Bushwalk Australia

Hi all,

I'm looking for a new pack and am seeking advice on what everyone else uses / recommends?

would like it to have the following specs if possible:

+50 - 65ltr capacity
+hydration bladder insert / cavity (almost a must have as I like hydration)
+quality / well constructed
+Comfortable with good support / stable (moutainous walking / climbing)
+under 2 kg (around 1-1.5 kg would be nice)
+with lid / hood prefered

have seen a couple but seeking just assistance.

Thanks chris

How much is it going to carry?

yeah sorry fly boy just edited. 55 - 60ltr pack carrying around 15 kg depending on seasons and distance

Golite quest fits the bill perfectly

Sent from my MB526 using Tapatalk

I had the opportunity to carry a friends One Planet Shadow 56L (old model but same harness as new) a few weeks back. I was mighty impressed with it! Honestly it was the most comfortable thing I have ever carried, better than my McMillan, and I thought that was excellent.

But then because they are over $300 and the new ones are thin canvas (probably still tough enough) I ended up buying a Lowe Alpine Zepton 50 XL (Dyneema pack) cheap from Sierra Trading Post. It is yet to arrive - so stay tuned. I may yet sell it and lash out on a Shadow! Also looked at the Osprey Exos series, but quite thin fabric and sooo many buckles, bands, straps etc. to rip off. Still it was very tempting as I like the harness setup on them. Of course only the Shadow is truly adjustable, the others will either fit or not, and are lighter partly because of it.

I think those three all meet the specs, not sure on the Shadow for hydration though. It does have great bottle holders though which mean a bottle hydration system could be used instead of a bladder.

Summit Gear Blue Gum, has blader pocket (55L).

I like mine, tough as nails & made Katoomba.

Mark

Iv'e got a BD Quantum 65 in a L for $150 that would fit the bill

Macpac Ravine - 60 - 65 ltr - on special at the moment as they are discontinued, one big sac and a lid pocket, simple but tough.
Under 2 kgs. Pack wouldnt be for everyone as it is does not have an adjustable harness.
Just done 8 days doing the sw cape circuit with it. Started with 22 kgs ( 10 days food,fuel in that weight) I think this would be the upper limit of this pack but when I got a couple of days into the walk it was very comfortable.

Roger

Macpac Ravine (original) that's such a great pack.
I've just had the cordura bottom completely replaced on mine, which means I have years of work coming up.
It was ahead of its time, weighs 1.8kgs (the new version is well over 2kgs).

Thanks guys, been looking at the golite quest and the osprey exos both nice packs but liking these other suggestions of pack too?

chris

Osprey - Exos 58 SuperLight Backpack, the only choice.

The large is 61 litres and it only weighs 1.19 kg and has a nice frame too.

Cheers.

black diamond infinite.. 60l, 1.7kg, great harness system for flexibility of motion.

buggeriamold wrote:Summit Gear Blue Gum, has blader pocket (55L).

I like mine, tough as nails & made Katoomba.

Mark

It would be good to see more photos/hear more of these packs, harness etc.. they seem to have a good range of models?

Iv'e got an exos, nice comfortable pack, everything included and well placed but definitely for open country i'd say.

wayno's right about some of the new Black Diamond packs. If you are mountain walking and climbing, the BD packs have a useful harness and I find them comfortable maneuvering on steep ground. I use a BD Mission 50 myself, and it has a hydration bladder pocket. It also has a useful pocket for crampons and a secure pocket for enclosing ice axe heads, so that the picks don't stick into you and anyone nearby as you swivel about on the way up to the white stuff. I use an OP McMillan and a Macpac Glissade for general bushwalking, but my BD Mission is a very handy pack, and it's a decent (and useable) 50 litres too. Might be worth a look.

rucksack