Long Distance Rucksack

[IntrepidStu]

Im thinking of doing a long Distance walk and need a light rucksack. I love my Sabre 75 but I think it may be a bit heavy. So, If you know of a good bag that can carry lots of luvely grub and a decent sized sleeping bag then can you please let me know.

Thanks guys
Stu

 

[Jared]

OMM?

Specialise in light rucksacks, http://www.theomm.com/products/packs.html .

 

[Kerne]

I bought a granite gear vapour trail for precisely this sort of thing and it has been excellent. Very light and comfortable. You do have to be a bit more careful about dragging it through the undergrowth etc. as it isn't as bombproof as heavier rucksacks.

 

[sandbender]

Im thinking of doing a long Distance walk and need a light rucksack.

I'd recommend the Crux range, I've been using the AK47 for most of my walks over the past years. Simple design, light and very tough. I attach a couple of Ortlieb bags to the side when I need extra carrying capacity for food, water etc.

 

[Shewie]

You'll have looked at the GoLite stuff on Bobs (BPL) site won't you Stu ?

 

[widu13]

I've been using the AK47 for most of my walks over the past years. Simple design, light and very tough.

What you point it at someone and get them to carry your ruck? Carry 4 kilos of AK47 yourself and get the other poor devil to carry your 50 kg ruck- genius idea.

 

[sandbender]

What you point it at someone and get them to carry your ruck? Carry 4 kilos of AK47 yourself and get the other poor devil to carry your 50 kg ruck- genius idea.

yes they have chosen a unfortunate naming system which is similar to a well known model of rifle.

 

[UKHaiku]

Depending on how light-weight you're going, might be worth a look at an Osprey Exos 46 or 58, depending on how big the sleeping bag is... I saw one of the 46's demoed at the Outdoor Show by Paddy Dillon and I'm pretty tempted (it's orange and grey though, be warned! ;-) )
Not sure about the back sizes though - as they come in S, M and L...

here's a link to a review of the 46: http://www.livefortheoutdoors.com/Gear-Reviews/Search-Results/Rucksacks/Osprey-Exos-46-2009/

 

[torc]

I think a comfortable rucksack is much more important than a light weight one. The difference in weight between the heaviest and lightest of rucksacks of the same capacity on the market probably amounts to no more than the weight of a couple of Mars Bars. That weight saving is marginal and is not worth the extra cost of a new bag. If your Sabre 75 fits you well, use it (just don't use all 75000 cubic centimeters of it!).
Also, Crux gear aside, I don't think that specialist light weight kit lasts very long or is particularly hard wearing.
Happy trails...torc.

 

[IntrepidStu]

You'll have looked at the GoLite stuff on Bobs (BPL) site won't you Stu ?

Yeh, not realy interested in that kind of thing. If he had an "actual" tent, then I would consider it, but as of last count, I have 6 tarps already and would like to buy something with the floor included in the price.

 

[scallywag]

You have to remember that lightweight sack is just the first step. All you stuff should be changed into lightweight or you light pack won't last long!

I think a comfortable rucksack is much more important than a light weight one. The difference in weight between the heaviest and lightest of rucksacks of the same capacity on the market probably amounts to no more than the weight of a couple of Mars Bars. That weight saving is marginal and is not worth the extra cost of a new bag. If your Sabre 75 fits you well, use it (just don't use all 75000 cubic centimeters of it!).
Also, Crux gear aside, I don't think that specialist light weight kit lasts very long or is particularly hard wearing.
Happy trails...torc.

I agree, if the sack is doing fine, there's no point in buying a new one unless you're addicted

I'd suggest you a sack that I use myself, Arizzone Wolverine W50 Monolith II GEN or maybe a bigger one, coz it's really comfortable and solid but if Sabre is too haevy for you, you won't be interested. The weight is comparable.

 

[sandbender]

The difference in weight between a Karrimor Sabre 75 and the equivalent Crux pack is 1.2 KG, the difference between the Sabre 75 and the smaller AK47 is 1.5 KG, that may not sound like much but at 30 to 40 KM per day over thirty days those extra grams will take their toll

Toughness, it's true that a lot of lightweight gear sacrifices strength for that lower weight, however that hasn't been my experience with Crux, I don't use stuff sacks prefering to kick and squeeze my gear into the bottom of the pack, if the seams were going to fail they would have done so by now. Additionally the material used is a Kevlar/Cordura weave designed to survive being dragged over rocky scree littered mountainsides and it does this well.

I purchased my first Crux pack (the AK50) in 2001, replacing it in 2003 for the newer AK47 (I replaced it because the new grey/green color was more to my taste than the AK50's dull red). In the years since the AK47 has accompanied me on some very long walks in some of the roughest country in the world.

Scallywag is correct, if you are planning on cutting down on weight, you should look to the rest of your gear too, if you want to let us know which walk you are planning then people may have some suggestions based on their own experiences on that journey.

 

[Shewie]

Yeh, not realy interested in that kind of thing. If he had an "actual" tent, then I would consider it, but as of last count, I have 6 tarps already and would like to buy something with the floor included in the price.

I meant the packs actually Stu, not the tarps mate

 

[Trojan]

Hi

I think it depends on the size you want.

Some of the other replies have mentioned some very good packs.

If it was me i would take my Snugpak Rocket or if smaller pack needed my Bugout 3 Day Pass 37L.

I think Snugpak do a Stamian which 42L but i have never used one.

Good luck

 

[big_swede]

I use a vapour trail from time to time, 60 or so liters, 1 kilo. Quite good quality, good comfort on the back even with heavier loads. Mine is green and black.

http://www.granitegear.com/products/backpacks/ultralight/vaportrail.html

If I were to buy a new pack today I would almost certainly buy a crux pack. Pity they don't come in olive.

 

[VirusKiller]

Im thinking of doing a long Distance walk

Out of interest, will you be wearing boots or trainers/running shoes?

 

[sapper1]

I felt that I needed to balance lightness and durability when choosing my pack,It's no good having a lightweight pack that is too light to stand being used in the rain and dumped on the ground and sat on.Neither is it any good to carry a pack that is bombproof but too heavy to be useful.
At present I have settled on a sabre 75 with pockets(in case I need them).Agood balance of durability and lightness.

 

[big_swede]

I felt that I needed to balance lightness and durability when choosing my pack,It's no good having a lightweight pack that is too light to stand being used in the rain and dumped on the ground and sat on.Neither is it any good to carry a pack that is bombproof but too heavy to be useful.
At present I have settled on a sabre 75 with pockets(in case I need them).Agood balance of durability and lightness.

Why do you dump your pack on the ground? Is that really necessary? My heavier packs are no more waterproof than my little granite gear welter weight one, most packs requires waterproof bags inside anyway so that argument is not valid. Which pack can not be sat on without breaking? A tesco bag maybe?

I think that people on this forum have somehow got the idea that because they are into bushcraft, instead of general outdoor life or trekking, they require a lot more durable equipment. I would say that this is a misconception and that most people would be perfectly alright with lighter kit. What exactly are you doing that ordinary hill walkers are not? Open fires? Come on, who has lately burned a hole in their rucksack? Thick vegetation? I haven't had a problem even with silnylon bags with that one, not even in thick conifer forests.

A light ruck means easy kms, it's as easy as that. You don't need two of everything, and you don't need military speced kit. Each one to his own, but as my travels mostly go on foot, I appreciate a 7 kilo pack instead of a 16 kilo one.

 

[bert333]

Stu - consider the Deuter 35 + 10SL
I used that one in pic below when I walked the Santiago de Compostela trail
Carried bivi, sleeping bag, 3 litres water, cookset, 1 change of clothes + snacks = 12kgs

If you need more stuff, then the Deuter 45+10 Air Contact but the more you carry...the more you suffer!
​

Despite my seeing many with sore backs, rubbed shoulders etc, I was fine and my pack worked admirably.
The walk bit was the hard part for me... with one duff ankle, every step was a potential cock-up! thank goodness for Leiki sticks- and this river! and yes, the right knee went wobbly on me too!

 

[sapper1]

Swede,Where do you put you pack when you take it off?I find that after walking for a day that I need to take it off and put it down to get out the things I need,The ground seems to be the most handy thing to use as there is always some nearby.
I take your point about waterproofness but feel that a harder wearing pack will take more abrasion than a lightweight one.Less abrasion wear means it will last longer and be more waterproof than one that wears through easily.