Looking for a 40 liter daysack…

What kind of weight do you anticipate carrying. That would affect your choice.

To be honest I'm not too sure about the weight. Probably a max of 15 kilo, with a more likely everyday amount of 12kg.

Maybe something like this: http://www.lowealpine.com/Products/Detail.asp?ProductTypeID=12&ProductGroupID=1393&Position=5&SpecificActivityID=

Breaking out the calculator here, that's 26 to 33 pounds. For my preferences, that would require a backpack with a frame or sturdy stays.

Certainly, there are others less wimpy than me, that will put that weight in a frameless pack, but I'd rather carry a slightly heavier but more substantial and comfortable pack.

For fairly light packs with stays look at the very popular SixMoonDesigns or ULA packs. For full framed packs but still somewhat light, look at GraniteGear Nimbus series.

Or you can wait another couple months and check out the new Osprey Exos Series. It's very comparable to the brands mentioned above, as far as quality (for a commercial brand), and this series is intended for the UL'ers in mind. Google it and you'll see what i mean. Just a thought. Good luck!

Michael – thanks for the suggestions. The ULA bags are super light but none quite suitable. The 6MoonDesign Essence bag looks great but unforunately they appear to be out of stock at the moment (and I don't fancy having to ship a bag over from the US). Will definitely look into their gear the next time I return to the US. The Granite Gear rucksack is out of my price range really (£120 is a bit too much for a relatively small bag).

Dana – I'd love it if I could wait for that Osprey rucksack as it looks absolutely ideal! But I leave in under 3 weeks so time isn't on my side… I'll just have to wait until I return in February and see what the reviews say of the
Osprey once the public have had them for a while. Maybe I could try and wangle a "product trial" with them, in the field and get one of the new bags before they're released!

Thanks all for the replies.

Actually, the Osprey site mentioned the Golite Jam 2 bag (http://www.winwood-outdoor.co.uk/acatalog/Golite_Jam_2_lightweight_rucksack.html), which is v.light at only 600g but Osprey commented that it is "a minimalist, frameless pack with no ventilation and definite load-carrying limitations".

At the moment I'm considering the Lowe Alpine AirZone Centro 45+10 but it comes in at 3lb 14oz (1.7kg) – so heavy… http://www.lowealpine.com/products/Detail.asp?ProductTypeID=12&ProductGroupID=1393&Position=6&SpecificActivityID=

Or other options:
– OMM The Villain 45+10, 1.16kg, £89. http://www.hike-lite.co.uk/Rucksacks/41+Litres+to+60+Litres/The+Villain+45%25252B10RL+MSC.html
– Gregory Z55, 3lbs 5oz/1.5kg, £125. http://www.hike-lite.co.uk/Rucksacks/41+Litres+to+60+Litres/Z+55.html (good little video)

It's interesting that as my research goes on the rucksacks of interest get larger… I suppose that size-wise I have to be able to take the bag onto a plane as hand luggage. My old 30litre bag could easily do that but I think it higly unlikely that the Z55 could do so…

The official hand luggage limit is 56cm x 45cm x 25cm (22" x 17.7" x 9.8") but many airlines have imposed tougher restrictions. The toughest airline in the UK has set its limit at 45cm x 35cm x 20cm (17." x 13.6" x 7.4").

Easyjet is 55x40x20cm.

This pretty much means that the Gregory Z35 is spot on (medium size = 20" long, which could be squeezed down a bit if necessary but no mesh side pouces so an immediate no-go). The Lowe Alpine Airzone 45+10 is a no-go at 27” x 13” x 12.5”. Two down, several to go…

I'm now coming across a few other bags and am using this thread to both record them and see if anyone has any insights:

Deuter Futura Pro 38, 1.66kg, £70, 38 + 6 liters. 26.7" x 13.2" x 9.8". http://www.outdoorco-op.co.uk/acatalog/Deuter_Rucksacks.html. So quite heavy and too tall. Good reviews though and ideal pockets/pouches for travelling. (Review: http://smarthiking.wordpress.com/2008/02/19/deuter-futura-38-ac-first-glance/)

Lowe Alpine Airzone Centro 35, 1.55kg, £70, 35 + 10 liters. 25.5" x 12" x 10.5". http://www.cave-crag.co.uk/2946/Lowe-Alpine-Airzone-Centro-35.html So again a bit too big and a bit too heavy.

BUT, it is basically down to these two. Both heavy and a tiny bit too tall (but the bag is unlikely to be compeltely full so I can squash it into one of the hand luggage sizing frame).

==

I really want something with elasticated side pouches and that you can access the main compartment from the bottom and/or the sides as well as the top.