Pack size for trip length

[ILUVSWTAS]

I have a 65L and a 90L
Have a 12-14day trip to the Spires/Pow planned in Feb and have been dreaming of being able to take the 65L...
I managed 4nights with the 65L comfortably recently to the KW range, and managed to pack 8days for a trip into the WA (starting tuesday) the dream of being able to fit 14days food into it is alive and kicking again.
what size packs does everyone here have?? It's nice to have the 90L but im starting to wonder if I will need it again..... it is freaking huge!!

[samh]

I got a 65L as well and so far have been happy with the size, but not the weight (3.3 kg) . I haven't carried more than gear and food for 8 days but I have to say that my wife usually carries stove and fuel. I hope it will be enough for 14 days as I have some longer trips in mind which I would like to do, but maybe I'll buy a lighter 70L pack (maybe this one) sooner or later.

[Son of a Beach]

65 litres would certainly be enough for the majority of walks if you didn't want to take any luxuries/extras on the longer walks.

I'll be sticking with my 90 litre pack for a while (and can't afford a second pack), as I still do use the full capacity on some occasions.

This last weekend, the 90 litres was actually nowhere near enough. I actually had to do two trips in at the start of the walk, and then two trips out at the end of the walk. But that's a very rare thing indeed. I needed to carry most of the gear for me, my wife, and my two kids (my wife was carrying one of the kids and few odds and ends, and the other kid was carrying some nappy-change gear and a teddy bear). Thankfully it was only a short walk!

[tomberli]

I have two packs - 90 litres and 105 litres... Don't start guiding if you dont like carrying heavy stuff around.
Having said that it is very rare that I have more than 27kg or so but its often silly big bulky items rather than heavy ones that need lugging around.

[MJD]

My 60L pack was more than enough for 4 days on the King Williams but I can't see another 8+days food plus miscellaneous extras fitting in. I was thinking of 75L.

[ollster]

After upgrading from 75L to 90L I will be taking my 90L everywhere.

If I have free space, I will fill it up with more socks. You can never have enough dry pairs of socks. Of course, "The Under X Kilo" crowd will argue until they're blue in the face that carrying more than one pair of socks is an extraordinary excess, and really you should be able to double a pair of mittens as a second pair of socks, but I disagree.

As per Son of a Beach, I also like to carry my teddy bear.

Last edited by ollster on Tue 10 Nov, 2009 1:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Son of a Beach]

Well, that's one I agree with the light-weight crowd on, to some extent. I never take more than two pairs of socks. One for walking, and one for camp. The walking pair spend most of the time wet and stinky, and the camp pair are always dry and clean(ish). On long walks, I occasionally get the opportunity to clean and dry the walking pair, but they always end up stinky and wet soon after, anyhow.

As per Son of a Beach, I also like to carry my teddy bear.

That was Grand-daughter of a Beach.

[photohiker]

I'm looking at 40-50L for 2 weeks in Scotland next year. It will mainly essentials, and I will have probably 2 food drops to pick up on the way.

Used maps etc will get posted home at any village post office I can find...

[Dave Bremers]

I've had a 75L and that has lasted me up to 11 days, I reckon with a bit of extra planning (and cutting!) I could make it 14 days. We all know how unreliable pack volumes can be though. I have a Mont Backcountry (~85L) and I'm going to make it last 24days with no resupplies, so we'll see how that goes!

My opinion is that 65L for a 14 day walk would be absolutely fantastic! Good luck with it. I think the best way to do it would be get in contact with under10kg or someone like that on these forums, as they have tiny packs. and mittens that double as socks

Dave

[Steve]

I've got a 75l which for longer walks I always have trouble fitting everything in. Me sleeping bag takes up heaps of room so I'm looking to get something a little more compact. Really do need to get myself a one man tent too.

[Lindsay]

I'm looking at 40-50L for 2 weeks in Scotland next year. It will mainly essentials, and I will have probably 2 food drops to pick up on the way.

Used maps etc will get posted home at any village post office I can find...

I used a 50L pack on the West Highland Way a couple of years ago. Plenty of room for the essentials, although I carried only emergency food and my tent was secured on the outside. I ate at pubs on the way so the walk was not an unsupported expedition, however had I worked at it I could probably have squeezed in cooking gear and a weeks worth of food. 50L should be ample for a Scottish sojourn. 2 weeks - sounds like the Southen Upland Way you're tackling?

[photohiker]

50L should be ample for a Scottish sojourn. 2 weeks - sounds like the Southen Upland Way you're tackling?

TGO Challenge. 2 weeks crossing west to east, about 320km depending on chosen route (there is no set route, planning one is part of the challenge)

The UL brigade get by with a lot less than 50L, and those that take several sets of clothes and some jeans and jumpers to wear down the pub seem to carry quite massive packs.

I'll be carrying about 4 days food I think, having fun juggling priorities in the kit list, but it's looking good on paper so far.

[ILUVSWTAS]

If I have free space, I will fill it up with more socks. You can never have enough dry pairs of socks.

You could get A DECENT Pair of boots?? My last 3 trips of 5days 3 days and then 5 days again I wore the same pair of socks every day and kept dry feet the whole time! This included the mud slog across the Arthur plains. Not to mention several creek crossings.

And I've just downgraded from 90L to 65L I want to get my pack lighter not heavier

[ollster]

You could get A DECENT Pair of boots??

For the price difference between my Scarpas and your Mammuts, I can buy and carry about 10 pairs of great socks! 10 PAIRS!

I'll take the sock extravaganza thanks!

[ILUVSWTAS]

Fair enough! But I still prefer to carry just one pair of socks. Dry warm socks and all that extra space for yummy food......

How much were your Scarpas?? And where are you buying from if they were under $340???

[ollster]

$270 IIRC. Earlier this year at Passion8, runout stock before the price went up. Glad I didn't buy 2, as they are too soft for my needs.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Wow that is a good price.... Im yet to try Scarpas so I really cant comment. But given how dry my feet stay in my Mammys, and the fact ive never had a blister. Even wearing them straight from the box I cant see how i'd find anything better for my feet. Nearly 6 months old now and in decent condition. Given what I've put them through thats not bad

You walk anywhere this weekend Oll??

[ollster]

LOL. Off topic! Nah, Stu wanted a rest and there was nothing else on, so I had a bludge day yesterday after going out Friday night and went for a climb today.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Hehe yeh well I created this string so I can do to it whatever I like.... MWHAAAAAAA (Unless you disagree Sir Nik )

Yeh nice Bludge... Wish I was bludging instead of doing 14 hrs from High Moor to Scotts Peak. Actually no I dont it was still well well worth it!!

[Son of a Beach]

(Unless you disagree Sir Nik )

Don't mess with Sir Nik!!!

[ILUVSWTAS]

Haha Never would I dare

[Lindsay]

50L should be ample for a Scottish sojourn. 2 weeks - sounds like the Southen Upland Way you're tackling?

TGO Challenge. 2 weeks crossing west to east, about 320km depending on chosen route (there is no set route, planning one is part of the challenge)

The UL brigade get by with a lot less than 50L, and those that take several sets of clothes and some jeans and jumpers to wear down the pub seem to carry quite massive packs.

I'll be carrying about 4 days food I think, having fun juggling priorities in the kit list, but it's looking good on paper so far.

I had not heard of the TGO challenge before, but I checked out the site and it looks very interesting. Good luck with it!