Bombproof gear

[ollster]

It's big enough for you to carry all my gear and wentworth too so I can just relax and enjoy myself

Ah ha. Yer funny... 105L is probably a little TOO big. If I ever need that much gear then, well, don't expect to see me return.

I also can't possibly imagine needing to carry a shovel, although a mate carried an ex-army "trenchie" on the Mount Anne walk I did once, and it was most useful for digging toilet holes.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Well he's obviously a nut!
The cascade is a good pack, 90L seems to do me on bit walks, Might be as tall as your other Macpac one tho Oll!!

[loric]

I use a WE lost world - also big at 100+L but i think that the volume rating is for the pack overflowing... I usually put about 80-90L worth of gear/food in it for a 12 dayer.
The extra girth makes for easier packing too - much easier than the old macpac torre.

Not sure that i would consider the WE mt exped a 'bombproof' pack. Nylon, side zip... which is why i went for the Lost World (full canvas but hefty).
Go for the one with the best fitting harness at any rate, regardless of the (decent) brand.

[corvus]

Just got a phone call from PP Launceston letting me know that the Wilderness Equipment gaiter replacements have turned up. Lets hope the replacement set last longer. At least no problem with PP and WE standing by their products.

Cheers Brett

G'day Brett,
Did they elaborate as to the problem,stitching on mine looks to be OK however they have only had three serious outings so far.
corvus

[ollster]

Must say, the One Planet Mcmillan looks freaking awesome for a big, scrub friendly pack.

Single compartment, nice clean lines (once that bungee cord comes off...), full canvas. Think I'll try one on. Wish it didn't have the water bottle "holsters" though, they are just going to get filled with forest gunk! Hope the harness fits me...

*** Actually, that reminds me of a thing I loathe about most packs. Often the hip belt tension strap buckles on the sides will be forward facing, and will catch on scrub, opening them and loosening the damn straps. This is an annoying design issue for off track walking. This annoys me almost as much as the chest and shoulder bucklets constantly loosening. GRRRR!

[Ent]

Content removed by poster

[Son of a Beach]

I've done a bit of serious scrub bashing with the OP Strezlecki (almost identical to the McMillan) and like Brett have never had any issues with buckles catching.

The hydration pockets do collect a bit of debris when scrub bashing, but that's not been a significant problem for me (they only collect a little, and it's easy to remove). The pockets are good for the 1 litre Sigg bottles, however, if you do this while scrub bashing, you MUST have the bottles tied in anyhow, as they do get pushed out a little from the bottom during significant scrambling. I've never had one pushed out far enough for it to fall out, but I've had them pushed nearly half way out during not terribly significant scrambling, and would not be surprised if it got pushed all the way out during serious scrub bashing.

If you really don't like the hydration pockets, I would imagine that it would be easy to cut them off without causing any other damage to the pack, or to cut holes in the bottoms of them to reduce the amount of debris collected without further damage to the pack apart from the possibility of the holes fraying the pockets further.

[ollster]

Although this may seem to go against my usual "sleek lines" ideal... do the OP packs have an internal drinking bladder space/outlet hole for the tube? No mention on the website, but I thought I might as well ask people who own their gear.

[Son of a Beach]

Although this may seem to go against my usual "sleek lines" ideal... do the OP packs have an internal drinking bladder space/outlet hole for the tube? No mention on the website, but I thought I might as well ask people who own their gear.

Mine does not (it's about 5 years old). I don't use water bladders, so I've never really considered it.

Ah, I see... it's an optional extra with OP packs. (There's a link to that page at the bottom of the McMillan page).

I've no idea if this is convenient, or a nuisance. You'd need to talk to somebody who's used it seriously before deciding, I think.

[ollster]

Nice find Nik. That looks like it would be *&%$#! annoying to work with. Think I'll just stick to putting it in the lid.

[EDIT} OMG, the forum just censored me saying blo...ody. Internet censorship at work! I blame Conroy and the religeous right wing thought police!

[sthughes]

Yeah I love my Mcmillan as well. I have no problems at all with strap slippage or buckles coming undone (haven't had it long though). The bottle holders are brilliant, just the right place (low and close to the back) to carry heavy bottle of water. However I usually use one the carry scroggin and my GPS as I rarely need 2L of water. They can get a bit of leaf matter etc. but nothing much. Pack also perfectly fits a pair of yowies in the side straps, one on each side.
If you like bladders Penguin has something like this http://www.camelbak.com.au/secureshop/product.php?ProductID=37&cat_id=28 and reckons it's very tough (survived when is canvas Macpac pack didn't), much easier to fill than internal ones and just plain more betterer

[Nuts]

I have one of those that i was going to sell
MSR also make some tough water bag style bags. They hook up bladder style but with a heavy canvas outer....

[ollster]

Well, that was quickly settled. I went into Passion 8 to try on an OP McMillan, and they only had one Long/90L in stock. It was one that some dude had bought for the Kakoda trail and returned after completing it for some reason. It fitted me really quite well... better than my Macpac... and... IT WAS HALF PRICE!

Downside is that it's a little dirty (minor) and has a furious BO reek (which can be washed out). Full warranty applies, so no worries there.

So, I have now joined the legions of OP pack owners. It certainly looks like it fits the bill of being simple and tough (like me... ).

Hurrah!

[Dave Bremers]

There is one fabric that meets all your requirements: cheap, robust and (fairly) lightweight.

No it is not created by NASA or dug out of mines in central Africa. It is available from your local hardware store for about $15 for 3.6 sq.m.

It is SHADECLOTH! It is so incredibly versatile, I use it for everything from arm-gaiters to food bags to breathable skirts on my touring kayak. I even made a pack out of it (which failed because I can't sew, but I'm working on it!) Comes in many colours and 'thicknesses' (well, % protection, eg 90% is by area 90% fabric). You can sew it with a regular sewing machine.

Give it a go I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Dave

[ILUVSWTAS]

OP are the only company that make packs which are endorsed by the chiropractors association of Australia Oll

Still I dont think i'll do any more walks with you til you've sorted the BO thing...

[volcboy]

I just replaced my Eureka tent after 15 years.

I still wear my thick Patagonia capaline thermals that I got 18 years ago - they're almost as good as new (apart from some saggy elastic).

I wear my late grandfather's old gardening hat when I walk - it would be at least 25 years old......

[soulfree]

Bombproof - Cactus Climbing clothing & equipment

Cactus gear I use includes:

Patrol Pack = bombproof day to 3 day pack
Deepwinter Pack = bombproof multi day pack
SPG GLOVES = bombproof ski gloves
HD Dreadnoughts = bombproof ski pants

Cactus gear really is da bomb!

[Drifting]

Asolo boots (at least used to be)

[tasadam]

Hopefully by now STS have fixed their damn gaiters, but my last 2 pairs have been rubbish. There is a thread on them somewhere.

The Quagmire Gaiters topic is HERE.
Joe did an excellent job with his STS rep, my and my wife's gaiters were replaced with new ones - newer model, design changes. I will do a review of the new ones in that other topic sometime.
Suffice to say, yes they are better!

Wow, that was over 2 years ago and these gaiters are still working well for us. That definitely qualifies them for this topic.

... $10 leather riggers gloves from the hardware, tho they do make your hands look a little deathly / jaundiced afterwards due to dye leeching

Hey Stu (or anyone else), just wondering whether you still use them, or whether you've found anything better?

[+dj_hansen+]

I love my old style (yr2000) Macpac Classic Gaiters, Scarpa Trek, & Snowgum Gelanots jacket (needed a re-treat of DWR but its 15+ years old and all the seams are still in good nick).

[stu]

Hopefully by now STS have fixed their damn gaiters, but my last 2 pairs have been rubbish. There is a thread on them somewhere.

The Quagmire Gaiters topic is HERE.
Joe did an excellent job with his STS rep, my and my wife's gaiters were replaced with new ones - newer model, design changes. I will do a review of the new ones in that other topic sometime.
Suffice to say, yes they are better!

Wow, that was over 2 years ago and these gaiters are still working well for us. That definitely qualifies them for this topic.

... $10 leather riggers gloves from the hardware, tho they do make your hands look a little deathly / jaundiced afterwards due to dye leeching

Hey Stu (or anyone else), just wondering whether you still use them, or whether you've found anything better?

Old topic...

Adam - I (& most rest of our group) now use the 'ninja' style gloves these days (the black stretchy ones with the vulcanised rubber - available at Nubco & most other hardwares).
They are cheap ($5 / pair or less), lightweight & do the job against most any scrub.
They don't last quite as long as riggers gloves (I used 2 pairs on the POW's trip, probably needed a 3rd pair really); but nothing is infallible against constant use in Tassie scrub.
I now just take a pair to wear & a back-up pair permanently in my pack.
For colder weather walking (excluding lots of snow / really cold conditions) just layer a thin polypro or merino liner glove under them; seems to work for most conditions

[Moondog55]

Quote " - Cheap
- Lightweight
- Robust

Pick any two... " Quote

Hoffmans Iron Law

[Moondog55]

I have to put in another vote for the WE Alpine Expedition, and yes it is 105 liters with all the throat stuffed up to over capacity, then you can add all the extra pockets if that volume isn't enough so 5 + 5 + 3 + 3 is another 16 liters ( I don't know why the volume of the side pockets is give as 5 liters as it really is only 3 ) and few people use the top pocket from the SAS pack as you need the lid modified with daisy chain or PALS webbing to make it work but the removable back pocket is a great place to store stove fuel and acts as a shovel holder as well

[DarrenM]

I've heard good things about the WE XPD pack. I'm still trying to wear out the Supersized Torre!

[Strider]

That pic cannot be real!

[DarrenM]

Real indeed Strider. At 85 litres the standard Torre wasn't considered XPD size so I had mine modifiedto fit another 20l or so in. Providing its packed correctly, its awesome. For two week self supported trips with packrafts and paddling gear, and long backcountry trips with all the toys, I couldn't live without it.
I have the Ascent XPD for midweight trips and if I could use the term Bomber for any gear....these two packs well and truly fit the description.