Recommend me a backpack please.....
- Thread starter KliersLC
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
I have 4 Dana Designs packs. 3 are original Bozeman Mt. packs. Dana reopened shop and named it Mstery Ranch. He does a lot of Special Forces custom stuff and high end packs. Don't bother looking unless you can afford the best. They are not cheap. My original Dana AstralPlane Overkill set me back just a bit under $500 new and it was worth every cent. 100 lbs loads carry better than 60 lbs loads in my other packs. A crappy fit feels horrible with little weight, whereas great fit allows more load.
http://www.mysteryranch.com/catalog/
SEAL pack chosen by the Navy.
http://www.mysteryranch.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5_18&products_id=28
http://www.mysteryranch.com/catalog/
SEAL pack chosen by the Navy.
http://www.mysteryranch.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5_18&products_id=28
Arc teryx packs are the heat.....but they're also a little out of your price.
I've also had great experience with Gregory packs......they ride well.....are well thought out regarding packing and unpacking.
If you go Ebay....you should be able to find a Gregory shasta or palisade for under $150.
All the packs mentioned though will be great compared to humping an ALICE pack. (I can still feel those shoulder straps and shelter-half digging into my back...)
Good luck, and Semper Fi!
I've also had great experience with Gregory packs......they ride well.....are well thought out regarding packing and unpacking.
If you go Ebay....you should be able to find a Gregory shasta or palisade for under $150.
All the packs mentioned though will be great compared to humping an ALICE pack. (I can still feel those shoulder straps and shelter-half digging into my back...)
Good luck, and Semper Fi!
Last edited:
hkeller said:
I had an old Alpenlite external since I was 15. Gave it away at a garage sale a few years ago, I still regret that move. I logged thousands of miles with that thing (and have the scars to prove it!).
http://www.badlandspacks.com/index.php
These may be out of your specified price range, but they make quality packs right here in the U.S.
I have a small day pack and the larger 2200 day pack and they are all day comfortable..
not too many choices in color though (they come in camo only)
These may be out of your specified price range, but they make quality packs right here in the U.S.
I have a small day pack and the larger 2200 day pack and they are all day comfortable..
not too many choices in color though (they come in camo only)
KliersLC said:Howdy folks,
Since the recent demise of three of my cruisers (pics when the everything blows over) I will be doing most of my offroading on foot.I'd like a 4000ci+ pack for less than 150 bucks, internal frame, not the $27 ebay specials. I've done quite a bit of backpacking and I have some ideas already, but I figured I'd ask here for the heck of it.
I appreciate any and all advice
Dan
I have a Dana Bridger that I'll sell ya. PM if interested.
wtmtnterror said:http://www.badlandspacks.com/index.php
These may be out of your specified price range, but they make quality packs right here in the U.S.
I have a small day pack and the larger 2200 day pack and they are all day comfortable..
not too many choices in color though (they come in camo only)
They are an offshoot of Vortex. I have a few Badlands for hunting and they are excellent.
White Shark said:
DITTO THIS X2!!!
I also have the dana design AstralPlane Overkill purchased before the operation left Bozeman. Awesome pack, I have stuffed that thing and carried more junk than you would believe and its the best fit I have ever encountered. Once again as Shark said not cheap but definately the best IMHO.
Shark your the first fawker I have ever run into with that pack as well as myself.
Good on ya
.
- Thread starter
- #31
Thanks again folks, my old pack was an off brand pack that cost me 80 bucks, but was the most comfortable thing I have ever worn. It made it feel like there was nothing in the pack. I am looking for this same effect, because I know from experience that it can be had in the less expensive packs. I have no doubt that the above mentioned superpacks are outstanding packs, but just as I wouldn't drop 50,000 into an outstanding corvette, I won't drop 500 dollars into an outastanding pack, when I will be happy with a good pack.
For now, kelty is out, slim on features, but the mountainsmith packs look like the best bang for the buck.
Thanks again,
Dan
For now, kelty is out, slim on features, but the mountainsmith packs look like the best bang for the buck.
Thanks again,
Dan
I have an older Dana Designs (Bozeman), Osprey pack and had a few others including Gregory and North Face. I highly recommend trying to find an older Dana Design pack. They were/are the Land Cruiser of backpacks.
It's really going to be more a matter of your body type and what fits right vs. price point. Pay more than planned if needed to get the awesome fit -- well worth it and will pay for itself after one long day on the trail.
Love, absolutely LOVE, my Arc Teryx Bora -- fits like a glove and wears as comfortable as a pair of fleece slippers all day long. It's a personal thing -- like shoes, if it fits, wear it regardless of price (within reason).
-dogboy- '87 FJ60
Love, absolutely LOVE, my Arc Teryx Bora -- fits like a glove and wears as comfortable as a pair of fleece slippers all day long. It's a personal thing -- like shoes, if it fits, wear it regardless of price (within reason).
-dogboy- '87 FJ60
hoser said:
I also have a Dana TerraPlane X I'll sell ya
Whatever you get, get one that loads from the top. To me, the less bells and whistles it has the better it is or less likely to break down.
I've got a wall of kelty back packs hanging in my garage and have hauled two custom make kelty packs all over Iraq. The simpler and lighter the better in my humble opinion. My two favorites are a Kelty radial frame external pack and a kelty coyote.
Most all big brand packs are made in the same overseas factory, they just do different runs depending on orders from the brand name owners.
Most all big brand packs are made in the same overseas factory, they just do different runs depending on orders from the brand name owners.
hkeller said:
I would not flame you, but disagree with a big portion of what you said later in your post. Especially the part about "You cannot beat an external frame pack for 90% of what people do." and "and generally all around better." In reality, you can, and they aren't. You see, if you are going to select 1 style of pack, the one to select is an internal frame. all around, it can do everything crucial an external can and an external cannot make this claim about an internal. That 1 fact alone says alot. Money is better spent buying a product that has multi-tasking ability than a poduct that limits you into a certain style of terrian and usage.
FACT: internal frame is better for load control. this is due to the ability to use the compression strap system to pull loads tight. external frames are generally sloppy as the pack is essentially a series of 'bags' hooked to a frame that does not give and the 'bags' can/do sway on the frame and cause load shift as generally, they do not have a good selection of straps attached... this is especially true if the pack is not full or as a trip moves along and water and food stores decrease opening up empty space you can't compress up.
FACT: internal frame is better for weight distribution. in short, you can get it closer to your center of gravity and adjust the load to ride on your hips better (which is where most of the weight should be.. not your shoulders as most people you fit seem to think) and have the frame rails bent to fit/contour your body style - unless they are a newer style carbon/plastic variety. this is better than an external frame that rides off the back pulling the load away from your center of gravity... but allowing cooling air to get on your back
Also, internal frames allow the placement of objects in the pack to be more controlled and thus, you can correctly adjust for load control and keep the load close to you rather than pulling you back.FACT: you can get a more custom fit, which helps the comfort level all the way around with pack usage, load carrying with an internal frame. belts, shoulders, frame rails, sizes, etc. as I said before, most QUALITY pack makers of the high end people talk about here just do not put the money into advancing external frame design for a reason.... they are just very limiting and an outdated technology that has very real limits.
FACT: external frames limit the type of terrain and packing you can do. generally good only for wide open trail, not technical, no major asscents or descents, limited mobility and activity. however, an internal can cover all of that AND allow you to use it in active situations like skiing, scrambling, climbing, adventure travel and racing, or just walking the streets in Italy.
FACT: bend a frame on an external can mean end of pack/trip...... especially in mid trip.
FACT: external has issues with taking on a plane, internal does not as frame is protected by pack.
also, "he dreaded sweaty back" has always been a lame argument to me. It is like you are saying who wants to sweat when they are out in wilderness packing? What do you expect. this isssue has never turned a packer back, but wrong pack style has. Kind of like the guys that do not cycle with a helmet becuase 'it is to hot'. Please, the sweaty issue in a backpack should not even be on the radar as a reason to buy a certain style of pack or not. just plain does not matter. if you are wearing a pack in the first place, you are likely hiking, and if you are hiking you are likely an active person.... so who cares if your back gets sweaty as it is just part of the game and style of pack and usage is why more important than your back sweating??? so, what should be "dreaded' is the wrong selection, fit of a pack or pair of boots..
last, my experience in this area (see previous post #13) demonstrated to me that the average external frame user was from an older generation that was stuck in a belief system of years of using an external frame and believed, that was it. I saw this A LOT in their teachings as well (for example, if they were a troop leader in the Scouts). The younger generations very rarely would consider that a viable option, given the reasons I gave here and my other post, and rarely ever opted for an external frame other than to test it to be knowledgable on the differences. Again, this says something.
I know I am painting with a broad brush here and trying to give the all around scenarios as they apply to the genral population. But, I am sure someone can step forward and say they have telemarked in an external frame or climbed a pitch on El Cap with an external frame, but that would not be the norm.
- Joined
- Oct 14, 2005
- Threads
- 16
- Messages
- 228
- Location
- Waynesboro, VA, USA
- Website
- www.overlandexperts.com
dogboy2 said:
Dogboy is correct. I work in a shop and fit a lot of packs.
Wantatlc:
Wow if that's not a flame, I don't know what is!!!!! Kidding . . . I was hoping my post would bring about that type of response. That's hopw we get good information out there.
I hear what you are saying. You make some good points. However, I stand by an external frame pack, unless you are traveling by plane or engaged in "technical" backpacking, i.e. climbing, skiing, etc.
I bought into the internal frame pack idea when they first became popular. I've had a few since then (expensive to more expensive; when a freind would get a new internal and say, "You have to get one of these." I would bite.). In spite of all of the good and logical arguments I hear in the favor of internals, I find myself picking up my Kelty Super Tioga (I am a big guy) more times than not. I am not a huge hiker, but I probably do 100 miles a year. I've yet to find an internal that is as comfortable as an external; even at five times the price.
A few of my freinds were die hard internal frame fans and often made fun of my external. However, several of these freinds have switched to external and have reluctantly admitted they like them much better. (They switched when they grew out of being more worried about looking cool, than actually having working gear! NOW, that's a flame!) They do a better job of transferring load to hips (which is where I, personnally, like it, as opposed to the back). They are easier to get in and out of when accessing gear. They stand-up when leaned against a tree or rock. It is easier to hang gear off of an external. Plus, I look sexier while I am wearing an external!!!!
Regarding the sweaty back issue. It is more than a discomfort. On really cold days, if your pack is preventing you from "breathing" away moisture, it can become a safety issue.
Regarding the bending frame issue. That is a red hearing. I've never bent a frame. I've lost one frame pin, but easily replaced it with a back-up. You are much more likely to tear a strap, which is as issue for internal or external.
Regarding center of gravity, I have never had a problem with the load not being near my center of gravity, unless we are talking about "on all fours" hiking. Even then, the improvement an internal pack affords is marginal. I tend to overpack. Even with heavy loads, I feel I am better about to move and hike with an external. (I do use trekking poles).
Regarding packing, with an external, I don't have to be concerned about my stove pump, etc. jabbing into my back. I hear what you are saying about diminishing food supplies effecting load disrtibution in an external frame pack. However, the fact is that it has never been an issue for me. Even on long trips where, after the first two-nights, I have removed 12 12 ouce cans of hops juice from the top of my pack. (Yes, I've been known to pack a softside cooler with beer and ice in the top of my pack. People ususally make fun of me until they are begging for a beer that evening.)
I may be the exception to the rule. I am big and I carry what some may consider are huge loads. I just want to make sure that external frame packs, in this day and age of expensive, hence internal, must be better, are not forgotten.
I think this is one of those situations where what looks good on paper (internal) does not perform in the real world as well as the altenative (external). Again, this is for non-plane travel and non-technical back packing.
Wow if that's not a flame, I don't know what is!!!!! Kidding . . . I was hoping my post would bring about that type of response. That's hopw we get good information out there.
I hear what you are saying. You make some good points. However, I stand by an external frame pack, unless you are traveling by plane or engaged in "technical" backpacking, i.e. climbing, skiing, etc.
I bought into the internal frame pack idea when they first became popular. I've had a few since then (expensive to more expensive; when a freind would get a new internal and say, "You have to get one of these." I would bite.). In spite of all of the good and logical arguments I hear in the favor of internals, I find myself picking up my Kelty Super Tioga (I am a big guy) more times than not. I am not a huge hiker, but I probably do 100 miles a year. I've yet to find an internal that is as comfortable as an external; even at five times the price.
A few of my freinds were die hard internal frame fans and often made fun of my external. However, several of these freinds have switched to external and have reluctantly admitted they like them much better. (They switched when they grew out of being more worried about looking cool, than actually having working gear! NOW, that's a flame!) They do a better job of transferring load to hips (which is where I, personnally, like it, as opposed to the back). They are easier to get in and out of when accessing gear. They stand-up when leaned against a tree or rock. It is easier to hang gear off of an external. Plus, I look sexier while I am wearing an external!!!!
Regarding the sweaty back issue. It is more than a discomfort. On really cold days, if your pack is preventing you from "breathing" away moisture, it can become a safety issue.
Regarding the bending frame issue. That is a red hearing. I've never bent a frame. I've lost one frame pin, but easily replaced it with a back-up. You are much more likely to tear a strap, which is as issue for internal or external.
Regarding center of gravity, I have never had a problem with the load not being near my center of gravity, unless we are talking about "on all fours" hiking. Even then, the improvement an internal pack affords is marginal. I tend to overpack. Even with heavy loads, I feel I am better about to move and hike with an external. (I do use trekking poles).
Regarding packing, with an external, I don't have to be concerned about my stove pump, etc. jabbing into my back. I hear what you are saying about diminishing food supplies effecting load disrtibution in an external frame pack. However, the fact is that it has never been an issue for me. Even on long trips where, after the first two-nights, I have removed 12 12 ouce cans of hops juice from the top of my pack. (Yes, I've been known to pack a softside cooler with beer and ice in the top of my pack. People ususally make fun of me until they are begging for a beer that evening.)
I may be the exception to the rule. I am big and I carry what some may consider are huge loads. I just want to make sure that external frame packs, in this day and age of expensive, hence internal, must be better, are not forgotten.
I think this is one of those situations where what looks good on paper (internal) does not perform in the real world as well as the altenative (external). Again, this is for non-plane travel and non-technical back packing.