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You would be better off running a survey than asking us individually about this question, because none of us individually can do more than indicate what backpack they would use.Hi
Which backpacks are the current go-to favourites among forum users?
My 15ish year old 25-30 litre North Face backpack has served me well for 2 caminos, but really needs replacing now.
I am planning a section of a camino in the very near future. Given current circumstances, it's going to be difficult for me to go to an outdoor shop to try different packs, or even just get an idea of how big they are.
I am 5ft8 and don't necessarily need a women's pack.
I have come up with a list of possible options, but would be interested to hear your thoughts.
Thanks for your help.
Hi
Which backpacks are the current go-to favourites among forum users?
My 15ish year old 25-30 litre North Face backpack has served me well for 2 caminos, but really needs replacing now.
I am planning a section of a camino in the very near future. Given current circumstances, it's going to be difficult for me to go to an outdoor shop to try different packs, or even just get an idea of how big they are.
I am 5ft8 and don't necessarily need a women's pack.
I have come up with a list of possible options, but would be interested to hear your thoughts.
Thanks for your help.
It is a pity that you might find it difficult to try on a pack. So much comes down to personal perceptions of fit and comfort, and only getting to a store with the gear you are going to carry, and seeing how a pack feels loaded will give you any idea about that.
Honestly, if you cannot physically try on potential replacements with a reasonable dummy load, don’t bother.
Unless your venerable sack is totally beyond use, and especially as you’re only planning a section of a camino; stick with it one last time.
Sound advice, I think... much as I’d love a shiny new, larger pack with some actual *features*...
I’ve got nine (nine!) ‘quality’ rucsacs. I even bought a massive bag to keep some of them in. You really need a new sack - everybody does - but just not yet.
Buena suerte y buen camino
Is that all?I’ve got nine (nine!) ‘quality’ rucsacs. I even bought a massive bag to keep some of them in.
I think that this is the least well answered question there is on the forum, at least inasmuch as the answers are rarely particularly useful without some context that is generally omitted. Unlike @trecile in her earlier post, most people don't tell you how big they are, how much they carried, what season they walked in, how cold tolerant they are, and whether they could or could not afford ultra-light equipment. I could go on.I guess I’m more interested in what sort of pack size people are using and which brands can be trusted.
So you want a lighter weight 30L pack with an external hydration system and a ventilated back that's comfortable. At least that narrows it down a bit.
Thanks for this... if only to advertise “Trekkit”. They have a huge range in stock and I spent 30 min discussing backpacks with one of their customer service team. Fantastic!Check this one
I am 5'8" and also have the Stratos 34 with the suspension backI've used my Osprey Stratos 34 on 2 separate 5-day Caminos, and I couldn't be happier. A female friend has the same pack just in the S/M size and also loves it for our local hiking / camping trips.
I guess I’m more interested in what sort of pack size people are using and which brands can be trusted.
Thanks all for further comments. I am a minimalist packer, but on the VdlP the verb “luchar” (to fight) was frequently used as I tried to fit everything in each morning. The pack is really too small, especially when it’s necessary to carry enough water for a 30km stretch and food for more than a day.
So I guess this is the main reason for considering a new pack. Despite being so old, it is pretty functional but the bladder system is a nightmare when the pack is full (I like the look of the osprey external hydration systems); it is a heavy pack for its volume (I have removed all of the unnecessary bits); and it lacks the ‘technology’ of some of the new packs - such as a ventilated back system. It is also not especially comfortable and does not promote good walking posture.
Despite all of this, it should survive another week on the camino - unless I can actually go and try some packs out beforehand.
I think that unless you have deliberately undertaken your camino to collect this kind of information, there are two things happen. First, we see what we use, such as the car make and model we drive ourselves, and this skews our observation of what is common. Second, we forget fine details - memory is an unreliable thing.but if you accept anecdotal information, Osprey is the most used brand on the Camino Frances
I took this approach too, but only for my first camino. On subsequent camino's I carried a small soft daypack that I could pack a few things into when walking around town, but it was never my intention to walk a day with it, even if I could have. If I were going to use a pack transport service more regularly, it might be a good option to have a more structured daybag. My current thinking is to avoid the weight of that approach for the walking that I am intending to do.Another thing to explore is whether you can attach a smaller Osprey daypack to your larger backpack.
Hi Gail and jcat - I'm looking seriously at this pack. I currently own a Talon 30 (?) and really want the "trampoline" type frame. My Talon carries really heavy, no matter how tightly I cinch the hip belt. My husband has a Stratos 36 and I've been borrowing it to see how I like it. I think I'll prefer the 34 as it's a front loader. Also, the S/M size is 55 cm and qualifies as cabin baggage while the M/L technically doesn't. Last time we measured each other, I was right between sizes. I'm hoping I can get away with the S/M for carry on...I am 5'8" and also have the Stratos 34 with the suspension back
I think there is a cat living in each of those "nine" backpacks.Is that all?
Just FYI - it's Quechua (the Decathlon brand)Chechua seemed quite common
I think that unless you have deliberately undertaken your camino to collect this kind of information, there are two things happen. First, we see what we use, such as the car make and model we drive ourselves, and this skews our observation of what is common. Second, we forget fine details - memory is an unreliable thing.
I know that I saw a lot of different brands, but I didn't pretend to count them. So Osprey, Deuter, Berghaus, Chechua, North Face just to name some that I remember. Chechua seemed quite common after Sarria on the CF where there were a lot more Spanish pilgrims, but I am not sure that any one brand predominated. I just didn't walk counting the numbers of each brand.
I took this approach too, but only for my first camino. On subsequent camino's I carried a small soft daypack that I could pack a few things into when walking around town, but it was never my intention to walk a day with it, even if I could have. If I were going to use a pack transport service more regularly, it might be a good option to have a more structured daybag. My current thinking is to avoid the weight of that approach for the walking that I am intending to do.
Which backpacks are the current go-to favourites among forum users?
I ... would be interested to hear your thoughts.
I use a 40 litre back pack which is great for size but I made a mistake when I bought it as it does not have lower spine bar which lifts the sack off your (very sweaty) lower back. This omission means that I have to wrap all of my clothes in individual plastic bags to keep them dry - a pain. These type o packs are a little more expensive but worth every penny. Buen Camino.Hi
Which backpacks are the current go-to favourites among forum users?
My 15ish year old 25-30 litre North Face backpack has served me well for 2 caminos, but really needs replacing now.
I am planning a section of a camino in the very near future. Given current circumstances, it's going to be difficult for me to go to an outdoor shop to try different packs, or even just get an idea of how big they are.
I am 5ft8 and don't necessarily need a women's pack.
I have come up with a list of possible options, but would be interested to hear your thoughts.
Thanks for your help.
I think I’m catching up lol I get 40% off Osprey and that’s a lot, I just bought myself another pack was £220 bought for £132 I’m hoping to use it next year it’s a bit bigger then my last one, but it’s so niceI’ve got nine (nine!) ‘quality’ rucsacs. I even bought a massive bag to keep some of them in. You really need a new sack - everybody does - but just not yet.
Buena suerte y buen camino
Which backpacks are the current go-to favourites among forum users?
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