Backpack size

[chapinb]

When car camping, making a full camp for a few days but need to hike a mile or so, I use my aether 75. It usually is loaded with north of 75 pounds in these cases. Meat, hatchet, booze, ect ect. It's not pleasant, but fairly comfortable considering the weight I'm carrying.

[Shug]

Backpack size
What is best size backpack for year around use including winter camping

Thanks for info

I am able to get an entire Winter load in my ULA Catalyst 75 lier pack.

Shug

[OlTrailDog]

I have had many packs over a lifetime of backpacking. For a number of years I settled on the Dana Design packs since they were made over in Bozeman, MT at the time. The Terraplane was my biggest pack and at one time was the go to pack for AT hikers. It was a an 80L pack multiday pack. Probably my favorite was their 60L Glacier pack and the Bomb pack for day climbing gear. They sold the brand to K2 and operations was shifted to Mexico and from there quality went downhill. Dana stated Mystery Ranch packs later on.

When the ultra light backpacking phase started I came to the realization that there were much better options than the 7 pound Terraplane or the 5 pound Glacier. I sold a number of my Danas, but still have the Bomb and the Terraplane stored away. I also realized that I could definitely trim down my gear and that a 60L pack was more than sufficient for most three season back packing. I auditioned several packs including an Osprey Atmos, an ArcTeryx Bora, a Zpacks Blast, Exped Lighting 60L, ULA Ohm, and a ULA Catalyst. My favorites being the Exped and ULA Catalyst. I was back east on the AT with a high school friend and he had a fable vintage Kelty White Cloud. After I got back I bumped across a Kelty White Cloud Vapor on ebay and sniped it. At around 60L, it has become my go to pack, although I changed out the waist belt for one with pockets on the belt for my camera (from a ULA).

The Vapor is 60L and it works for me. It doesn't have any of the detachable pockets. Last spring I sniped another White Cloud 5650 off ebay for $200 new with all the detachable pockets. With the pockets attached either would be sufficient for winter camping too. But I no longer winter camp. Currently, I leave the 5650 in the plastic bag and will use the Vapor until it is done, or I'm done ;-). Bottom line is the 60L size is sufficient for my needs. I have not gone the ultra light 40L minus run and gun it route like some prefer. I just do the basic backpacking and enjoy it.

Another thing I would say about winter camping when I did into the adventure was I preferred to use a pulk, behind XC skis. It is also doable behind snowshoes. I used a smaller pack with a firm waist belt from one of the full size back packs as a pulk harness. This kept my day gear handy in the smaller pack while most of the gear was towed behind in the pulk. For me this was my favorite winter setup.

I was curious about the handle Towgote. I worked for a decade at the bottom of Togwotee Pass at the Blackrock Ranger Station as the Teton Wilderness Manager and as the outfitter-guide permit administrator. Incredible winter country with 3 feet of cold powder snow every winter. Every long long winter. Does this place have anything to do with your handle? I know Togwotee Lodge is a mecca snow machine destination for folks from the midwest seeking to enjoy the powder.

[OlTrailDog]

I have had many packs over a lifetime of backpacking. For a number of years I settled on the Dana Design packs since they were made over in Bozeman, MT at the time. The Terraplane was my biggest pack and at one time was the go to pack for AT hikers. It was a an 80L pack multiday pack. Probably my favorite was their 60L Glacier pack and the Bomb pack for day climbing gear. They sold the brand to K2 and operations was shifted to Mexico and from there quality went downhill. Dana stated Mystery Ranch packs later on.

When the ultra light backpacking phase started I came to the realization that there were much better options than the 7 pound Terraplane or the 5 pound Glacier. I sold a number of my Danas, but still have the Bomb and the Terraplane stored away. I also realized that I could definitely trim down my gear and that a 60L pack was more than sufficient for most three season back packing. I auditioned several packs including an Osprey Atmos, an ArcTeryx Bora, a Zpacks Blast, Exped Lighting 60L, ULA Ohm, and a ULA Catalyst. My favorites being the Exped and ULA Catalyst. I was back east on the AT with a high school friend and he had a fable vintage Kelty White Cloud. After I got back I bumped across a Kelty White Cloud Vapor on ebay and sniped it. At around 60L, it has become my go to pack, although I changed out the waist belt for one with pockets on the belt for my camera (from a ULA).

The Vapor is 60L and it works for me. It doesn't have any of the detachable pockets. Last spring I sniped another White Cloud 5650 off ebay for $200 new with all the detachable pockets. With the pockets attached either would be sufficient for winter camping too. But I no longer winter camp. Currently, I leave the 5650 in the plastic bag and will use the Vapor until it is done, or I'm done ;-). Bottom line is the 60L size is sufficient for my needs. I have not gone the ultra light 40L minus run and gun it route like some prefer. I just do the basic backpacking and enjoy it.

Another thing I would say about winter camping when I did into the adventure was I preferred to use a pulk, behind XC skis. It is also doable behind snowshoes. I used a smaller pack with a firm waist belt from one of the full size back packs as a pulk harness. This kept my day gear handy in the smaller pack while most of the gear was towed behind in the pulk. For me this was my favorite winter setup.

I was curious about the handle Towgote. I worked for a decade at the bottom of Togwotee Pass at the Blackrock Ranger Station as the Teton Wilderness Manager and as the outfitter-guide permit administrator. Incredible winter country with 3 feet of cold powder snow every winter. Every long long winter. Does this place have anything to do with your handle? I know Togwotee Lodge is a mecca snow machine destination for folks from the midwest seeking to enjoy the powder.

[dkurfiss]

Folks, please get this thread back on the topic of pack size needed for hammock gear and not the general items. Other wise the thread will be moved to the Donating Member area which will do the OP no good.

Thanks

[cmoulder]

Folks, please get this thread back on the topic of pack size needed for hammock gear and not the general items. Other wise the thread will be moved to the Donating Member area which will do the OP no good.

Thanks

In line with this, in my experience hammocking doesn't require a bigger backpack than would be needed for ground dwelling... with equivalent gear for similar conditions. For a good long time I put off even considering hammocks because I saw most people using big, heavy setups and did not realize there are much lighter options.

[TxAggie]

In line with this, in my experience hammocking doesn't require a bigger backpack than would be needed for ground dwelling... with equivalent gear for similar conditions. For a good long time I put off even considering hammocks because I saw most people using big, heavy setups and did not realize there are much lighter options.

This is certainly true if comparing to a free-standing tent. The underquilt and tarp combined are about the same or even a little smaller than the tent and poles.


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[OlTrailDog]

who cares a back pack with only a hammock. I usually go with general items AND a hammock.

[cmoulder]

who cares a back pack with only a hammock. I usually go with general items AND a hammock.

LOL well I'm referring of course to the whole kit and kaboodle.

The point being that if you're using a tent setup and you switch to hammock gear it isn't going to appreciably increase the size/weight of your load enough to require a larger backpack than the one you're currently using.

That's why I said somewhere above "It depends on what else you're caryring"

[Five Tango]

If an ultralight tent and a hammock occupy about the same amount of space when packed then the real difference in the two systems is the space required to carry the tarp.My heavier silpoly 20D Superfly takes up considerably less space than my HG Standard but there is about a 10 oz weight difference the way I have them configured.

That said,I am getting all my gear,including clothes,20 degree quilts(3/4 length uq),cook kit,food,and fuel in my ULA custom CDT pack with load lifters,hoop,and full detachable belt,and the fit to my body is the best pack yet....(note,I did attach a 2 oz Zpacks multi pack to my shoulder straps for a handy place to access maps,filter,water bag etc.,snack,etc)

With a liter of water the load is about 25 to 26 pounds total.