Backpack suggestions for weekends

Just another thought to throw in the mix….I know you have a tent and sleeping bags already and NEED a pack. However, if funds are an issue, you may want to consider getting something cheap for the time being and concentrate your energy into lowering your tent and sleeping bag weight/volume.

There are many people here who would advocate getting a lightweight pack AFTER getting most or all of your other gear, so you can get a pack fitted to your gear, rather than vice versa. As you mentioned, paring down the weight of the tent and sleeping bags is a good idea.

I've got an Osprey Exos 58. Its huge, but for the size is light at 2lb 9oz. It can handle 40+ pounds and when carrying smaller loads, can compress pretty well. However, I'm looking at smaller packs for light summer adventures myself! (Considering the SMD Swift). LIke you, I've only recently gotten into the lightweight backpacking movement, and wanted to start light right away. Herein lies the problem. Your needs and wants WILL change, maybe even after purchasing some much-researched and thought about gear. At least that was my experience. I did pretty well, but there's always something new to learn and discover that may make you question what you've bought! Its part of the process.

Check out Henry Shires' Tarptent, Ron Moak's Six Moon Designs, Ron Bell's Mountain Laurel Designs, and Gossamer Gear. IMO, these are the most prominent and common cottage industry makers, and all have excellent customer service and products.

This advice may not fit into your gameplan at all, but I thought I'd just put the idea out there! Good luck!

They do add weight. I am constantly experimenting with weight distribution. Uphill/downhill. I love the deuter systems. You can size them on the trail. The design is very straightforward. German engineering? They are much cushier and this does add weight. If you are a bit bony, cushioning can be nice:)

Matt:
I'm going to take a slightly different tack than most of the posters here…

1. Get a biggish UL backpack right away. A good starter would be a GoLite Jam2 (20oz) and a GoLite ION (S) (12oz) for your son, or similar ones of course. If you can find a 2009 version, they are lighter and you can pick the Jam up for <$100 and an ION for ~$40. Philosophically, I believe in starting with the smaller pack as a way to force you to adjust the rest of your gear. My "magic moment" was trying to fit my trad gear (from my Berghaus 65+10 trad pack) into my Jam 2 and going – huh, it doesn't fit… now what?

2. Immediately replace your tent with a cheap tarp (I picked up an 8"x10" poly tarp last week for $4.59 at Ocean State Job Lot), it weighs about 15ozs and rolls up to nothing. You'll need 8 cheapie tent stakes (maybe $1 a piece at the camping store), some guy cords and a couple of decent sticks (or trekking poles, if you have 'em) to build your shelter. Practice in the yard – it is easy and it will be really fun to figure out how to do it with your son. If you can afford it, find the cheapest UL tarp you can find – 8×10 is a good size for a double.

3. You'll need bivy bags, and it is worth getting decent ones if you have the budget. There's a bunch of good ones around. Search for the lightest ones you can afford. I like the hunka bags from alpkit.co.uk – not super UL, but really good for the money.

Once you've made these initial changes, you need to let the rest flow from there… sleeping bags vs quilts is a big choice… your cook kit… your clothes…

Overall, for me, it starts with minimizing your pack size, making stuff fit, then focusing on ongoing reduction in weight. Just me $0.02. Good luck!

I am stuck that way in which do you lighten first if you don't have the funds right away to lower all 3 tent,sleeping system and pack. You get a traditional pack to start sounds like the way to go for now but it hurts to invest in a pack that in theory will be replaced with something lighter in the next year or two.

James,

Love some of your ideas and will concerned them. I am not so sure on the tarp due to the bugs in July for our trip timing. It would be interesting to try setting up a tarp in the back yard and sleep out there.

James..that's actually a bit heavy and expensive for an 8"x10" tarp, of course it rolls up to nothing. LOL!

Reminds me of the Stonehenge monument in Spinal Tap!

To add to the things to think about list: if you are going into bear country, you might have to add consideration of bear canister to the list of things the pack should be able to carry. Some packs are better than others in this – the Osprey frames appear to be unsuited to this, as a larger canister can be difficult to get into the body of the pack.

It is a good idea to buy most of your replacements, or at least have a solid idea of how much space they are going to take up before getting a pack. Since I assume you have one now you could pack it up and get a good idea of what size you would need. If you are not buying all the replacement gear soon than it doesn't hurt to invest in a kind of transition pack. I started with a GG Nimbus Meridian, then went down to a ULA Circuit, and now carry an MLD Exodus. I think these packs represent a nice view of the lightening up process.

If you want I can sell you a Medium '08 Circuit for 145 shipped. It has a hydration pouch and is in excellent condition. It is not the newest model though. It has a drawstring closure, not a rolltop closure and there is no bungee cord in the back. It is 4.oz lighter though…

I also have a medium torso/medium hipbelt GG nimbus Meridian that is in excellent condition. The top pocket has never even been outside. I will sell it for $145 shipped if you want.

Edit: I didn't read the second page before posting! I did not catch that you were packing for your son as well. In this case I would definitely get as much gear as possible upfront and see how much space you need by packing a few packs with it.

Thanks for the offer ,but I think I am getting the feeling I am going to need a more traditional pack to carry the load of my gear plus my sons. I saw Jason Klass recommended a REI Flash 65 a lighter pack of the traditional designs. I also see it was BP Mag 2009 pack of the year.