Getting in backpacking, looking at backpacks

I am wondering if either pack is big enough for 6-day trips — unless your gear and food are all very light and very compact. But assuming the size is correct…

Both Gregory and Granite Gear are very well respected brands. Both packs are made of robust material (strong for their weight anyway) — and you shouldn't have any problems with either for normal hiking/camping purpose. Most times, when folks have narrowed down their pack selection to the final two or three — they will need to try the packs on physically in order to finalize their decision. Unfortunately for you, shipping to India will be more hassle and more costly.

I've tried on both packs in the stores (meaning no real usage experience) — and I can tell you that for me, I find the Granite Gear Vapor Trail extremely comfortable — and the Gregory Z uncomfortable. But that's me and our physiques are all different!

My suggestion is to first see if Granite Gear and Gregory have representatives in India. If so, your best bet is to buy locally — so you can return in case either or both don't fit you well. Failing that, maybe order online from a store that carries both (shipping two packs shouldn't be much more expensive than shipping one) — and resign to the fact that you will have to ship one back. Obviously, you should check first to make sure that the store(s) have a "no hassle" return policy.

Thanks for replying. No. Gregory and GG don't have any representatives in India. So I will have to order both packs, see which fits me better and ship the other back. I am still open to suggestions. I have weighted all my gear.

Gear I wear:
Nike drifit zip neck
Trek Pants
Cap
Solomon XA 3D Pro shoes

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Gear I carry in my pack:
T shirts -1 (if hiking more then 3 days)
Merino wool sweater- 1(Depnding upon the location/season)
Woolmark base layer- 1(Depnding upon the season)
Trekking Pant- 0 (1 if hiking more then 3 days)
Towel small- 1 (medium if hiking more than two days)
Rain poncho- 1 (Depnding upon the season)

Bedding(I do overnight only in caves or resthouses.)
Warm Shawl-1
Floor cloth- 1 (I plan to buy sleeping pad soon)

Plate + Spoon
Map
Torch
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1.5 lbs – 5.5 lbs (Base weight I carry in the pack)

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Howdy!

sounds like your going to be having some fun!

I would recomend http://www.golite.com, i am a fan of goilite packs, they have a great range of lightweight bombeproof packs which will range from backpacking to ski touring or mountaineering, some with a bigger volume range and a nice amount of attachments for mountaineering/ski gear etc.

I use a golite jam pack which is around 40ltrs and i use it from backpacking to winter mountaineering.

hope this helps, check out there site

Thanks for your reply. I looked at Jam2 and guess what -I instantly fell in love with it. I dont know how I missed it. I think the capactor system is great and makes it a very versatile pack. It is such a cool pack. Before I buy it I need more of your advice. In a frameless pack like Jam how do you transfer weight to your hips? I was looking at GG Virga, ant the description said that "simply drop in a rolled pad and let it uncoil to push against the bag, and pack your gear inside the roll." Do you do the same with jam? If so, then I have to buy I sleeping pad along with it. If I have understood correctly, you cant use a regular size pad as frame. You need 3/4 i.e. small size- is that right? I looked at prolite 3 and 4, but they are ouside my budget. I have narrowed down to Thermarest trail lite; although it is just 150 grams heavier then Prolite 4, it is half the price. Will traillite work? If you any suddestion please tell me. Thanks.

Howdy,

Great, yes i love that pack, there is another older model called golite gust (now called the pinnacle pack) which has a greater load capacity and will cope with more load but the jam is a nice size and can be used on day trips to. i guess its depends on your gear and use of the pack.

the pack comes with a very thin pad for backpad and does take carefull packing unlike some much heavyer packs, this comes with practice.

I have a number of sleep pads and i also use a 3/4 Thermarest trail lite folded rather than rolled against the back panel inside, this does give some rigidity and comfort but i use in the colder months,

My other pad is a foam mat which i use most of the year, i leave unrolled inside the pack and that leaves a collum to pack your stuff.

The packs only downside for me was the hipbelt with greater loads, over 10kg its not as comfy as some packs but overall the pack won me over and my average pack weight is 7-10kg with food and 1,5ltr of water.

Hope this helps!

Check out the reveiws –

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/reviews/display_reviews.html?forum_thread_id=950

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/golite_jam2_backpack_review.html

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/golite_jam_review.html