Backpacks and Back Sweat

The base-layer you use can make a big difference to comfort. I use frameless packs, so sweaty backs are a fact of life for me. I find a Merino baselayer isn't uncomfortable when sweaty. Synthetic baselayers can give you that horrible, cold and clammy feeling when you stop working hard. Merino seems to be 'neutral' when wet. Not hot or cold, so more comfortable for me.
Maybe worth trying a different baselayer before shelling out on a new backpack?

I just bought the REI Venturi 30 at the beginning of this summer. In size large it holds 1953 cu.in. and weight 39 oz.

I have been happy with it for my intended usage. I use it for summer overnighters or on day hikes with a half dozen people where only one carries a pack. It does make a noticable difference in back ventilation!

For this use the loads are light and the volumeis low. I think the equation changes when loads and volumes get high. This is because the weight is shifted away from your back due to the curvature of the frame. Also, that curvature creates an inefficient shaped space in which to pack.

Bottom line is that it won't win any awards for volume to weight ratio, but for light, small volume loads in summer, it's become my go to pack.

In general, IMO it is a well designed, well made pack.

As a sweaty kinda guy I've had both backpacks with absolutely no back ventilation and ones with the concave/mesh design and couldn't notice too much difference in sweatiness but the pack with all the concave/mesh gubbins on it weighed twice as much so it went on ebay. I'll stick to my lighter packs and like Mike said earlier wear a merino base layer that doesn't get cold when I get clammy.

Aye, I don't really bother either. I use OMM packs most of the time which have no back padding at all and a non-absorbent material up against your back. Merino makes it comfortable and you get a much more stable pack into the bargain.

Deuter's work well. While it doesn't stop 'sweat back' it makes it a LOT better. For me the way Deuter packs fit my back is even more important – the way they fit causes me nearly no back pain as well.

Maybe it's just the old curmudgeon in me, but I've never noticed much difference between "ventilated" and non-ventilated pack backs. Regardless of which one I'm wearing, my back ends up soaked with sweat. I'll chime in with the light merino layer, definitely makes things more comfortable.

just wondering if any company out there makes a ultra light pack with the frame on the outside? seems to me, that would be cooler since the frame is held out from your back..i know there are still the old type backpacks out there, but they are heavy…

I've used both and find that the sacks with a concave curved frame perform (very) slightly better …but they cannot take any 'over-stuffing' as the curve pushes out, I guess becoming convex, and therefore uncomfortable. The other downside with concave curved sacks is that they weigh more.

I'm allergic to wool – am I missing out with not being able to wear merino? Would silk do the job as well as wool? I'll start a new thread with this one!

I too like the merino and a frameless pack.

If your pack weight is light enough, then you can loosen the shoulder straps enough to "dry out". This worked well for me this summer. The wool does not stink like synthetics for me, but they feel similar.

As gear gets lighter, we'll eventually arrive at a Pack-Hat and no longer have sweaty backs. Unless of course, you have a thick crop of hair growing on your back. Then you're SOL until your next evolutionary ascendance.

Yeah, all my packs over the years give me the dreaded "sweat back" and it's one good reason NEVER to wear a down jacket under a pack.

As noted above, loosening your pack's lift straps (the ones above yer shoulders) to permit the pack to lean away from your back is the best help. This should be done regularly on downhills anyway as it helps balance the pack better. Now if we only had 90% efficient solar panels we could have refigerant lines running up the back pad…..

Eric

An external frame pack would eliminate the problem. I sometimes miss my old camp trails pack in the summertime…

Vaude also makes a nice line of well ventilated packs with their "Aeroflex" system. I have one as a day pack (20L)and I really love it. I think they make them up to 50L with that type of suspension.