 Hi, I recently bought a Karrimor Eclipse 20-25L Rucksack which had all the bits on it I wanted e.g. pole holders, mesh side pockets for water bottles, bungee, compression straps etc. But I used it on the weekend for a 9 mile hike and didn't find it particularly comfortable on my shoulders. I'm wondering if a women's ruckack would be more comfortable?
Secondly, I was also wearing my new Royal Robbins trousers and noticed when I got back that the rucksack had worn the seam on the back of the trousers and made the material frayed! Is this usual when wearing a backpack or were the trousers the wrong sort?
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 Not specifically a women's fit rucksack but the Osprey Atmos (25L, 35L or 50L) is available in different back lengths and is very comfortable. I have a 35L one and it is superb, they are pricey however. It may be worth having a look at them.
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 I'd second the recommendation for the Osprey Atmos. I've got the 35L (and I'm a woman, which may not be obvious from my name here), and I find it the most comfortable day sack I've ever used. Yes, it's expensive, but it's exceptional.
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Hello, thank you both for recommending the Osprey Atmos rucksacs. They do seem to be a bit pricey so I think I'd need to try one on in a shop before I bought one. Although if it's really comfortable I could be persuaded to pay the higher price.
Can you fit a water bottle into the side pockets ok? I noticed there seems to be a compression strap going over the top of the side pocket?
The other rucksac I was interested in was The North Face Women's Terra 30, but again I haven't seen this in the shops to try on. Anyone using this pack?
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Guffy, have a look at www.ospreypacks.com for more info. I've never put a water bottle in the side pocket. I think a water bottle would fit but you're right the compression strap does go over the pocket. If you have a look in the reviews there are detailed tests of both the 25L and 35L versions on this site.
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 TBH Guffy, any female specific pack will be a great improvement on a 'male' one.
It's not just the back length, it's also the height of the chest strap so as not to pinch the breasts. The shoulder straps on a woman's sack are slimmer and closer together to accommodate a female shoulder-line. A snug fit = a more comfortable, less mobile load.
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 A water bottle will fit in the sidepocket, leastways a cycling-type one will as will a wide-mouthed Nalgene bottle. The compression strap is long enough to simply go around the bottle, or, because it sits at the top of the pocket, you could simply tighten it then use the pocket as normal without interference, if that makes sense.
I also have a TNF Terra 30 on test. It's a more traditional pack than the Atmos and heavier. Subjectively I'd say it's less comfortable, but seems like a sturdy allround day sac that'll do the job fine and may turn out to be more durable in the long term, but that's not necessarily the case.
Ideally I'd try the packs back to back with a typical day sac load and see which suits you best. I don't know how effective the TNF women's specific packs are btw, generally you can expect narrower spaced and differently shaped shoulder straps, a modified hip belt and shorter back lengths.
I think it's pretty clear from the site reviews that I'm a big fan of the Atmos, but equally, in the end, it's just a day pack.
Otherwise, take a look at the women's Lowe Alpine sacs. They've always done women's specific very well and the range has been overhauled for this year. Also, the Berghaus women's range is worth a look too.
Ultimately it's about what fits you best and while it's more crucial with big packs, an uncomfortable day sac can still spoil your day.
On the trouser front, it sounds like a poorly placed seam. A couple of manufacturers, notably Mountain Hardwear (Pack Pant) and Haglofs (pretty much everything) make a point of designing trousers to that seams don't sit under packs, so that may be an option in the future.
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If you can get on with a Berghaus Freeflow sack, they're doing one "for the ladies" now, which weighs, or is that volumes, in at 30L. Another option is the Freeflow Plus 25+6, which has an adjustable back and other nice features. Argos do it for a lot less money than the SRP but it is a genuinely good walking sack. I've tried various smaller sacks, including ones from Lowe Alpine and Osprey (not the Atmos though), and I've been pleasently surprised at how good the latter Berghaus has been - I kept it when I was fully expecting to take it back. Also, at nearly half the price of the Osprey, I think it's worth talking a look at it.
To be fair to Berghaus, I think they've improved the design of the Freeflow back system quite a lot since it was first introduced. I remember trying a friends when they first came out and absolutely hated it. However, comfort and stability do seem to be much better now, especially in the Freeflow Plus implementation.
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PS. My wife is 5'4" and has nice womanly curves and stuff (that's for another thread, I guess!), and the back system of the Freeflow Plus adjusts to be just as fine for her as it is for me, a 6'0" bloke without any womanly curves!
PPS. I've just checked the Argos website. The catalogue number is 340/9464 and the price has been reduced further to £39.99, which is an absolute bargain! Hurry, I think they're changing the catalogue next month.
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I believe they're changing the catalogue tomorrow, by the way Nick do you work in IT ?
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Why do you ask? Was it the use of "implementation" at the end of my last but one post?
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Maybe it was the interest in 'womanly curves'??
lol
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Nah. Where I work, a lot of people are more interested in polymorphism, quarternions and Euler coordinates!
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No I used to work with a Nick Poole in Redditch, not sure where he lived but as you're in Brum wondered if you were one and the same.
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 Guffy,
In what way was the day sack uncomfortable? If it is just that the straps felt hard and stiff then this will change with use.
If the sac is completely wrong for you then fair enough, but I would be tempted to persevere and see if it improves with use as you break it in a bit. This course of action is also cheaper than buying a new sack!
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Hi Chris, The shoulder straps were uncomforable, kind of digging into me.
I've used it again and it's not as bad as the first time. Maybe I'm getting used to it.
I've now worked out why the rucksack ruined my trousers. The Karrimor Eclipse has a large flap on the outside which you can store stuff underneath and has a velcro fastening at the bottom. It was the velcro fastening which is rough on the edge that frayed the seam on my new trousers. I had to wear jeans on my last walk because I didn't want to make my new trousers any worse than they already are. Obviously I'm gonna have to buy some better walking trousers.
I read the review on this website about the Osprey 25 and I'm hopefully going to try one out as their office is quite near where I live and lots of people have recommended it.
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If the straps are digging into your neck, it probably means its too long in the back - an adjustable like the Berghaus Plus or Lowe Alpine Beartooth Air would be better. (At least that's what I found - went with the Lowe 35l myself, seemed more comfortable/stable; has compression straps, mesh & bellows side pockets, split compartment, pole holder...).
As has been said, both also do women specific ranges too, which might be better still.
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Hi GD
Lots of people recommended the Osprey Atmos 25. I got the chance to try on the small size and thought it was really comfortable so I bought it! Hopefully going to be using it for the first time this weekend.
Thanks everyone for the info and recommendations.
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 I've just bought an Atmos 50. This is much lighter than my existing 35 litre and compresses down to a more compact size! Very impressed with the way that this pack works.
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