Equipment Question 32L Osprey Kode pack

[BCavalier]

I am planning on walking the Portuguese Costal Camino next September from Baiona to Santiago De Compostela. I have a 32L pack. My concern is that it is a winter pack. I.E. no breathable mesh on the back. Any thoughts on this. Is it doable or should I be looking for a summer pack?

 

[Deleted member 67185]

I am planning on walking the Portuguese Costal Camino next September from Baiona to Santiago De Compostela. I have a 32L pack. My concern is that it is a winter pack. I.E. no breathable mesh on the back. Any thoughts on this. Is it doable or should I be looking for a summer pack?

If I am not mistaken, that pack was designed specifically to carry for snowsports like snowboarding. It is not really designed for backpacking or hiking. This is one time that I would recommend not making due, but getting something different.

If you like Osprey backpacks, they do make some that are worth considering in the same volume carrying capacity.

 

[spursfan]

I walk during May and September and use a Gregory pack specifically because it has a breathable mesh back - but I also wear wicking t-shirts and change them half-way through the day - and, anyway, there are more crucial things to consider than having a wet back - I'd also look for flat seams as well as wicking on t-shirts

I'd also recommend bringing just a sleeping bag liner (silk preferred) rather than a sleeping bag or quilt - in which case 32L might even be too large!

 

[SacredSteps]

I'm going to mildly disagree with davebugg here: the Kode is a good carry and with the thicker nylon denier its likely to stay dry. If you own it, you are familiar that you have to unbuckle the shoulder harness to access the back panel. That would be a dealbreaker for me but some people swear by that harness system for comfort. This pack will ride hot but you're walking the Coastal, not the meseta. I would greatly prefer the Manta 32 for carry or Talon 33 for weight but if you like this pack I would test it in the heat of the summer and decide how to go. Bom Caminho!

 

[BCavalier]

Thank you. I will definitely try it out this summer before I do my Camino walk. I have mainly used it on winter snowshoeing treks. I agree accessing the back panel is a bit annoying. However it is a comfortable pack for me. I was just not sure how it would fare for summer use.

 

[Davey Boyd]

Looks fine to me. If it is comfortable to you then that is great. Try it out in summer, but I don't think having a mesh back or not alters much under camino conditions (village to village walking).

Osprey are good packs, though not cheap. I would not buy another one just for camino.

Bom Caminho!
Davey