[pct-l] Internal frame pack with bear canister

[Jason Moores]

My full pack weight last year was about 45 lb
but hope to start down the light-load path.

I guess that it depends on how quickly you'll be traveling that path. If you
plan to buy more lightweight gear in the near future, hold off on the pack
until you have what you plan to carry. If it will be a slow process and your
plan on buying a five pound pack...

I carried a Aether 70 for several thousands of miles with very few
complaints. Osprey packs are some of the best around. Gregory is another
company that makes excellent "heavy" packs. The Aether's 70 drawbacks, as I
found them to be: Reaching your water bottle can be a hassle unless you are
limber. The volume of the 70 exceeds what the hip belt can handle - the pack
rides comfortably until the 45-50# mark but the belt begins slipping on your
hips with more weight, causing you to have to crank down on the belt until
well past a comfortable point(I have heard this complaint from several
friends that own the pack, also). It's not hard to overload this pack with
all of it's space. All in all the Aether is a solid pack. It will handle
your BV with no problem. Either in the sleeping bag compartment or in the
main body.

If you can get your weight down to the 30-35# mark, and are not ready to
switch to a 2# pack, the Atmos that Shroomer recommended is an excellent
option. Do a shakedown of all of your gear. Take a hike with your current
load. Do another shakedown. Take what is left with you to the REI, load up a
pack or three with yer shit, get a feel for what will work for you. Shifting
to a 60L or 50L will drop the pack weight to a more reasonable level but you
may start hitting issues with your canister with a 45-50L bag, depending on
the design.

Jackass

On Sun, Apr 10, 2011 at 11:40 AM, Rob Solorio <robsolorio at sbcglobal.net>wrote:

> I have been using an REI Wonderland Trekker (external frame) for the last
> 10+
> years and am looking for a new pack this season.  The bulk of my trips are
> weekenders but once a year I do a weeklong PCT section hike (Yosemite to
> Shasta
> is our 10-year cumulative goal).  My full pack weight last year was about
> 45 lb
> but hope to start down the light-load path.  I carry a BV500 bear canister
> which
> hung nicely to the bottom of my external so I want to find a comfortable,
> lightweight, can-handle-40-lb and a bear canister internal frame pack.
>
> Backpacker has heaped praise on the REI Flash 65 as the greatest all-around
> pack
> but the guy at my local REI said that he much prefers the Osprey Aether
> 70.  It
> weighs almost 2 lb more but he said the comfort of it would more than
> compensate.
>
> So, REI Flash 65 or Osprey 70 for my non-ultralight but hoping to get
> lighter
> needs?  Can either or both handle the BV500?  Or another recommendation?
> Thanks.
>
> -LoneRiver
> _______________________________________________
> Pct-L mailing list
> Pct-L at backcountry.net
> To unsubcribe, or change options visit:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>
> List Archives:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/
>