500D vs 1000D / AiguilleAlpine or CRUX

[Lifer]

Hello everyone and happy new year !

First of all I'am French so sorry for my bad English.
I often read this website and I thank all members for this mine of information. I decided to subscribe for asking you some questions about my future bag for a trip in Norway this summer, so this is my first post.

Here is my situation : I already have a Berghaus Vulcan but I want something smaller and lighter to do small trips of 1week. At first I was going to go with the Karrimor Sabre 45 but I heard that Karrimor is not what it used to be and has some issues with quality.
Then I found the AiguilleAlpine Zenith 47L and CRUX AK47L which seem to be as resistant and lighter than the Sabre 45.

Can you tell me about the comfort of this two bags ? Is there one more comfortable for long walks ? What about comparing to the Karrimor or to the Berghaus Vulcan ?
Then what about the resilience and the quality of the stitching, is there one better than the other ? Comparing to the Vulcan ?

Finally, if I choose to go with the AiguilleAlpine I read that one can ask for 500D instead of 1000D. When I see how the 1000D is tough, maybe 500D is enough and a more appropriate choice to save weight ? In my opinion the stitching will break long before a hole appear in the canvas (whether it is 500D or 1000D) don't you think ?

Thank you very much in advance !

Lifer

 

[sandbender]

I have walked some quite long distances with a Crux AK47, it isn't designed with distance walking in mind but it works for me. The back system has limited adjustment and is available in three sizes, if you can find a dealer in France, try before you buy and are happy with the fit then I'd say you cannot go wrong.

The Crux packs are quite a bit tougher than the Sabre 45, much lighter too.

 

[Imagedude]

I have three Aiguille sacks, they are well made but basic, much like the sacks of the 1980s. They have just made me a highly modified Zephyr sack which had toboggan hauling loops added to the waist belt, an extra long spindrift collar, extra large top pocket and extra webbing added. The modifications cost me an extra £35 and I had to wait almost 8 weeks. The Zenith and Zephyr are highly regarded climbing sacks and are popular with people who climb in Scottish winter conditions. Whether they'd be good backpacking sacks is another matter, I like my Aiguille sacks but for walking I prefer the added comfort of the Osprey range of rucksacks. One of my Aiguille sacks has a 1000D base and 500D body and it is plenty tough enough.
Aiguille are not great at answering emails, best to phone or write to them.

 

[Tiley]

Just to confuse things, it might be worth looking at Podsacs. The Black Ice or Alpine 40 are both very good packs though may not be available in that lovely bushcrafty green. I've had a Thin Ice for a number of years and it has been both comfortable and bombproof.

 

[MertzMan]

Second the vote for looking at the stitching and the design. I think 500D 'walls' with a 1000D base is a good compromise.

 

[Lifer]

Thank you all for your answers !

if you can find a dealer in France, try before you buy

Unfortunately there is not so i can't try neither Crux or AiguilleAlpine, or even POD.

I have three Aiguille sacks, they are well made but basic, much like the sacks of the 1980s.

Exactly what i am looking for, don't need lots of features which add more weight.

I like my Aiguille sacks but for walking I prefer the added comfort of the Osprey range of rucksacks

I think Osprey is too expensive and not as tough as others. Not really fan of this brand :s

Of what I understand CRUX, AiguilleAlpine, and POD are more for climbing than for long distances. So I assume they will be less comfortable than the Karrimor or my Berghaus Vulcan ? The thing is I was looking for something comfortable for treking, tough enough to survive to bad conditions and to last many years, but lighter than the Sabre 45.
The PODs seem great but not much lighter than the Sabre.
If I remove the foam plate in the back of the Sabre 45 (i will be putting my mattress instead), the Curx is 250g (8.5oz) lighter, does that justify a lower comfort ?
If I ask 500D for body and 1000D for base (which indeed I think it is the best compromise) the AiguilleAlpine will be more than 500g (17oz) lighter, which is not negligible... Moreover, on the picture of the Zenith I don't see any strap from the back-head of the bag to the top of the shoulder'straps (like a "recall of load" or i can't know how it is called in English. Don't know if y am understood ?) so if AA is my choice I will probably ask to add those.

Anyway, thank you very much for your help !

 

[drliamski]

Have a look at http://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/equipment-c3/rucksacks-c19/all-rucksacks-c134?page=2

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

 

[sandbender]

"...Of what I understand CRUX, AiguilleAlpine, and POD are more for climbing than for long distances. So I assume they will be less comfortable than the Karrimor...The thing is I was looking for something comfortable for treking, tough enough to survive to bad conditions and to last many years, but lighter than the Sabre 45..."

I own quite a few rucksacks including the Sabre 45 and the Crux AK47.

I used the Sabre when walking the GR 70 down in the Cévennes, that was the one and only time I have used the Sabre for a long distance trek (about 250 km) it was a terrible experience, I found it a complete pain to walk with. These days I use it for short(ish) walks to base camps in some of Hungary's national parks, no more that 10-15 km.

The Crux isn't designed with long distance walking in mind, however I have traversed well over 3000 km in France and quite a bit more elsewhere in the world using a Crux pack, it is the best pack I have ever owned.

With that said, if you cannot try it on, you shouldn't buy one unless you are happy to sell it on at a loss if it doesn't work for you. Maybe you could catch a cheap flight or bus to London or Edinburgh for a weekend and try out some packs at the same time.

Toughness? The Crux pack appears to be indestructible, mine has fallen of the tops of trucks, rolled down rocky scree slopes, had many more litres of stuff shoved into it than it should have and is still going strong.

Additionally if you plan to travel outside Europe the packs take on a 'used' look very quickly and do help you to 'blend in' a bit more than some pack designs and materials.

 

[santaman2000]

I have no personal experience with either of those two rucksacks. But as to the 500d vs 1000d question, I do have some experience. I have a US military CFP-90 ruck in 1000d and a couple of ALICE rucks which, if memory serves, are 400d. All of them are pretty much bomb proof. As you suspected, stitching will be your weak point, not the material itself.

 

[Lifer]

Good morning !

Ok so after some thought on the subject, I think I will forget the Karrimor, to heavy and the back is made with mesh which in my experience is not really durable in contact of rocks.. Also according to Sandbender it is not more comfortable.
So I am hesitating between the AiguilleAlpine and the CRUX, basically between a sack with frame and a sack without frame.
I think that a frame makes the sack more versatile (If I don't completely fill it, or if i am in the hurry and cannot organize the inside). In the other hand, the AiguilleAlpine is much lighter (with 500D body) and I can put my Term-a-Rest RidgeRest Solite folded in the back to make a "frame" or in buritos to rigidify the structure. Also I read that the AA Zenith has more room than the CRUX AK47 (but I can choose the AK47X or even the AK57)
Last point, If AiguilleAlpine is fairly at a good price, CRUX are clearly more expensive !

And thank you santaman2000, your testimony comfort me in the choice of 500D for the body instead of 1000D.

 

[Uilleachan]

The crux is a climbing sack, I've no experience of the others. That said, I use it for most stuff and it's great IMO.

I like sack type sacks, one way in and one way out, for kit. Pockets pouches add on's etc make it too easy to lose stuff and in my opinion that out weighs the disadvantage of having to pack smart and or dig around to get what you're after. Throw it in pull the draw cord flip the lid and whatever you dumped in there will still be there when you open it again.

 

[sandbender]

"...I like sack type sacks, one way in and one way out, for kit. Pockets pouches add on's etc make it too easy to lose stuff and in my opinion that out weighs the disadvantage of having to pack smart and or dig around to get what you're after. Throw it in pull the draw cord flip the lid and whatever you dumped in there will still be there when you open it again..."

+1 to this

 

[Dave]

Another option.

Lightwave wildtrek 60 is a very nice pack. Made by the same company who make the CRUX pack.

http://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co...all-rucksacks-c134/lightwave-wildtrek-60-p219