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May 07, 2007
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Which pack should I use while peak bagging Colorado’s 14ers?
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Talon 33 (courtesy, Osprey)
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I've done my research and will start to bag Colorado’s 14ers this summer. With all the
choices out there, what pack should I bring?
— Tony
Euless, Texas
Do you have a question of your own?
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 Day-bagging or overnight-bagging? If it’s the former, then a pack with less than 2,500
cubic inches of capacity will do nicely. Osprey is turning out great packs these days, and
the company’s 2000-cubic inch Talon 33 ($129; ospreypacks.com) would fit the bill. It’s
designed so that gear is easy to organize, and it has an excellent suspension that
contours to your body. It can manage 30 pounds pretty easily. REI’s new Jet UL ($55;
rei.com) is a super-light (one pound, six ounces) pack with 1,830 cubic inches of
capacity. Not a big-load pack, but it has a clean, simple design and plenty of places for
attaching crampons, an ice axe, and other climbing accoutrements. The beauty of the Jet is
that it’s so light and flexible that it can be rolled up and stashed into a bigger pack. I
long ago gave up the notion of hauling a day pack on overnight trips or climbs, but the
Jet makes that a reasonable proposition.
If overnight, then 3,000 cubic inches or more is probably what you need. Gregory’s Z55
($189; gregorypacks.com) offers 3,350 cubic inches in size medium and is widely acclaimed
as one of the best light weekend packs out there. The comfortable, hefty suspension will
manage 35 pounds fairly easily, just enough room for what you need without creating the
temptation to stuff a lot into the pack. Arc’teryx’s very spiffy Bora 50 ($245;
arcteryx.com) is just a touch smaller but still has weekend capacity. And it has a very
tech-y carbon-stay suspension, big outside pockets, and watertight zippers (the pack
itself is water-resistant, but not waterproof). If you’re on a budget, then Kelty’s Morain
($130; kelty.com) offers good quality and 3,300 cubic inches of capacity at a very good
price.
Packs are like shoes—fit really does matter. So take the time to try on several packs with
simulated loads and get a sense of how they feel. You want good contact over your shoulder
with the straps (no gaps), the hip belt to hit you right atop the hips, and an adjustment
system that offers options but isn’t so complex that you need a degree in physics to
figure it out.
The Gear Guy reports from
2007 Winter Outdoor Retailer, the bi-annual gearapalooza in Salt Lake City. Check out
his top picks for gear to watch in 2007.
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GEAR GUY FEATURES
Check out the bio of Douglas Gantenbein, aka the Gear Guy.
Readers' Mailbag: The Gear Guy digs into some of your more bizarre, obscure (and let’s face it, downright weird) posts from years gone by to see if he can make sense of it all, or if it’s just time to run up the white flag. Previous column: Beat the Cost of Gear.
The Gear Guy reports from the 2005 Outdoor Retailer summer trade fair, with his rundown of ten products to watch in 2006, plus the inside scoop on what shook down at the bi-annual gearapalooza.
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Many of the items reviewed by the Gear Guy can be found at REI.com. Click here to find the internet's biggest selection of outdoor gear and apparel.
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