lightweight, is that light reliable materials tend to expensive and that's multplied by the way margins work. It'd be great if DoE kiddies had good light kit, but it would cost an arm and a leg. Plus you can see why the kit list is so extensive.It's all about perceiverd safety. Mind you, when I were a lad, I walked pennine way with a pack that weighed as much as wales, but itdidn't put me off. Well, only for a few weeks anyway
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well, it did squeak a bit, it was comforatble and it was the first long distance walk id done. With hindsight I would have carried less kit and used a smaller rucksack. Still we live and learn, I think the main thing was I enjoyed the west highland way even though I had my head down for 4 dys carrying too much weight. next year i might even have enough energy to get lashed in the evenings
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