I finally decided to get serious about hiking this summer and have been picking up small things over the winter and spring. Today I finally decided on a backpack; the Eureka Apollo MT. So far I love it, feels really comfortble and I think I am happy with it. Anyone else have any insight as to how I will make out with it?

Sorry. I haven’t used it, but welcome aboard!

The listed weight is 5 pounds 13 oz. Is that accurate?

You will love it, and then you will find something better and more comfortable and lighter, and then put it in the closet. It will stay there alone until you find a 3rd that will be better than the 2nd. The 2nd will join the 1st in the closet. They will have parties all night when you are out with #3. 4 and 5 will eventually come, making that closet pretty full. Then off to the thrift store or garage sale, or maybe donated to a lucky scout without much cash. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Welcome aboard. My brother has a Eureka and likes it. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I just weighed it here and would have to say that number is pretty much dead on.

I can see how that will happen to most people, and probably even myself at one point in time, but now I am not so much into materialism. I will probably not buy another backpack until this one is completely useless nd full of holes. To be honest I was even reluctant to purchase this one as I feel spending $140 on a backpack is kind of absurd, but I'd prefer to not mess my back up too much so I decided to purchase it.

Well, that's probably the most accurate description I've heard in a while <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Congrats- have you got any trip plans yet?
Remember to take photos for us to see where you went.

Heh heh. Print those words out so you can eat 'em later. Nothing like dozens of miles under the soles of your hiking shoes to make any price seem perfectly reasonable to shed a few pounds. Ask around, we'll be happy to sell you our old, heavy gear! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> But good luck, and feel free to prove us all wrong as long as you have a good time doing it.

HOLY CRAP <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> that spells a new pack in a no more then 6 months when he gets some mileage under the belt and learns a little.

That pack is the same weight as my pack, tent, sleeping bag and insulated air mattress combined! Methinks the OP may be indeed eating his words, as Hector mentioned earlier, when his knees and arches go bad or he develops stress fractures from trying to carry all that weight.

Drmike, I strongly recommend returning that pack. It's at least two pounds heavier than you should possibly need. Please look at the gear lists on the home page of this site for more reasonable gear weights.

If you really want to keep to this, then my suggestion is to have your ISP block this site from your computer.



And if you really want to not mess up your back, follow a lot of the advice that you find here on this site, which means you will probably want a lighter pack in a future that is much closer than you think.

Don't worry though, you can always sell stuff on Ebay, reducing the worlds net materialism, and lighter is often cheaper in the world of packs, tents, cooking... (sleeping bags are another story).

Now wait....give 'em a chance. If the stuff inside the pack is under 10-15 lbs then the carry weight isn't much different than anyone else here.

At least they are in the right forum to learn how to lighten the load. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Wait 'til he/she discovers alcohol stoves!!!! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

The addiction begins.................................

Come on guys, let's not berate the new guy or make him second guess his decisions. just yet <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> You can still be weight conscious (or is it conscientious?) without being totally obsessive about it. I've been using a 5+ lb pack for years, simply because it was one I already owned and no point in fixing what isn't broken, right? It worked fine for 15 years of backpacking European hostels as well as hiking trails. I keep my pack weight low (compared to the way most people pack, anyway) by being selective about what to bring before worrying about how many grams each item weighs. I just purchased its replacement, an overstock item, at around 5 lbs as well, mainly because I saved $150 over the slightly lighter pack I was considering, freeing up a considerable chunk of my budget for other, potentially lighter, things.

Anyway, welcome to backpacking, and hope you have fun!!

More specifically, making alcohol stoves.

Welcome to the wonderful world of backpacking! Don't let people make you feel doubt about your choices. In the end, what's comfortable for you is the right thing - until you decide it's not. If you want to carry extra weight because you like the pack go for it.

As for me, I went from a North Face (heavy) pack to a lightweight Osprey with more volume, because I wanted to keep pack weight in the 20's and not the 40's. It makes a big difference. Trekking poles help a lot too. I actually don't use all the space in the pack - I let my quilt loft up to fill most of the space and my gear fits in around it or in the side pockets.

If you do decide after using the Eureka for a while that something lighter is called for, I suggest going to REI, getting measured to be sure what you need, and wearing every pack in the store around the store - then order it online for a hundred bucks less. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Lol, this was my progression over the course of many years and certainly is wisdom. Bear in mind that if you keep up with backpacking and as you age, the weight of what you carry will become more important to you. Also bear in mind that this is "Lite Gear Talk" so be prepared for good-natured abuse when you mention heavy packs <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Alan

Very appropriate, I am actually on my 5th pack, which is actually my final pack (until it wears out...or I should say if it wears out). I have to keep going in the closet to smack the others around cause they make to much noise, and keep plotting against the 5th guy. I also use them occasionally. Gotta throw 'em a bone to keep 'em happy.

My 5th pack by the way is a McHale that weighs 4 lbs 3 oz. It's actually heavier than packs #3 (Osprey Aether 60) and #4 (GG Vapor Trail).

My Mchale is lighter when I take the top off and peel things off and use the roll top strap. Does yours do that?

I could take some of the accessories off, but mine is pretty stripped down as is. I have a summit flap, two water bottle side pockets, and a hipbelt pocket. Other than those things there is nothing else I can take off of it. I am 6'-5", so my pack is definitely larger than the same model for someone smaller. So the weight will differ depending on the size.