I'm after a daypack, around 15L, as a second pack for taking travelling; later, I'll probably use it for general stuff in the UK. I want it to be fairly light and to pack down small so i can stuff it in the main pack when not using it. (So maybe with no back padding??) But I'll be wearing it a lot around town and on short hikes so it should be reasonably comfy. If you have one for sale, or can recommend one, then do let me know.
I've been looking at the Aiguille Mini Midi but as far as i know there's nowhere near me (York) that sells them so i can't try it first. Have any of you got one? What do you think of it? How heavy is it? Does it pack down small? Where's the nearest retailer to me? (I asked them all this by email but they haven't responded after about a week.) (I'd also be interested in hearing about the 50/60L Grepon/Grepon SP, which I'm considering as a main pack.)
I've been offered, via another website, a Lowe Alpine Pax in either 15L or 20L, but I don't know how suitable it is. Will it pack down small? Is it heavy? Is it durable or will the zips bust after five minutes?
I recently took various recommendations and went for an Osprey sack, albeit I was needing a 45 litre sack. It was expensive, didn't like it as it hurt my lower back, and I sold it at half price. For half the original price I bought a Lowe Alpine 45 litre sack. It is great. The quality of the sack appears to be as good as the more expensive one.
I'm not going to recommend what sack to go for as recommendations don't always work, well didn't for me. However don't just go for the most expensive sack.
Derek, as you are in York I would recomend a trip to the Designer outlet at Castleford as they have a Lowe Alpine shop there and a good range of rucksacs for around half price and you still get a BMC discount on the stuff even though its allready discounted.
Have you thought about the range of backpacking sacks that have a large pocket on the back that zips off and converts in to a day sack, with that system you can use the space in you day sack rather than carryng it as an extra.
When I want to keep the weight down on a trip - I use a day pack for ALL my gear. It's just a matter of hacking everything back to the bare minimum and making it fit. Over the years I've figured out that my normal day gear, plus lightweight camping gear and a change of clothes, will all fit in a day pack. When I get somewhere that I can leave the camping gear, the day pack is fine for a day's walk, and I'm not carrying two packs.
Paddy - I'm with you on the packing light philosophy. I went on a ten month trip to India, Pakistan, afghanistan, iran and turkey with only my trusty Karrimor Hot Rock 30. I took the same pack on later trips to SE Asia and Yemen. It was generally good, and certainly better than the massive things others were taking. But I found that it was a little too small to carry everything I wanted (including gifts from friendly Pakistanis and Afghans) and a little too big for round town/short day hikes. It also meant i had to spend every evening washing out the clothes for the next day as I had room for only one spare set.
Besides, this time i have to carry teaching equipment - dictionary, textbook, notes etc - so I reckon i need at least 45L as a main pack, which is far to big for strolling around Mae Sot in. (I have ordered a 2nd hand Hot 45 and have been offered a 2nd hand Macpac Pursuit, which i may get). So i want a little one that can just carry a w-proof shell, guidbook, bottle of water and teaching materials. In addition i'm after a shoulder bag for carrying just teh guidebook and water on evenings out.
Jules - I may have a look in Castleford - thanks for the lead. I got the Hot 30 for about £30 from the Karrimor shop (now called Mountain Somethingorother)in Mcarthur Glen shopping outlet. I don't like the travel sacks with unzippable daypacks, though I can appreciate taht they'd be suitable for some people. Partly bcs I want to be able to use the big pack on hikes/treks on the off chance that my knees can stand it, and perhaps on camping trips in the UK if i ever get round to another one of them (it's been years...). And let's face it - they look naff.
Osprey do a backpacks with a small daysack that straps on, both can be used separately with no real loss of function, you just have a couple of extra buckles, they also sell the little sack separately.
Dereck I have a macpac persuit womens version and Stu has the mens one ( yeah matching sacs, sad I know but they are at least different colours) but we both agree they are really nice stable comfy sacks, exelent for scrambling, they just move like part of you and a good alll round sack. Very pleased we bought them
