by crollsurf » Tue 24 Jan, 2023 9:53 am
Gday Fierce, welcome to the forum.
If you're into fastpacking and want to do it in 2-3 days, the 40L would be fine, otherwise I'd go the 60L. Why a 60L pack:
- It can get cold and wet at any time of the year, so you want to carry extra gear to stay dry, warm and safe.
- The walk itself is great but the side trips make it unreal, so carrying a little UL daypack is a lot safer than pocketing a PLB and a snack.
- For anyone with overnight experience, it's a walk in the park, so taking a few luxury items makes the walk more enjoyable.
- 6 days of food takes up a lot of space.
- Typically a 60L is designed to carry weight, so more comfortable to walk with.
When I started the walk (with 6 days of food) my pack weighed in at 11kg. It was a Granite Gear 55L and comfortably full. I helped unload the trailer when we got there, and my pack was by far the lightest pack there. Even with mainly UL gear, the weight starts to add up, especially once a few luxury items like cheese, grog and a camera are thrown in.
And as mentioned, the side trips visiting the peaks, waterfalls, lakes etc really make this walk and I'm glad I didn't rush the walk and took the full 6 days.
My 2 best tips are
1) Take a guide book or app. Invaluable for getting the most out of your day
2) Not a packing tip but take your time. A lot of people rush to the next hut and spend the afternoon hanging around. Me, bit of sleep in, enjoy a cooked breakfast, wonder along, take some photos, visit as many side trips as possible and plan to get to the hut early evening. OK, you might not get the best camp site or bed in the hut but there will always be somewhere to setup camp.