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Post by k9education on Sept 19, 2019 17:03:50 GMT -8
I stop listening/reading very shortly after someone tells me what I want. A few years ago I walked into REI looking for a new pair of trail runners for day hiking and the REI associate launched into a speech about why I didn't want to hike in trail runners. When he was done proselytizing I told him that I had been hiking in them for a decade before walking off.
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ErnieW
Trail Wise!
I want to backpack
Posts: 9,967
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Post by ErnieW on Sept 19, 2019 19:02:54 GMT -8
I would be interesting to have a pack weight challenge. Have a packed pack possibly even a large day pack and a one pound weight. Then run a few tests where a friend secretly either adds the weight or doesn't and then let the wearer put on the pack and guess. I tend to think they won't do so well guessing.
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Post by ukpacker on Sept 19, 2019 23:20:08 GMT -8
Something that has taken me a long time to understand about backpack comfort is the importance of getting the right fit and the position of the load lifter straps. Here in the UK backpacking has long been a very minority activity due to our climate and land ownership , I have never met a store salesperson who had even been backpacking . With a frame pack the top of the load lifter straps needs to be high enough above my shoulders that adjusting the strap length does effectively tilt the pack and alter how weight is transferred to shoulders or pelvic bone,the frame also needs to be stiff enough to not simply bend when these straps are tightened. Too short a back length on a pack does make the load lifters ineffective no matter how sturdy it is. Packs that come in multiple sizes with a sliding shoulder strap yoke make it easier to get that fit just right.
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Post by bluefish on Sept 20, 2019 2:41:37 GMT -8
Last night my wife and I bought an Osprey Lumina 60 that weighs 1.76 lbs. and to my eye, is voluminous. We put 18 lbs. in it (for us that would be her weight for the start of a 5-6 day 3 season trip) and it carried extremely well. After 3 fittings we pulled the trigger. We finally decided it's actually a perfect fit. RARE! I fit my wife, didn't allow someone who's been on trail once or twice to give a spiel. I have talked to a few people who've used them on trips in the Adirondacks and the feedback was very positive. I wouldn't put more than 25 in this pack, but she'll probably never need to break 20. She sometimes reaches 20 in winter, I usually swap to a larger pack and carry 30 and change. So much for Osprey pushing larger and heavier. My winter and desert water hauler is an Osprey Atmos. It does the job when UL is kind of out of the question, for us. Dehydration, hypothermia and frostbite aren't worth the gram savings.
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Post by johntpenca on Sept 22, 2019 12:11:51 GMT -8
In the end, we find what works for us personally. What someone else thinks doesn't really matter. I'm with k9education.
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rangewalker
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Agitate, organize and educate.
Posts: 1,029
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Post by rangewalker on Sept 22, 2019 13:52:30 GMT -8
My Osprey Aether 70 pro ,around 4lbs has a rigid frame and carries weights of around 40lbs and more comfortably, I am with ukpacker on weight range for a pack in my instance has to swallow both 6-7 days food and in my country or places I like to go 4-6 liters of water to start off with every day. My 66 year old back cannot take even a frameless 14-17 pound all-day pack. Too many years of stupid human tricks. The ultralight philosophy isn't about carrying as little weight as possible. It's about carrying only what you actually need. I got my gear weight down, and then chose a pack that carries my gear. And I am with jazzmom on selecting a pack in that longer day range that is going to carry the gear I need; the Osprey Aether Pro 70 will swallow my BV500 or my Bearikade Expedition with enough room for the rest of my circus. Very minimalist construction with no extra zippers or compartments, Airscape suspension that hugs the body and humongous hip pockets. It is a thoughtful design. And flexible enough in lash points to accommodate a summit sack or snow shoes, it might make a winter pack. I have a Gregory Contour 60 which follows a very different concept; beautiful with multi-leaved comparts, a mess of zipper access and more but will not easier take any canister, including my BV 450 and have room for anything else. My local National Forest equipped their trail crews and Wilderness Rangers with the Aether Pro 70's except the women some who chose the Aerial Pro 65's.
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swmtnbackpacker
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Back but probably posting soon under my real name ... Rico Sauve
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Post by swmtnbackpacker on Sept 23, 2019 7:56:25 GMT -8
The adversarial advertising is one reason I don’t subscribe or even buy the rag for waiting-at-the-airport fodder. When it comes to Osprey, I consider being the first in line if they simplified their 44L Talon in large, but those packs are way too gimmicky. Does a 44L pack even need a sleeping bag compartment?
Also other gear has gotten smaller, lighter, and more compact. A 40 to 50L frameless pack will carry my fully enclosed 3-season gear with 4-5 days of food without anything hanging off the pack. I could probably attach a day or 2 of additional food in a separate bear bag if need be. Granted I use a piece of foam backed by thin plastic for a lightwt “frame” plus leg insulation (I use a shorty sleeping pad that keeps me from snoring).
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davesenesac
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Our precious life is short within eternity, don't waste it!
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Post by davesenesac on Sept 23, 2019 7:58:20 GMT -8
A question that should be asked concerning pack size and weight is "What are one's hiking styles and goals?" A person with the style of some is that day after day they will be hiking all day from mid morning after a slow breakfast till late afternoon when they are making dinner and pretty much just going to be campsite bodies. Thus it's the journey and weight is a constant issue one ought be keen to reduce unpleasantness for. Less weight is always a concern hiking up mountains, however so are hiking comfort and all manner of other activities one may engage in.
On the other hand, those for which it is more about the destination, in order for fishing, photography, peakbagging, whatever, they probably have minor concern about a few extra pounds as long as the total weight is reasonable for their familiarity and strength. After they reach their destination, carrying weight and associated unpleasantness are over till they make the return leg. Others may have a mix of the two. Carrying less weight does allow one to hike further especially when one has total trip day limitations. However for those with destination goals, that is only a concern on trips where that may affect reaching a destination. In other words, unlike many thru hikers, a backpacking fishing person that can readily hike 12 miles with full gear, is when going to a lake 6 miles from a trailhead, not going to worry about a few extra pounds. However when considering reaching a lake 15 miles in, they may do so. This retired person would instead just add another day to reach a destination.
I have an older Osprey Aether that is right at 5 pounds that I also always have a 28 ounce Osprey Scarab 32 daypack piggy backed on so up near 7 pounds of just pack. As I often base camp while backpacking and additionally am out photography day hiking much of each year, I know what it is like to carry a lighter pack as my day pack weight is often about 10# +-2 depending on which lenses and other gear I may bring. My tripod plus head is another 5# that is hand carried while day hiking, and my clothing, pocket gear, plus boots another 7# so carrying weight day hiking maybe 22#. After lugging the 60# with the backpack, carrying around the daypack is trivial. Because I have so much gear, the many loops, straps, etc on the Aether are very valuable so I don't mind that they may add another pound or two.
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swmtnbackpacker
Trail Wise!
Back but probably posting soon under my real name ... Rico Sauve
Posts: 4,886
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Post by swmtnbackpacker on Sept 23, 2019 8:04:43 GMT -8
A question that should be asked concerning pack size and weight is "What are one's hiking styles and goals?" A person with the style of some is that day after day they will be hiking all day from mid morning after a slow breakfast till late afternoon when they are making dinner and pretty much just going to be campsite bodies. Thus it's the journey and weight is a constant issue one ought be keen to reduce unpleasantness for. Less weight is always a concern hiking up mountains, however so are hiking comfort and all manner of other activities one may engage in.
On the other hand, those for which it is more about the destination, in order for fishing, photography, peakbagging, whatever, they probably have minor concern about a few extra pounds as long as the total weight is reasonable for their familiarity and strength. After they reach their destination, carrying weight and associated unpleasantness are over till they make the return leg. Others may have a mix of the two. Carrying less weight does allow one to hike further especially when one has total trip day limitations. Saw younger hikers carry actual cameras, with video and even fuzzy covered boom microphone (of some sort), on their frameless P’alante V2 packs’ shoulder strap and flyfishing gear is pretty minimal nowadays.
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swmtnbackpacker
Trail Wise!
Back but probably posting soon under my real name ... Rico Sauve
Posts: 4,886
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Post by swmtnbackpacker on Dec 3, 2019 19:41:58 GMT -8
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Post by johntpenca on Dec 3, 2019 19:51:11 GMT -8
Good one swmtnbackpacker. It reminds me of a photo of Yogi on the PCT with a bag of Fritos on the back of her pack!
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BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on Dec 3, 2019 20:39:43 GMT -8
I hope he's bringing salsa, too.
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toejam
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Hiking to raise awareness
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Post by toejam on Dec 4, 2019 5:01:44 GMT -8
I hope he's bringing salsa, too. He'll be carrying it in a fanny pack.
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Post by cweston on Dec 4, 2019 7:41:06 GMT -8
I've been using a 65L pack for several years (Golite Quest--light, but not UL). Like the OP, I've been reducing the weight of my other gear similarly.
With less bulky bags, pads, and tent, I find that the 65L pack is sometimes a little larger than I need for 7-8 days. BUT, sometimes I carry a bear canister, sometimes I carry ice axe, crampons, gaiters, etc. I could use a smaller, lighter pack (55L?) on most of my weeklong trips, but if I happen to need *all* the extras on the same trip, that could overload the pack, I worry.
One answer is not to expect one pack to meet all your needs, of course, but that also gets more expensive, requires more gear storage space, etc.
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Post by cweston on Dec 4, 2019 7:51:56 GMT -8
For many of us, our gear is just smaller/shorter and take up a lot less volume. Funny how I've never really thought too much about that. (Maybe because my wife and daughter are both tall women, so no one in our family has ever had a size short bag or size S clothing.) But you're right, of course: when you put together all the gear that is sized according to size of its user/wearer, that would make a pretty significant difference in bulk and weight.
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