I enjoy hiking and backpacking. I go to Yellowstone once a year.
What’s the best pack to buy? I have one but bought it at Sports Academy and I feel there should be better ones out there.
There are so many good options, and it really depends what you are looking for.
Are you looking to go ultralight and want a very minimal pack with few extra features, or do you want a bit more comfort/luxury features at the cost of some extra weight?
Do you want a pack for a couple days (lower volume, maybe <40L) or will you be carrying days worth of food etc. (maybe >50L)?
I tend to do 1-3 day trips, so my 38L osprey exos is just about perfect. lightweight, but not quite what most would consider “ultralight.” but it has a few good, useful extra pockets and enough padding to be comfortable. I’m ok trading that bit of extra weight for those luxuries.
NO MATTER WHAT pack you choose, make sure you can try it on in person with full weight. If you have access to an outdoor store like REI in your area. If you ask, they should have weights to shove in the pack for you to try it. I cannot stress that enough, it is almost as important as trying on hiking shoes.
Agree with everything WingedThing said. I also have an Osprey Exos and typically do 2-3 nighters. If you want a light pack, I highly recommend trying it out. I have a friend who uses a 70L Osprey Aether. It’s a heavier duty pack, and he loves it. I’ve also heard good things about REIs brand packs. An thing is go somewhere like REI and try them out to find what works well for your body.
I forgot one thing: some places like REI offer pack rentals, so you can try them out on the trail before buying your own. Not free, obviously, so not the best option if you’re on a budget. Selection also may be limited. But it may be helpful in some circumstances.
What do you like/not like about your Sports Academy pack?
Beware the draw of always buying new equipment or you’ll end up like me; too many perfectly good backpacks and hydration packs hanging up in the closet.
I love the Osprey Aether Pro 70 I bought a couple years ago. I’ve used it as canoe pack, on winter ski trips, and both overnighters or week long hikes. It doesn’t have much for exterior pockets, but the brain and hipbelt pockets are detachable so it can be stripped down to a minimal setup. An Osprey daypack can be fastened to the outside as well which works great for me on mountain summits in the Northeast. The only downside is bear cannisters fit kinda shitty and it’s expensive. It’s a great balance of being durable and water resistant while still being lightweight, comfortable, and it can carry a lot of gear.
I’m pretty new to backpacking, but from what I’ve read/learned, I wouldn’t think there is any one best pack to get. There’s several brands making good packs, and the variances between any two different people make for a lot of variability in which brands make packs good for any particular person. Then there’s the goals of that person that further influence which brands and which packs within a brand are good.
If you have access to a bigger camping/outdoors shop to try things on, get the pack fitted, and wander around the store wearing it with some weight in it, that would probably give you a good place to start.
Beyond that, how much gear do you tend to carry? Do you have a budget? How long do you tend to stay out when you go? What activities do you enjoy doing while out: do you tend to go out and base camp for a bit, do long marches and cover lots of miles? What kind of trips you make adds in a lot of variability on what you would want in a pack for your trip!
So, do you have any further details about the kinds of trips you’re taking, how long they last, and what you enjoy doing while out? That would go a long way to helping get decent recommendations!
If you’re unfamiliar with them: Moosejaw, Backcountry, Garage Grown Gear, and REI are some pretty good sites for new equipment, and REI tends to have physical locations in various places around the country too, as well as periodic “garage sales” of used equipment. There is also Geartrade to buy used or overstock equipment from both retailers and direct from consumers.
Hope you’re having fun out there!
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