BackPacks - Appalachian Trail

imported
#1

I am looking for some feedback from experienced AT hikers on a good, dependable pack. I am planning on hru hiking starting in April and would like some opinions on some “trail tested” packs. Any ideas, feedback, etc would be appreciated.

Thanks

Jim

#2

There are a lot of factors to consider:

  1. are you an ultra-lite or lite hiker?
  2. does all of your gear (less food, fuel and water) weigh under 15 lbs?
  3. what your comfort level is vs your desire to travel light.
  4. and a whole lot more . . .

If your TOTAL weight (with food, fuel and water) is under 25 lbs - might consider a FRAMELESS backpack. Anything over 25 lbs probably requires an internal or external frame pack.

JAWS

#3

You’ll find lighter is better if you have an option. A capacity of around 2800 to 3400 is about right. You should be able to find one in the 2-pound range. I’m fitting around 35 pounds in my Osprey Aether. Otherwise Granite Gear, Gregory, GoLite are all good brands. Granite Gear’s Vapor Trail was probably the most popular bag I saw on the trail–it’s a good pack. If your outfitters doesn’t have medicine balls to throw in your bag when you try it on, don’t be afraid to bring in your gear so you know how it’ll feel with weight in it.

0101

#4

if you need an opinion on a heavier pack, i used a 5 lb. 3 oz. gregory reality on at least 1 and a half AT hikes. i carried about 45 pounds, fully loaded. i was comfortable for the most part, except for the first day out of town, or when i was carrying a lot of water. 45 pounds is about 1/3 of my body weight. i didn’t have any troubles except for wishing i had a more padded hip belt when i started getting skinny.

however, when i hike the PCT, i’ll be taking a much lighter granite gear vapor trail and assorted lighter gear.

definitely follow 0101’s advice about seeing if your chosen gear will fit in your pack options.

zero

#5

Jim,

Best advice is to buy all your other gear first. Then, take the all your gear, along with filled water bottles and fuel bottle, and food to a local outfitter. Be prepared to spend hours loading up your gear into various backpacks, and see how they fit you. Everyone is different.

That being said, no matter what I would look for a pack that is not larger than 80 liters, or 5000 ci. The reason is that the bigger a pack, the more gear you tend to carry, and that equates to weight. Very few people are happy carrying 50 pounds or more. Most like to carry considerably less.

Popular packs to consider include the Osprey Aether (as mentioned above) and the Gregory Forester.

Weight wise, the big three are your pack, sleeping bag, and tent. So, the goal is to see how small and light you can go, yet still have the comfort and safety that you need.

Peaks

#6

I wear a gregory or a dana, They fit me so good my back can’t make up its mind.
Right now you want to go with a Dana Terraplan. But both packs are custom fit and due note; with all the bells and whistles.:pimp

Try and get one in blaze orange to. The hunters are all over the woods poaching anything that moves.
:eek:

hikerdude

#7

I use the P2 by ULA (www.ula-equipment.com). It’s very light and has good capacity. The hip belt pockets hold my camera stuff in one and snacks in the other. Very convenient. Other good features too. I saw several on the AT this year, and thru hikers gave it good marks. I have carried around 40 pounds in it, fully loaded after a 6 day resupply, but most of the time I carry between 30 and 35. Works well for me.

CBiscuit

#8

I have a Gregory Forestor and it’s bomb proof but weigh’s over 5 lbs. Wears and supports well for me. I bought all my other gear first and everything plus more will fit in it.
3 days out cost me 35 lbs in weight/pack. Food is the only place were I lose weight on a trip. This is a no frills weight too.
The only thing is, I really knew less about my other gear than I thought. I should have spent a little more time on that part. I probably could have saved about 10 lbs had I knew then what I know now. You will also find this out as you go. Lighter bag, shelter, pad, clothes…
The only thing I would not change from my orginal purchase is my cook kit. The titanium 1.3 liter pot w/cover contains it all inside a mesh carry provided. Inside is a trangia alcohol stove, inside a lite weight cup. The actual 3 piece stove stand and foil wind guard are under the pot in the mesh bag. Fuel goes in a red cough surup bottle. Free from the pharmacy. A foam backed placemat, like the one on a kitchen table is also on my keeper list. A wet log or ground is terrible to sit on.
Although man is by far the most destructive creature in the forest I wouldn’t worry about “hunters…all over the woods poaching anything that moves”. This is bull crap spread by people that no nothing about hunting and believe everything they hear no matter the source. I myself wear a blaze orange hat when hunting season is in because it’s good common sense. Sure accident have and will happen again.
But hunter’s in general practice gun safty habits and indeed make up the largest conservation oranizations there are. You have much less to fear from hunters than walking city streets. Try to get a hunting tag without proof of a safty course taken. Sit down and read your State rules and regulations. You will be surprised.
Before people make these type remarks they should investigate the facts. Turn off the one eyed idiot box and quit letting it form your opinions for you.

pete56

#9

Well said pete56!

And about the backpack, it does not matter what you wear on your back nor the amount of money you spent. It is only your heart and will to see the trail through that get you to the end…it is a long, long trail.

That said, if I had to do it again, I would go no more than 4700ci. And then start cutting off the bells and whistles. Remember, if it doesn’t fit in the inside of your pack…you don’t need it. (ie…nothing tied to the outside) Besides after crawling under one or two blow downs you probably will no longer have it anway.

SweetAss 03

#10

Heck, I’d say 3200 ci is about max. Anything more and you’re talking about a pack in the 5+ lb. range, and you can do better for thru-hiking. What you can always do when you have too much stuff for your pack, which often happens early because of your coat, is to use carabeaners to hook things on the outside of your pack.

0101

#11

TO 0101

I use an Osprey Aether 60 which weighs in at 3lbs 8oz’s (empty) size medium, 3700 ci and carrys up to 35lbs comfortably, plus it has a great suspension system and is very durable. Lightweight carbiners work great for attaching smaller items to the outside of your pack. One will usually do the trick to hang small items.

uscgretired

#12

Take a look at the Mountainsmith Auspex at 4000ci and 4lbs. It carries 35lbs comfortably.

Nooga

#13

Don’t go by weight of the pack alone. I used a Dana Teraplane which weighed in over 5lbs but the superior suspension system more than compensated for the extra weight. I saw alot of go- liters constantly straining with a pack that was sagging on their back (no hip support) despite weighing far less.

steamboat