My boss is retiring and we want to get her a backpack. She and her husband will be heading to New Zealand for a several months visit. They plan on doing some back country trips and she wants to use one backpack for travel and hiking. I've had a number of packs over the years, some backpacking (Gregory, Kelty, Mountainsmith) as well as Badlands, Seek Outside and Stone Glacier. My current favorite pack is the Stone Glacier but before I order it I wanted to see if anyone had a suggestion that I might be missing. She's not a hunter but her husband is so there's a chance she'll even use a load shelf at some point.
I’ll be interested to see what recommendations are made as I’m looking for something similar. Thanks
I think most of the SG packs would be sort of frustrating as a travel pack. Hard to say what level of backpacking they'll be doing, so it makes the recommendation tough.
I had an osprey porter 46 (
https://www.osprey.com/us/en/product/porter-travel-pack-46-PORTER46F20.html) that was on the other end of that spectrum. Great travel pack, but not much of a backpacking pack. I miss having it for travel, but I was trying to make it into a work pack and it just wasn't that. Something to think about.
Take a look at the Kifaru day packs. The Antero 2.0 and the 22 Mag especially.
Get her a pack around 4lb or less. Doesn't need to be a fu fu brand hunting pack!
To start:
https://www.backcountry.com/black-diamond-packs...or equivalent.
I think most of the SG packs would be sort of frustrating as a travel pack. Hard to say what level of backpacking they'll be doing, so it makes the recommendation tough.
I had an osprey porter 46 (
https://www.osprey.com/us/en/product/porter-travel-pack-46-PORTER46F20.html) that was on the other end of that spectrum. Great travel pack, but not much of a backpacking pack. I miss having it for travel, but I was trying to make it into a work pack and it just wasn't that. Something to think about.
Take a look at the Kifaru day packs. The Antero 2.0 and the 22 Mag especially.
Thanks for the suggestions cwh2 & Lonny. I should have provided more information in my first post. She wants a backpack that she can travel and live out of. I let her try a couple of mine and she liked the fit of the SG Solo the best. She wants something in the 3500 cubic inch range that she can have everything in - no additional bags (I told her she'd be doing laundry pretty regularly). She and her husband are fit and will probably make several multi-day backpacking trips yearly.
The SG isn't perfect for organization. I was considering the Seek Peregrine 3500 but I don't own that model so I don't know if it's better. The Kifaru 357 mag looks like a possibility but I don't know anything about Kifaru.
Ive got a Hill people gear junction pack on the way.. edc / travel size pack.
Gets good reviews. Usa made.
If by "one backpack for travel" that means taking said backpack by carry on baggage when on airplanes, the full sized packs have been a bit much for me. I have done it with my Hunter's Frame Kifaru and Reckoning but it BARELY fit into the overhead bins of bigger airlines. If this pack is to go into checked baggage, this is a moot point.
These days when traveling, I normally have a Kifaru Shapecharge as my carry on.
If the pack might have to be checked, I wouldn't want a lot of exterior pockets that bulge out and could get hung up on baggage conveyors. One way around that is to have a zippered duffel you can put the pack in for checking.
If the pack might have to be checked, I wouldn't want a lot of exterior pockets that bulge out and could get hung up on baggage conveyors. One way around that is to have a zippered duffel you can put the pack in for checking.
That's how I travel with my Kifaru Longhunter. Inexpensive REI zippered bag keeps all of the straps and buckles from getting snagged. It worked well for me for 2 weeks in Italy.
Regarding size, something to live out of is going to be tough if it's needed to fit as a carryon. Some smaller planes will do the plane side check for oversized carryon's. If it's to be checked, get the size and fit she likes and a bag to stuff it in.
If the pack might have to be checked, I wouldn't want a lot of exterior pockets that bulge out and could get hung up on baggage conveyors. One way around that is to have a zippered duffel you can put the pack in for checking.
That's how I travel with my Kifaru Longhunter. Inexpensive REI zippered bag keeps all of the straps and buckles from getting snagged. It worked well for me for 2 weeks in Italy.
Regarding size, something to live out of is going to be tough if it's needed to fit as a carryon. Some smaller planes will do the plane side check for oversized carryon's. If it's to be checked, get the size and fit she likes and a bag to stuff it in.
I should have thought of a bag to put it in and check it, I have a Marmot Long Hauler that I stuff my pack in.
My wife is a Kiwi and we have backpacked 3 of their big hikes. My only comment is we used big laundry bags to put our backpacks in so the straps are covered and it keeps them cleaner and adds a bit protection from wandering hands.
And protects them if they are checked.
on our last trip to NZ we faced the same dilemma. While it was a mostly a sightseeing trip we spent a few days chasing Thar from a sheep sheering shed. I recommend a panel loader instead of a top stuffer. It lays flat in a hotel room and you can get at stuff without unloading the whole pack. I use a Kifaru Siwash but they may not be made anymore. It fit in the overhead of mainline aircraft but not in commuter aircraft. Be advised that Air New Zealand has a weight limit on carry on luggage. They had a spotter watching after we cleared security and check in. My wife got pulled over because she had a larger pack but we put all the light stuff in her pack. My smaller pack had binos, spotting scope, etc. and weighed a ton but I got a pass because of the smaller size.
Took on of these to Europe last summer.
Was great until the airlines declared it was too large to carry one, and made me check it.
That said, it carried everything I needed for two weeks in one pack.
I think most of the SG packs would be sort of frustrating as a travel pack. Hard to say what level of backpacking they'll be doing, so it makes the recommendation tough.
I had an osprey porter 46 (
https://www.osprey.com/us/en/product/porter-travel-pack-46-PORTER46F20.html) that was on the other end of that spectrum. Great travel pack, but not much of a backpacking pack. I miss having it for travel, but I was trying to make it into a work pack and it just wasn't that. Something to think about.
I use a Kifaru Spike Camp for all my traveling. I don’t believe it is made anymore but it easily fits the size requirements and can haul fairly heavy loads if called upon to do so.
Hopefully it will be hauling a tahr in New Zealand in a couple months to add to its list of animals!
I used to take my Kifaru but was a bit big for some overhead
I picked this up last year and have flown a lot with it Fishing. I throw it in a game bag if goes into cargo area
Like it a lot
https://www.rei.com/rei-garage/product/193041/alps-mountaineering-nomad-rt-50-pack
Because she wanted to it as a suitcase during travel and use it for multiple day backcountry trips, I went with the Seek Divide 4800. I suggested a duffel to put it in and getting a storage locker in Auckland.
We had a retirement party for 4 of my friends yesterday including my boss, there are only a couple left that are more senior than me.
Take a look at the Kifaru day packs. The Antero 2.0 and the 22 Mag especially.
I own both in G1 versions. Neither fits requirements at all... Antero is a daypack, great that, won't fit travel needs at all. 22 mag is bag on frame with overload capability. Sure, she could sandwich a duffel between the bag and frame. Unnecessary load carriage capacity (even with a 22" frame) and currently priced as if sewn with gold thread.
I use a Kifaru Spike Camp for all my traveling. I don’t believe it is made anymore but it easily fits the size requirements and can haul fairly heavy loads if called upon to do so.
Hopefully it will be hauling a tahr in New Zealand in a couple months to add to its list of animals!
Great pack. 2,400 cubic inch. Same as the Express, Molle Express. Here's a Rokslide post on it. Includes discussion of the Antero and the 22mag, which I don't think fit the bill..
Spike Camp for travel on Rokslide
I have been using a HPG Aston House Back Country for about a year for this purpose. Their Aston 3 is the latest version. I love it...
Similar packs used:
Kifaru Antero
Kifaru Marauder
Kifaru X-Ray
Kifaru Express
Kifaru Molle Express
Kifaru Late Season
Kifaru Siwash/Navigator/AG1
Mystery Ranch 3DAP
Other Kifaru, Mystery Ranch, Mountainsmith
HPG Umlindi
I like this HPG for the volume that fits overhead bins perfectly, carries very comfortably without a belt, is comparably lightweight, came with a flap for additional capacity, and has attachment points for a lid
(I use a Kifaru XTL with a shoulder strap and an organizer) My use has been 4+ days of clothes, laptop, keyboard, mouse, docking station, with room for more in the panel, strapped below or on top... Bottle pockets on the side haven't been used much...
Adding a Prairie Belt would be an upgrade, but for me, it's carried fine without...