Okay, my background. I've been camping in trailers, I can start a fire from flint, and love the outdoors and hiking. So at 34 I'm going on my first backpacking trip this October, it seems to be a natural progression.

I'm looking at not just a starter backpack, but a pack that will last me a few years and I'll be able to do several nights with, but in a budget.

So, I've been looking around, and I know 50/55L is on the larger side, but I think I'll be okay with that.

I'm comparing these two:
GoLite Jam 50L Pack

and
High Sierra Classic Series Explorer 55 Internal Frame Pack

The GoLite, is about 1/3 the weight, a little smaller, but $20 more.

The GoLite seems like a solid investment, but I'm leaning toward the High Sierra for price.

I'm looking for any thoughts or experiences on use, wear-ability, pockets, etc. I'm a shorter, yet husky guy. What do you folks think?

Forget the price difference, $20 is insignificant. The Golite Jam has a 30 pound weight capacity. I have a Golite Quest (much beefier suspension system) and I think they over-rate the weight limit. If you plan to carry more than 30 pounds then the Jam is not suitable. I would guess that the Jam would get a bit uncomfortable above 25 pounds. I could not find the specifications for weight that is comfortably carried on the other pack. But it does look like it would have a higher weight capacity. I would buy both, pack them with your intended gear, and see which works the best, walk around the house for several hours with the packs on, and then return the one you do not want. It may cost a little to ship/return the second, but I think it is worth the effort. If both are locally accessible from stores, there would not be shipping return costs. Fit is a very important factor in any pack. The advantage of buying from a store (not mail-order) is that the staff will fit the pack to your back (they have experience at this).

I am not a High Sierra fan. It is not that they make bad products, but I can usually find a cheaper, lighter and more proven brand. Kelty is the first that comes to mind.

Forget the brand. Forget the dollars. Find the pack that 1) fits and 2) carries your gear comfortably without throwing you off balance, killing your back or hips, or requiring you to hang junk on the outside of it.

And it needs to FIT. That requires measuring and proper sizing.

If the gear you are starting with weighs collectively in the neighborhood of 30-40 lbs before you add water and food, get something with a frame, internal or external. GoLite has a "barely there" frame and to comfortably pack a large amount of gear in one takes skill in packing and balancing the load.

Kind of like comparing apples to chainsaws. As noted the Jam is a fine pack for low, fast-packing loads and must be packed and fitted perfectly. The HS model is an attempt at a do-everything-for-everyone pack that probably does nothing particularly well.

As always with pack selection, determine your total gear and supply load first so you know the weight and volume, and only then start pack shopping. Otherwise you're guaranteed to be buying at least two packs in the process.

Cheers,

I have a High Sierra 35 and adore it. It fits my frame nicely and has several handy outside pockets here and there that I didn't see on some other brands. I find it to pack more than it seems it should. The zippers and stitching seem to be of good quality and the pack carry's like a dream on my frame.

I ended up getting the Mountainsmith Haze 50 . I think I like it. Going to go out this weekend with it.