Rucsac for difficult trips; suggestions welcome

[Gusto]

Such a simple and effective method. The beads you use appear to be rather large. I was expecting you'd using something a little smaller. The difference in

Technically speaking using water would be more accurate than beads. (Provided you had a large garbage bag. )

[Spartan]

Hi, Jmac.

It would be pretty difficult to source a quality, bomb-proof pack that's capable of hauling large loads, but weighs around 2kg. My preference when in the bush for fun is the Osprey Aether 80 litre model. It handles around 30kg comfortably, and is suitably rugged. When in the bush for work, however, I usually end up using my Crossfire DG8-SF. With a useable volume of 110 litres, I've regularly carried in excess of 45kg of gear over long distances in (relative) comfort. The Crossfire pack can take an absolute beating; the price you pay for ruggedness of this sort is an unladen weight of around 5kg. The former would likely meet your requirements. But if you need a true monster of a pack, the latter provides the last word.
In short, the following arithmetic usually rings true: the capacity to carry larger/denser loads + dependability = heavier pack weights.

All the best,

Ian

[Rob A]

Im not sure about using these as a bushwalker, the harness is what it is, nothing grand jsut a way of hitching up.
But for toting loads you need to keep dry, and hoiking things onto boats without messing round with drybags these work ok.
Cheap and 1300gm for this 60L from over-board dot etc au.

Now if I could send one to Cameron for a liberator harness ....

waterproof-backpack-dry-tube-window_6_.jpg (17.73 KiB) Viewed 5326 times

Out of interest what did you wind up with?

[Miyata610]

I'm intrigued that you use an inch tape measure. Is it very old? Does NZ still use ancient measurement systems?

[blacksheep]

We mostly use cubits.

[Nuts]

Here's a couple of possibilities you might not be aware of.

Crux from the UK - designed for mountaineering: AK70 is 70L + 7 in the lid. I have the ak57 and love it. It's light, tough, simple, and comfortable on me. it does have side pockets but they are small (they don't catch on scrub in my experience) and made of the same material as the main body, so definitely not fragile.

(Dont know if you still hang around a'cat??) Anyone have a Crux pack. A mate showed up with one of these and i have to say i was pretty impressed. It reminded me of OP/WE hybrid, reasonably inexpensive, simple design but V light. Doing some searching I see the material is a Kevlar mix and stays are titanium?. Looked the goods for tassie? Wasn't sure about the sizing, he seems to think the waist strap is ok up around the belly but perhaps the size Large is better? Doesn't seem the smaller one has size options..

[alliecat]

Hi Nuts,

Yeah, I'm still around - 2012 was pretty much a write-off as far as bushwalking went for me. Real life stymied me every time I planned something. Hopefully I will get out a lot more this year. (I shouldn't complain too much I suppose, I have just returned from a trip that included sea kayaking in Antarctica...)

Back on topic: I really love my Crux AK57. I'm coming around more to a "simpler is better" attitude to gear and the Crux is a pretty straightforward design with some nice touches. They are designed for climbers so the belt is supposed to sit above a climbing harness, so it's really a waist rather than hip belt. But if you sized up, you might be able to get the belt to go around your hips. Once I accepted the belt being around my waist, it was fine. The 57 definitely (used to?) come in different sizes, but I don't know if that's still true.

It's my go-to pack for solo trips as it nicely holds my kit plus 3-4 days of food with some space to spare. On non-solo trips where I'm carrying a bit more (bigger tent mostly) I sometimes have to go back to the ULA Catalyst for the extra room, depending on how much my wife feels like carrying

I think "climbing"style packs are worth looking at in general for Tas conditions because of their low fiddle-factor and general toughness.

Cheers,
Alliecat

[Nuts]

well!! your excused then Sea Kayaking in Antarctica would be an awesome experience!

Thanks for that info. I was most interested in the smallest one. It is 'one size' that they say is equal to their medium (size 2). I don't like the idea of a high harness but maybe I can mod the load lifters or something.. I agree, they look like a simple design and that is a good thing ( and v/ light as a bonus).

I hacked into my OP Vertex (38L) to get it a bit lighter and simpler but it is still 1.4kg (compared to 960g) and over-engineered in the harness (for me)

[alliecat]

Completely OT but...

yeah, kayaking in Antarctica was like living in a David Attenborough documentary. Just stunning scenery and wildlife. At one point I had a curious leopard seal nibbling on the rudder of my kayak! Nearly had to call for a change of dry suit after that

[Nuts]

Nearly had to call for a change of dry suit after that

I had a couple of similar close encounters (with sharks) and went back to bushwalking. My only SK 'holidays' were to the tropics but Antarctica would be another level wilderness wize.

I bit the bullet and ordered the AK 37, I can always sell it to a climber (or someone with a short back).

[mtrain]

Im in a similar boat as far as packs go. After spending two weeks on the tas west coast where my gear was the heaviest in the party I'm reassessing my gear. Ive currently got a WE lost world which is just to big and over engineered. Ive looked at cactus summit gear etc but am actually waiting to have a look at the Osprey volt 75.
http://www.ospreypacks.com/en/product/mens/volt_75
Looks nice and simple especially as Osprey's go and the fabrics are light but not ridiculous. Paddies will have them in stock in a few weeks apparently. jury's still out till I see them but maybe another option.

I also suspect from looking at several companies new offerings that we are going to go through a "simpler yet strong and light" faze as a reaction to the" super heavy complicated and the ultra light and flimsy disposable" gear that we've had pushed at us recently.
good!

[mountnman]

It's a shame you've said no Osprey packs. I have an Osprey Argon 85, and I find it to be the most comfortable, rugged pack I've ever used. A tad heavy at ~2.8kg, but the harness on it is in my opinion the best available.

The only negative is that it's not waterproof and you need to buy the raincover or packliner separately, but for me that wasn't an issue as I had already bought the raincover for my Aether 60.

[stuey69]

am actually waiting to have a look at the Osprey volt 75. Looks nice and simple especially as Osprey's go and the fabrics are light but not ridiculous.

We have a total of 10 Osprey packs in the house, from a 5.5 litre up to 65 litres, so we're fans.
The Volt looks good and at 1.71kgs is well weighted.

[Strider]

The only negative is that it's not waterproof and you need to buy the raincover or packliner separately.

Isn't this always the case? I've never come across a waterproof pack.