Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Backpacks for A Week Out

I'm currently looking to get a backpack with capacity for a good weeklong trip that has a comfortable suspension system and doesn't weigh a whole lot. Price is no object (ok, it is, but I want a range of options). If anyone has any recommendations, I'd appreciate it. Thanks.

BigMatt,

Depends on what you will be doing during the week...If you will be 'backpacking' on Class 1-2 stuff like the Main Trail I'd look into the bigger Dana Designs packs as they carry loads really well for most people. I am also a 'big' guy and find that my Astralplane, which is the largest size they make and is around 7 pounds or so, feels lighter with a heavy load than anything else I have tried. The Terraplane (a bit smaller) is the same basic design if you don't need the volume. Osprey and Gregory make proven packs you might like as well...

If you want a CLIMBING pack that holds alot (5500 cu/in) and weighs only 4 pounds, is pretty comfy PLUS has lots of features that make technical stuff easier check out the Wild Things Andinista. They even make them out of Spectra now (about 3 pounds) but cost twice as much as the origninal. Still pretty much the standard for alpine stuff.

Just remember most of the weight in a pack is in the suspension and waistbelt. Saving weight generally means less comfort. Load the pack up in the store (REALLY LOAD IT) and walk around and up/down any inclines they have in the boot department or better yet rent one for a weekend and really try it out.

Have Fun!

For a week long trip, I still rely on my Gregory Shasta -size medium- mine is Chili red. It's bombproof, bulletproof, I can carry it comfortably all day, and holds more than I could possibly ever need. There are lots of places to lash on extras if needed. Tent poles and fishing rod tie on easily- same with hiking poles too. You can pick one up on eBay for about $100. Best pack for the bucks.

Hi I never try to sell any thing but.... make sure the pack is about 2 pounds empty and only carry what you need. We see JMT /PCT hikers all the time with full loads of 18-25 pounds for 7-12 days Won't happen the first few trips but could be a goal to strike for.Thanks Doug

Welcome to 'the light is right' vs. comfort debate. The gear has clearly gotten lighter and the trade-offs fewer. You may want to look at this site for some ideas: http://www.backpacking.net/bbs.html

Two of my favorite lighter pack companies are GOlite and MountainSmith. I also really like my Dana which is a couple of pounds heavier, but is comfortable no matter how much weight I carry. When I go with the kids and have to carry some of their gear in addition to mine, the Dana feels as comfortable in hour 3 as it did in hour 1.

I agree 100% with you comment. It is a big debate.

I have a couple of GoLites that are great during the summer with a moderate load. But, during the winter, or if I need to carry more than my own share of gear, the Arc'teryx Bora 90 comes out of the garage. It's a pig (I think around 6 pounds empty), but there's no comparison in comfort.

I'll cast my vote for the Dana Design Teraplane. Yes, it does weight about 7 pounds empty, but the arguments siting comfort in carrying a load is why I stick with it; it really fits me well.

I am truly impressed with the "GOlight" style hikers who can travel with an 18-25 pound pack, but try as I may, I can not get my pack under 35 (or 40)pounds, especially when going solo. I know I could cut some weight - for example, carrying a tarp rather than my solo tent, but my solo tent weighs less than three pounds. The two pound difference gives me bug/mosquitoe protection, better rain protection, and a more secure feeling. Worth the extra two pounds for me. Same goes with my therma-rest vs. my z-rest. The z-rest is lighter but I don't get a good night's sleep. Etc. I guess I'm just a die-hard conventional hiker.

Agree with above. I'm a big guy- over 200 pounds. I also have a ultra-lite pack, and it suits me very nicely for 2-4 days. Long trips are another story however. With the bear can requirements, my fishing gear, and some very meager creature comforts, I can only get the bigger pack down to 40-45 pounds for a long trip. I like to eat and sleep well. The few extra pounds that the Gregory Shasta weighs makes little difference to me when I am going out for a week or longer. I can wear it all day and not get that sharp pain from the ultralight tearing into my back and shoulders.
My hat is off to those who can get theirs down to 20. I have tried but, getting it down to 40 on for a 9 day trip was hard enough. Fit and comfort are everything.

I generally carry 25-30 pounds plus water, plus the weight of the pack. I've been pleased with my Dana Glacier, 5200 cubic inches. It's comfortable, and at 5 lb 13 oz, not as heavy as some of the other models. I recently saw one on sale for $200, which of course is far less than I paid for mine. You know how that goes.

Clearly a bunch of knuckledragging throwbacks here (and I include myself in that description). We like our big Dana packs and are willing to carry the extra weight to be comfortable on long trips. Backpacker magazine did a great story on this topic - sent 2 teams out on the same trip, one ultralight and one heavy. The first few days, the guys carrying the big packs were envying the light team. By the end of the trip, the light guys really appreciated being invited over for a good, hot dinner in place of their cold ****ey and peanut butter.

It never ceases to amaze me that people insist on dragging half their households with them in the wilderness. We completed the High Sierra Trail and summited Mt. Whitney in September in 6 days with 29lb Golite breeze packs. We're older hikers in our 50's and I'm a "big guy'and we're from the East at sea level. We had everything we needed and averaged 15 miles/day. I usedto haul a 60lb pack until my knees gave out. When we made the switch to lightweight we never looked back. We can smoke the younger hikers on the trail, enjoy our time on the trail more, do more miles and still have lots of energy at the end of a long day. My wife will be getting a ULA P-2 pack this year. She's very thin and her shoulders have some difficulty with the lack of hip suspension on the Breeze pack. It's never been an issue for me. The Breeze handled the Garcia Bear Canister fine. We've completed multiple 80-100 mile treks with our lightweight gear in alll weather conditions. I was skeptical at first, but I'm a true believer now. Trust me it will change your life.

Backpacker magazine just released its Reader's Choice Awards. The top 3 backpacks were the Arcteryx Bora 90, the Dana Designs Teraplane, and the Gregory Palisade. We've already seen votes for the Arcteryx and the Dana, and I have the Palisade. It's big, comfortable, and I love it. I don't think you could go wrong with any of the three.