Bushwalk Australia

I've been in need of a new day pack for ages...mine is simply dead. I was after something reasonably light that could at a stretch do an overnighter too.

After lots of research I stumbled across the macpac amp race 25. What I like about this pack is its got loads of outside pockets, good size and design, whilst the harness is light weight it's not flimsy and gives good support.

Now the challenge...to fit all my overnight gear in it.

What's the smallest pack youve taken on an overnighter with comfort?



At present its got my hammock, tarp, underpad and pegs in it. There's still plenty of room but lets see if we can get the rest in

not the smallest ive used but i like my Aqua Quest 35L - dry bag and daypack in one... hate soggy gear
good price but more like a 25-30L bag in use...
not the same(mine is a lighter in the waist belt version) but similar to this the top seal can be tucked under the front flap so it wont catch on things BTW

I've used a Serratus Genie, 30 liters, 450 g, for a couple of overnighters. One trip was really comfortable, the other not so much because I had to include a rigid bear canister. I've done other one night trips with similar size daypacks in the past with good results. You just have to take care to pack it right.

It's a really nice way to travel!

my WE "Tour-Jour" and at 40 litres it was a stretch in winter,but add the removable pocket on the back and a pocket for the MSR and it was good to go, no way i could fit my FairyDown Plateau in tho so it was a bivvy sac and tarp that trip

going light n small i find makes for great walking but slightly less comfy nights at times tho..

That depends on how you measure the pack.
I have used the ULA Amp on an overnight , about 8kg total weight (I am not into ultralite...)
The main body is 26 L. I can fit a 1L bottle in each pocket and have the tent strapped at the front.
I could do 3 days with that in summer.
But I prefer to use one with some frame like the ULA Circuit even for that.
Franco

This is something I've been looking into as well. I'm tossing up between a GG Murmer (28L) and MLD Burn (32L) for a daypack / small volume overnight pack. Currently leaning towards the Burn as its made of Dyneema so will be more durable than the Murmer with a negligible weight penalty.

Sniff sniff.

So tantalizingly close. I had everything in it bar food

No great stress as I can swap it for the 40l but I much prefer the 25l for day walks. Oh well. I failed my 25l challenge but will pass the 40l challenge with oodles of space

Overnight (just) with one of these:
http://www.seatosummit.com.au/showdetai ... de=AUDPACK
Was interesting although I didn't bring some of the things I would normally take (luxuries) with a slightly larger pack
Had pyramid tarp, quilt, sleeping mat, basic first aid, small head torch small amount of food and 600ml water. No spare clothes

Bluegum Mic wrote: ...I had everything in it bar food...

Like chips and salted nuts? Mmmmm, but I'd take lots of water, that stuff can really make you parched

Seriously though, I did think you were going to be lucky fitting enough stuff in a 25l pack for an overnighter, I'm sure it can be done but you'd have to have some fairly minimal gear. I've got a 30l daypack and it would be lucky to hold much more than my hammock, tarp, underquilt & sleeping bag let alone my tenting stuff or much else.

Bluegum Mic wrote:What's the smallest pack youve taken on an overnighter with comfort?

An 85l One Planet rucksack... I would like something smaller for 1-2 nighters though. My current daypack is an el cheapo Black wolf Blitz 30 which has been pretty decent and its lasted a lot longer than I expected but I think that I'll get something around the 40l mark next time because its just not quite big enough. I find that too many bungee's and pockets tend to snag a lot so I'm looking for something simple, like the OP Traverse etc. Just have to abuse my current one to oblivion now... wheres that wait-a-while...

Hi mich I had the same thoughts as you when i saw that macpac amp and bought one in that same color too. My 3L platypus couldn't fit properly in its sleeve so I had to use a 1.8L. All my stuff fits in for a 3 dayer but it did require me to change some gear. I'll post pics up if you need.

My tent gear would probably fit (with tent on the outside) but my hammock gear is the problem as they are all smaller stuff sacks so there's no big item to go on the outside. In fact the biggest item was my quilt/sleep thermals/liner all the one compression bag (and being down im not going to put that on the outside). Ill have another try as I won't be able to take it back to the store till Monday to exchange. They were lovely in the chatswood store today. Happy for me to take the 25l home and try my gear in it (fear not its all squeaky clean) and have put the 40l aside for me ready to go on Monday. Double thumbs up.

Pics would be good actually. I've managed to get it all in this time by putting the sleeping bag into a tiny sil stuff sack (the Rab top bag/quilt stuffs down to an impressive nothingness though is toasty and warm) then stuff the thermals around it. Id be interested to see your three day gear in it ninja

You could do away with the food. It is heavy and you would lose weight into the bargain.

Me, I would take the food.

Over the years I have come to the conclusion that everything should be inside the pack and nothing should be on the outside. It keeps it dry and reduces the risk of losing it or being caught up in scrub or rock scrambling.

Great looking rogaine pack you have there Bluegum Mic, I'm tempted to pop into mcpc to have a look.

Thanks wander. Ive always preferred to carry my gear on the inside of the pack for the same reasons. Im going to get the 40l. Whilst I've got my light weight groove down pat, I don't like to compromise on my food, water and first aid kit and Id much rather fit it all in easily than not. The actual packs only vary in weight by a little over 100g. My only dislike with the 40 was its quite tall but I can live with it (mind you I didn't put weight in the 40l one in store which I should have). The packs have a lovely compression system so that's all good.

Bluegum Mic wrote:Thanks wander. Ive always preferred to carry my gear on the inside of the pack for the same reasons. Im going to get the 40l. Whilst I've got my light weight groove down pat, I don't like to compromise on my food, water and first aid kit and Id much rather fit it all in easily than not. The actual packs only vary in weight by a little over 100g. My only dislike with the 40 was its quite tall but I can live with it (mind you I didn't put weight in the 40l one in store which I should have). The packs have a lovely compression system so that's all good.

Hi bluegum. I would try loading you 25l up full and walking with it for some long days to see if it is comfy enough for you.

I have done a one night walk with my 33l osprey ( with a semi rigid back panel) and it gave me sore shoulders due to the frame not being stiff enough. It tends to 'flop' shorter when loaded heavily Maybe in the 40l you can make a tube with a foam pad ( like the Americans do) and it would be stiff enough for your needs?

macpac amp:



=============================================
The big stuff:
hexamid tent
1.8L platypus hoser
summerite sleeping bag
down jacket - size of an orange.

smaller stuff:
klymit inertia pad
jetboil titanium
steripen
PLB + mini first aid
small stuff sack for personal items
petzl e+lite


Food for a long weekend:
2 lots of cereal + powdered milk
3 days of flat mountain bread + tuna
2 freeze dried dinners


snacks, maps, compass go in the waist pockets on the belt
keys wallets, mp3 players go on the top pocket.
==============================================

I realised i dont have the food so i cant take pics of my complete pack. food is the area where you can really save alot of space.


- The klymit pad is not much lighter than a neoair, but it is much much smaller and I saved alot of space with that one.

Not sure how big your hammock is, but your rab bag would be about the same size as my summerlite.
Maybe you just need to squish the sleeping bag down abit more?

NOTE

be careful with those bungee cords on the side. i had a nalgene on the side and it came off where it was stitched to the pack on one end. To repair it, i had to cut away the netting abit to be able to sew it back on.

how do you find the klymit pad for warmth compared to the neo air?

Its not warm at all. its R rating is 1 unless you use their argon gas cannister which we cant import in Australia anyway.
below 10C a neoair is warmer and it can pretty much get below -10C at any time of the year in tassie. But I live in sydney and its perfect for our summers.

Thanks ninja. Nice kit you've got there. Maelgwn I used to have a golite pinnacle so Ive got a perfect small thin blue ccf that I've always carried and used in that fashion. I must say the harness and back in this bag is impressively comfy (and stiff enough through the back). Its waist strap is more supportive (and I feel more capable of holding the load) than on the golite pack. Mind you Id only have about 8kg in it so I feel I could get away with it a bit more. Mind you the 40l will be able to get more in/weight so ill use the foamy or my reflectix pad in it for sure.

This is a lightweight kit that I have been working on for a while to fit into my 25 liter Golite Ion pack. This kit is suitable for Summer/early Autumn in the Snowy Mountains where I expect around 0C overnight and little rain.

Nearly all of this kit has been used in the field at sometime, I would normally take my Thermarest Neoair sleeping mat but it is out on loan this weekend so I packed my lighter but less comfortable, Thermarest Prolite XS.

Pack, Golite Ion
Sleeping mat, Thermarest Prolite XS or Neoair
Shelter/rain protection, S2S poncho/tarp, pegs guy ropes, one pole (second pole a stick from bush)
Sleeping bag, Macpac Snowflake
Ground sheet, GG Polycro
Bivy Bag, custom made
Clothes, two thermal tops, thermal longs, spare socks, down jacket, gloves
Kitchen, Gram weenie alcohol stove, beer can pot, S2S spoon, mug, bowl, 180ml alcohol
Food, two main meals, two breakfasts, powdered milk, nut bars for lunch and snacks.
Water, 1.1 liter plastic bottle
Firstaid kit
Toiletries

All up pack weight with fuel, food but no water is 3.7kg, plus I always take a small bum bag that I wear on the front, in this bag I keep a small survival kit, compass, matches, knife, whistle, insect repellant, soap, toilet paper, some snack bars, and camera, torch, spare batteries, all up weight around 1kg. I use this bag no matter which pack I use or season I walk in.

With this kit I still have about two liters of room in the Ion pack.

Note, I would prefer to use my Zpack Hexamid tent which is similar weight to the S2S poncho/tarp, if I take the Hexamid, I would probably get a Zpacks cuben rain jacket or something similar rather than the S2S poncho/tarp.

Tony

The fact that the two people to pull off this challenge use a Hexamid is interesting to me.
Time to go and do some reading on them I think!

Robert H wrote:The fact that the two people to pull off this challenge use a Hexamid is interesting to me.
Time to go and do some reading on them I think!

I'm expecting to receive mine next week Got it used for a nice price, $180

Will either combine with my 140g cuben bivy or a cuben bathtub groundsheet from Zpacks

25 liter pack challenge MK 2.

This is a tried and true setup that I have used before except I have not squeezed it into my 25 liter pack before, it is different from my MK 1 25 liter pack challenge version above as I have now packed my Hexamid tent, a warmer sleeping bag (BPL 180 Quilt), my Neoair sleeping mat and my MacPac Traverse rain jacket, I have dropped the 1.1 liter plastic bottle as there was no room, but I will include a empty 2 liter Platypus bladder for camp water and a 600 ml plastic drink bottle attached to my bum bag strap, all up pack weight 4.1kg.

Tony

Thankyou for posting tony. You gave me an idea and now Im pleased to say I pass the 25l challenge. Woohoo. I must say this approach for me is simply more for the times (which are more often being a mum of a young one) where I duck off late in the day on a local trail, camp over night and then enjoy a quick 10km in the morning before darting home by lunch Sunday. Any bigger trips an my OP pack comes out.

So how I've done it-
In the pack is my Rab top bag/quilt, patagonia down sweater, thermals to sleep, undies and spare sox, silk liner, hammock tree huggers, hammock with the radiant pad already in the sleeve of the hammock and its rigged with its whoopies (they both fit easily in the hammock bag and compress), pegs, MH epic pants, silva head torch, hanging led puck light for in the hammock plus food.

On the outside-
In the top pocket is my outdoor research helium jacket.
Front mesh pocket with daisy chain is my tarp and its ridgeline.
Side pockets- one side my first aid kit and the other is my cooking pot with cup and alcohol stove inside (GSI soloist).
Hip belt pockets are GPS one side and snacks in the other.

Now for the important part...water Im going to put both my nalgene 1litre bottles in the neoprene carry cases and they can go on the hip belt round the side so they don't impede my walking.

On an historical note, when I walked with the Kamerukas it was not totally unusual to a couple of members to turn up with a Paddymade Bunyip daypack which I would expect to be no more than 25 litres - more like 20 from memory. In it would be a sleeping bag, ground sheet, nylon fly, oilskin jacket, a light jumper, small billy and a bottle of scotch. The scotch was bartered for food from other members of the party. Apparently on one weekend everybody turned up with scotch and zero food.

The smallest pack so far i've taken on overnight hikes would have to be my Aarn Load Limo.
I have out of curiosity tried packing my overnight gear into my 28 Litre day pack. It was a bit of a tight squeeze but it fit. Next time I'm doing a overnight trip, might take the day pack.

I've been considering purchasing a ultra light pack, such as a ULA pack for overnight trips of 3 or 4 days or less. As the Aarn Load Limo is a bit of an overkill for me now. A lot of my gear now is in the light weight or ultra light weight category. The load Limo will still be used for my week long treks.

I reckon 35 litres would be my absolute lower limit. I just don't want to give up stuff like:

Properly comfortable inflatable mat (Synmat).
Kindle (or book) for reading at the end of the day.
Down jacket/vest for use around camp but also as a great pillow.
PLB
Maybe a platypus with a couple glasses of red in it.

It's stuff like this that tips it over the edge. Never mind deciding to leave the hexamid behind and using the hilleberg.

One thing I've noticed though, is that it doesn't really work so well for me if the style I'm doing doesn't match that of the people I'm with. Doing an overnighter with really minimalist gear, with mates who are lugging 80 litre packs just doesn't work. On the walk, they're struggling to keep up, and in camp, they're luxing it with espresso and extra chocolate and cosy tents and splitting a platy full of good red, while you're under a tarp.

To be honest, I'm happy to go either way but if I'm with others, I like to match styles.

Couldn't agree more John. If travelling with friends I tend to take a lot more luxury items. This is more for solo overnighters. Its a great little pack though.

Funny thing I was just thinking about is how much over the years is my packs been getting smaller as gear gets lighter/more compact (no brainer though I guess). First pack was 85l, then 70l, then 54l and now Im giving a 48l a whirl. Mind you my ability to disappear for a week or two has diminished these days 3-4days is my limit with little uns

In the past year 90% of my overnight hikes have been solo, I participate in Day hikes with groups, but no one is willing to join me on overnight hikes where I live.
This coming June I will be leading a week hike on Fraser Island for the local bush walking club. If they want to carry 20+ kilos, that's up-to them, as long as there fit enough, I will be going over there gear before the hike, and making sure they can carry the weight for the week, otherwise I'll be questioning them. I'm not going to carry 20+ kilos, just because they are. I do carry some luxury's such as Kindle Ebook reader and coffee. My biggest concern at this stage is finding shoes that will fit me. Hiking boots don't work for me. I need to wear sand shoes. Having a lighter pack weight allows this.
I can understand, not everyone is the same speed. I'm figuring if I walk at the pace of the slowest walker, there should not be any problems.
I'll be walking the pace of the slowest walker. Some of those that I'm leading have only just returned from the Overland Track, but they went on a tour and the most they carried was 12kg. Others are on there way next week to New Zealand to do a week hike over there on there own. I think fitness should not be a problem for most of them. Some I'm not so sure about. At least if I carry minimum weight, if need be I can carry some of there gear if they struggle.

It will be exciting to walk overnight with other's. The last time anyone joined me on a overnight hike was a year ago, and that way my Nephew at the Royal National Park Coastal Walk, I carried nearly all gear, Gave my nephew a daypack with 6 or 7 kilos in it and he struggled big time carrying the weight. I had 25+ kilos in my pack. It was had carrying that load, but I did it. Certainly will never carry that much weight again. First thing I did upon returning home was replacing my gear for lighter gear.

That One Planet pack of mine. oh my god was that thing heavy after it rained. The canvas soaked all the water and added kilos to my pack weight. That's was the last time I used a One Planet Pack. I don't like canvas packs.