Can anyone recomend a 55-60l pack for my partner shes re- kiting up after time off to reproduce she wants something strong but light . the other issue is the size range she needs the pack to work just as well if she looses the weight (im dead ) she aquired . Plus if anybody has a safe place hide for a while id be greatful.
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The Lightwave Ultrahike is worth putting on your short-list. Strong, light and female specific.
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 "Female specific" isn't always the help marketing might want us to believe. While it's true that an average women is different in shape to the average man, it's also the case that any given woman may be very different to another, or to theassumptions made by a manufacturer. So while trying things out, don't rule out "unisex", especially if your other half is not average (my wfe is much broader across the shoulders and a little taller than most women, and she had to reject all the "women's" packs she tried, in the end finding a shorter back men's bag as being the lesser of available evils). That aside, trying things on with the sort of stuff you'd expect to be carrying loaded inside remains the best way of deciding what pack to get. Pete.
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Women's specific or not, there is no substitute for trying the pack on. In general terms a well designed women's specific pack should fit most women better than a unisex. If you have a stockist somewhere near you the Osprey Aura 50 won best in test in Trail magazine a few months back in a test of 40-50L women's specific packs. The Aura 50 is the women's version of our well known and liked Atmos 50. I do know women that prefer the Atmos harness and hipbelt shape but I know many more women that prefer the fit of the Aura. It sounds like I know a lot of women!?
I agree with Peter, you should do whatever possible to visit a store and try on many different packs with some weight in. Walking around the shop for a couple of minutes isn't a replacement for a full day in the hills, but it can tell you what 100% won't work.
Hope this helps.
Rob
Osprey
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 All I can suggest is getting to a retailer with a large selection grabbing 10kg worth of tentage as you walk through the door, going straight to the Rucksack area and keep tring them on until she finds one comfortable on her hips and shoulders, and then keep it on her back for 20mins. If it's a good shop they will make you a coffee/tea and don't DON'T Comprimise on fit as it'll be on Fleabay qicker than a quick thing after the first very painfull trek!!!
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| Edited: 02/05/08 07:29 |
Go small! Shortly after getting together with my wife, she wanted a new pack and, despite my protestations, bought a 65-70l Lowe Alpine pack. Really nice, yes, but huge. We then had a son and it didn't get used much. When we decided to do some backpacking in Scotland, she then decided she needed a new pack (I'd just got a 50l Gregory G pack to replace a 15+ year old karrimor monster), and this time went for a Golite Infinty at around 50l, but still a 'proper' rucsac, rather than one of their ultrabasic models. The advantages of a small pack are twofold - it is made to carry a smaller load, so requires less bulk itself, and therefore tends to be lighter and you can't put as much in, so your total load will tend to be lighter. We had no trouble carrying enough for the TMB in a 50l bag each. That includes tent, sleeping bags TARs and clothing for the range of conditions likely to be encountered (below freezing to boiling hot). Any bigger and you just add to your load. And she's always got you to carry the extras!
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| Edited: 02/05/08 07:52 |
thanks chaps, how its suprising how little information there is for womens kit compared with mens.were going nxt week to have a look il keep you posted, thanks for your time and effort i appreciate your help. im great at sortin my own kit just not so good at hers
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.jpg) Haglofs matrix 60,they also do 50 and 70ltr Haglofs packs.. I have the 70 and its an awsome pack  ..
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| Edited: 03/05/08 22:26 |
Osprey do a great range of women specific packs. But i agree with the others they arent always right. My gf use mens packs as she is tall and has a long back. Osprey are well fitted i find. Have you looked at packs with adjustable backs?
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GoLite Quest gets my wifes thumbs up. Its a 65l but it is easily converted to a day pack by losing the lid and compressing the bottom of the pack with the clips provided. It weighs in at 1.3 kg
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