Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Internal Frame vs. External Frame Packs

Internal Frame vs. External Frame Packs

When looking for a new pack, do you consider external frame packs, or do you feel that the technology outdated? Do the lighter loads carried by hikers today make external frames unnecessary? I hadn't really considered buying one until I saw a surprising number of people coming over Kearsarge Pass using external frame packs this past July.

While it's been a goal of mine to reduce my pack weight in general, I usually carry a few electronic items that tend to push my pack weight into territory that's too heavy for most UL packs. These items include a Delorme inReach Explorer, my camera and camera clip, phone, solar charger and occasionally, a tripod. These items can easily add 10 lbs or more to my base weight. While many would consider these to be unneccesary or luxury items, they are essential for me to have the experience I want to have on the trail.

I've been using a Seek Outside Divide 4500 as my primary pack since February. Oddly, I didn't really realize how much I like this pack and how much it makes sense for me until I sat down to write my review this past weekend. I see it being my go-to pack whenever I carry more than 30 lbs, when it's preferable to strap items to the outside of my pack for extended periods of time (snowshoes, bear canister, crampons, ice axe, etc.) or when damaging my pack is a concern (brush and cuben fiber don't play well together). While heavier than what most would consider lightweight, the comfort and durability of this pack are well worth the extra weight in my opinion. It's one of the best packs I've ever used.  If your pack tends to be on the heavy side (30+ pounds) and a pack in this price range is in your budget ($350), you should give the Divide 4500 some serious consideration.

You can read my review in its entirety by clicking on one of the photos below:






Gear Review: Seek Outside Divide 4500 Ultralight External Frame Backpack

I get asked this question a lot by Scouts, especially those planning on going out to Philmont Scout Ranch, and by newer folks around the Highpointers Club. Personally, I own one of each (Kelty Super Tioga external, Kelty La Sal internal) plus a couple of day/summit packs.

My response is always, "it depends." If I'm on good trails (e.g. the Main Trail up to Whitney or any of the trails out at Philmont), I'll use my external frame pack. If I'm off trail or expect to be carrying my full pack while boulder-hopping or scrambling up/down steep terrain, I'll use the internal frame pack. Also, the external is more comfortable in hot weather (summers here in MO!) because it allows more air circulation between my back and the pack.

The key thing is that the pack fits your body. Male/female, young/old, makes a big difference. First and foremost, the hip-to-shoulder distance so the hip belt rests correctly and you don't end up with too much (or too little) load on your shoulders. For teenagers, how much adjustment is there in the frame or suspension? Will the pack "stretch" after that next growth spurt or will you be out another couple of hundred bucks a year from now? Will the hip belt cinch down tight to take the load? (This is a significant issue for younger boys who are basically a straight line from ribcage through thighs. If the belt is too long at its shortest, they'll end up with their whole pack weight on their shoulders and hate it.) For those of us on the other end of the range, will the hip belt extend far enough to fit our anatomy?

And, when you're shopping for a pack, don't just put it on empty and think it'll be fine. Take a few one-gallon milk jugs with you to the store, fill them up in their restroom, and load the pack up with 30-40# and then see how it feels.

Different tools for different jobs...

I’ve never been an early adopter of anything (I still don’t have a cell phone), but I wisely ditched my external frame pack 22 years ago. Internal frame packs are superior in every way. A quick check at rei.com revealed 355 internal frame packs and 4 external frame packs (only 2 available in stores). Yes, external frame packs are outdated.

Be thou not the first
by whom the new is tried,
nor the last to lay
the old aside

I feel that external frames force me to stand a bit awkwardly upright. That might actually be okay going downhill. Personally, I prefer curling my back into the internal frame, especially when going uphill. This may just be my back and fit. I have not used my old externals in 20 yrs.

When I'm hauling my Betamax cassette library, my Polaroid camera, my rotary phone, my typewriter (and/or fax machine) and a phone book or two, I always use an external frame backpack.

Ok, call me a dinosaur but I still like my external frame pack (when appropriate as I noted above).

If I could find an internal frame pack that made it reasonable to carry my tent and sleeping pad strapped to the outside of the pack (not just squeezed under the top pouch) and that gave me the ease of access to both the main compartment and lower compartment (not the sleeping bag compartment on my internal), I might ditch the Super Tioga.

Until then? No, I'll keep going with the old-style pack.

Just the proverbial $0.02 worth of opinion...

Let's see battery, generator ,light pack,retro ray prisms, T-2 transit, tripod set of recovery notes, 4 -6 pound sledge rebar ,caps to mark the location , wire 10 mast with flag, wire cutters , wire and stakes for mast , some water and snacks.These all fit well in FOO FOO packs.

You forgot about the dynamite and blasting caps. (I'm guessing that was the other guy a 1/2 mile behind you...)

Here is a photo of my first internal frame “FOO FOO” pack that I bought in 1993. The object strapped crosswise to the top of the pack (not just squeezed under the top pouch) is my sleeping pad. The larger object strapped crosswise to the bottom of the pack is a three-person expedition tent. If you can’t find a suitable internal frame pack, you’re just not looking.

OK Bob, if nobody else will l'll bite. What's a foo foo pack? Is it made by FUBU in Fuji?

All l can add to this thread is that in 1968 l was able to carry more weight longer distances in my REI Cruiser pack than l can today in my light, not UL, 65/75 Deuter.

Hi Burt - I think it is Doug-speak for wimpy,
or
latest-fancy-and-new-and-trendy- but-not-necessarily-better-especially-when the-going-gets-tough

Hi So He walked out of the Board meeting , drove straight to the Porthole still screaming I'm not making" FOO FOO Clothes" He forgot he sold out to the Corps and had not much power left, well he could warm the chair. Story that would repeat even now, This was If I recall 1988 the company is still around , The founder passed away last year.

It's an old story. REI under Jim Whitaker's leadership wouldn't be selling Kuhl and l Toad wear. I mean, they may be perfectly fine as an in-town costume but what are they doing in REI?P