Winter Pack recomendations

Hyperlite Mountain Gear Porter? Or their 4400 series Ice Pack and ask to have it modified for snow shoes.

del

Look at the larger Osprey packs. Very comfortable.

I'll second the recommendation for the HMG Porter (Expedition?) 4400. Solid pack that carries well, and works well as a winter pack.

The Osprey Aether packs have straps that work well for strapping snowshoes.

I've found that having a frame really helps for solidly strapping skis to my pack. Because skis will catch on tree limbs etc. I personally prefer a frame for strapping snowshoes as well. My framed pack only weighs a bit more than two pounds.

I would think that the Paradox packs would be pretty good for attaching snowshoes. You could place them between the pack bag and the Talon, and then tighten the Talon. I've never done it before, but the design seems like it would work pretty well for that type of application.

Plus, there are different size pack bags, and if you don't like their pack bags you could use a dry bag, or even have Chris Zimmer make you a custom pack bag for the frame.

My backpacking is usually self-sustained long distance, 4 seasons and offtrailwilderness. I regularly carry 60 plus pounds in this pack. With about 500 miles logged, it is worn, but showing no signs of fatigue around stitches and stress points. It carries comfortably, equalling much heavier and more sophisticated suspension systems like the Arcteryx Bora. I've seamed sealed it from the outside which makes it veritably waterproof.

You can not go wrong with this pack for use in any season including winter and water based expeditions.

Derrick

I own both packs (Unaweep w/ 3900 packbag, and a 4400 Porter).

The Unaweep carries significantly better. Not that the HMG is bad, but it basically just feels like more of a sausage on your back. The Unaweep 'drapes' against you very pleasantly and the weight transfer is simply better. I also prefer the durability of the VX21 in the Unaweep to the 50d body of my Porter. I think the new Porters may have 150d fabric throughout. Both are adaptable for carrying various types of gear, and you will be able to figure out your own attachment strategy. You can also order different sized packbags in different materials through Paradox Packs for the Unaweep frame, so the adaptability of that platform is a nice plus. You could have a 3900 in cuben for summer trips and a 4800 in VX for long, burly expeditions.

Now that I have the Unaweep I can't see using my Porter that much anymore, though either will probably get the job done for you and are excellent winter packs.

for the same usage as you intend. i've tried a number of different packs and cilogear is where i ended-up. just over 4#'s all in and 2#'s stripped out. no problem attaching anything to the pack with cilo's innovative system. if you really want to go big in volume, the cilogear 75l will pretty-much swallow anything you want to feed it. one thing to consider is if you want a lid or not. i wouldn't have anything but a daypack without one. others here feel differently.

Yeah! Cilogear is my choice too. I picked up a 45l (extends to 60ish) and love that thing. I was nervous about no true suspension but so far it is really comfortable with just the frame sheet thingy.

Very versatile and well made

And now you might add the (new) Klymit/Elemental Horizons Motion 60 to this list…

Derrick,

I think a Porter pack would be very good for your purposes.

I've strapped my MSR Lightning Ascent 'shoes to my Dana Terraplane but putting them between the frame and the pack sounds a lot better.

Based on my use of the Cilo 45L I agree with Jeff and Richard about its versatility and comfort. I use mine for mountaineering and snowcamping which are gear intensive. The 45L swallows everything with ease and attaching snowshoes, shovel, and crampons all at once is so much easier than anything else I've tried. The options for attachment are limitless. The fabric on the standard pack is bomber where it needs to be and lighter in areas where wear is less of an issue. Mine weighs 3lb 8 oz. with 4 straps attached. The suspension is elegant in its simplicity and supremely comfortable. A dense foam pad, HDPE framesheet, and burly aluminum stay do an excellent job of load transfer. Good luck however you choose. All of the packs suggested seem like fine choices.

Eric,

Agree. Assuming a pack carries well and meets the weight objective, the addition of a frame would undoubtedly enhance the ability to attach external gear more securely.

Derrick

here's what i would pack +/- a couple of items for 4+1 days when expecting 0*F. when carrying snowshoes i would typically attach one each to the right and left sides of the pack with the cilogear quick release straps. i've also carried them cinched down under the brain. cilogear makes an accessory shovel pocket and the snowshoes can go between the pocket and the pack body.

In addition to Richard's suggestion about attaching snowshoes under the brain or on the sides of a Cilo, they can also be securely strapped directly to the front panel of the pack via the grey straps provided. I've done this with my shovel attached on top of the shoes and it carried well.

Awesome input guys. The Cilo 60L is currently the front runner. I'm actually debatingon whether I should go with the 60L or 75L since I do have friends that I bring with me on winter campouts that usually don't have room for gear and I also want to start bringing my kids in a few years when they are old enough and they won't be able to pack much in with them.

I love how flexible the attachment system is and for a big winter pack I can live with up to 5lbs if necessary. My current winter pack is a gregory and it just doesn't have the attachment points I need to carry things like a shovel and snowshoes properly.

while it's listed as only a 15l difference, the 75l is a lot more pack. i’d put it up against some of the 110l packs in the market. you’ll really need a lot of discipline to not fill that beast up with extras and junk. that being said, there are refinements in the 75l's suspension that make it more suited to handling the bigger loads. call cilogear up on the phone and they’ll be more than happy to make suggestions. depending on where you live, there may even be a store that stocks some of their packs.

Excellent point by Richard. The 75L is behemoth and seemingly exceeds the stated volume. However, as Richard points out it does have a carbon rod added to the frame sheet to accommodate the expected heavier loads. The neat thing about the Cilo's is the volume can be easily dialed back by keeping the d-clips attached lower on the pack. But you know your expected load weight and volume better than anyone else so the choice will be entirely dependent on that. Good luck!

If it were just me solo that I have to worry about I'd probably look at the 45L packs, but I can just imagine picking up a pack that is plenty large for me but not large enough to carry extra clothes, sleeping bags, etc for the kids. Decisions decisions.

Eric – Perhaps the video from Cilo regarding a 75L will give you some visual reference about its volume.

ed: never mind – answered with Greg's YouTube video above

WOW! The 75 looks HUGE and MUCH larger than the 75L packs I've used (Aether 70 and Baltoro 75). The Gregory claims to be a 75L but I'd realistically put it more around 60L. If the Cilogear 60 is as oversized as the 75 appears to be then it may be the pack for me. The ability to strap on gear will also help since I can always strap the kid's packs on and carry them.

It's also a lot less expensive! :)