Post by cahiker on Aug 28, 2015 11:52:31 GMT -8
+1 on strongly disagreeing with "never".
I certainly agree that you should make sure your pack fits your body, your gear and your hiking style. This can be done in a store with a knowledgeable employee, or at home with packs you have ordered on-line and plan to return if they don't fit correctly. A new backpacker should probably start at a store and/or with some borrowed or rented packs to get an idea of what you like. Experience helped me narrow down which packs to consider ordering on-line, and I had owned a couple of other packs before I ever ordered on-line. I also recommend that if you plan to order on-line that you carefully read the company's measuring information (they aren't all the same) and enlist someone to help if the instructions involve measuring your body (as opposed to measuring another pack that fits you well).
There are a lot of good, broadly distributed packs for sale, but especially once you reduce your pack weight many of the options are from cottage manufacturers which are hard or impossible to find in stores.
I also disagree with the broad generalizations about internal and external frame packs. The Zpacks arc blast and arc haul, for example, are external frame packs that are very light, but not necessarily the most durable choice. I have an arc blast and would say it is quite good for off-trail use, but of course the pack dictates that you will carry a relatively light load in it, which makes off-trail travel much easier.
So in summary, before you plunk down a bunch of money on equipment, do a lot of research (which anyone reading this has clearly started doing!), look at as many different options as you can in a local store, but don't get hung up on definitions like internal frame, external frame, single wall, double wall, UL, lightweight, etc. Also realize that the perfect piece of equipment for someone else might not work for you. Look at the capabilities and tradeoffs of the individual piece of equipment. And once you buy, either stop looking at any other equipment out there and be happy with what you have, or be prepared that there will be something "better" that you will want some day.
I certainly agree that you should make sure your pack fits your body, your gear and your hiking style. This can be done in a store with a knowledgeable employee, or at home with packs you have ordered on-line and plan to return if they don't fit correctly. A new backpacker should probably start at a store and/or with some borrowed or rented packs to get an idea of what you like. Experience helped me narrow down which packs to consider ordering on-line, and I had owned a couple of other packs before I ever ordered on-line. I also recommend that if you plan to order on-line that you carefully read the company's measuring information (they aren't all the same) and enlist someone to help if the instructions involve measuring your body (as opposed to measuring another pack that fits you well).
There are a lot of good, broadly distributed packs for sale, but especially once you reduce your pack weight many of the options are from cottage manufacturers which are hard or impossible to find in stores.
I also disagree with the broad generalizations about internal and external frame packs. The Zpacks arc blast and arc haul, for example, are external frame packs that are very light, but not necessarily the most durable choice. I have an arc blast and would say it is quite good for off-trail use, but of course the pack dictates that you will carry a relatively light load in it, which makes off-trail travel much easier.
So in summary, before you plunk down a bunch of money on equipment, do a lot of research (which anyone reading this has clearly started doing!), look at as many different options as you can in a local store, but don't get hung up on definitions like internal frame, external frame, single wall, double wall, UL, lightweight, etc. Also realize that the perfect piece of equipment for someone else might not work for you. Look at the capabilities and tradeoffs of the individual piece of equipment. And once you buy, either stop looking at any other equipment out there and be happy with what you have, or be prepared that there will be something "better" that you will want some day.