Tempting Shortcuts
Working notes on the slower path

Choosing a Backpack

Nov 2, 2017

The task of finding the right backpack can be a difficult one.

I have a 18L Vision made by Kathmandu, which I have used with my bike for many years, in many conditions. This is also a great pack for day trips, but has two issues - it is too small for a laptop (even a 13” MBA”) and too small to fit my everyday set up.

I have a 30L Transfer (version 1) also by Kathmandu. This fits a lot of stuff, and while the harness is decent, the main issue is that it is all or nothing - you fill it or have everything floating around in its main compartment. The version 2 fixes a couple of things, but remains a large cavern.

I also have a work-issued Everki Glide that is 26L which is pretty good for everyday use transporting a laptop, papers, a book or two, a jumper, food, etc. The main issue is that it is not great to walk with when quite full - the harness is the let-down with minimal padding and no waist strap.

Most day packs suffer from being the all or nothings with a central, or not having a waist strap.

And so the quest began - something 26+ litres that would still function with smaller loads and has a decent 3 point harness.

I saw the Mammut Crag, 28L … tick, compression straps - tick, no waist strap, hmmm.

Shopping around Mountain Designs landed the Sync and the Carnarvon

And I also found the PacSafe brand, with their X30 looking like a great option, but it is no longer available on the MD website.

Digging around the net yielded a few other brands and options:

The Kelty Redwing 32 looks promising with 32L, compression, good harness, but is not available in Australia :(. Looking on Amazon I found that one version shipped to Australia, another version didn’t. When you can’t tell which model you are going to get, I’m reluctant to pursue that.

A forum recommended Macpac and so browsing around I found their Voyager. It is like the Carnarvon, but the single compression strap is off-putting.

Backpacks from One Planet were also suggested and I found their Wing-it, but 40L is a little too big.

Another Australian manufacturer is Wilderness Equipment and I found their Big Day Out which looks like it covers everything. I just can’t find it in a store and it is expensive.

On one of the forums I came across a number of people recommending canvas as a material and Wilderness Equipment make canvas daypacks. But alas, none of the smaller ones have compression straps.

So that added another criteria. Further digging uncovered

My searching finally yielded Mont and specifically their Trance 32. But it hasn’t been available for a year now.

  • http://www.bogong.com.au/mont.html?cat=25

Deuter have a number of packs, some more daypacks:

They also make a series of laptop bags, that all look quite similar

Refs

  • http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1591870
  • http://www.wildernessshop.com.au/html/daypacks.html
  • https://www.minaal.com/collections/your-future-gear/products/minaal-carry-on-bag
  • http://www.tortugabackpacks.com/products/outbreaker-travel-backpack
  • https://www.tombihn.com/collections/travel-bags/products/heros-journey-travel-backpack?variant=31516463367