Recommend a Rucksack

[Folcwigga]

I've picked up most of the essentials - decent clothes, a good knife, a saw, a cooking stove, a good sleeping bag and roll mat - and i've also got one of those cheap 2 men tents you use at festivals, which will be fine for a weekend or so away. But still haven't got a decent backpack to pack it all into. Any recommendations for a backpack for short term (2-3 days) camping?

 

[Lasse]

You could get one of the Highlander Forces backpacks, size depends on the size of your gear...
I've got the 88 model which I bought as first real backpack and am very happy with it, did buy a lighter (and more expensive) Lightwave Fastpack 50 by now because a lot of new gear is smaller & lighter...
Short term doesn't make much of a difference, since the big gear (sleeping bag, tent etc) is taken for any duration...

 

[susi]

I'm interested also in recommedations.

I've compared my latest Karrimor with the similar model from 10 years ago and am not impressed. Some stitching in the top pocket lining has already come undone on the newer model and the drawstring cord is thinner and snags and frays more easily.

I sometimes wonder if the old "reliable" brands will continue their downward spiral, in pursuit of greater profits. Sad really.

Anyway, sorry to divert things, back on track!

 

[Sainty]

As someone with six rucksacks, this is still a question that I would love to answer. I had a Highlander Forces NRT99 pack which didn't last the course. Sadly, the velcro back system gave up under heavy load which was quite inconvenient on Dartmoor in November. Luckily Endicotts and Highlander have faultless customer service and this was exchanged for a Berghaus Cyclops Vulcan pack which seems pretty much bomb proof and was exactly the same price as the Highlander.

There are four things that go into the 'perfect' pack in my opinion:

1. How far am I going to carry it? The further you need to walk the lighter you want the pack.
2. How much do you want to put into it? Obviously it needs to be large enough to carry all of your kit.
3. How well made is it? A difficult one to judge in the shop or on-line but sticking to the well known brands or a retailer that you trust should help here.
4. How much have you got to spend? The rest don't matter if you can't afford it.

Having said all that, the perfect pack probably doesn't exist. After all, what is good for one trip carrying lots of kit will probably not be suitable for a stroll on the moor in the spring.

Hope this helps to some extent.

Martin

 

[andybysea]

Susi i agree, ive a old (well about 20yrs)karrimor ruck and its definately better quality to todays sabre range and they are meant to be top quality.The material used in the strap's and the stitching of my old pack is of a much better quality i.m.o.

 

[hiho]

highlander forces one, has lasted a lot longer than the non sabre karrimor's that i have had...

 

[Ahjno]

Some need a 100 ltr bergan for 2-3 days, while others a 40 ltr is sufficient. It's all about the bulk of your kit (esp. sleeping bag), that will determine the required volume for a rucksack you need.

Favourites are:
- Army bergen (100 ltr)
- Karrimor Sabre 45 (mainsack: 45 ltr)
- Karrimor Sabre 65 (ms: 65 ltr)
- Karrimor Sabre 75 (ms: 75 ltr)
- Lowe Alpine Sting / Stingray (ms: 55 ltr)
- Lowe Alpine Saracen (ms: 100 ltr)
- Lowe Alpine Strike (ms: 40ltr)
- Snugpak
- Swedish army LK50 (??)
- Highlander Forces in various flavours

Try before you buy if possible.

Find a pack that suit your needs. Above listed sacks are for illustration of sacks that are used by people on here. Currently there's also a trend towards a more classic rucksack: Frost River packs, there are some threads around.

 

[johnboy]

Any recommendations for a backpack for short term (2-3 days) camping?

Hi,

Now there is a question.... Your first choice would be do you have to have Green or Camo or are you happy with any old colour.

Ahjno list covers all of the most popular bushcraft sacks in green or camo if you don't mind a few brighter colours then you have about 20-30 times the choice...

As other folk have pointed out once trusted brands such as Karrimor are no longer made like they were. However there are still a lot of really good sacks out there both new and second hand... If your kit is not overly bulky then I'd say something in the 50-60L bracket would be fine for a 2-3 day trip with a bit of capacity to spare.

Let us know how you go.

 

[johnboy]

highlander forces one, has lasted a lot longer than the non sabre karrimor's that i have had...

Karrimor is a different company to PRI who distrubute the Sabre Sacks under a licenced Karrimor name.

I think effectively Karrimor is broken into 3 bits

Clothing and Footwear ( owned by Sports warehouse)

Civvy Rucksacks ( owned by someone else IIRC)

Sabre Sacs and Loadbearing kit ( distributed by Police Resources International)

All the kit is made in the Far East AFAIK so the older sacs that were made in Accrington might be a bit better...

 

[kINGPIN]

I have a Snugpak bergen and cant recomend it enough. Its olive green, 100 litres. It can hold a lot of weight as I have proved many a time when I carry all my water and food when I wild camp. Virtually none of my kit is lightweight, yet it is always comfortable to carry.

 

[scottisha5]

Hi all,

I bought a Lowe Alpine Sting from Cotswolds (2 weeks ago) reduced fro £140 to £85 delivered. I've since used it twice and would recommend it in an instant. 55 litres main sack and 2 x 10 litre side pouches. Back adjuster system, well made and olive colour. The side pouches come with straps to make both side pouches into a day sack of 20 litres.

Hope this is of use

atb
John

 

[stevesteve]

As far as quiality goes I have no complaints about my Highlander bag.

I have carried it on a few longish walks (eg. 12 miles including the top of Helvellyn this summer) and it seemed comfortable on my back.

The advice about trying some on is good though.

Cheers,
Steve

 

[Trojan]

I would go with the Bugout Range! Very rugged and cheaper than Karrimor. Failing that snugpak. If you need any help PM me.

 

[tombear]

Find a shop that sells MacPacs and try them on. Even though the manufacture is now in China the quality control is just as good as when they were made in NZ.

After 20 years of using their bags I've had one buckle break (still functions so not changed it) and that was when i was hanging off a tree by it.

The colours can be a bit iffy.

ATB

Tom

 

[Pepperana]

Hi all,

I bought a Lowe Alpine Sting from Cotswolds (2 weeks ago) reduced fro £140 to £85 delivered. I've since used it twice and would recommend it in an instant. 55 litres main sack and 2 x 10 litre side pouches. Back adjuster system, well made and olive colour. The side pouches come with straps to make both side pouches into a day sack of 20 litres.

Hope this is of use

atb
John

Its sold out for that price i think. It doesn't appear on the website anymore .

 

[Kerne]

As someone with six rucksacks,

I'll see your six and raise you three...

AND, I'm in the process of making a tenth...

This, however, does not make me an expert, just an addict.