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
#94227 - 04/13/08 04:20 AM Backpack Suggestions?
Sharne2SA Offline
newbie

Registered: 04/13/08
Posts: 1
Hi,

I am going to be backpacking around South America later this year and am trying to decide on what backpack to buy. I am female and of a slight build, 5ft 5 and 47kg in weight, small shoulders, waist and back. I have also had a few small back problems in the past so need something that will give me the best support possible.

Any suggestions?

Thankyou.

Top
#94228 - 04/13/08 06:46 AM Re: Backpack Suggestions? [Re: Sharne2SA]
Paddy_Crow Offline
member

Registered: 11/08/04
Posts: 2285
Loc: Michigan
There are many threads on here devoted to newcomers asking for pack advice. The answer is consistent. The first thing you need to do is get together everything you intend to carry and determine how much volume you need and how much weight will be in it. Without that information, you're bound to wind up with too much or too little pack.

That said, I would point you to ULA (Ultra Light Adventures) once you know what you need. Luxury Lite might be another good option for you, you can customize it for your needs. Not sure how well it will do on an airplane or a train, though.

Top
#94229 - 04/13/08 09:52 AM Re: Backpack Suggestions? [Re: Sharne2SA]
TomD Offline
Moderator

Registered: 10/30/03
Posts: 4963
Loc: Marina del Rey,CA
Paddy is right. There are many threads here that answer the same or similar qiestion. Use the searh function to find them.

Some manufacturers make packs specifically for women. Granite Gear is one of them.

One caveat-if by backpacking, you mean traveling with a backpack, as opposed to hiking, I would stay away from ultralight packs-they are not made to take the abuse of being tossed around by baggage handlers, shoved into trunks or luggage compartments on buses and trains or run through airline carousels. Packs made out of Cordura will last a lot longer than silnylon.

For airline travel, get yourself a cheap, lightweight duffle bag to hold the pack-this will protect the straps from being ripped off or damages. Consider this bag to be expendable.

LL has its fans, but external frame packs are likely to get damaged in transit because the frame can easily get caught on something.


Edited by TomD (04/13/08 10:05 AM)
_________________________
Don't get me started, you know how I get.

Top
#94230 - 04/13/08 10:07 AM Re: Backpack Suggestions? [Re: TomD]
phat Offline
Moderator

Registered: 06/24/07
Posts: 4107
Loc: Alberta, Canada
Quote:

One caveat-if by backpacking, you mean traveling with a backpack, as opposed to hiking, I would stay away from ultralight packs-they are not made to take the abuse of being tossed around by baggage handlers, shoved into trunks or luggage compartments on buses and trains or run through airline carousels. Packs made out of Cordura will last a lot longer than silnylon.


Yes, second on that. When I take silnylon stuff on an airplane I either carry it on or put it inside a hockey bag to get it there.

OTOH, I'm taking a trip to Japan in a month, and my better half is going with me, knowing we'll be walking and taking trains everywhere, I know I was gonna take a backpack and she decided she would. My wife doesn't backpack at all. However, we went into MEC and I went to the "travel packs" - the cordura types, some with wheels and some without. Attempting to put these on her with 7 kg of weight in them produced nothing but complaints about how uncomfortable they were, and she hated them. Similarly with many of the men's packs.
Finally I put a Gregory Jade 50 on her, and this she actually doesn't mind. So, while not an UL pack, the Jade 50 is acutally on the lighter end of things for mass market packs. and she doesn't mind carrying a (small) load in it. She also massively objected to the heavy "travel"
packs and wanted something lighter, and as it turns out, cut for women (duh).

The moral of the story is, figure out how much you're gonna carry, and try them on. everyone is different. There is no "best pack" - just because one pack works for me doesn't mean it will work for you.
_________________________
Any fool can be uncomfortable...
My 3 season gear list
Winter list.
Browse my pictures


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 (), 257 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