Help a newbie out

[Wander]

Adam - like you, I also live in God's Own Land. So I know you've got Platoon Stores just down the road in Rochester. Worth having a browse around there for a pack. Mind you, there's also Golding Surplus in Canterbury and Herne Bay. They do these surplus packs:

British army daysack

British army daysack, ideal modern style rucksack. Good build quality, good price and of course black goes with everything. Heavy duty cordura construction. The lid features quick release buckle fastening, a top pocket accessed via a zip and a name tag holder with a velcro cover. The neck can be...

www.goldingsurplus.co.uk

They're a very generous 30L. Good sized compartments.
I had one but ruined it by trying to do a modification that went wrong. For just £20 you can't go far wrong. And you can always pop in there and choose the one in best condition.
All depends on what your price range is.

 

[Erbswurst]

Is it possible to adjust it deeper or does it usually sit so uncomfortably high?

 

[TLM]

Some twenty years ago I took part in a project to build a better pack for a local manufacturer. During that we tested about all at the time available packs here. They were 60 l minimum and all with "load bearing" hip belts. We had 20 people carrying them with 15 kg load for a small trip of about 1.5 km in the woods. About 25 packs and 20 people every one doing at least 12 test runs we ended up with some surprising statistics. The most expensive one was liked by nobody, we just could not figure out how to adjust it to fit a human body (about 1/3 of the testers were female). The overall winner was the cheapest one. After some head scratching we studied it and found that somebody (who apparently knew what he was doing) had bent the internal Al slats to a proper shape, also in a way that adjusting it to almost all was quite easy.

Long story short we ended up with a pack that was very easy to carry and adjust but the company did not take that into production claiming that as nobody else had anything like it just can't be a good idea. Oh well.

 

[Erbswurst]

Yes, the outdoor industry loves complicated stuff. Every strap a selling argument.

I prefere by far the 3 most simple constructions on the market:

1.) HEIM 34 litres German Army, Cordura

German Infantry Backpack Cordura

With its 34 liter capacity, is the German army backpack the perfect roomy day pack for hiking or short trips. The large main compartment has an extra pocket with Hook and Loop for the BW sleeping pad (sleeping pad not included). In the side pockets you can store for example water bottles or...

www.asmc.com

2.) Savotta Jääkäri L with Särmä TST side pouches XL

Savotta Jääkäri L rucksack

The Jääkäri L is a large, multi-day pack designed as an update to the old 1980s Finnish Border Guard patrol pack.

www.varusteleka.com

Särmä TST General purpose pouch XL

A straightforward general purpose pouch with extra secure double closure. This extra large-sized pouch works perfectly as an extra side pouch on a rucksack.

www.varusteleka.com

3.) Berghaus Atlas IV

Backpack Atlas IV

This backpack is ideal for long hikes far away from civilization. With a total capacity of 110 liters, 90 in the main compartment and the 10 in each of the side pockets, it offers enough space for your equipment. The Cyclops II carrying system distributes the load evenly and has a ventilation...

www.asmc.com

 

[lostplanet]

Adam - like you, I also live in God's Own Land. So I know you've got Platoon Stores just down the road in Rochester. Worth having a browse around there for a pack. Mind you, there's also Golding Surplus in Canterbury and Herne Bay. They do these surplus packs:

British army daysack

British army daysack, ideal modern style rucksack. Good build quality, good price and of course black goes with everything. Heavy duty cordura construction. The lid features quick release buckle fastening, a top pocket accessed via a zip and a name tag holder with a velcro cover. The neck can be...

www.goldingsurplus.co.uk

They're a very generous 30L. Good sized compartments.
I had one but ruined it by trying to do a modification that went wrong. For just £20 you can't go far wrong. And you can always pop in there and choose the one in best condition.
All depends on what your price range is.

semma4 in maidstone as well https://semma4.co.uk/

 

[lostplanet]

If you havent come across "girl outdoors" shes actually doing it, has some excellent videos, very laid back and great tips.

you should get an idea of whats worth having in the bag or "daysack" you decide to buy but, go out and experiment, its the best way to learn.

 

[Erbswurst]

At first one should have a look in the own basement, attic and shed, then surch in the storages from grandma and dad, uncle and aunt, ask neighbours and friends about old woolen blankets and clothing, camping, fishing and hunting and especially military stuff.

Usually like this one gets most of the needed stuff together, especially if one lives a bit at the countryside, where people tend to keep things instead of getting rid of stuff they don't use because they need to rent the space in a city centre. And the flea markets are always worth a look too.

A lot of my stuff I got like this and it was for free or did cost next to nothing.

If the rucksack volume is large enough the brands and models do not matter.
Every well sized aluminium pot is OK and every old spoon or metal cup, most woolen clothing, all military equipment, most working clothing, most old pocket knives, every sharpening stone, every butcher knife and so on. The older the stuff the better.

 

[lostplanet]

Decided to give my ankle a stretch and test out my new lowas. This is all im taking for a wander local im familiar with. Its nice and fresh so got a warm layer, the rest is just standard carry really, for my needs anyway. Nice coffee and peace n quiet.

 

[Erbswurst]

Hey, @KentishAdam !

Are you still on board here???

 

[Scottieoutdoors]

@Erbswurst

Just want to say, I've read a few of your posts on different threads and I want to thank you for your details about what you carry. Really is food for thought for me and I'm sure a lot of other relative newbies.

I've done a fair bit of camping over the years, but I've never really made any attempt to become somewhat self contained. Most trips involve a vehicle in not too much of a trudge away and/or a few trips back and forth.

 

[Erbswurst]

With pleasure!

I think most experienced persons use old equipment that is out of production, and most people who own new equipment aren't so much experienced and can't compare what they own.

That's why I try to explain from a pretty experienced point of view what is in my opinion the best choice out of current production.

There are really very big quality and price differences and even more important:
The handy stuff often isn't more expensive than the bad constructed one.

When my generation started, the choice of equipment was pretty easy. There was only the equipment of the own army affordable. And of course it worked well together as a system.

Nowadays with all the stuff from civil makers that doesn't fit together it's even for me quiet complicated to figure out what works well together.

For a beginner it must be the pure horror!