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What is the biggest backpack?


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  • #1255428
    alastair humphreys
    BPL Member

    @alastairhumphreys

    Locale: UK

    I am looking for a very large backpack – 100 litres or more would be great.

    I like the GoLite Quest, but is there something similar but larger?

    I have used a Gregory pack (120l), but it was really heavy even before I filled it up!

    Many thanks!
    Alastair Humphreys

    #1575348
    Travis Leanna
    BPL Member

    @t-l

    Locale: Wisconsin

    More details would be helpful.

    What kind of trip are you looking to use this on?

    Where are you planning to use this?

    What are you planning to put in it?

    Its pretty rare to see people using more than 60L packs on this site, so a little background would help a lot!

    #1575349
    EndoftheTrail
    BPL Member

    @ben2world-2

    nm

    #1575351
    Travis Leanna
    BPL Member

    @t-l

    Locale: Wisconsin

    D'OH!

    #1575352
    alastair humphreys
    BPL Member

    @alastairhumphreys

    Locale: UK

    Thanks for the really quick reply! Amazing!

    I hope that my trip still counts as travelling light, if only as I don't intend to take anything other than essentials.

    I am looking to spend 6 weeks crossing Iceland, by foot and by packraft. I will need packraft, plus all the kit that goes with that (including drysuit). I need camping gear, plus -the killer- several weeks supply of food.

    I am also going to be taking a lot of photos/film so that will take up space as well.

    See this link for a recent training trip I did in Scotland in the same style: http://vimeo.com/9085238

    Al

    #1575354
    drowning in spam
    Member

    @leaftye

    Locale: SoCal

    I don't know liters, but my most often used pack is 6100 cubic inches. I barely use much of the capacity, but I'm too lazy to dig out my smaller packs from storage. If I were to go for a bigger pack, I'd go for an Astralplane.

    #1575358
    joe newton
    BPL Member

    @holdfast

    Locale: Bergen, Norway

    Alastair,

    Seems like an awfully big pack! Andy Skurka managed an Iceland traverse with a GoLite Pinnacle:

    http://www.andrewskurka.com/IS08/index.php

    Although he didn't take a packraft on that particular trip he will be on this one:

    http://www.andrewskurka.com/AK10/index.php

    Might be worth looking at his gear choices to see if you can lose some volume!

    #1575359
    EndoftheTrail
    BPL Member

    @ben2world-2

    Check out the bigger Granite Gear packs. They aren't as "over engineered / heavy" as Gregory packs.

    #1575360
    Lori P
    BPL Member

    @lori999

    Locale: Central Valley

    Have you looked at external frame packs?

    You might look at McHale – the packs are custom made, and expensive, but may be able to meet your needs better than the brand name offerings.

    #1575362
    t.darrah
    BPL Member

    @thomdarrah

    Locale: Southern Oregon

    McHale +1

    #1575364
    alastair humphreys
    BPL Member

    @alastairhumphreys

    Locale: UK

    Thank you all so much for your help – I have never come across an internet community as knowledgeable or helpful as this.

    Andrew Skurka's Iceland trek was only 22 days- it's my 35 days of food, plus the raft and drysuit, that is taking up space…

    I have downloaded his kit list for Alaska though – he's a bit of a legend!

    I'm sensing a vibe from you guys that you disapprove of massive packs! So, if I was to reduce it all quite a lot, is there a better brand than GoLite in the 70litre range?

    Many thanks!
    Al

    #1575366
    EndoftheTrail
    BPL Member

    @ben2world-2

    Granite Gear. Well known for their fit and comfort.

    #1575371
    Travis Leanna
    BPL Member

    @t-l

    Locale: Wisconsin

    >Thank you all so much for your help – I have never come across an internet community as knowledgeable or helpful as this.

    BPL can be pretty helpful! But we've also been known to turn on our own, ruthlessly attacking without shame or dignity, like a swarm of piranhas…..oh wait….that was my ex…..nevermind. BPL is great!

    #1575373
    joe newton
    BPL Member

    @holdfast

    Locale: Bergen, Norway

    Alastair,

    This one was a bit of a legend and might be perfect for your kind of trip. I'm not sure it's still in production though but I'm sure someone will be along shortly with the latest news!

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

    #1575375
    Link .
    BPL Member

    @annapurna

    .

    #1575378
    Richard Lyon
    BPL Member

    @richardglyon

    Locale: Bridger Mountains

    MR has some monsters – the Kodiak is 7400 cubic inches. Not lightweight but the best at weight transfer I've ever used. MR is owned by Dana Gleason, who long ago founded Dana Design.

    #1575379
    alastair humphreys
    BPL Member

    @alastairhumphreys

    Locale: UK

    This website is amazing!
    To get a grasp of how new I am to this style, have a look at the pack I have used since 1991: http://www.flickr.com/photos/alastairhumphreys/3525171865/in/set-72157614735971301/
    Since then I have cycled 46000 miles round the world and walked across India – and I still have much to learn!
    Al

    #1575381
    David Ure
    Member

    @familyguy

    "Yes the artic dry pack is being redesigned and will not be available until spring 2011."

    That's really promising, although I could use one….now.

    #1575390
    Paul Siegel
    Spectator

    @paulsiegel

    Locale: Southern Appalachians

    Alistar,

    I would second the recommendation for Mystery Ranch. If I needed a load hauler it would be from them or Mchale. Of course anything you get from them would not necessarily be light weight (I think my Astralplane weighs in the neighborhood of 8-10 lbs.) although it wouldn't hurt to ask either of those companies if they could whip up something light and voluminous for you.

    I loved my Astralplane, when I was carrying 60-90 lbs. I could put pretty much anything into its 7000 c.i. It was as comfortable as a pack can be at that weight. And it is very durable; relatively constant use and the only problems are a little tear on the brain of the pack and the shoulder straps are getting worn down.

    #1575400
    Ben Smith
    BPL Member

    @goosefeet

    Locale: Georgia

    Alastair,

    I have a Golite Odyssey Large which is 95 liters. I don't know how much weight you will be carrying, but it can comfortably go to a little over 40 lbs, yet it is only 3 lbs. I am actually looking to sell it, so if you are interested, send me a PM.

    – Ben

    #1575422
    Rakesh Malik
    Member

    @tamerlin

    Locale: Cascadia

    I would also recommend McHale. I have one of his packs, custom made, and it's pretty big (I carry a 4×5 camera kit when I hike and backpack). It fits extremely well, and it's lighter than I'd expected, which might be due to the fact that I went for the full Dyneema option.

    #1575535
    Raymond Estrella
    Member

    @rayestrella

    Locale: Northern Minnesota

    With the weight you will be carrying you may find the Odessey pretty uncomfortable for all its volume. (I tested one for 4 moths.) My best load haulers have been the Bora 95 and Osprey Argon 110.

    I know, I can't believe those were mentioned on BPL…

    ;-)

    #1575548
    Jay Bonzani
    BPL Member

    @ultrabound

    Locale: NE Oregon

    I would second Mystery Ranch. I used a few of there packs for military applications and they can swallow up some gear and are pretty much bullet proof. They make a few different designs that seem like they could fit what you want.

    #1575616
    Laurence Beck
    BPL Member

    @beckla

    Locale: Southern California

    Allastair,

    You have to admit though… the Gregory Whitney is about a 100L backpack and, even though it weighs about 7 lbs empty, it sure is a comfortable pack.

    BTW: I have one for sale if you want it. It's a 2004 version.

    #1575735
    Nick Gatel
    BPL Member

    @ngatel

    Locale: Southern California

    If you want a really big pack, see if you can find a Kelty Serac external on eBay. Here is a Whitney 95 next to the mammoth Serac. I can't part with gear and my garage is full of my 40 year collection :)

    Big Packs

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