Pack Size what do you use ?

[corvus]

G'day All,
On a recent thread I noticed that a few members could not fit a Scarp 1( which is around 50 cm long and 43cm around) vertically inside their packs,is this because we are trying to get away with using much smaller packs for everything ?
I do realise that today everyone is looking to reduce pack weight (including me) however I do wonder if we are weight counting at the cost of practicality.
For the record I use a 90lt WE Karijini pack for all other than day walks (use a 35 lt WE Traverse for that) both of which are comfortable rugged enough for "rough scrub" and suit my needs
Lets hear it for yours please
corvus

[dannnnn]

i use an old 70ltr WE frontier 2 which is actually a "travel" style backpacking rather than bushwalking pack... it's nowhere near waterproof, it weighs about 3.5kg, has no external pockets for storing stuff you need to get to quickly and it is a little bit of an awkward shape for bushwalking.... but you couldn't kill it with a bayonet and it super super comfortable to carry. i would love to replace it with something lighter and better shaped... but be buggered if i'm trading in the comfort for that!!

[troy8880]

I use a 16-17 year old hallmark Phoenix 90l. Absolutely brilliant pack.

[norts]

I use a Macpac Ravine 60 litre, I use to use a Wilderness Equip Expedition that was about 80 litre, I never had it full .
I went to the Ravine as it was smaller weighed 2kg compared to the WE, over 3kg.

I have carried 10 days worth of food in the Ravine but that was pushing it. I couldnt see the point to carrying an extra kg of pack. I do like the WE though, it was very comfortable and handled 20 plus kgs easily where as the Ravine starts to get uncomfortable over 20 kg.

Only time the WE comes out these days is when I have to be a pack horse.

Roger

[Strider]

72L Golite Quest. Scarp 1 fits vertically just fine

[johnw]

In my attempt to go somewhat UL I've gone from a ~95L WE Mountain Expedition (great pack but heavy at 2.95kg) to a 72L GoLite Pinnacle at 710 grams. Unfortunately looks like that model is no longer available. Have used the Pinnacle on the last 3 or 4 overnight and 2 night trips, including some off track scrubby sections. It works well with my Terra Nova Laser Competion 1 tent (930 grams, packed size 40x12cm). I can actually fit the tent in horizontally if I disconnect its small plastic end poles. I too like the WE stuff for the well considered designs and ruggedness - have a Second Arrow tent as well. But knee issues mean these days I need to knock some weight off so favouring the newer gear, which I plan to use again on a 2 nighter next weekend. I haven't tried the new setup in Tassie but I feel that it should be fine say for a week on the OLT, Walls or similar - I have used my heavier gear in those places. I have a collection of daypacks but my favourite is a bombproof WE Contour which is still pretty light at 1.15kg for 43L capacity. I guess some people would even use that pack for minimalist overnighters.

[ILUVSWTAS]

OP Mungo 60l
or MD's Main Range 65l for all overnighters, up to 14 days.

38l OP Traverse for summer overnighters and daywalks.

[north-north-west]

Load Limo small. 65L for the main pack, I think.
And the complaint was about fitting the Scarp in HORIZONTALLY, corby. I wish you'd learn to read. There's plenty of room for it vertically, but that's not how I like to pack. It's impractical and inconvenient.

[stepbystep]

One Planet Mungo 60L for most overnight walks.
Macpac Cascade 75L or Mont Flyte 75L for longer scrubby trips.
Black Wolf Pinnacle 40L for daywalks. Just can't kill it.
Kathmandu 20L(?) pocketpack overnight trip sidetrip pack.

[doogs]

Macpac Belay 35L day pack and short overnighters.
Berghaus Bullfrog 30-40L scrubby day walks as this pack is getting old I am trashing it
Macpac ascent 70L multidays trips and longer overnighters.
Karrimor Endeavour 70L another pack that's getting old that I use on 2-4 day scrubby trips.

[corvus]

Load Limo small. 65L for the main pack, I think.
And the complaint was about fitting the Scarp in HORIZONTALLY, corby. I wish you'd learn to read. There's plenty of room for it vertically, but that's not how I like to pack. It's impractical and inconvenient.

No need to shout at me n-n-w, as being an OAP tending towards dotage I am allowed mistakes however for what it is worth my WE Karijini Pack will accept both Scarp 1 or 2 with poles horizontally and my sons entry level WE Breakout pack will accept the Scarp 1 horizontally which we choose not to do as we find it so much easier to pack them on the vertical (is that a man thing eh!! ) so perhaps you need to look at your pack choices if you want to use this good tent in the manner that you want
As an afterthought I cannot ever remember packing my small hike tents inside the top of my pack horizontally always vertical,A frames on the outside wrapped in their groundsheet of course
corvus

[Mark F]

For 3 seasons walking, 40 litre Macpac Amp 40 is my current favourite (even if I really want to carve 500g out of it) for longer walks (up to 8-10 days). My tent poles are normally in my hands (Ruta Locura poles) but I have put poles (and tent) up to 42cm (REI 1/4 dome) in the Amp 40 without difficulty for a 6-7 day walk. How I pack my tent really depends on the tent bag. I prefer to pack it horizontally.

[corvus]

Wow!! reading that pack sizes are so much smaller than mine (which is 90 lt) I am interested in cubic capacity of each main item now (not interested in weight reduction ) just capacity and how does it all fit
corvus

[andrewa]

I use a 80-90 l home made 1.5ish kg pack for most trips. I did a recent overnight with a 30l home made pack, but I m fatten trying to combine other activities, so trying to carry fly fishing gear, packrafting gear, or combinations of above, or ski touring gear, plus or minus carrying water, so I tend to go the bigger one, even though I might pack light. The harness is a lot more comfy than my smaller packs, and my big ack isn't that heavy......!

A

[north-north-west]

No need to shout at me n-n-w, as being an OAP tending towards dotage I am allowed mistakes

I said horizontal three times on the other thread and you then started this one. Sorry, but I think the shouting was both justified and necessary.

however for what it is worth my WE Karijini Pack will accept both Scarp 1 or 2 with poles horizontally and my sons entry level WE Breakout pack will accept the Scarp 1 horizontally which we choose not to do as we find it so much easier to pack them on the vertical (is that a man thing eh!! ) so perhaps you need to look at your pack choices if you want to use this good tent in the manner that you want

I don't need a larger pack for 99% of my walking, and one of the same capacity that would allow the tent to sit horizontally would be very uncomfortable. The pack is a more vital part of my equipment than the tent - I have other tents, I don't have - and couldn't get - another pack that's as comfortable.

As an afterthought I cannot ever remember packing my small hike tents inside the top of my pack horizontally always vertical,

Yeah, maybe it's a man thing. Maybe, as a woman, I'm more practical and organised and pack my gear in a way that suits my walking style and the conditions in which I walk.

[Spartan]

Osprey Aether 70l and 85l models (3 season and 4 season).

[corvus]

No need to shout at me n-n-w, as being an OAP tending towards dotage I am allowed mistakes

I said horizontal three times on the other thread and you then started this one. Sorry, but I think the shouting was both justified and necessary.
[quote] :

Typical elder abuse shout them down and they just might shut up
corvus

[photohiker]

Gossamer Gear Mariposa. I think it's 68L

Scarp goes in the side pocket no worries.

[Nuts]

Well i suspect Corv isn't Really interested No way that scarp would fit in my pack...

Of course nnw, being practical minded like yourself, I would have thought to buy an extra couple of pole sections and then pull the pole apart and snip a bit off every section. (Thus making your pole stack shorter..)??

[photohiker]

The 'problem' is with the end poles which are tightly inserted in the fly. Shortening the hoop poles won't help a lot. (you can stash them elsewhere)

[Nuts]

Arr, right, pretty much stuffed then

[Bluegum Mic]

I unfortunately don't get away longer than 3-4 days tops at present due to mummy duties with young ones so my Osprey exos 46 is cavernous for the task. I do have a lowe alpine nanon 50+10 but Im yet to use it. That being said I think I could get a weeks worth into my exos especially 3 season.

[Earthling]

I used to use a mammoth 70+20L North Face and used to put my tent on the outside of the pack...never in.
I now use a Zpacks Cuben 30 3000ci which is around 50litres. I still strap the tent to the side More than enough room, but it does get a bit tight on 8day trips...

[Onestepmore]

Gossamer Gear Mariposa for overnighters, cinched down half empty for day walks. 69 L (47 in main body of pack) for the medium, but I have the small.
Easily OK for several days I'd think, but hubby carries the tent, I carry the food. And I always take too much water
I don't scrub bash at all

Aarn Natural Balance for where I need to carry more eg colder, and if it's going to be hillier. Small size 60L main pack, plus 15L in the front packs (mainly water and heavier stuff) This Easter weekend in the Snowies I was carrying some of my son's gear too. Was perfect. Once again hubby carried a 3 man tent tho.

I need a smaller pack too - tossing up between the Aarn Mountain Magic (37L pack plus 12L in front pockets) or the Osprey Exos 34 (32L for small size)

Hubby uses an 85L Black Wolf Mackinley pack, or a medium GG Mariposa for a shorter overnighter (as above)
He scrub bashes in the former. A tough One Planet would be better - nothing to snag

[Wolfix]

Mountain Magic doesn't balance so well despite the seemingly great idea. The front pockets aren't nice and secure either, they move around a bit much. Try them out first if you can. I'm getting the Featherlite Freedom instead of the MM. Much better balance.

[Orion]

Fit the tool to the job... provided you have more than one tool.

[Strider]

Fit the tool to the job... provided you have more than one tool.

Or you have more than one job to do.

[wayno]

40 or a 60 or a 75 or a 90 all depending on the length and type of trip...

[Son of a Beach]

I use an 85 litre One Planet Strezlecki.

I would very much like to have a smaller (~60l) and lighter pack, but I cannot justify the cost owning two packs and I do occasionally need the full capacity of the larger pack (plus more!).

I usually pack the tent vertically, but for a while I had a tent that packed to a short length and it was good to have the option to pack it horizontally which worked very well depending on what other gear I was using for a particular trip. Neither of my current tents will pack into the pack horizontally.

[quicky]

For hiking...I use an Arc Blast...approximately 40L internal space.
I use this pack for trips out to about 6-7 days. Any longer and I have to add a multipack which adds about 4L of capacity.

For trips out to 3-4 days....Z packs Blast 22...approximately 25L internal storage.

For mountains...Lowe Alpine Attack 55.
For base camp haulage when the donkey runs away....WE Mountain Expedition 105L.