for a LONG trip.

http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=48601&memberId=12500226

i'm pretty inexperienced when it comes to this equipment so any advice would be very appreciated.

11/19/2007 6:52:24 PM

I have a Gregory. I love it. By the transitive property, I'd say its a safe bet.


But it all depends on how it fits your frame.

11/19/2007 6:53:43 PM

decent budget pack

for high-end, i prefer arc'teryx or mystery ranch (aka dana design) myself

11/19/2007 6:54:30 PM

yea, i'm kinda on a budget, but i want to make sure it will work for long trips. also what determines if it fits or not? i'm 5'9'', 150, i figured i'd get a large to have more room, but should i consider a medium to have it fit me better, or does that not effect fit at all? like i said i am not very versed in this equipment.

11/19/2007 7:01:44 PM

http://www.kifaru.net

is where I get most of my packs, and nylon gear from. more expensive, but custom made to you. compared to a commercial pack theres a world of difference.

11/19/2007 7:11:17 PM

i would go to an actual store and try some on, figure out which one fits you best - then order that pack online to save some cash

11/19/2007 7:16:29 PM

From what ive heard of Gregorys they are pretty solid packs, im sure it would last you a while.

That size, 4000+ cu in is pretty big. I think mine is 3500 and did 4 days without to much hassle.

^Yeah try it on with some weight in it. I think REI may carry gregory so you could probably try it on and even have someone fit it to you before you bought it.

[Edited on November 19, 2007 at 7:19 PM. Reason : ^]

11/19/2007 7:18:11 PM

word, anyone have any old packs they'd sell at a discount?

11/19/2007 7:19:18 PM

looks good...i went to REI for my first one, check on craiglists or for REI's garage sale(thats when I bought my cheap as shit)

11/19/2007 7:43:15 PM

so what makes the packs in the 200-400 range so much better than say.....this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/5200ci-INTERNAL-FRAME-Hiking-Backpack-Waist-Pack-NAVY_W0QQitemZ150182670264QQihZ005QQcategoryZ36111QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

11/19/2007 8:29:20 PM

trust me, you're not going to want to go no-name for something that is hung on your shoulders for hours at a time

a decent pack is something that is well worth that money

11/19/2007 8:30:33 PM

yea i mean i believe that it is, i was just wondering what some tangible qualities were that made cheap packs much inferior to "name-brand" packs.

11/19/2007 8:33:00 PM

i have a gregory palisade and i like it a lot. it's a little bigger than the shasta

that being said, DO NOT buy a backpack online without first testing it out in a store

Quote :

"it all depends on how it fits your frame."

you definitely need to go to REI or some such and get fitted and try several different packs with weight

Quote :

"tangible qualities were that made cheap packs much inferior to "name-brand" packs."

weight distribution qualities and mostly, like anything else, the overall quality of how it's made. durability of the zippers, straps, buckles, material, etc. etc. etc.

[Edited on November 19, 2007 at 9:14 PM. Reason : .]

11/19/2007 9:12:06 PM

rei is having a fall sale right now

i know there was a nice pack, maybe a kelty or a marmot, on sale for $150

11/19/2007 9:31:15 PM

I got a really nice Arc'teryx pack for 135 down from about 300 at REI a few months ago. It was just the last one of the previous year's models. I took it for 3 months in Europe and loved it.

11/19/2007 10:17:22 PM

Quote :

"http://www.kifaru.net"

I've got a Kifaru Marauder which I love, but it was $Texas

11/20/2007 6:33:42 AM

I have a Gregory Palisade and its lasted me 9 years. It was the hot shit back when I bought it. Very durable and distributes weight evenly on your hips. Remember to load your pack properly (heavy stuff on the bottom etc), you might already know this but some do not. BTW what do you consider a "LONG" trip?

11/20/2007 7:34:07 AM

Quote :

"i would go to an actual store and try some on, figure out which one fits you best - then order that pack online to save some cash"

Definitely get fitted and try a few on, or you'll regret it. I bought a cheap pack from Dick's not knowing that they came in different sizes. The one I got was a small, I needed a medium or large. I came to this conclusion in the middle of a weekend trip. Needless to say, the pack ruined my weekend and was a waste of money.

11/20/2007 8:46:31 AM

You could also try Sierra Trading Post. I got mine from there for 60% off retail. It's a Lowe Alpine and has lasted me several long trips. It's got the torso adjustable system that helps to get that more custom feel and is about 4000+ cu. in.

11/20/2007 1:11:01 PM

What kind of long trip are you talking about? A thru-hike or something? If that's the case, folks routinely hike for 6 months using all kinds of packs. Go fairly light and you can use a glorified bookbag if you want.

There's some thru-hiking articles on our website if you want more info. Gimme a holler if you want to ask some questions.

http://sourcetosea.net

11/20/2007 1:33:00 PM

ive fit 2 weeks work of supplies in a relatively small pack - no need for anything huge, you'll end up just filling it up with junk you dont need

11/20/2007 2:08:00 PM

Just for reference - I just completed a big survey of AT thru-hikers. From just eyeballing it (haven't done the full-bore analysis for this section yet), 3,500 cubic inches or so is about the average these days.

11/20/2007 2:29:22 PM

in my opinion, 3500 cu. in. is too small for a "long" trip.

3500 would be ok for like 2-3 nights or something. if you're carrying a tent/sleeping bag/pad, that takes up half the pack right there. if you're going out in the winter you'll have a bunch of warm weather gear that will also take up more space once you get hot and start to shed layers

[Edited on November 20, 2007 at 9:38 PM. Reason : .]

11/20/2007 9:37:05 PM

the backpack on sale at REI is the Kelty Coyote (4900) for $109

11/20/2007 11:08:19 PM

i had the kelty coyote back in the day when i was doing more with scouts. i have a couple smaller packs now. granted the larger one is good if you really need that space, but buy a pack based on what kind of packing youll be doing on average. if you can get by with a slightly smaller pack go for it cause its easier to distribute the weight and you wont get carried away and hate life when you start hiking. also, you can put some things on the outside like the mat. you should be able to split the tent into parts if you have a large one and numerous people going, otherwise get a single. a good compression sack for your sleeping bag is also a must, mine will get down to almost nothing with a little work.

11/21/2007 12:51:43 PM

i love my gregory. haven't had the opportunity to use it lately though

11/21/2007 12:58:46 PM

I don't like a large pack either, under 3000 ci is typically all I use, and can pack gear for up to a month. I'm using all expensive lightweight stuff though. your back will thank you for not overpacking.

11/21/2007 4:19:26 PM

I've been getting into lightweight backpacking lately, and I've never been happier. This summer I was doing trail work in Colorado, and every week we had to do a resupply hike for produce and whatnot. My pack regularly weighed 50+ lbs and I told myself, never again.

The Gregory you linked to weighs 6 pounds!!!! That's stupid heavy. You can easily get a 3lb internal frame backpack with a 3500 ci capacity. Like others said, a bigger pack only tempts you to fill it up with extra stuff.

I am curious what type of trip you're going on. You probably don't need a bulletproof backpack. People seem to think that the second they step into the woods, all their stuff will instantly break if it's not made with the toughest (heaviest) materials.

Quote :

"I'm using all expensive lightweight stuff though."

common misconception! Going light can be cheaper. For example, my stove is homemade from soda cans and cost $0, vs an MSR stove that is at least $99. And there are tons of people who spend $Texas on a boatload of ultralight stuff, and end up with a heavy pack. You can often lighten up by leaving things at home, rather than shelling out for a version that weighs a few ounces less

11/21/2007 6:17:47 PM

yea, the hike is likely going to last months. I definetly want to travel as light as possible, but i mean i'm gonna need a tent, sleeping bag, and winter gear so i figured i would need a pretty big pack, how could someone do a thru hike with a glorified bookbag?

11/21/2007 10:17:47 PM

Quote :

"how could someone do a thru hike with a glorified bookbag?"

hike in the spring/summer?

11/21/2007 10:20:12 PM

sNuwPack, you need to be more specific. The length of the trip isn't necessarily the important part, what's important is the distance between resupplies. You only need to carry enough food to get to the next town. You say months so I'm thinking a thru hike of the AT or PCT? On the AT, towns are about 3 or 4 days apart. And "winter gear" is a little vague, there's a big difference between winter in NC and winter in Wisconsin.

Quote :

"how could someone do a thru hike with a glorified bookbag?"

Ray Jardine, the all time hero of lightweight backpacking, travels with a "base weight" (weight of all gear not including food and water) of under 10 lbs. He's a bit of a nut, but most people can get their base weight into the 15 lb range with practice. I recommend his book "Beyond Backpacking," although some of it is nutty. You can also read a lot online, but beware of people who are just trying to sell you stuff. here's a good site to start with

http://hikinghq.net/going_light.html

11/21/2007 11:01:38 PM

^cool thanks, it's a "thru-hike of sorts," but it's going to start in asia. some terrain will be mountainous.

11/21/2007 11:09:29 PM

Asia, oh noes! you might have different challenges, the info in the link I posted is based on US hiking. I've never done any backpacking outside the US, so I don't know what could be different! But your stuff will weigh the same no matter where you are ...

11/21/2007 11:22:10 PM

i own an old version shasta. i've had it for 8 years and still going. if you think gregorys are no name, you are mistaken. they are one of the best in the industry. But please make sure you try it on first. Go to REI then buy it at campmor for cheap.

http://www.outdoorreview.com/cat/outdoor-equipment/backpacking-camping-hiking/internal-frame-backpacks/gregory/PRD_77021_2957crx.aspx

11/21/2007 11:24:44 PM

^um, i don't think gregory is no name, and i don't think anyone said that in here.

11/21/2007 11:30:18 PM