Backcountry Forum
Backpacking & Hiking Gear

Backcountry Forum
Our long-time Sponsor - the leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear
 
 
 

Amazon.com
Backpacking Forums
---- Our Gear Store ----
The Lightweight Gear Store
 
 WINTER CAMPING 

Shelters
Bivy Bags
Sleeping Bags
Sleeping Pads
Snow Sports
Winter Kitchen

 SNOWSPORTS 

Snowshoes
Avalanche Gear
Skins
Hats, Gloves, & Gaiters
Accessories

 ULTRA-LIGHT 

Ultralight Backpacks
Ultralight Bivy Sacks
Ultralight Shelters
Ultralight Tarps
Ultralight Tents
Ultralight Raingear
Ultralight Stoves & Cookware
Ultralight Down Sleeping Bags
Ultralight Synthetic Sleep Bags
Ultralight Apparel


the Titanium Page
WM Extremelite Sleeping Bags

 CAMPING & HIKING 

Backpacks
Tents
Sleeping Bags
Hydration
Kitchen
Accessories

 CLIMBING 

Ropes & Cordage
Protection & Hardware
Carabiners & Quickdraws
Climbing Packs & Bags
Big Wall
Rescue & Industrial

 MEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 WOMEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 FOOTWEAR 

Men's Footwear
Women's Footwear

 CLEARANCE 

Backpacks
Mens Apparel
Womens Apparel
Climbing
Footwear
Accessories

 BRANDS 

Black Diamond
Granite Gear
La Sportiva
Osprey
Smartwool

 WAYS TO SHOP 

Sale
Clearance
Top Brands
All Brands

 Backpacking Equipment 

Shelters
BackPacks
Sleeping Bags
Water Treatment
Kitchen
Hydration
Climbing


 Backcountry Gear Clearance

Topic Options
Rate This Topic
#134777 - 06/06/10 08:30 PM Rucksack Question
SilverWolf Offline
member

Registered: 05/31/10
Posts: 19
I wanted to know how to best decide if a rucksack fits? how do I measure for one? Is an ozark trail backpack worth anything? I'm currently just looking for a day pack.

Thanks,
Silver

Top
#134789 - 06/07/10 12:40 AM Re: Rucksack Question [Re: SilverWolf]
TomD Offline
Moderator

Registered: 10/30/03
Posts: 4963
Loc: Marina del Rey,CA
By "rucksack" I presume you mean a frameless backpack, which is what a rucksack is. As far as fitting a daypack with no waistbelt, if it is comfortable loaded, doesn't pinch your shoulders and rides fairly closely to your back, you'll be fine.

Fitting a big pack is another story-far more complicated. Some manufacturers, like Arctery'x, for example, have fitting instructions on their websites that work for most packs.

Ozark Trail is WalMart's house brand, made in China or somewhere in Asia. They are worth what you pay for them. Don't expect them to last forever. On the other hand, I have a small no name (literally) daypack I got for free on a job about 25 years ago and use it almost every day. It is made from Cordura type material and every time I pick it up I am amazed it is still in one piece. My guess is it cost less than $5 to make, but like I said, it has no label of any kind on it-never did. Whoever made it really knew what they were doing.

Unless you are climbing or backcountry skiing, spending a lot of money on a fancy daypack seems like a waste to me.
_________________________
Don't get me started, you know how I get.

Top
#134793 - 06/07/10 01:43 AM Re: Rucksack Question [Re: SilverWolf]
ChrisFol Offline
member

Registered: 07/23/09
Posts: 387
Loc: Denver, Colordo
Originally Posted By SilverWolf
I'm currently just looking for a day pack.

Thanks,
Silver


For a daypack, just purchase a regular school backpack. Cost is around $30. What do you really need to carry? Food and water? A down jacket?

Don't spend a fortune on a day-pack!

Top
#134801 - 06/07/10 09:25 AM Re: Rucksack Question [Re: ChrisFol]
SilverWolf Offline
member

Registered: 05/31/10
Posts: 19
Thanks for the information and ideas. The Ozark Trail backpacks that I've been looking at are about $19.00. It didnt seem to be a bad price to me- but then again that's why I post on the beginners section lol.

I'll look around at some sporting goods stores also to see if I find anything I like better, also. However, from what I understand I dont need to spend $100.00 to get a decent backpack.

It was mentioned about daypacks without waist-straps. The one's I've been looking at have waist-straps also.


Thanks for your help,
Silver

Top
#134802 - 06/07/10 09:32 AM Re: Rucksack Question [Re: SilverWolf]
finallyME Offline
member

Registered: 09/24/07
Posts: 2710
Loc: Utah
Waist straps on day packs are only for load stabilization. I have a small hydration pack that has a waist strap. It is nice when I ride my bike to put on the strap and keep the pack in the right place. But, these straps are not load bearing. Anyways, for a day pack, Ozark Trail is not bad. I buy them for my kids school bags. They last twice as long as similarly priced school bags with characters on them (spiderman, batman, disney princess. etc..).
_________________________
I've taken a vow of poverty. To annoy me, send money.

Top
#134818 - 06/07/10 08:30 PM Re: Rucksack Question [Re: SilverWolf]
Tango61 Offline
member

Registered: 12/27/05
Posts: 931
Loc: East Texas Piney Woods
Rucksack = Day pack ???

Not necessarily.


For day packs, I have had very good luck with Jansport and my son also has carried a pack from LLBean (he carries about 20lbs of books in it every day - don't ask me why).

The LLBean packs have a very good warranty (as does most of their gear) and they are not too expensive.
Here's a 'rucksack' for $39.50. 2,000 cu.in.
http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/54123?from=SR&feat=sr#

Here's a day pack for $59.00 1,250 cu.in.
http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/57203?from=SR&feat=sr



Edited by Tango61 (06/07/10 10:59 PM)
_________________________
If you think you can, you can. If you think you can't, you can't. Either way, you're right.

Top
#134830 - 06/08/10 01:26 AM Re: Rucksack Question [Re: Tango61]
TomD Offline
Moderator

Registered: 10/30/03
Posts: 4963
Loc: Marina del Rey,CA
By waistbelt, I was referring to a load bearing belt. Even my little daypack has a waist strap on it, which I never use.

Hydration packs never caught on with me. I have an early Camelback before they morphed into huge packs with bladders. Used it biking a few times, but it really doesn't hold enough for more than a short ride. For day hiking, I just bring along a couple of water bottles that I refill over and over. I use either a refillable water bottle of some kind or just use the plastic ones from Arrowhead or whoever that I have picked up here and there and refill those at home.

$20 for a daypack is fine. You can pay over $100 for a small pack and I've never seen the point, unless you want a superlightweight one or a ski pack. Look at our sponsors; they will have lots of packs on their websites.

BTW, if you have a Salvation Army or Goodwill nearby, you might finds a nice little pack at one of them for next to nothing.


Edited by TomD (06/08/10 01:34 AM)
_________________________
Don't get me started, you know how I get.

Top

Shout Box

Highest Quality Lightweight Down Sleeping Bags
 
Western Mountaineering Sleeping Bags
 
Lite Gear Talk - Featured Topics
Backcountry Discussion - Featured Topics
Make Your Own Gear - Featured Topics
Featured Photos
Spiderco Chaparral Pocketknife
David & Goliath
Also Testing
Trip Report with Photos
Seven Devils, Idaho
Oat Hill Mine Trail 2012
Dark Canyon - Utah
Who's Online
0 registered (), 241 Guests and 0 Spiders online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
Noodles, McCrary, DanyBacky, Rashy Willia, WanderBison
13240 Registered Users
Forum Links
Disclaimer
Policies
Site Links
Backpacking.net
Lightweight Gear Store
Backpacking Book Store
Lightweight Zone
Hiking Essentials

Our long-time Sponsor, BackcountryGear.com - The leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear:

Backcountry Forum
 

Affiliate Disclaimer: This forum is an affiliate of BackcountryGear.com, Amazon.com, R.E.I. and others. The product links herein are linked to their sites. If you follow these links to make a purchase, we may get a small commission. This is our only source of support for these forums. Thanks.!
 
 

Since 1996 - the Original Backcountry Forum
Copyright © The Lightweight Backpacker & BackcountryForum