Your Favorite Pack........Post it up and tell us why.

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RDB

Social climber

Feb 21, 2013 - 02:22pm PT

Pretty much the same pack I have been using since the late '70s. The direct ancestor of a Chouinard Fish pack. Just in modern materials made by Randy @ CCW with a few tweaks. These days I generally go with no lid and have two versions. One to climb (clean exterior) with and one to BC ski with, that has a quick compression/ski attachment system.

details here:
http://coldthistle.blogspot.com/2011/01/my-climbing-pack.html

Roots

Mountain climber

SoCal

Feb 21, 2013 - 02:50pm PT

Cold Cold World..modified Valdez by Randy.

paul roehl

Boulder climber

california

Feb 21, 2013 - 04:47pm PT

When super topo is good, it's really good. Somebody from the taco just emailed me a website where I found that red canvas rucsac with a leather bottom and I ordered it and I'm pretty darn happy... Thanks! I've looked and looked for one. Much appreciated.

The Call Of K2 Lou

climber

Squamish

Feb 21, 2013 - 05:51pm PT

Arc-Teryx Muira 50

+ Another.

And yet another still. Love it! I have a self-imposed "Minimum Weight" for my Miura. It doesn't go out the door unless it weighs at least 15 kg/32 lbs. I've had two potential epics turn out to be fondly remembered nights under the stars as a result. Also, the Pali ropebag that fits in the pack bottom is just the bee's knees.

I'm sure many a SuperTopoan is familiar with this Canuck brand. I have too many to count, but my standard every-single-daypack for about 12 years was a 30 litre Brio Crag. Still use it, still looks new(ish), and bet the rent that it'll be around long after I've been made into worms' meat.

LuckyNeck

Trad climber

the basement of Lou's Tavern

Feb 22, 2013 - 01:02am PT

It's mine and it fits like a glove.

whitemeat

Trad climber

San Luis Obispo, CA

Feb 22, 2013 - 10:15am PT

well I have two:

the metoulious sentinal or quarter dome for cragging, mine got stolen last year:(.

and for wearing while you climb to carry your lunch, water, and that extra cam on a multipitch adventure in yosemite the REI flash, its only $25!

Lynne Leichtfuss

Sport climber

moving thru

Topic Author's Reply - Feb 22, 2013 - 10:30pm PT

Thanks for all the info garnered so far. I hope you all keep it coming. Helps many to decide what the heck is there for them in todays gear world.

I sometimes wonder, being in the "in between" generation, is the frameless pack I just got for back packing better than the old Kelty exterior framed packs?

I work in an outdoor sports gig and most are too young to even have experienced the exterior frames.

Used a great interior frame on my recent desert trip but....I have nothing to compare with. Jammed a lot into it at 45 lbs. and it carried fine.

I guess it's not about the gear. It's about you and going and making your dreams come true. Maybe too much emphasis on gear and not enough on the dreams. lynnie

username

climber

Feb 22, 2013 - 10:49pm PT

I'm too lazy to take pics of my actual pack, but I've been using a Cilogear 40b for the last 2 years for everything from backpacking the Grand Canyon, hiking and peak bagging, carrying gear to the crag, trail work, flights, biking to work, you name it.

Reinforced the bottom and I couldn't be happier. Super light and comfy.

Fletcher

Trad climber

The great state of advaita

Feb 22, 2013 - 10:57pm PT

Hi Lynnie,

Here is a general rule for internal vs. external (as always, there are exceptions):

External frame packs are very good at what they do: carrying large loads on trails. They excel when you need to strap odd shaped things on. Think Norman Clyde and cast iron fry pans!

Internal frame packs are better when off trail and scrambling, since (when fit properly) it fits your body more closely and is more inline with your skeletal structure (that's the idea anyway). They tend to hold less that externals.

So it depends on what you want to do. It really helps to find someone who can help you fit a pack. Just like shoes, on model is great for one and a nightmare for someone else. Have someone measure your torso length (C4 vertebra—the bump at the base of your neck to your tailbone). Once you know that length, it will help you size a pack.

Happy trails!
Eric

Jaybro

Social climber

Wolf City, Wyoming

Feb 22, 2013 - 11:08pm PT

I guess it's not about the gear. It's about you and going and making your dreams come true. Maybe too much emphasis on gear and not enough on the dreams. lynnie

-words to live by!!

Gear's cool too though!

I had an adventure yesterday made possible by the technology in a silent partner. Other ways I could have done it but that was definitely the most elegant tool for that outing!

Lynne Leichtfuss

Sport climber

moving thru

Topic Author's Reply - Feb 22, 2013 - 11:25pm PT

Thanks for the post Jaybro. Are you ever coming to So Cal or shall I see you at TPR? How is life and teaching and the Wyde? Yo stellar. Cheers, lynnie

ps and how be the darling nieces and family? Again Cheers, joy and peace.

hobo_dan

Social climber

Minnesota

Feb 23, 2013 - 10:31am PT

I have a 37 year old Kletter Works Rock pack aka: "Old Orange" that has been up and down and all around. It's a college graduate- after 8 years, it has been to the Winds, the Valley, Tuolumne, Devils Tower and the City--NOT New York! It's held smokes for folks in Mexico; every time it went to Mexico
It likes to go skiing and canoeing-portaging is it's favorite. One sad winter a yogurt was left in it for a few months but that only added to the mystique- a little time with the garden hose and it was all good. Last summer it carried rocks off the Lewis River trail and lately its been trying to learn to fly fish.
The zipper broke a long time ago but it got sort of fixed and is making do--kinda like its owner
It's been a pretty reliable friend
I'd take a picture but it is shy right now and is pouting in the basement because I told it I was writing about it. Funny how you learn to overlook things

Lynne Leichtfuss

Sport climber

moving thru

Topic Author's Reply - Feb 23, 2013 - 11:04pm PT

hobo dan, zipper fixer places abound. There is a fantastic one next to Nomad Ventures in Joshua Tree....your shipping would probably cost more than they would charge to fix your pack.

Loved your story. Packs are so special. No matter how they're built they manage to bring us along unknown paths and over landscape we've never dreamed of, enriching our soul, our mind, our bodies.

I am packing my new one for a Mountain Backpack next week-end. We (the pack and I) are talking about the essentials of what lynnie needs to bring. The pack has more wisdom than I at this point. Smiles and Peace tonight. LL

The Lisa

Trad climber

Da Bronx, NY

Feb 23, 2013 - 11:19pm PT

Very nice idea for a thread - who doesn't love to talk about gear.
I have had many faithful packs over the years. Some eventually fell apart from sweat salt and smelt awful despite repeated washing.
My current fave is this Lowe Alpine Hyperlite Mountain Attack 45 - a very simple no-frills top loader with gear loops on the waist belt.
On mountaineering/glacier trips I found my pack waist belt would sit on top of my harness making it hard to access ice screws, pickets, etc. on the harness gear loops. It is much easier to access gear hung off the pack's waist belt, and I am still safely tied into the climbing harness.

It carries heavy stuff really well - in this photo it contains a 62# bag of cement.

The Lisa

Trad climber

Da Bronx, NY

Feb 23, 2013 - 11:22pm PT

After the 2010 Death Race the pack stank of onions for a while - we had to carry 10# of onions as part of the mandatory gear, and repeated river crossings made for an oniony slush in there. I left it in the yard for a week and the smell mostly dissipated.

Lynne Leichtfuss

Sport climber

moving thru

Topic Author's Reply - Feb 23, 2013 - 11:34pm PT

Lisa, you look like you enjoy life. Hope to meet you someday. Ciao, lynnie

Anastasia

climber

Home

Feb 23, 2013 - 11:40pm PT

It's a Mystery Pack built by the original owner/designer of Dana Design. The pack is strong, distributes weight well which means it feels good to carry, it is highly organized and it can go. The price is higher, but since it's built in Montana and is the last pack I plan to buy... It works for me.

I love it.

Lynne Leichtfuss

Sport climber

moving thru

Topic Author's Reply - Feb 23, 2013 - 11:48pm PT

Ana, after all you've schooled me on in the outdoor arena I am a believer in your pack. But doubt it will be your last one young un'. It may be your kiddos pack ultimately and then Mama gets the new "Porche" Pack.

Miss you and the Dr. Big time. It was so great to see you and the babe at TPR this past summer. If you come up again let me know and I'll get time off.

Love to you and your beautiful family, lynne.