Bushwalk Australia

I've been using my 26 litre daypack. I'm finding it a little too cramped for some situations. An example is having sufficient space to stow a warmish fleece. On colder walks i prefer to start with a warmish fairydown fleece jacket. When that layer comes off i'd like to stow it in the pack. Even when tightly rolled up it's quite bulky.

I'm thinking of switching to a 34 litre pack. What size pack do you use? Is it cramped or is there a little extra room?

OP Traverse 38L
Its PERFECT!

Ummm, one that's not quite big enough for a winter's daywalking gear so most of the time I end up using my big pack which has a more comfortable harness.

What is this obsession with numbers, anyway? Big enough is the right size, surely.

ILUVSWTAS wrote:OP Traverse 38L
Its PERFECT!

I will be stuffed, I agree with ILUVSWTAS Great harness, tough as nails canvas construction and can double a overnight pack assuming there is a mule in the group. 38 litres holds everything you need especially if you like camera gear.

Cheers Brett

First time for everything Brett
Yeh fantastic pack. I can even fit an emergency shelter in it (which I carry when walking solo after my 17 hr Picton epic)
Great for carrying all that winter gear.

The guidance here is useful. For the daywalks I'm doing I'm also paying close attention to what other people are using and in particular how much they room they seem to be using.

I wouldn't mind having a pack that's also suitable for an overnight walk.

I only have the one pack - so my answer would be 60 litres

I'm just using my 35 L camel~~

I bought a DMH Hike Lite rucksack for my daypack- It fits 2-3 lenses in the side pockets, my photo bits and pieces in the top and all my family's needs in the main compartment. I think it's around 55 litres

I use a Macpac Torlesse 25. Although advertised as a "childrens or partners companion" to the larger Torlesse 35, I find it holds all I need for winter day walking in the Sydney or Blue Mountains area. Waterproofs, fleece, first aid/emergency gear and a days food along with a 2 lt bladder with room to spare. With a bit of tweaking I'm fairly sure I could get it to carry a basic shelter and sleeping bag for an overnight trip as well.

25L Mammut. Though I suspect thats a very conservative size estimation for a change. I can actually squeeze in enough for a Summer overnighter! It also has a half decent harness, though it's fixed length.
On shorter day walks and/or summer ones where I don't carry as much I use a 15L Kathmandu pocket pack,but it's only just big enough.

35lt WE Traverse, nice Harness (fixed length) good strong canvass ideal for day walks but not big enough to be used for an overnighter.
corvus

Most of you seem to be using packs in the 35+ litre range for daywalks. That's another 9 litres on top of the capacity of my current pack.

I think it's better for a little extra room so that the fabric and stitching aren't stressed.

Hi

I think I spotted a OP Traverse in 43 litres bit then again it might have been a long week. The OP Traverse has an adjustable harness. Its bigger brother is the 56 litre Shadows that is gaining traction as a multi-day pack. Personally I like around 38 litres for day walking as it can carry what you want without feeling that your are carrying a overnight pack.

Cheers Brett

A bit of gear freak coming out I seem to have collected the following over a number of years:
35L Kathmandu Cane Toad (being retired due to age/condition)
30L Berghaus Dart (possibly being retired)
32L Aarn Natural Exhilaration
43L Wilderness Equipment Contour (just bought 2 weeks ago - one outing so far)
10L Black Wolf Dino (size may be a little understated)
20L Kathmandu Pocket Pack (side trips, utilitarian city trips and the like)

More than ample room in the Aarn and WE (WE is cavernous and could possibly do as small overnighter if judicious with gear).
30L Berghaus and 35L Kathmandu have occasionally been a squeeze. Kathmandu - I think size may be a little overstated. Others generally ample room.
Also depends whether winter or summer and type of walk/gear needed. I have slightly different gear lists accordingly.
I actually used the 10L pack today which fit everything (just), but using featherweight Montane wet weather gear and very compressable lightweight warmwear. Weather was mild-ish and forecast indicated rain unlikley.

Bottom line is what are you putting in it? Extra luxuries or a lot of camera gear means you might want a bit more capacity.

Funny how that happens isnt it John.
I only have 3 day packs, one is a very old Adventure design pack that I take on rough scrub bashing trips, My OP which goes on longer trips as its soooo comfortable, I have a Blackwolf 20L pack which was a zip off from a 90 overnight pack which survived just one 7day walk and is not my gear storage pack, the 20L comes with me when I want to travel fast, I also have one of those nylon daypacks which folds down into a handsized package that I take on extended trips as a daypack.

I also now have a OP Mungo 60L which I will be using as my overnight, weekend and MAYBE 3 or 4 night pack.

Hi F_F,

I use a small Berghaus pack with the ventilated harness - 25L I think.

If it won't fit in the small pack (usually if I have my kids with me, or a winter walk when I bring a small Trangia along as well,) then I use a Macpac Ravine, my other pack, which is then **really** empty. Yes, I only have two packs.

Cheers,

eddie

My day pack is a Berghaus 35 litre, about 4-5 years old now, but has had a fair bit of use, but still in great condition.

The freeflow harness help keep my back dryish in summer, and its about the biggest size that still qualifies as carry on luggage on planes

This appears to be the current equivalent

http://store.berghaus.com/webapp/wcs/st ... Sacs_Mens_

John R

ILUVSWTAS wrote:Funny how that happens isnt it John...

Yes ILUVSWTAS, much to my wife's dismay. "Surely you don't need another backpack". Then I point out how many pairs of shoes she has...and duck .

10l, 15l, 35, 38, 45l.

Although the 35 is almost in pieces from scrub bashing, so probably doesn't count.

One of those is an OP Traverse (38), but I disagree with ILSWT and Brett, it's not *quite* perfect! Top pocket is too small and zip is too free-moving (I expect it will open in scrub one day), occy stray is unnecessary, and the buckle thingy can come undone if the pack is not full.

But it's pretty good.

Ive had mine for 18months now, and although I agree the zip seems lose, it's never come undone, same with the buckle if you do it up tight enough!
And I took the occy strap off mine, problem it is no more

ILUVSWTAS wrote:Ive had mine for 18months now, and although I agree the zip seems lose, it's never come undone, same with the buckle if you do it up tight enough!
And I took the occy strap off mine, problem it is no more

Buckle came undone coming off Mt Frederick. I'd be suspicious of it in Horrie... easier to knock undone than a clippy thing on regular packs. Why is it there? To make the wearer look like a tough mutha? Bling? Can I get one in gold to go with my grill and my lowered Hummer?

Haha pimp your pack!

Ooh I just noticed, OP have new 2011 packs out in the "Bushwalking Light"section. Probably not for you serious scrub bashing fans, but they look good (and with bottle holders now ). If I had money to burn I might get a Shadow for those occasions where a day pack is to small and the McMillan really just overkill for the job.

sthughes wrote:Ooh I just noticed, OP have new 2011 packs out in the "Bushwalking Light"section. Probably not for you serious scrub bashing fans, but they look good (and with bottle holders now ). If I had money to burn I might get a Shadow for those occasions where a day pack is to small and the McMillan really just overkill for the job.

The Umbra looks like a sexy beast! Except all those buckles, ARRRRRGHHHH!!! They'll come undone, I'm tellin' ya!

Hmm maybe drill a little hole in the end of the 'hook' bit and through it put a gold ear ring with diamonds to hold it in place and for extra bling?

Those buckles look similar to the ones on the lowe alpine pack. If so, they hold pretty well, they look pretty very much unbreakable.

I tell ya mine has never come undone. Maybe you got a faulty one Ollster

I have a few usual bags up to 35L... but mostly i like using various army bags on a belt and shoulder harness - i can add or remove or move bags around to suit what i need and how i want the gear / weight spread.
usually i set up smaller kit bags and add as needed (eg the "water/hex stove, fuel & cooker mug" bag)1350g incl 1.1L water.
similar framework to this:
http://www.flecktarn.co.uk/ustmb4nx.html

or a Caribee Polar

Specifications:
Weight: 0.6kg
Dimension: 60 x 32 x 16cm (rolled)
Closure: Roll Top
Material: Polyester laminated PU

Features

• 100% waterproof dry bag
• Heat welded seams
• Waterproof roll top throat with side QR buckle points
• Removable padded shoulder straps and back support
• Sternum strap
• 1.5” webbing hip belt

Liamy77 wrote:I have a few usual bags up to 35L... but mostly i like using various army bags on a belt and shoulder harness - i can add or remove or move bags around to suit what i need and how i want the gear / weight spread.
usually i set up smaller kit bags and add as needed (eg the "water/hex stove, fuel & cooker mug" bag)1350g incl 1.1L water.
similar framework to this:
http://www.flecktarn.co.uk/ustmb4nx.html

or a Caribee Polar

Specifications:
Weight: 0.6kg
Dimension: 60 x 32 x 16cm (rolled)
Closure: Roll Top
Material: Polyester laminated PU

Features

• 100% waterproof dry bag
• Heat welded seams
• Waterproof roll top throat with side QR buckle points
• Removable padded shoulder straps and back support
• Sternum strap
• 1.5” webbing hip belt

You forgot to mention just how smashingly attractive it looks too