Tatonka backpacks

[bumper]

I was looking for a heavy duty backpack for tasmania .Looking at Tatonka brand any opinions?

Last edited by bumper on Tue 07 Feb, 2012 12:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[ollster]

I was looking for a heavy duty backpack for .Looking at Tatonka brand any opinions?

My opinion: Buy a One Planet.

[Liamy77]

like he said

strezlecki, macmillan, stiletto.... oneplanet.com.au

[steveh72]

Depending on dollars of course the one planet would be the better option, however my son has a Tatonka pack 70 litre pack which is half the price, and has been great with no hassles at all.

I did have a EPE pack (explore planet earth) and the harness failed twice....GRRRRRRR!!!! and I have since upgraded to a Macpac.

The Tatonka has survived several 3 day hikes into Cradle Mt & Walls etc without any problems I hope this helps.

Cheers

Steve

[Stibb]

My husband has one of their daypacks and he loves it. The mesh back panel is great for superior ventilation. Craftsmanship is excellent as far as I can see but it has not been through too much nasty Tas scrub or other harsh treatment. Don't know much about their larger packs though.

[blacksheep]

macpac, one planet or cactus are built a bit tougher than most others...depends if you want a product that lasts. I see plenty of macpacs that have seen a LOT of abuse over 10,20 years and still hanging in there.

[slparker]

About 60 - 100 years ago trappers and walkers were walking through the scrub with sugar bags tied up with rope harnesses. So you'll probably be OK without a one planet pack...

[ollster]

About 60 - 100 years ago trappers and walkers were walking through the scrub with sugar bags tied up with rope harnesses. So you'll probably be OK without a one planet pack...

I bet they bought Aussie-made.

[gayet]

About 60 - 100 years ago trappers and walkers were walking through the scrub with sugar bags tied up with rope harnesses. So you'll probably be OK without a one planet pack...

And how many trips did each sugar bag last? I would expect the rope to last more than one but maybe the sugar bag was reduced to dog bed after a trip or 2.

[blacksheep]

About 60 - 100 years ago trappers and walkers were walking through the scrub with sugar bags tied up with rope harnesses. So you'll probably be OK without a one planet pack...

I bet they bought Aussie-made.

and their shareholders used profits for conservation projects.

[ninjapuppet]

On my first overland track walk, my mate had a tatonka backpack and the shoulder strap broke halfway thru the walk! Pretty screwed when you have a 20kg pack to carry on one shoulder for another 35km. Neither of us had any needle or thread, but that's one item that has come with me ever since

[slparker]

wow, pack fundamentalists...unreal.

[ollster]

wow, pack fundamentalists...unreal.

"I was looking for a heavy duty backpack for tasmania" - that was the criteria. I know a lot of very happy OP owners who do a lot of hard walking, including a lot of offtrack and wilderness walking. Most of them own multiple OP packs. They are very well regarded amongst walkers and for good reason. It's not being a fundie, it's seeing the proof in the pudding. And I've seen a lot of pudding.

[blacksheep]

wow, pack fundamentalists...unreal.

It's company policy.

[abmacus]

My son had a One Planet McMillan. Used it for 3.5 years working in educational settings as an out door instructor. He carried way in excess of what you would normally carry on most walks including radio, sat phones, massive first aid kit, spare clothes (warmies) for kids and extra water ( just in case for the kids).
His pack was hammered and was used at least 30 weeks of the year including many 10 - 14 day Ventures.
The only problem he ever had with it was that the material on the waist belt/ padding wore through. When he emailed them about where to get it repaired they said send it to them, they repaired it free of charge.
I borrowed his pack once for a 5 day walk on the Bib track just after he started working for a Perth Private schools Outdoor Ed program, and was so impressed that I bought my own. I cant say that Ive used it as much as my son used his, but it is amazingly comfortable.
Simple but comfortable.

[wobbly]

Used a Macpac for years, comfortable with a big load if required and tough - can't kill it.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Used a Macpac for years - can't kill it.

Not trying hard enough then. I managed it quite easily.

OP are far superior in my opinion.

[Liamy77]

well ... if you're going to be a bushwalker -pack, boots, shelter and sleeping bag is worth being fussy about IMHO

[slparker]

My comment related to the moral indignation that one could choose anything other than an OP pack...

what's wrong with Mont? With Berghaus? with Osprey... they're half the price, and if old matey is a newbie he/she could spend the rest of his dough on something useful like a jacket or a tent. Maybe he/she needs an SUV and not a Range Rover.

[ollster]

My comment related to the moral indignation that one could choose anything other than an OP pack...

what's wrong with Mont? With Berghaus? with Osprey... they're half the price, and if old matey is a newbie he/she could spend the rest of his dough on something useful like a jacket or a tent. Maybe he/she needs an SUV and not a Range Rover.

Possibly nothing wrong with them, but I can't sponsor brands I haven't used personally, or seen used extensively in the field. I have used Kathmandu, MDs, Macpac, and One Planet. I would also rank them in that order, from worst to best. That's on the basis of the older Macpac harnesses, I haven't used the newer harness system (well, I have for a few hours, but not with enough weight or long enough to tell if it's as good as the OP harness).

I haven't observed Mont or Berghaus, but I have seen what happens to Osprey - they get torn up by the scrub. The harness looks all right though. Stu (forum member) used one for a while. Notably he now uses an OP McMillan.

Have you used Mont/Berghaus/Osprey? Or something else? If so, please share your experience of their use under hard conditions in Tassie (I'm not talking WoJ in the snow).

As someone who was a newbie once, I wish I'd just bought better gear, knowing what I know now.

[stepbystep]

All a bit precious really, not sure what bumpers needs are??? Some people think "hard" is walking the OT in which case a Tatonka might be fine too(if needle and thread are carried for repairs )

When I started walking I bought a value for money Mont Flyte, it's done a reasonable amount of offtrack and plenty of scrambling over dolerite/conglomerate, it's still in excellent condition and the harness system is pretty good/comfortable, It has a very basic design which is not ideal but, hey, you get what you pay for. I would have no trouble recommending this to someone who might be walking infrequently or on a budget. If I had the dollars free at the time(I was buying all my kit at once) I would have got the McMillan or a Macpac no doubt!

I've just bought an OP Mungo, simply because the Mont was too big for the trips I do. The Mungo seems to be an excellent pack and I will be testing it next week on a 5 day trip. Any longer than 5 days I will go back to the Mont in a flash for the extra carrying capacity, mind you if I'm flush with $$$ I'd probably replace that too.

[Rob A]

... needle and thread are carried for repairs...

Dental floss might give you better mileage. And you can clean your teeth with it.

[Drifting]

My wife has a Mont Pioneer- I love it, and so does she.

I have a Wilderness Equipment Karajini, which is fantastic at carrying big loads, but low on features (like somewhere to carry water bottles). I'd unreservedly recommend either Mont or WE.

Helen (wife) has had two Tatonka Daypacks, and loves them. We both found their bigger bags uncomfortable.