Backpack for longer treks

[etrangere]

Another question on backpacks. Have already searched the forum for an answer but am still undecided.

Basically I am looking at doing the Bibbulmun track end to end (8 weeks) and am trying to decide on which backpack to purchase. I dont have the most compact/lightweight of gear so would rather er on the side of too large a pack than too small. Preferably canvas, single compartment, expandable throat for extra gear or to be compacted down for shorter trips in the future.

I have narrowed down my likes to Mont Pioneer/Backcountry, WE Lost World or Macpac Cascade 75FL. The only one of these I have been able to look at first hand are the Mont packs.

Has anyone any feedback on these packs or even own a couple for a direct comparison? Any photos of the harness/adjustment and also lids/throats of packs would be fantastic as online photos dont show much.

regards, Mark

[Robbo]

The McMillan by One Planet is another you should consider. I personally use one and have no hesitation in recommending it. It ticks all the boxes and its harness system is second to none.

You should try to get to check out any pack before you buy it. They are rather expensive and what is 'good for the goose is not necessarily good for the gander', in respect of such things.

Good luck and enjoy the walk...

TR

[Ent]

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[ollster]

I third the OP packs. Harness is excellent, pack is excellent (at least with regards to the McMillan).

Only downside is they're like the Macpac of old - very hard to get a discount through resellers.

[Nuts]

Wilderness Equipment have always made good 'big load' carriers. They do have a few less bells and whistles but their X frame support is one of the best! The harness is more basic than some but iv'e never noticed any discomfort. People either seem to have real problems with harness design or none at all (guess it depends on being 'average shape and size (or not) ?
I believe WE are still WA based (so you should be able to look at one somewhere there?) Mine is perhaps 13/14 years old (so i imagine that the design has been updated since?) Personally, these days, I would look at less/lighter weight gear (if at all possible) and buying a lighter pack than any mentioned here! (Iv'e been mulling over how long I could stay out with a smaller pack ie in OP something like the 'Traverse' ....)

[Ent]

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[stepbystep]

I have a Mont 'Flyte' and am not very happy with it.
I have struggled to get the weight onto my hips, I'm sure there are better packs than the Mont.
Cheers, sbs

[etrangere]

Thanks for the feedback so far guys! After writing my initial post i did regret not adding OP macmillian to my list as I had given that some thought too.

Macpac Celeste - would have to order this sight unseen as we dont have a macpac store here in perth, have heard a few grumblings about it being a bit too tall and narrow, generally I love macpac stuff, already own microlight, eclipse and apollo tents!

OP macmillian - indeed does look a quality pack as mentioned not too keen on too many bells & whistles but can easily try one out instore first before ruling it out, how well does in compress down for short/lighter trips?

Mont - quite basic but not sure how variable the load size can be adjusted/compressed

WE Lost World - I havent seen one in store here yet dispite looking around, not keen on getting a store to order one in just to look at and not sure of a sale, have seen the Mountain Expedition pack which I believe is quite similair. Would anyone who has Lost World be able to post a few pics of the harness and lid/throat??

Thanks very much,

Mark

[johnw]

WE Lost World - I havent seen one in store here yet dispite looking around, not keen on getting a store to order one in just to look at and not sure of a sale, have seen the Mountain Expedition pack which I believe is quite similair. Would anyone who has Lost World be able to post a few pics of the harness and lid/throat??

Mark, I have the WE Mountain Expedition and believe that the Lost World is more or less the heavier duty canvas version. I noticed one recently in Sydney but didn't check it over closely. Just a thought, if you are in Perth can you visit Sea to Summit as I believe they are located there? Assumption is that they may have WE gear on display?

There are a few photos and diagrams on the WE site that might help:
http://www.wildequipment.com.au/backpack_detail.php?Code=WELOST

Personally I wouldn't buy any pack without first trying it on loaded. Before I bought the Mountain Expedition I had to get the store to bring it in from StS (2 of them actually) as they didn't stock that model. There was no obligation to buy unless satisfied, but I guess it depends on the retailer if they are willing to do that. Might be worth asking.

[Son of a Beach]

Note that when selecting a pack, trying it on in the shop is not enough to make a decision. You really need to load it up with the kind of weight your likely to carry when walking, otherwise you'll have no idea how it is going to suit you when in actual use. In fact, even this is not really enough.

You really need to walk around with it loaded up with a realistic weight for at least 10 minutes, to get a feel of where the weight is going to settle. However, this is not terribly practical, and some shops might not like you doing this.

[Ent]

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[blacksheep]

. I.e. the Macpac 75L harness is extremely uncomfortable when loaded past it 18 kilogram
Cheers Brett

not true

[ollster]

. I.e. the Macpac 75L harness is extremely uncomfortable when loaded past it 18 kilogram
Cheers Brett

not true.

Yeah, I'd have to respectfully disagree too... The Macpac harness isn't "extremely uncomfortable", it's just not as good as the OP.

[Ent]

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[ollster]

PS Ollster what harness in the Macpac range are you using as your point of references as there is quite a list of Macpac harnesses? The Liberator I think is the heavy weight king of the range so would be interested if that is your reference point or some other harness in the range.

Yeah, point. I've got a Glissade with the older style "Quantum™ load-carrying system" harness. I've carried from about 18 - 29kgs or so in it, and it wasn't too bad, but the OP beats it (I've carried about 24-28kgs in the OP).

[blacksheep]

Brett, as quite correctly said in you last post, Macpac make a range of harnesses. And as we quite clearly state, they all have guides to ideal weight they are suited for.
What I strongly reject, object to and responded to was your comment "the Macpac 75L harness is extremely uncomfortable when loaded past it 18 kilogram', that is absolutely an untrue statement. The liberator FL harness fitted to our Cascade 75 is absolutely superb on heavy loads- many professional users the world over select this pack for loads 30kg+ ( One tassie guide reports he uses this pack for 40kg loads- not my idea of a good day out, another hunting guide here claims he has carried 35kg for 7 days- a horrible way to spend a week in my book...but this is the pack they swear by).
I really dislike it when one paints with such a broad brush, and puts all assumptions against one experience with a sweeping statement - it's like someone saying accountants are boring...I'm willing to believe that may not be the case...

[Drifting]

I often carry 25kg or more in my WE Karajini, and it just sucks up the weight. A bit light on extra pockets, but it's still an awesome load-beast.

I probably speak alone when I say that I have found OP packs uncomfortable. Well, my wife agrees- she found OP very uncomfortable as well.

She has a Mont Pioneer- it's excellent, and she's carried 22kg in it quite comfortably.

[Ent]

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[blacksheep]

I am talking about the current packs, not the story you repeat about an issue that the previous ownership of Macpac had occur ( of naming a "light weight" version of their Quantum harness as "Quantum Air"- which they , I am told, recognised may cause confusion and contacted their retailers to advise them of this, and that they could return them so they can label change them- which many retailers chose to either ignore or advised they thought they would be fine)
I was filled in on your story 2 years ago- apparently you arte the only one who was either sold this, or didn't understand / wasn't told by the retailer the difference....unfortunate, and an error we have no intention of slipping through our systems (and controlling retail, one that any shop can ignore) and I apologise on behalf of the previous management and system that saw you let down . I have now done this 3 times.
Now...Wes ( I assume you mean him ?)..was/is one of our product testers of the liberator harness. ( a bit about Wes here http://www.macpac.co.nz/user/6288?utm_s ... dium=email ) He has been using versions of this for several years, as well as packs using the quantum system (which he swore by)...he has now used the liberator system on our cascade packs for 2 years...walking gnarlier terrain (wes carries food drops, walking on a bearing) and carrying heavier loads than most of us would consider and he is thrilled that he feels less fatigued with this harness than he does with the quantum. I speak with him pretty reguarly (I'm checking out options for rainwear that hold up to to some spiky sub alpine vegetation that Gore refuses to warranty against) and he has been one of 3 great users that have helped make what we believe is our best heavy load system to date, and guys like him continue to shape the evolution of our products.

[sthughes]

Now now boys! Why on earth didn't Macpac just exchange it for a quantum harness pack, play fair and save the bad publicity! Oh well guess it's water under the bridge now I guess

I just carried 26kg into Frenchmans and would also vote for the OP McMillan. I've never used a Macpac or WE though. I like the look of Macpacs best and the bottle holders on OP's are a great feature. I know someone with a WE Karinji and another with a Mont Backcountry and both are happy users, although the vertical zip arrangement on the Mont is a bit problematic.

[Drifting]

I was skeptical on the vertical zip at first, but it seems to work well. I have wondered if it would be more leak-prone though.

[Ent]

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[Nuts]

So you bought the wrong harness... You bought the Quantum Air Not the Quantum... Do you order a skinny chino when you want the full cappa?
Anyhow...Give the bloke another pack Cam, split the costs with him (I'd say him 60 you 40 )

[photohiker]

Nah.

I reckon Brett should flog the pack on ebay and move on. Life's too short.

Apart from it being bad for the environment, the other thing to do would be to hold a ceremonial burning of it.

[Drifting]

This must be the most discussed pack on the web!

[ollster]

Considering Brett's unfortunate experience, it probably would be good if the pack manufacturers actually printed the reccomended weight range on the harness somewhere (as well as the back size and the pack litreage), and not just a wanky "harness system" name, which is essentially meaningless marketing fap. Fair idea?

[Drifting]

Actually, there's lots of disclosure-sort of things they should attach to their products. The FIRST being if their sleep bags have been properly tested. But as this digresses, I shall start a new thread.......

[tasadam]

. I.e. the Macpac 75L harness is extremely uncomfortable when loaded past it 18 kilogram
Cheers Brett

not true

Agreed. Not true.

<snip>many professional users the world over select this pack for loads 30kg+

And me. 15 days in the SW with starting weight over 30kg's. And I was only weighing about 62kg's myself. The pack harness was fine, as has it been for all the walks I have done since I have had it.

There has been plenty said on this forum about the grievances Brett has with Macpac on the pack issue. It does not need repeated here.
As a moderator of this forum, I volunteer a great deal of my time to read as many topics as I can, to keep the forum within Nik's rules. I'm watching the cricket and eating dinner, it's drinks break, and so I switch over to the net and stumble on this topic, more argy bargy.
There's quite a number of posts above, that are long, and which I have not read.
Let's just say that there have been a lot of users that have been happy with many packs, Macpac Cascade included. And one that is not, as has been well documented.
The comment by Brett regarding the Macpac above 18kg's (above) in my experience is definitely untrue and unwarranted.

I reckon Brett should flog the pack on ebay and move on. Life's too short.

Well said.

Back to the OP, did you know the Macpac Cascade comes in 90 litres?

Regarding weight, how much are you likely to carry if you're going on an 8 week walk?

[corvus]

Adam,
If you are commenting as a user so be it ,please dont wave the moderators thing it does not sit right with me and many of us read all of the posts just because we want to not because we have to
corvus

[tasadam]

Adam,
If you are commenting as a user so be it ,please dont wave the moderators thing it does not sit right with me and many of us read all of the posts just because we want to not because we have to
corvus

My point was that we had read it before, if the content was as I suspected, as alluded to by some of the replies.
I'd be happy to discuss concerns via PM should you choose.