Hi all,

I'm a university student, looking for a new backpack. My previous Karrimor one has served me well, so i figured spend the money on a decent replacement. The one i have is similar to this (http://www.blacks.co.uk/blacks.storefront/EN/Product/09310842(navy)), in format.

I will primarily be using it for uni - carrying books etc, though i do hiking from time to time. Capacity in the 25-30l range seems reasonable.

I'm quite interested in getting one of the ones *like* the Berghaus freeflow series, but i look at the berghaus ones and there aren't enough external pockets (esp. side ones -

I use these a lot, for things like an umbrella (collapsed obviously), drinks bottle, etc.

Therefore my question, is what other bags are available in the UK, makeing use of this kind of back system, or something similarly breathable?

Thanks for any/all advice.

Are you looking for a day-sack or an expedition sack? I'm currently toting a Vango Air Canyon, which is only a 30 litre day-sack, but I'm using it even if I go backpacking for a month. It has pockets, but they're flat ones, and so are quite useless when the bag is full, but all the same, it holds everything I need... and no more! The ventilation is first class, since there's a mesh panel against my back and a rigid, curved plastic frame to keep the rest of the pack well clear of my back. I think it's about the most comfortable pack I've ever carried in that respect.

i want a day-sack really; nothing too massive at all.

I've just looked at the vango range, thanks for that suggestion. they're a bit tall for my liking to be honest - i think that behind-the-head bit might annoy me; even the "20" and "25" have that, and it doesn't say it detaches.

Thanks for the suggestion though, keep 'em coming! :)

thw osprey atmos 30 has loads of pockets and has an airgap system. I have a 50 and the pockets, on the front, are huge but not bulky, they fold flat,. In fact I have used it with the main compartment cinched down and the pockets acting as a day sack. So the thirty may be worth looking at.

I've been using a Vango Air Canyon 30+5 for about year now, and even when the lid pocket's full I've never noticed my head bashing against it when I look up - the top bit's held far enough away for this not to be a problem, with my neck at least. It's well made and very reasonably priced (especially if you shop around a bit), though as Paddy says the side pockets are nothing to write home about.

The best advice I can really give you is to try on as many as possible as comfort-wise a lot depends on the length and shape of your back, so what works for me may not work for you. Any decent gear shop will have a few weighty bags you can chuck in it to get a better idea of how it will feel fully-loaded. You can then wrestle with the moral dilemma of whether it's OK to try something on in a gear shop, then try to find it cheaper on the internet. ;-)

Remembering my experience with Uni I'd be tempted to buy two, a cheap one for carting books and sustaining daily abuse, chucking on the floor in bar/lab/pub etc that can be replaced as necessary at little cost; and a decent one for hillwalking.

I believe Lowe Alpine have produced a pack with a 'trampoline' back

i know this is sacreligious but millets do 2 decent karrimor air flow sacks in 25 and 30 litre sizes i own both and like dave says i use the smaller one for books and the bigger one for a proper daysac. the smaller is called arete and the larger is the trig both cost around 30 and are pretty nice - they hve no side pockets tho only wand pockets

The Lowe Alpine Air flow back system is someting i'll reccomend and they do a whole range of sacks in different sizes.
IIRC regatta used to do a "Air Flow" system of some sort a while back under the Landtrekka tag.
Berghaus do a range of 'Freeflow' Sacks and by what my little bro has said it is a fairly comy and the system does help.

I've had a few daysacks with the 'airflow' back. My favourite is the Deuter Futura series - very comfy, plenty of pockets etc.

The Lowe Alpine Pax range are good and last for ever - complete with air flow back.

Also recommend the Deuter Futura

I bought a Lowe Alpine Contour Runner 30 when I went to Uni. It lasted 4 years of carting books to and fro, many more years of commuting on tube or bike in London, all my day hillwalks round Britain and general use as a weekend bag for the last decade. The waterproofing is a little worse for wear, and there's a smidgeon of damage to the lower pocket fabric from keeping my keys in it. Excellent durability then! Very comfortable and stable too. I'm considering upgrading to one of these air gap daysacks but want to make sure that whatever I buy performs as well as this great little bag.

The Osprey Atmos sacks are the best, however, poss a bit high spec/high cost for carrying books around in.

Aztec do their own cheap version of the Berghaus freeflow sacks. I don't think they are as well made but are probably strong enough to last a few years of fairly intense use. So if your budget is limited why not give them the once over?

I think the Atmos 35 or 25 gives the best combination of lightweight sac with an airback.

The advantage of the Atmos back is that the pack sits closer to the back than the other airback sacs around. I used the 35 recently for a weeks walking in weather from -5 to 32 and from 1700mtrs to over 4000mtrs. It worked faultlessly, carried 2 ltr bladder, walking poles and the front pocket could take an umbrella! It certainly carried better than my Berghaus freeflow and was more comfertable to boot. A bit pricy over £90 with rain cover, but odles with quality, and worth every penny

http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=3801&productId=146328&clickfrom=name

Bargain. Just bought one and it's really good.

Currently inclining away from the osprey and Lowe-Alpine, - love the lowe alpine's look, but both are a bit to pricy. And i can't find a local stockist anyway.

Have finally identified a local stockist for vango (and deuter), will go and have a look tomorrow i think.

I noticed someone said karrimor aren't so good; why not? [pls excuse my not knowing!] Is that why i can find barely anyone stocking the above mentioned "karrimor arete 25" ?

Oh, and thanks to fraser for the argos link. I'm just wondering if all their bags are red, i really preferred the green varient (beggars can't be choosers i suppose!)

Just another vote for the Atmos 35. I think it is by far the best daysac for walking I've ever tried and the best air-flow one for scrambling as it still holds the weight reasonably close to the body.

It has two slight weaknesses though. The curved shape makes packing harder than an alpine style sack (though it seems better tham most air-flows I've tried) and I'm still trying to find the optimum way to carry poles as the clips seem to either have them around your ears or down roudd your knees.

You would probably want to haggle the price down though. Got min for £50 :).

In the Atmos 35 I used the side pockets for walking poles - handle in pocket. No problems!