POLL: which backpack should I buy?

[Hunter-LynchburgVa]

well you gettin hooked up w/ and employee purchase so what i would do is buy a larger pack like some suggest, and also buy a smaller pack like suggested as well. think of it this way, you can always sell it for what you paid. i bought a smaller pack this winter and worked out great using it the first time as my only bag on a 6 day trip to CA. barely small enough to fit under the seat on a commuter plane, also it works great as a day pack. however for a solo trip over a couple of days id want something bigger.

Hunter

 

[Handlebars]

Seldom and Richard- that photo is on the side trip to Mt. Whitney about 500 feet below the summit. That was the coldest part of the whole trail! I got there during a storm, there was a 40mph, subfreezing wind blowing over the mountain- it froze my camelbak hose SOLID.

That trail was the BEST experience of my life! There are more photos from the trail here:

http://www.fototime.com/inv/B4B7FC193A2F9E2

Richard- a good week long segment of the JMT is the North Lake/South Lake loop. It goes through the most dramatic parts of the Kings Canyon high country. I will have to look at my map to be sure but I believe it takes you through Evolution Basin and LeConte Valley.

 

[FatXJ]

Well I went ahead and bought the 5500. I also bought a large stuff sack and a large stuffsack that also works as a small 2000cu/in day pack so I can camp and go for day long hikes without the additional need for carrying my large pack or another smaller pack. I can also take off the top portion of the pack which also is usable as afanny pack and it's about 1200cu/in so I will have about a 4300 cu/in pack if I need it.

Now to use my XJ to get me where I need to go.


Thanks for all your opinions I may get lighter stuff when I have more free time to do what I want. Working 6 days a week doesn't let me do that so I will stick to the less expensive gear for now.

 

[xj-fx]

I say put that $300 bucks into your 4x4 and drive to the top of that bad boy!!

 

[climberjeep]

Go Lowe Alpine or go home!

 

[climberjeep]

Well, after posting that, i realized this post is almost 2 years old, but for some reason it was in the non-topic forum at the top. Oh well, i stand by my previous post. :wstupid:

 

[Darky]

Well, after posting that, i realized this post is almost 2 years old, but for some reason it was in the non-topic forum at the top. Oh well, i stand by my previous post. :wstupid:

Someone was for whatever reason lookin thru the really old stuff and likely voted on the poll just like they seem to have done today as your post is over 6 months old...Damn.

 

[01_XJ]

If you're cash-strapped, pick up a US Army large ALICE pack, and a composite frame for it from US Cav.

I acquired mine when I ETS'ed out many years ago.

ALICE packs are old now. we got the MOLLE2 now. and there is actually a new set out, but i can't remember the name of it.

ahh, i just realised how old this thread is, sorry

 

[rock rash]

ALICE packs are old now. we got the MOLLE2 now. and there is actually a new set out, but i can't remember the name of it.

ahh, i just realised how old this thread is, sorry

holy thread revival batman

 

[01_XJ]

holy thread revival batman

yea yea, i have always laughed at the idiot that brings a thread back from the dead, now im the idiot. oh well.

 

[1990XJ4x4]

Gregory

I love my Gregory Whitney.

 

[Menzenski]

For backpacking, I've got the Golite Trek pack. After using it a few times, and realizing that it was still too heavy, I cut off the top pocket, the daisy chain, the sternum strap, the ice pick loops, the labels, and the zipper pulls. Now it weighs just over a pound. There's still plenty of room for everything, since I use a bivy and don't usually bother with a sleeping bag. There's no frame to give it structure, but a Ridgerest ground pad (cut down to 36 inches, it weighs just under six ounces) can be unrolled inside the pack to give it more shape. Great pack though; it's pretty light and I haven't noticed a problem with durability.

For climbing, I have a Gregory Halo. It's a nice pack too, for the most part, but it's so tall that I can't look up easily with a helmet on. That, and the darn zipper keeps breaking.