Posted: 9/13/2013 10:59:40 PM EDT
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I am looking to get into backpacking and the first thing I am looking at is a backpack. I haven't done any in a while, but with Boy Scouts about 15 years behind me I am not a total stranger to the concept. My biggest issue is deciding what volume to go with, I have came up with a rough packing list and wondered if anyone could give me a semi-appropriate idea on what volume to accommodate it all. Backpacking would be done solo and not colder than say 45 at night.
1 change of clothes additional socks sleeping bag, already have 2, about the size of a football when fully compacted cook pot, French press for coffee trowel some sort of saw fire kit 550 cord 1/2 gallon to 3/4 gallon of water containers water filter, have one, about 2" x10" cylinder shape tent, don't have one, could see myself using just a poncho and space blanket in place of it, definitely compact either way light jacket stove, have one with a 20 ounce fuel bottle, other than the bottle it is pretty compact REI is suggesting a 20-50 liter pack for me but that seems like a heck of big range from which to make a decision from. I am the kind to forgo a little bit of convenience for a lighter pack, but have my limits, especially with food as I have typical fat boy dietary habits. |
| Don't get one that Just Fits what you need this time. Get a bigger pack than you need. You might be able to get everything into a 5 liter pack but why not carry a 6.5 liter pack and have room to spare. As long as the pack can be adjusted to fit you it will only weigh ounces more than the smaller pack. |
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I agree with the 'get one bigger than you need'.
You can always use the compression straps to make a big pack smaller, but short of tying stuff on the outside, you can't fix too small. Most of weight of a pack is in the suspension. The bag fabric is pretty light so making the pack bigger does little to change the overall weight. ETA - I have an 82 Liter pack - 4# - and it works well for weekend or week long trips. |
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Osprey Hornet 46, Osprey Exos 46 or Osprey Exos 58 You likely need less volume than one of the '46s offers, but this way you have leeway if you ever add a tent or other equipment. The Hornet and Exos 46s both weigh less than many backpacks of smaller volume. Nice choices above. In looking at your gear list, the first thing that popped into my head was something in the 40-50 range. For cold weather, a little more is good as your clothing tends to take up more volume with the insulation, extra gloves, knit cap, etc. |
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I roll with a an Osprey Aether 70.
I have room for a large cold-weather sleeping bag, a Kelty Grand Mesa 2 tent, cookware and plenty of clothes. Still leaves room for "mission specific" gear. Most of the time it is nowhere near full, but it compresses down nicely. I could go with a smaller pack, especially if I got a more compact tent/sleeping bag. I think 45-55L is a good starting point for a lot of people that don't necessarily have the most compact, high-speed gear. |
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Nice choices above. In looking at your gear list, the first thing that popped into my head was something in the 40-50 range. For cold weather, a little more is good as your clothing tends to take up more volume with the insulation, extra gloves, knit cap, etc. Quoted:
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Osprey Hornet 46, Osprey Exos 46 or Osprey Exos 58 You likely need less volume than one of the '46s offers, but this way you have leeway if you ever add a tent or other equipment. The Hornet and Exos 46s both weigh less than many backpacks of smaller volume. Nice choices above. In looking at your gear list, the first thing that popped into my head was something in the 40-50 range. For cold weather, a little more is good as your clothing tends to take up more volume with the insulation, extra gloves, knit cap, etc. I would also add the Osprey Atmos 50 to that list. As long as you stay under 30 lbs total in the above packs you will be fine. |
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I roll with a an Osprey Aether 70. I have room for a large cold-weather sleeping bag, a Kelty Grand Mesa 2 tent, cookware and plenty of clothes. Still leaves room for "mission specific" gear. Most of the time it is nowhere near full, but it compresses down nicely. I could go with a smaller pack, especially if I got a more compact tent/sleeping bag. I think 45-55L is a good starting point for a lot of people that don't necessarily have the most compact, high-speed gear. I too carry a grand mesa 2 and a large cold weather bag but with a Gregory baltoro 65 pack And i stillI have plenty of room for the OP's load and more. |
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I roll with a an Osprey Aether 70. I have room for a large cold-weather sleeping bag, a Kelty Grand Mesa 2 tent, cookware and plenty of clothes. Still leaves room for "mission specific" gear. Most of the time it is nowhere near full, but it compresses down nicely. I could go with a smaller pack, especially if I got a more compact tent/sleeping bag. I think 45-55L is a good starting point for a lot of people that don't necessarily have the most compact, high-speed gear. Aether 70 here as well and I have no problem filling it but I pack heavy. Going solo is actually not something that is going to make things lighter for you because you have no one to share the load with. Really if REI is saying 50 something like the Aether 70 would probably work well. REI has a pretty big focus on light/ultra light and may or may not be giving you the best advice. If your local REI has rentals you might want to try renting a pack of that size from them and see if it works for you because it is a lot cheaper to rent one that buy one and realize it is too small. I am all for a smaller pack but sometimes you need a larger one to carry what you need. |
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OP - 50 sounds really small. Don't be afraid of a little bigger pack, you can always use the compression straps. From Osprey Aether Data Sheet Size medium Size - Weight 60 = 4-11 70 = 4-12 85 = 4-13 I would disagree. I have the Aether 70 and the older Atmos 50. At 1.5 lbs difference in weight, that's a lot. That's the weight of my summer bag and stove. A 50 liter pack is a big pack, perfect for two or three days. |
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OP - 50 sounds really small. Don't be afraid of a little bigger pack, you can always use the compression straps. From Osprey Aether Data Sheet Size medium Size - Weight 60 = 4-11 70 = 4-12 85 = 4-13 Indeed... I don't think 50 is small at all. I get through multi-day winter alpine climbs, with basic survival essentials PLUS a pile of climbing gear in a 40L pack. If you're taking more than 50L worth of shit on a backpacking trip, you're either planning to be out for months or you're taking way too much stuff. |
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Indeed... I don't think 50 is small at all. I get through multi-day winter alpine climbs, with basic survival essentials PLUS a pile of climbing gear in a 40L pack. If you're taking more than 50L worth of shit on a backpacking trip, you're either planning to be out for months or you're taking way too much stuff. Quoted:
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OP - 50 sounds really small. Don't be afraid of a little bigger pack, you can always use the compression straps. From Osprey Aether Data Sheet Size medium Size - Weight 60 = 4-11 70 = 4-12 85 = 4-13 Indeed... I don't think 50 is small at all. I get through multi-day winter alpine climbs, with basic survival essentials PLUS a pile of climbing gear in a 40L pack. If you're taking more than 50L worth of shit on a backpacking trip, you're either planning to be out for months or you're taking way too much stuff. Who says you are taking "way too much stuff" who are you to judge what other people take on backpacking trips. I usually go out for 2-3 day backpacking trips and I pack HEAVY I don't mind the weight and with that I get to take some luxuries along with me. Some people like to go ultra light and take a tarp and a box of matches that is not my cup of tea but I would never tell that guy he is not taking enough stuff it is his choice. Personally I have a closet full of backpacks, some i take out all the time and some I used a few times and found out I bought the wrong thing and never got around to trying to return them. Op you are going to have to buy a pack at REI and get all your shit together and see if it works for you and if it does not just return it. They have tightened things up in that department but I am sure they are still a bit flexible as long as you don't take it on a trip and just return it like you were renting it. Realize though that you are going to make buying mistakes and be stuck with some shit gear that you figure out after a while that you really never needed. The learning and trimming and learning and expanding and learning even more is half the fun of the outdoors. Personally I am a gear head and as long as I have a couple of bucks I am not afraid to bu a new piece of gear to try it out as if I don't carry it on this trip maybe I will use it on the next one. Just remember the gear you buy for this trip will most certainly not be the same gear you take on the next one or the next one and on and on and on just enjoy and learn from your mistakes or your successes or both. I still say get a big pack, I love my Aether 70 and I will FILL it on my next 2 nighter with my wife and daughter and I will LOVE every goddamn backbreaking mile. |
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Who says you are taking "way too much stuff" who are you to judge what other people take on backpacking trips. I usually go out for 2-3 day backpacking trips and I pack HEAVY ... ... every goddamn backbreaking mile. Most people like to go for the activity they're going for, not for a painful slog. Everyone's got their own thing, you're certainly welcome to have yours, but you're offering your own methods as advice to someone and then plainly admitting your methods are lame... and criticizing me for my advice, when my advice is for the sake of making his hike less lame. |
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Most people like to go for the activity they're going for, not for a painful slog. Everyone's got their own thing, you're certainly welcome to have yours, but you're offering your own methods as advice to someone and then plainly admitting your methods are lame... and criticizing me for my advice, when my advice is for the sake of making his hike less lame. https://i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/5316197376/h446C35AB/ Quoted:
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Who says you are taking "way too much stuff" who are you to judge what other people take on backpacking trips. I usually go out for 2-3 day backpacking trips and I pack HEAVY ... ... every goddamn backbreaking mile. Most people like to go for the activity they're going for, not for a painful slog. Everyone's got their own thing, you're certainly welcome to have yours, but you're offering your own methods as advice to someone and then plainly admitting your methods are lame... and criticizing me for my advice, when my advice is for the sake of making his hike less lame. https://i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/5316197376/h446C35AB/ I think you missed a lot of my post man... Some people like to go ultra light and take a tarp and a box of matches that is not my cup of tea but I would never tell that guy he is not taking enough stuff it is his choice There was that, and of course this... Op you are going to have to buy a pack at REI and get all your shit together and see if it works for you and if it does not just return it. They have tightened things up in that department but I am sure they are still a bit flexible as long as you don't take it on a trip and just return it like you were renting it. Realize though that you are going to make buying mistakes and be stuck with some shit gear that you figure out after a while that you really never needed. I was saying everyone does it differently and the opp needed to try different bags to see what works and will probably end up with a few he does not like when it all shakes out. |
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OP - Size - Weight 60 = 4-11 70 = 4-12 85 = 4-13 Indeed... I don't think 50 is small at all. I get through multi-day winter alpine climbs, with basic survival essentials PLUS a pile of climbing gear in a 40L pack. If you're taking more than 50L worth of shit on a backpacking trip, you're either planning to be out for months or you're taking way too much stuff. The point I was trying to make is that by going from a 60L pack to 85 L you get 25 L more for 2 oz in weight. That is a 140% increase in volume for 2 oz., less than 1% increase in weight. The same principle applies for a 40 to 60 L series pack. What are the compression straps for? Just because you have a big pack doesn't mean you have to fill it up. It means you CAN fill it up if the situation arises. Hey – like JIP said each to your own. A bigger pack means you don't have to compress every thing as much as possible and CRAM IT into your pack, scraping for every square inch of space. I have an 82 L pack (4#) and I can pack it without forcing anything for a 7-10 trip. I can also pull the compression straps and turn it into a 50 L pack. Shit BK - I cut the handle off my toothbrush to save weight. Just because you have a big pack doesn't mean you suddenly get a 'WTH, I going to toss in this extra crap because I have the extra space' attitude. The gear list, is the gear list. What it does let you do is carry stuff like crackers in the original box without smashing them. I like having crackers, not powder, on day 5. "40 L for a multi day winter alpine route" If you like going that light, good for you, but that is not for me. I have a 20 L day pack the is getting full with a 50 m – 11mm rope and rack. From my seat you are going pretty light.. In the Sierra we have to carry a bear can. The smallest approved can that I know of uses 8 L of pack space. The one I carry is 12 L of pack space…. That is 1/3 of your 40L pack. Granted you can put clothes and other stuff in it but the damn thing is an awkward shape and it benefits greatly to have a big pack. BK - understand there is more than one way to skin-a-cat. BTW - If you haven't been there, I highly recommended you check out the Palisades. There are so many alpine routes it is hard to choose which one to do. There are a lot of grade IIIs you can do in a day from a base camp near the glacier. Internet Pic 
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Reading over your list again OP I have to wonder if you really went over everything on this list with the REI employee that you say suggested a 20-40L pack. You have a french press on the list and a "cooking pot" then you say you will do with a tarp or a space blanket for a tent. You really need to refine this and get it right down to what you want to carry be it heavy or light because your list is a bit all over the place. A tarp or a space blanket is certainly what some might call "ultra light" but the french press and the cooking pot which I have no problem with are certainly not. A french press even if you use one that is in a travel mug is not a small or light thing nor is a pot to cook in. You might combine them and get a Jetboil that has a french press in it and go light that way but it is still not tiny.
To me a pack that is 20-40L is a daypack especially if you are going alone. As I said before if you are going solo you have to carry everything and don't have the advantage of having someone else carry parts of a tent for you or sharing the food weight. I just really hope you go into this informed and know what you are getting into before you go on the advice of the REI guy and get a 35L pack to go backpacking with. As i might have said before if you are talking to REI I assume you have one near you in which case you should try renting a pack to see what size works for you and always remember it is better to buy your pack too big than too small. |
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The point I was trying to make is that by going from a 60L pack to 85 L you get 25 L more for 2 oz in weight. That is a 140% increase in volume for 2 oz., less than 1% increase in weight. The same principle applies for a 40 to 60 L series pack. What are the compression straps for? Just because you have a big pack doesn't mean you have to fill it up. It means you CAN fill it up if the situation arises. Hey – like JIP said each to your own. A bigger pack means you don't have to compress every thing as much as possible and CRAM IT into your pack, scraping for every square inch of space. I have an 82 L pack (4#) and I can pack it without forcing anything for a 7-10 trip. I can also pull the compression straps and turn it into a 50 L pack. Shit BK - I cut the handle off my toothbrush to save weight. Just because you have a big pack doesn't mean you suddenly get a 'WTH, I going to toss in this extra crap because I have the extra space' attitude. The gear list, is the gear list. What it does let you do is carry stuff like crackers in the original box without smashing them. I like having crackers, not powder, on day 5. "40 L for a multi day winter alpine route" If you like going that light, good for you, but that is not for me. I have a 20 L day pack the is getting full with a 50 m – 11mm rope and rack. From my seat you are going pretty light.. In the Sierra we have to carry a bear can. The smallest approved can that I know of uses 8 L of pack space. The one I carry is 12 L of pack space…. That is 1/3 of your 40L pack. Granted you can put clothes and other stuff in it but the damn thing is an awkward shape and it benefits greatly to have a big pack. BK - understand there is more than one way to skin-a-cat. BTW - If you haven't been there, I highly recommended you check out the Palisades. There are so many alpine routes it is hard to choose which one to do. There are a lot of grade IIIs you can do in a day from a base camp near the glacier. ] Thinking back on my pack use evolution, I actually used to subscribe to this theory. When I first started climbing, I had money/gear limitations, and always packed too much, and hated having to cram the shit out of everything in the pack and then having a pack eruption all over the snow any time I needed some small item. My thinking was then that I needed more space, so I tried over-sizing my needs... I loved this, but the packs frequently rode like shit on the back. So I thought I needed more technical packs- large capacity, super compressible packs geared toward climbing- CiloGear seemed to fit the bill. But these highly technical packs generally required MAJOR custom adjusting and were entirely depended upon proper distribution of shit and strap compression throughout the pack, which required completely readjusting the pack mid-route any time a jacket or water bottle had to go in or out, and the straps were a pain in the ASS to fap with, especially with gloves on (impossible, actually) and etc, etc, etc. Currently, I subscribe to the philosophy of Light Is Right and bring absolutely nothing you won't need, and put it in the pack that'll barely hold it. Jackets go on top, gear rides on the hips. My largest pack right now is 40ltr, and, as I said, it'll carry everything I need for 4-5 day winter alpine benders in the Cascades. I sent my Khamsin in for repair at Arc'Teryx and they couldn't fix it, so I've got just about any pack I want waiting for me with them... I figure when I finally.get my expedition into the Fairweathers (southern end of St. Elias), I'll order a 60-70ltr pack from them for that... but till then, I'm just never going to have use for anything bigger than 40. That's with a lightweight 4-season 2 man tent, bag, rope, food, nalgene, insulating pants and jacket, alpine rack, and Jetboil. Pons, tools, pad, poles, helmet strapped to the outside. Small items like compass/gps/drugs/MP3 player/knife go in the lid. Just doesn't take up much space... Even having been a newb who regularly over-packed for climbs, I still can't imagine what people have their huge, heavy-looking packs. |
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Reading over your list again OP I have to wonder if you really went over everything on this list with the REI employee that you say suggested a 20-40L pack. You have a french press on the list and a "cooking pot" then you say you will do with a tarp or a space blanket for a tent. You really need to refine this and get it right down to what you want to carry be it heavy or light because your list is a bit all over the place. A tarp or a space blanket is certainly what some might call "ultra light" but the french press and the cooking pot which I have no problem with are certainly not. A french press even if you use one that is in a travel mug is not a small or light thing nor is a pot to cook in. You might combine them and get a Jetboil that has a french press in it and go light that way but it is still not tiny. To me a pack that is 20-40L is a daypack especially if you are going alone. As I said before if you are going solo you have to carry everything and don't have the advantage of having someone else carry parts of a tent for you or sharing the food weight. I just really hope you go into this informed and know what you are getting into before you go on the advice of the REI guy and get a 35L pack to go backpacking with. As i might have said before if you are talking to REI I assume you have one near you in which case you should try renting a pack to see what size works for you and always remember it is better to buy your pack too big than too small. I got the backpack size recommendations off of their generic advice articles on the website, not from an actual employee. I think the list fits me well, although experience will be the ultimate decision influence. I like coffee a lot, most likely too much. As for shelter, I could be happy with just a tarp if the weather report was calling for clear skies. If rain was likely, then I would probably prefer to take an actual tent. French press Possibly the cookpot I want |
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Well why not get a Jetboil and they have a French press that goes with it. That way you have one cup/pot but of course then your cook pot is tied up when you are making coffee. If you got that pack info off of a generic list then you DEFINITELY need to get all that stuff together and see if it will fit in a sub 50L pack.
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A standard Jansport school backpack is 1900 cu/in or 31 liters.
Pull out your old school backpack and start cramming in the stuff on your list. If it fits...great. if not, see what doesn't and see what it might take to make it work. Or you can compile your list of stuff and pack it into a cardboard box of known sizes and dimensions and measure the volume it takes up in a cardboard box. Then look into a pack of corresponding size/volume. Buying packs sight unseen is a tricky task. You are much better off going to an outdoors store and trying some on. Pick up some gear off the shelves and see what fits and what doesn't. even if they don't have the exact model you may want they will have some of varying sizes to give to you a good frame of reference. Me personally I carry an Arc'teryx Bora 80. It's big, probably too big, but I had to pick one pack to work across all four seasons and when I go backpacking with the wife, i am the pack mule who gets to carry all of the big heavy items. I also hate having stuff strapped to the outside of my pack and like to have it all contained neatly inside. Swinging, banging, clanging gear just looks ghetto to me. |