AMC Boston Chapter
Spring Hiking Program
Backpacks & How to Pack Them
May 13, 2014
Joan Wu Chambers
Many thanks to my fellow H/B leaders for
helping the Demo and providing advices!
How to Choose Backpacks
_Length_ Volume
1-2 nights 20-50 L
3-5 nights 55+ L
6+ nights* 65+ L
__Variation _Factors__
•Body Type (Torso)
•Trip Length & Type
•3-Season or Winter
•Comfort Style
•UL Packing Techniques
How to Choose Backpacks
Demo | Reviews | Try
Philip Werner (400+)
sectionhiker.com
1. Boreas Buttermilks 55 Backpack Review
2. CamelBak Highwire 25 Hydration Pack
3. Cold Cold World Chaos Alpine Backpack
4. Deuter Guide 45+ Backpack Review
5. Deuter Speedlite 30 Backpack Review
6. Golite Pinnacle Backpack
7. Gossamer Gear Gorilla Backpack
8. Gossamer Gear Kumo Backpack
9. Gossamer Gear Mariposa Backpack
10. Gossamer Gear Minimalist Backpack
11. Gossamer Gear Murmur Backpack
12. Granite Gear Blaze A.C. 60 Backpack Review
13. Granite Gear Crown VC 60 Backpack
14. Granite Gear Leopard AC 58 Backpack Review
15. Granite Gear Nimbus Trace Access 70 Backpack Review
16. Granite Gear Nimbus Meridian Backpack Review
17. Hyperlite Mountain Gear 4400 Porter Expedition
Backpack
18. Kelty Cloud Backpack
19. Montane Grand Tour 55 L Backpack Review
20. Mountainsmith Haze 50 Backpack
21. Mystery Ranch Wet Ribs
22. Osprey Packs Exos 58 Backpack Review
23. Osprey Packs Hornet 46 Backpack Review
24. Osprey Packs Mutant 38 Backpack Review
25. Osprey Pack s Talon 44 Backpack Review
26. Osprey Packs Variant 52 Backpack Review
27. Osprey Packs Volt 75 Backpack Review
28. Osprey Packs Kestrel 28 Daypack Review
29. REI Flash 62 Backpack
30. REI Stoke 29 Backpack
31. Rivendell Mountain Works Jensen Backpack
32. Sierra Designs Discovery 30
33. Six Moon Designs Starlite Ultralight Backpack
34. Terra Nova Quasar 55L
35. Zpacks Blast 32 Cuben Fiber Backpack
How to Pack Backpacks
Get Organized | Try | Fine-tune
1. Pack softer and more bulky objects near the
bottom of the pack. (Compress all things such
as sleeping bag and clothes.)
2. Pack "middle/heavy weight" objects around the
middle of the pack.
3. Lighter objects that may need to be accessed
quickly should be near the top of the backpack
or outside pockets.
Mountains Create Their Own Weather
Always backpack with adequate
clothing, shelter, food, and water
(Tour du Mont Blanc)
Kelty Trekker External Frame
Bob Vogel <vogel.r@comcast.net>
21 Inch
Torso
REI Mars 85 Pack - Large
Robert Knudsen <rknudsen@rcn.com>
20 Inch
Torso
Size
cu in
liters
lb/oz
kg
Torso Waist
M
L
5187
5370
85
88
6/0
6/6
2.7
2.9
60-80 31-37
lbs
18-20
19-21 34-40
REI Mars (2005) Pack - Large
Carl Gustenhoven <cgustenhoven@gmail.com>
20¼ Inch
Torso
Size
cu in
liters
lb/oz
M
L
4822
5200
80
85
5/12
5/14
kg
Torso Waist
60-80 31-37
lbs
2.61 18-20
2.66 19-21 34-40
Osprey Aether 70 Pack - Large
Alex Nedzel <alex@nedzel.com>
19.5 Inch
Torso
S
M
L
XL
cu in
4089
liters
67
lb/oz
4/08
kg
2.04
Torso
16-19
Waist
27-31
4272
4455
4638
70
73
76
4/12
4/15
5/3
2.14
2.24
2.34
60-80 lbs
18-20
30-34
20-23 33-37
22-25
36+
Mountainsmith Haze 50 – M/L Ext
David Vogel <davidgvogel@yahoo.com>
20 Inch
Torso
Size
cu in liters lb/oz
S/M Ext 3050
M/L Ext 3234
50
53
1/13
1/15
kg
Torso Waist
60-80 28-38
lbs
0.82 15-18
0.88 18-22 30-54
Black Diamond Innova 60 Pack - M
Pam Wilmot <phwilmot@gmail.com>
17.5 Inch
Torso
Size
cu in
liters
lb/oz
S
M
3487
3660
57
60
3/12
3/13
kg
Torso Waist
1.70 15-19
30-35
60-80 lbs
1.74 17-21 34-39
Deuter ACT Lite 60 + 10 SL - Women's
Kjersten Reich <kjerstenreich@gmail.com>
20¼ Inch
Torso
Size
cu in
liters
lb/oz
M
L
4822
5200
80
85
5/12
5/14
kg
Torso Waist
60-80 31-37
lbs
2.61 18-20
2.66 19-21 34-40
Osprey Atmos 65 Pack - Medium
Kellie Connelly <amckellie@gmail.com>
18 Inch
Torso
Size
cu in
liters
lb/oz
S
M
L
3783
3967
4150
62
65
68
3/06
3/09
3/10
kg
Torso Waist
1.53 <18
25-35
60-80 lbs
1.59 18-21 28-38
1.64 20+
33+
Gossamer Gear Mariposa Ultralight
Julie LePage <julielepage88@gmail.com>
18 Inch
Torso
Size
S
M
L
XL
cu in
4244
liters
69.5
lb/oz
kg
Torso Waist
1/09
1/11
1/13
1/14
0.72
0.76
0.81
0.85
13-16 25-32
16-19
60-80 32-38
lbs
19-22 38-44
22-25 44-60
Gossamer Gear Mariposa Ultralight
Robert Freed <w-r-freed@comcast.net>
19 Inch
Torso
Size
S
M
L
XL
cu in
4244
liters
69.5
lb/oz
kg
Torso Waist
1/09
1/11
1/13
1/14
0.72
0.76
0.81
0.85
13-16 25-32
16-19
60-80 32-38
lbs
19-22 38-44
22-25 44-60
Osprey Exos 58 Pack - Medium
Joan Wu Chambers <wu.chambers@gmail.com>
18 Inch
Torso
Size
cu in
liters
lb/oz
S
M
L
3356
3539
3722
55
58
61
2/07
2/08
2/10
kg
Torso Waist
1.11 <18.5
<31
60-80 lbs
1.14 18-20 30-34
1.18 20+
33+
Kathmandu Gluon Interloper - Lg
Chris McCarron <mccarron_yh@yahoo.com>
19.5 Inch
Torso
Deuter Aircontact 65+10 Pack
George Papayannis <george@doyouaskwhy.com>
19 Inch
Torso
Size
cu in
liters
lb/oz
One
Size
3970
65
+ 610 + 10
6/0
kg
Torso Waist
60-80 lbs
2.71 16-21 30-50
in
in
Lowe Alpine Vega ND 45 - W
Melissa O. Litts <molitts@gmail.com>
Size
cu in
liters
lb/oz
One
2745
45
4/10
kg
Torso Waist
60-80 lbs
2.10 15-21
50
Osprey Aether 70 Pack - Medium
19.5 Inch
Torso
Size
cu in
liters
lb/oz
S
M
L
4089
4272
4455
67
70
73
4/08
4/12
4/15
kg
Torso Waist
2.04 <18.5
<31
60-80 lbs
2.14 18-20 30-34
2.24 20+
33+
Granite Gear Crown 60 - Medium
21 Inch
Torso
Size
cu in
liters
lb/oz
kg
Torso Waist
Reg
Tall
3660
4000
60
65
2/02
2/04
0.9
1.0
18-21
30-34
60-80 lbs
21-25 34-38