Curious as to what you hate about the Camelbacks?
Backpacked plenty and like them with a bottle too, but using a Katadyn pump and only carry clean water.
Lots of different ways to handle water, but to me always keeping the vessels clean makes life simpler, so no real cleaning for me. Pump hooks up to a disconnect in the line, so no removing the bag, which would be bad.I really don't care for straws either, lol. And the worst part is cleaning them. I just find them cumbersome.
I like the back pack, your thinking on upgrading to RR!!! Also, check out the inter web on places like REI, etc. Read some reviews. Hopefully Sportsman Warehouse has one you can put your meat cleavers on. Try the zippers, put some weight in the store, and "hike" the aisles. See if you like the shoulder straps and padding. Who cares if you look like a "hiking weirdo". The Kelty that was suggested seems nice. I have an old 2 man tent they made, and the quality was excellent.So far, this is my current #1 for new pack. Checks a lot of boxes.
I like the back pack, your thinking on upgrading to RR!!! Also, check out the inter web on places like REI, etc. Read some reviews. Hopefully Sportsman Warehouse has one you can put your meat cleavers on. Try the zippers, put some weight in the store, and "hike" the aisles. See if you like the shoulder straps and padding. Who cares if you look like a "hiking weirdo". The Kelty that was suggested seems nice. I have an old 2 man tent they made, and the quality was excellent.
Why wont your sleeping bags fit in the segregated area? Normally you just stuff them in. I try to keep everything inside my pack so my balance doesn't get thrown off. Over all it looks good. I like to add instant potato pouches to my rations.Everything packs out nicely. The dry bags make things organized. Both my 0° & 30° sleeping bags fit inside, but neither will go into segregated bag compartment at bottom. An interior zipper opens it into main compartment for more space.
The dry box, poncho, and a few easy access items occupy the exterior pouches. The mesh pocket for tools. I added more lashing and buckles for future tent or the like.
Once fitted, the weight balance is very even. I am 6'2", 190-200 and this was very comfortable. The pack is at 15-18% body weight depending on bag, and this is also w/o water.
Now to get out and test, hopefully soon!
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Why wont your sleeping bags fit in the segregated area? Normally you just stuff them in. I try to keep everything inside my pack so my balance doesn't get thrown off. Over all it looks good. I like to add instant potato pouches to my rations.
I just got back from a week hiking in the Grand Canyon. I did 52 miles in 5 days, one 17 mile day hike rim to river. and back down and up Bright Angel. For that my base (no food/water) pack weight with no tent or sleeping bag, but a bivvy sack for emergencies was 14lbs. My base pack weight for 2 nights down with 20 degree sleeping bag and tent was 21lbs.
I’ve backpacked a lot. It’s good and fine to put together gear based on theory, but the real test of what you need comes when you’ve used it a lot. I was teaching my friend who went with how to backpack before this hike and each training trip he pared his weight down and optimized his equipment. As a wilderness survival instructor and practitioner I know exactly what I need and what I can leave home and still have a comfortable safety margin. I also know for a fact how much I can hike under what conditions and that is the real area many people fail.
That’s an amazing hike!I just got back from a week hiking in the Grand Canyon. I did 52 miles in 5 days, one 17 mile day hike rim to river. and back down and up Bright Angel. For that my base (no food/water) pack weight with no tent or sleeping bag, but a bivvy sack for emergencies was 14lbs. My base pack weight for 2 nights down with 20 degree sleeping bag and tent was 21lbs.
I’ve backpacked a lot. It’s good and fine to put together gear based on theory, but the real test of what you need comes when you’ve used it a lot. I was teaching my friend who went with how to backpack before this hike and each training trip he pared his weight down and optimized his equipment. As a wilderness survival instructor and practitioner I know exactly what I need and what I can leave home and still have a comfortable safety margin. I also know for a fact how much I can hike under what conditions and that is the real area many people fail.
I just got back from a week hiking in the Grand Canyon. I did 52 miles in 5 days, one 17 mile day hike rim to river. and back down and up Bright Angel. For that my base (no food/water) pack weight with no tent or sleeping bag, but a bivvy sack for emergencies was 14lbs. My base pack weight for 2 nights down with 20 degree sleeping bag and tent was 21lbs.
I’ve backpacked a lot. It’s good and fine to put together gear based on theory, but the real test of what you need comes when you’ve used it a lot. I was teaching my friend who went with how to backpack before this hike and each training trip he pared his weight down and optimized his equipment. As a wilderness survival instructor and practitioner I know exactly what I need and what I can leave home and still have a comfortable safety margin. I also know for a fact how much I can hike under what conditions and that is the real area many people fail.
In October I did rim to rim in a day, slept for 5 hours in a cabin on the North Rim, then back to the South Rim the next day. Felt pretty badass except there were several trail runners doing rtrtr in a day who passed us.That’s an amazing hike!
We were there one time on a rim to rim event weekend, those people are nuts.
Well now that you’ve ran the neighbors off maybe you can forego the trash bag?Living in the woods has made me lazy. I go out for a walk with phone, gun, trash bag and a canteen.
Well now that you’ve ran the neighbors off maybe you can forego the trash bag?
Same age. (I think. I don’t like keeping track)In October I did rim to rim in a day, slept for 5 hours in a cabin on the North Rim, then back to the South Rim the next day. Felt pretty badass except there were several trail runners doing rtrtr in a day who passed us.
For what it’s worth to those who think they are too old: I’m 53 and I regularly meet people on the trail much older than I am who out-hike me.