Bushwalk Australia

Time for me to actually buy a bag rather than beg borrow and steal off a mates.

95% of my walks are weekenders and I travel lightish. If possible it would be used as a once a week haulage bag for work clothes on my cycle commute. (Definitely a secondary consideration)

Ive shortlisted a couple and the one I keep coming back to is the Kathmandu voltai of all things, as the zip opens 3/4 of the bag. Other than the potential of the zip failing, and the lack of adjustable harness... I really dislike digging around through the small top hole. Is there a reason I shouldn't go for this bag? Anything else I should be considering?

40l will be a squeeze if I want to take a sneaky bottle of wine or an extra change of clothes for wetter hikes, and wondering if I should be looking more towards a 50L just to get the extra use out of it.

Basic pack list...
Tarp
Exped synmat UL7
EE synthetic quilt
Liner
Bug net
S2s pillow
Trangia + frame + small pot + small fuel bottle
Aero press +grinder
Head torch/GPS/knife/first aid/spork/food

What you need to do is get absolutely everything you would take on a walk - including any extra clothing, food, water container, etc - and see just how much room it takes up.
While it's true that if there's too much spare room in the pack one tends to chuck extra things in just to fill it up a bit, it doesn't hurt to have the capacity to add a little bit extra for a longer walk or a bit of luxury.

Trangias are great stoves, but they're bulky compared to the small gas burners.

try and find a brand that makes quality packs instead...
eg
lowe alpine
osprey
gregory
black diamond

and yes dont skimp on space, it can be a real pain in the neck trying to cramp gear in and try and access what you need on the track having to pull out gear to be able to pull out what you need because its so tightly packed.

I've used a mates osprey 65 a few times with no issues and heaps of spare space.
Probably a smarter choice going the osprey 50 as its more of a known Fit.

Trangia argument is for another thread.

So I've decided to go with a proper bag that's specific.

Last trip 3nights/3days the atmos65 I used packed with 2L water weighed 13kg. So roughly 11kg in the bag.

If I add an extra litre of water, and an extra days food and clothes. That will put me pretty close to the recommended comfort limit of the exos 58.... But it's 900g lighter.

I feel I'm over thinking things as I tend to do, the lighter pack will force me to think twice with packing, but also potentially mean I need to buy a second bag when I get to do some bigger walks.

drakkar wrote:I feel I'm over thinking things as I tend to do, the lighter pack will force me to think twice with packing, but also potentially mean I need to buy a second bag when I get to do some bigger walks.

There's always a trade-off, whatever choice you make.
Are you likely to be doing many longer walks? If so, when? If it's a 'maybe one day in the future' thing, the smaller pack is the go.

Osprey are very good packs. Surprisingly durable for the weight, as a rule, and generally well designed and comfortable.

An Osprey Kestrel 48 might suit. I usually have a decent amount of room left when all the gear and food goes in (easily enough for some wine or a few beers). I've only used it about 6 times but it's very comfortable and isn't any worse for wear

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If you want a panel loader, what about a One Planet Ned? A bit bigger than 40L though.

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n5750547 wrote:An Osprey Kestrel 48 might suit. I usually have a decent amount of room left when all the gear and food goes in (easily enough for some wine or a few beers). I've only used it about 6 times but it's very comfortable and isn't any worse for wear

+1

My Kestral 48 has become my all-rounder. I've used it on 7 day hut-to-hut tramps in New Zealand and 3-4 day hikes around SA. More than enough space for a weight-conscious hiker like me.

I just got ones of these from macpac. http://www.macpac.com.au/clearance/equi ... ac-50.html
Haven't taken it anywhere yet but first impressions after if arrived last week are really good. Normal build quality you expect from macpac.
It weighs about 1.7kg and after I cut off all the strapping and clips i'll never use it came down under 1.6.
I got it because it was on special at $160 with free delivery, too cheap to pass up. Wife cursed the arrival of another pack!
I'll use it as a overnighter for Tasssie walking which 50L is about the right size.

Scottyk wrote:I just got ones of these from macpac. http://www.macpac.com.au/clearance/equi ... ac-50.html
Haven't taken it anywhere yet but first impressions after if arrived last week are really good. Normal build quality you expect from macpac.
It weighs about 1.7kg and after I cut off all the strapping and clips i'll never use it came down under 1.6.
I got it because it was on special at $160 with free delivery, too cheap to pass up. Wife cursed the arrival of another pack!
I'll use it as a overnighter for Tasssie walking which 50L is about the right size.

Macpac are good at that, aren't they? I picked up my Amp Race 40 the same way. I think it was down to $120 or something. It's proven to be a great little pack.

north-north-west wrote:

drakkar wrote:I feel I'm over thinking things as I tend to do, the lighter pack will force me to think twice with packing, but also potentially mean I need to buy a second bag when I get to do some bigger walks.

There's always a trade-off, whatever choice you make.
Are you likely to be doing many longer walks? If so, when? If it's a 'maybe one day in the future' thing, the smaller pack is the go.

Osprey are very good packs. Surprisingly durable for the weight, as a rule, and generally well designed and comfortable.

It's totally a one day on the future thing. Talked me into the exos if I can find one to try on locally.

Cheers.

So I went into backpacking light to try on and potentially buy an exos pending outcome...
The amazingly helpful staff said just try an Aarn peak aspiration.... So I did and the short lap in store I was pretty much sold, but with the small front packs its nearly double what I was looking to spend. Classic retail trick, put them in the most expensive thing you can because you know it will feel better.

So now I'm googling reviews and I think I've sold myself. Just need to argue if I want to spend that much money for something that will be on my back maybe 14 days year.

aarns dont have a good reputation for durabiity if you are bush bashing

drakkar,

Have a look at the HMG range of packs. These packs are being used by people who are doing a lot of miles, big expeditions or climbs and they are very strong advocates of them.

I have a Porter 4400 in the black material and its big enough for a week long snow shoe trip or you can roll the top all the way down and use it to get the bread and milk on the mountain bike.

These packs have clean lines, comfort, functionality and are light. When mine has worn out I will immediately buy another.

Worth a look and the wait for one of these.

https://www.hyperlitemountaingear.com/u ... packs.html

Cheers

This is my Porter with it "screwed down" as I call it. It probably about 40-50 litres I would guess. In this pic it had cook kit, first aid, Exped down mat, EE quilt, Solplex tent, wet weather gear, change of base layer, food for 3 nights.

wayno wrote:aarns dont have a good reputation for durabiity if you are bush bashing

Mine has coped surprisingly well. It's almost dead now - the harness is just held together with odd bits of string and webbing - but still soldiering on.
But I didn't get the impression our OP was going to be doing that mush scrub-bashing.

Correct. Short term it's mostly formed tracks in vic (Grampians, prom, cathedrals etc) with the possibility of a little scrambling here and there. Another couple years and more experience or need for more adventure things may change.