View Full Version : Trying to choose a rucksack!
Hi guys and girls.
I have been reading these forums for a while now and have found the information extremely valuable while I prepare for a very long trip.
I have been trying to find a suitable rucksack and I think I have found the one I want, BUT I would like your opinions first.
I am looking at the berghaus C7 70+10 ltr
http://www.berghaus.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID= 1109&Gear=2
Is this any good? or do you have any suggestions for something better but a similar capacity?
Pete
Andy2112
15-07-2008, 12:54
It depends on what you want to carry in it, i would suggest you get down to your local camping shop, ie Blacks for example and get them to show you all the large sacs they have and try them on and see which one fits you the best. If they have a dedicated rucksack person i would beeline it to them and explain what you want it for. I think Osprey sacs do a personal back shape fitting service if i remember rightly. (had a mate who worked in the store)
no connection with Blacks etc, just know someone who used to work in there.
hope this helps ?
marshall4771
15-07-2008, 13:07
Hi Pete,
I believe that the Berhaus C7 won trial walkers top award in this years trials. Great reviews everywhere for it.
Shaun
crazydave
15-07-2008, 13:25
if its going to get trashed around europe or thailand then have a look in the pawn type shops and ebay as you can pickup a two year old bag for a quarter of the price. a named brand will still be up the job with the same features.
my karrimor jaguar 85 cost me £25 :)
sandbender
15-07-2008, 13:45
if its going to get trashed around europe or thailand then have a look in the pawn type shops and ebay as you can pickup a two year old bag for a quarter of the price. a named brand will still be up the job with the same features.
If Europe or the Far East are your chosen destination, then a 'pre-owned' sack also has an urban disguise factor, North American backpackers with huge shiny new backpacks will be ripped off or pursued by hostel touts while person with the nondescript shabby rucksack has more chance of being ignored.
:)
From a backpacking background I would personally go for something lighter. The Berghaus is a heavy sack. There are some very good ones suitable for heavy loads that are a lot lighter. Of course it depends on the use like every other specialist kit. Backpacking has different demands from interailing or general gap year type travelling. If you sack is going to be carried by say a pack animal, vehicle or porter then weight is not an issue for you (though the porter might not like you much).
I'd look at golite as they have started to supply large capacity sacks into the UK and are tougher than they look. For real bombproof look at POD sacs. ULA and Gregory from the USA make good ones and Crux also make some very tough sacks that still manage to be light, well featured and not a bad price.
Go online, look around a bit. Buy from America. Look at REI a large American retailer with a good web site. Search the Outdoorsmagic website or ask a question. Like on this forum you will get a 101 posts each with their own ideas (just don't mention Atko or Laser Competition tents)
sandbender
15-07-2008, 15:49
From a backpacking background I would personally go for something lighter....and Crux also make some very tough sacks that still manage to be light, well featured and not a bad price...
There has been a presumption in the posts so far that you are off on some kind of backpacking adventure, hopefully our presumptions are correct :)
Most backpackers weigh themselves down with 70 liter backpacks which are usually packed with spare clothes, hairdryers etc. If your plan is to catch a train to each of Europe's capital cities, walk to the nearest youth hostel and then spend a week clubbing then that may be the way to go.
If you plan to get out and about in each of the countries you visit, perhaps do a bit of wild camping, sleep on beaches and in train stations etc. then a large rucksack will be a liability.
The Crux range mentioned by Paul_B are extremely tough, weigh next to nothing and after a month or two on the road develop a nice faded, worn look
http://www.crux.uk.com/en/crux_rucksacks_ak47.php
:D
the general plan is to walk around the coast of France, into Spain and see where the wind takes us. we are aiming to spend as little time as possible in hostels etc
I will be carrying my speargun + fins so I aim to spend a lot of time near beaches :)
thanks for all the advice so far......
sandbender
15-07-2008, 17:04
the general plan is to walk around the coast of France, into Spain and see where the wind takes us.
Thats going to be a great walk :)
You should definitely consider taking a smaller and lighter pack.
I only use a 50l sack with a 10l over spill. and am trying to get down to a 9kg base weight (food and water extra). Oh, that is out in the sticks for 9 days. I guess I will use tarns for hygiene and only one set of spare clothes. I take it you are planning to be a bit more luxurious in your approach. Possibly with 2 sets of spare clothing, one set even looks tidy enough to be called casual!! If that's the case 70l makes sense, just a light 70 litres.
BTW I agree with the comment about Crux sacks looking aged after a relatively short period of time. They almost look about 5 years old in the shop. Kind of what I like about them, just can't justify replacing my light Berghaus from 13 years ago just yet as it still looks new, certainly newer than the crux I saw in an Ambleside shop at the weekend.
If you are letting the wind take you surely with prevailing winds you would be going from Spain to France?
yup!!!
its an excellent bag of great quality, especialy if u are going to be walking any distance with it as it is so comfy! =]
make sure u try it on first though, go into a shop, see if it fits you, walk out an find it cheaper on the web!! lol, or just buy it there, i always do that tho i now it would be better to find a cheaper deal! lol
crazyclimber
15-07-2008, 21:26
I've been using a Golite pinnacle recently - it's very comfortable for loads up to about 10kg (the limit of what I've tried so far) and has surprised me how tough it is. I started off being very careful with it around rocks etc but of course within a few weeks that got forgotten about ;) looks very good so far! Mind I wouldn't like to fill it up with a full load of heavy kit - I'm thinking maybe 15 - 20 kg - like I would a Berghaus Atlas / Vulcan, but it weighs 700g so that's an immediate 1.6kg saving on those or a whopping 2.1kg on the C7! Well worth considering IMO
Hope that helps some
crazyclimber
15-07-2008, 21:28
oh and PS stop making me jealous :p that's going to be a great walk!
Thanks for all the advice, i have been looking at the Crux rucksack's online and they look very nice! i think i will have to go and try one on.
the walk should be excellent, i am really looking forward to it now, i just have so much to sort out before i go!
John Fenna
16-07-2008, 09:37
In my experience - if you are travelling by air you need to have a very robust sack.
Those baggage handlers are far from respectful in their handling of rucksacks!
If no one but yourself is going to play with it then a less robust sack is fine and a weigh saver!
I travelled around the USA for 3 months many years ago and took an 80 ltr Karrimor rucksack with me.(I still use it now for meets etc.):)
I only had 1 spare set of clothes but purchased clothes when needed.
I found that when using public transport it was best to keep the bag in my sight, but when there was no other option and it went in with other luggage I tightened all the straps as much as possible and used electrical tape to bind everything together so there were no loose straps etc to snag up.I also tried to sit near to the luggage access hatch to keep an eye on my pack;) I always carried valuables etc in a concealed bum bag and a dummy wallet with small amount of cash and old credit cards in my pocket as a decoy for muggers.:)
I also now use this bag for any travelling http://www.jackson-sports.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=5611 (now discontinued)
I find it very useful and is comfortable when in rucksack mode, but I wouldn't take it if I was travelling as I did in the USA.
HTH
Bodge:)
John Fenna
16-07-2008, 11:10
As to loose straps etc - I made a giant cover bag that doubles as a tent underlay, stow bag, survival bag etc. It has a twist, fold tie closure and a luggage label holder on the outside - nothing else!
As it is "well used" and covered in gaffa tape patches now and looks like sh*t (though still functionable) it stops straps from being ripped off and looks so bad that it deters theives from investigating its contents!
Mone belt, deycoy wallet and looking poor but experienced in life are all good ways of minimising hassle....some of it anyway!
sandbender
16-07-2008, 11:19
In my experience - if you are travelling by air you need to have a very robust sack. Those baggage handlers are far from respectful in their handling of rucksacks!
Indeed, loose straps and buckles can be ripped clean off by the baggage handling process!
I usually place my pack inside two B&Q rubble bags, one over the top and one over the bottom, this is then sealed with plenty of gaffa tape.
I make a slit near the top of the wrapping so that the grab handle sticks out, covering the area around the slit with more yet more gaffa.
The rubble sacks are destroyed when I unwrap the pack at my destination, however I'm usually using the same type off rubble sacks to waterproof my sleeping bag and clothes etc. inside the pack during the journey and can use those to wrap the pack up for the return trip.
:)
I only had 1 spare set of clothes but purchased clothes when needed.
It's true! you really won't need so much, in France it's cheaper and easier to buy new socks and t-shirts than it is to wash them and after five hundred miles you'll be able to walk wearing just sandals (much healthier for your feet)
:D
I found that when using public transport it was best to keep the bag in my sight
The smaller your pack the more likely you'll be allowed to take your pack onto a bus rather than risk it being stolen from the luggage store, the bus roof or the toyota landcruiser that "will follow with your luggage!"
Some of the Crux packs are available with a 'floating lid' option, this is so you can overstuff you pack with extra ropes etc. However this also allows for the entire top pocket to be removed and with a spare piece of webbing strap it can be used as a shoulder or bum bag to carry you valuables and necessities, during the flight or when you head into town for a beer and a bite.
As it is "well used" and covered in gaffa tape patches now and looks like sh*t .......and looks so bad that it deters theives from investigating its contents!
In my experience, folks with shiny new backpacks are targeted for scams or theft while people with old, drab, scruffy non big brand name packs saunter past unmolested.
:)
I won’t be traveling on any planes but we may get busses, depending how tired my feet are :)
I never thought about just buying new clothes, is it really a good option??
And I have already been looking into walking sandals, any suggestions for some decent ones?
John Fenna
16-07-2008, 11:41
I hate sandals - they may let your feet breath but they let in all the abrasive sand, gravel, thorns, broken glass, manure etc around and give no protection against stubbing your toes....I stick to boots even in the hottest of climes!
sandbender
16-07-2008, 11:51
And I have already been looking into walking sandals, any suggestions for some decent ones?
Maybe a bit hardcore, but these sandals will last you the rest of your life :)
http://www.hollowtop.com/sandals.htm
:D
I know you said you weren't going to fly but for anyone else you can get a large overbag called airporter TZ I think from some of the catalogue and shop based outdoor chains. It can fit most large bags in it and be closed and padlocked. It is made of a tough yet light fabric. There might even be a pacsafe product that has the chain link within the fabric layers. The first item takes very little space in your sack when not needed.
Sandals - I've have the source ones, they were the best but in several gear mags. Since then things have moved on and there are more of the sandals that cover most of the foot and are more like trainers. Try Keen as their sandals are what they started with and then moved onto boots and shoes. They have a very good toe bumper and the footbed prevents stones and grit entering. They act like shoes with decent vents.
Merrel do a trainer with open mesh panels along the sides. I think it is the waterpro. It is for watersports and other amphibious activities.
Watch out for the wrong size as the toe strap will wear at the toe area and since you probably won't be wearing socks it could cut you a bit. That's from the experience from my first pair of sandals, since then I got source and haven't had any problem
hi guys,
just found this bag Technicals T-50+5 Rucksack for £59.99 at blacks.
Any one got any oppinions on it??
Regards
Pete
lostagain
23-07-2008, 17:30
Pete,
I bought the Berghaus C70 a year ago and have only worn it a few times. Very comfortable back system but as mentioned before its heavy pack. Worse of all, with any decent weight in it, after a few miles the back system starts to squeak as you walk and is unbearable. I've resigned this pack to carrying stuff when i camp from the car as I won't wear it long distance anymore.
I would go for a smaller pack (50L - I have a Berghaus freeflow 50, very light and plenty of ventilation around the back - you'll need that abroad). The smaller pack also makes you selective in what you take resulting in a lighter pack to carry. With the 70L one its tempting to take the kitchen sink just because it will fit in then you'll regret the weight mid walk.
If this is your first long distance walk i would go for a 2-3 day hike in this country with your chosen kit to test the weight and also discover what you didn't use and that stuff can be left behind (except the essentials).
Have a great walk, I'm not jealous in the slightest !:beerchug: