Posted: 5/2/2007 5:46:30 PM EDT
| I'm going camping out in the woods for a weekend w/ some friends. I think I'll need a 3 day pack. Can you guys recommend a pack for this purpose? Links are appreciated. |
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I strongly suggest checking the Tactical Gear Forum under Arms & Tactics. They have a thread on this type of stuff almost every day and I think its you best bet. Lots of reviews and what not! My new pack is an Eagle A-III Molle. But its brand new with no hiking time.... so i cant tell you if it kicks ass or not. initial impressions are very good though |
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The type of pack you get all depends on what you need to carry. Figure out what it is you REALLY need in your pack, then find a pack to carry it all. Top 3 recommendations: 1) GI Medium Alice Pack with frame 2) Cammelback BFM (or the CTD/Condor clone) 3) Maxpedition Condor (not the same thing as the CTD model) A good pack should run you anywhere from $50-$150, depending on size and material. I bud of mine who served in the sand pit said, "If you are out for more than 4 days... no frame, no game" He wouldn't take a frameless pack on a 5 day mission w/o a vehicle to help haul stuff around. ALOT of CTD/Condor units ($50) and Cammelback BFM packs ($150) are what folks are using. [so I have been told] |
| Go to REI and get a real backpacking pack. They'll tell you what you need. If you think you can get a cheap knock off, don't. When you're days out in the woods you'll regret a crappy pack. No offense, tactical packs serve their purpose, but the backpackers know what they're doing when it comes to outdoor gear. |
| I would recommend looking at Kifaru gear. Their stuff is expensive but its built to last. |
| Osprey... how much weight? and how much volume of stuff? I'm an ultralite hiker so the Atmos 35 or 50 is more than enough. |
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There are a lot of good packs. I'd go with an external frame. Internal framed packs seem more comfortable at first but they're hottern hell and don't distribute the weight as well. And you need a much larger pack than you think. And you need much less stuff than you think. Get a scale and weigh everything. I have a Gregory that I've been very happy with. Sierra Trading Post dot com is a great place to find a good deal on a pack but I don't see anything likely there right now, except maybe http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/311,85742_Kelty-Trekker-Backpack-LE-3950-.html campmor.com is also good and has a full selection but not quite as cheap: http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=9499&memberId=12500226 If you are new to this there are 2 fundamentals: feet and water. However far you go, you've only got your feet to get you back out. You need comfortable boots with good ankle support that are oversize so you can fit in 2 layers of thick socks. I wear thick synthetic underneath and wool on top. Wool sounds hot but it doesn't get wet. You will need at least 1 liter of water (2 pounds) per day in mild conditions and this can easily go to 2. You can carry it and the weight goes up fast or get a filter and a water bag. Eitherway, you need a liter canteen to drink from. Forget cooking. My core camping diet is jerky, hard tack, and dried apples. |
| It's always worth taking a look at Campmor hot deals on packs. |
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For a 3 day hike you want something around 3000 cubic inches with a frame suspension, and good hip belt. I've used a Gregory Gravity for 3 day hikes and it was great, I now use a Kifaru Zulu with a POD and XTL and am very happy with it. It's about as small as I want to get for a 3 day type pack but I have pared my gear down quite a bit over time. Forget the Camelbak BFM for this. I carry one to work and class and it is not up to the task of carrying 3 days worth of gear unless you go super light. (poncho, liner, pocket stove, bare minumum stuff). It's a great daypack but it just doesn't have the room. Here are my reccomendations: Gregory Z 255 Kifaru Zulu |
| Is there an REI in your area? The best place to start. They will have a good selection of brands to choose from and you can get it fitted to you properly. I carry a Dana Design pack and love it! REI also boasts a world famous return policy if you are not happy with anything you buy from them. I would strongly recommend spending money on a quality pair of boots also. Tearing up your feet with cheap boots will ruin even the shortest camping/backpacking trip. Gregory and Marmot are some good brand names to look at. www.rei.com, to browse before you go in. |
exaclty, its the only way ill know if i can bicth and complain about your choices  I'll second the REI and Campmor sites. FIRST get your torso sized. Then pick you pack, The .tact/.mil 3-day packs are just that normally they are under 2500 cubes, no frame, no torso adjustments etc. In other words not made for heavy loads or extended trips. for a decent pack you'll drop 50-200$ I wont go into any deeper untill we see what your looking for. |
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3k cubic inches for 3 days? to much. the BFM i had was 2.5k and was way to big. i ended up with a camelbak talon at 1800 and its just right. with 4 days of food. if i wanted too i could pack it tigher and get 7 days of food. travel light, travel happy. your walking into the woods for a few days. you could bring a gallon of water and be just fine. tarp, water filter, sleeping bag are the only 3 things you need. bring some tuna pouches and some MRE entree's or something for food. less then 20lbs and you will enjoy yourself. of course, the lighter, smaller gear is more expensive. unless you plan to actually use this stuff i suggest just getting a used school backpack (you probably have one) throwing some food and water in there, and spend your money on a quality compact sleeping bag. get a cheap tarp from sportsmansguide or something. hell, since your going with friends just buy a big cheap tent and split up the compents between you and carry a poncho in case of an emergency. |
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Arcteryx makes nice packs with great suspension. I have a rt35 that would be a little big for 3 days but it has a roll top that is waterproof. Black diamond makes nice packs too. I have Osprey is both cheap and comfy and also well made. Get fitted at rei or similar as torso length is crucial when getting a comfy pack. |
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I always carry my full size Alice pack that I carried in the Army, even on day hikes. It will hold anything you need, plus they can be found at any Army/Navy surplus stores fairly cheap. I used the money I saved by not buying an expensive pack and bought a pair of Zamberlin hiking boots. Handmade in Italy, they are super comfortable. |
+1 Arc'Teryx makes awesome packs. My favorite pack is an Arc'Teryx Borea and I have a lot of packs...I am a pack-fiend. I have a Gregory Endurance Camelbak MULE, SnoBound, Motherload and Transformer GoLite Speed A Pine Ridge travel pack (it's a pretty good backpacking pack but the straps can be sealed up with a zippered flap so it doesn;t get ripped to shreds when you use it as luggage. I have sold several packs including a BFM. It's an OK pack but I was using it as a truck bag and a duffel made more sense. I have plenty so getting rid of it wasn;t a big deal. For a three day trip I might try to get away with the Motherload depending on the time of year but I would probably go with my Arc'Teryx Borea. Maybe the GoLite Speed if I was really trying to cover some ground. |
I went do REI, Galyans (now Dicks), etc. I learned how to fit a pack properly. Then surfed online, found a pack I liked in my price range, and I drove down to Sportsmans Guide's warehouse / storefront, talke to the clerk. They brought up a Pack for me to look at before buying... Guide Gear, 6500 internal frame pack (actual closer to 6600) - Woodland Camo Pattern - 3 outer water bottle attachments (USGI qt canteen pocket, Nalgene bottle pocket, and collapsable 16oz water bottle pocket) - 4 outer pouches/pockets - loops & straps for securing external items (ground pad, tent, tools) - Internal sleeping bag compartment - internal pocket organizer - expandable top - additional secured rain fly (bright neon green color for high visibility) - FULLY adjustable back, shoulder, waist, and other straps & aluminum frame. - Weight ~7 lbs. The only 'Downside' is that it wasn't guaranteed 'Waterproof'. No problem to me. As stated in the Walmart Tent thread. I do my own waterproofing most of the time. I bought some seam sealer, and waterproofing spray. Seal all the internal seams as best I can, let it dry. Spray the internal parts of the pack, let it dry. Spray the exterior of the entire pack, and be done. It's not 100% waterproof, but I don't care. I keep my sleeping bag in a plastic bag inside the pack anyway. I keep my clothes in a dry bag too. Food is all sealed up separately. Electronics are sealed too. No biggie. It cost me about $75 for an adaptable 6500 size pack, and I couldn't be happier with it! I has served me VERY WELL camping in the rain, and once in the snow with no problems. No wetness/rain problems yet, either... It's sealed pretty good now lest I dunk it in a lake (but I keep a contractor's grade plastic bag & duct tape to put my pack in for fording rivers). For a camping pack I wouldn't use a "Tactical Bag" really. I had one. Wasn't enough. In fact, I don't really understand WHY so many people like them? I mean, I'm frugal, so if I'm going to be using a pack for camping, shooting, etc. I want ONE PACK that can do it all, not 3-4 DIFFERENT ones. I've learned this universal truth: You can cinch down a larger pack, load it lightly, and carry a smaller load VERY WELL with a big pack. You can't make a small pack bigger or work with a bigger load though. |
| Kifaru and Kelty are the two I have narrowed my choices down too. Military packs like the ALICE tend to be less comfortable than the commercial alternative. If you want comfort and the ability to attach molle pouches then you are gonna opay more for it. Size is another huge factor. For a weekend you should be able to get by with 2000-3000 cubic inches. The more you plan on putting on the outside of the pack, the less storage room you will need out of the pack. It makes it hard to say how big a pack you will need untill you decide what is going inside and what is going outside.If you intend to carry a sleeping bag and sleeping pad it will take up a lot of room inside your pack unless the pack has outside attachment points for it. There are some great deals on kelty pack here. |
I've looked at thoose packs on thier site and really like them. I have yet to find anywhere that stocks that line (except for the MAP 3500) though so I could get an idea of actual price. Any idea who stocks them? I'd like to get an Eagle 7850 if the price was right. |