Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Question on backpacks

of you experienced trekkers favorites? I know that everyone will have a different opinion but I have talked to alot of different people so far and now am getting confused to the different options. I am planning a Whitney Main trail 2 day overnight trek late June-August per lottery results,with plans to camp overnight at Trail Camp.I want to go as light as possible but want to be able to take all the necesary emergency contingency gear. How big of a pack volume wise and what brands do most of you prefer? Is renting a pack a good idea or not? Thanks.

Hi DocRodneydog

I have a Mountain Hardware pack that I love. I recommend you try different packs on in the stores. Find a pack that fits you.

Here's a couple lightweight packs I use. To use these, you need to keep total pack weight below 30 pounds, and preferably below 25. To do this means very light shelter and sleeping bag, meaning some backcountry experience.

<a href="http://www.gossamergear.com/cgi-bin/gossamergear/G4-Standard.html">http://www.gossamergear.com/cgi-bin/gossamergear/G4-Standard.html</a>

<a href="http://www.ula-equipment.com/circuit.htm">http://www.ula-equipment.com/circuit.htm</a> (I have an older model similar to this.)

Thanks MC and AsABat. I knew you all would come through with great info. Has anyone ever seen or use that LuxuryLite Ultralite frame and canister system? That looks vey cool and unique.Thanks again for the links.

You buy a pack based your gear. If your gear is ultralight you get that type of pack, lightweight something a bit beefier or standard gear, like most folks carry, you get a standard pack, like a Gregory Palisade.

You trade experience and comfort for lightweight pack.

BTW, a rented Garcia Machine Bear Resistant Canister plays havoc with the lightweight framesheet-less ultralight packs. The canister is required.

I used the Gossamer Gear Maraposa pack last August on a 3 day summit of Whitney. Also used the Spinnshelter tent from Gossamer Gear. Total weight of full pack,2-liters water plus bear cannister (Bear Vault full size) at the portal scales was 25 lbs. The "Y" strap on the top of the pack held the bear canister on top with no problems.

The Osprey Aether series packs looked O.K. to me for anything from a 2 day hike to a weeklong hike and approx 30 -40 lbs.
Theses packs are lighter than most packs by a pound or two. This year we are hiking out of Tuolome meadows in Yosemite via Glen Aulin trail to White Wolf. Gonna try my new Osprey pack for an approx. 4-5 day hike.

I like the Osprey Aether 70. It's 4 lbs 9 oz. and has 4300 cu in. It also fits a solo Bear Vault. The pack I had before was a huge REI 5000+ cu in. The trouble with big packs is that you wanna fill it up with stuff you really don’t need like textbooks and Rambo knife.

well, i'm excited to cash in my rei rebate in march, and get a new pack this year for my high sierra trail 6 day trek in august. until this time, i've been lugging around an old kelty hurricane pack that weighs in at 6lbs, 7oz. i've read really really good things about the granite gear vapor trail (2.0 lb, 3600 cu-in) and plan on checking it out. a lot of people who through-hiked the appalachian trail last season used these packs and they held up just fine. i'm also considering the rei UL packs. they weigh in at just over 3lb.
i've also heard several testimonies that the vapor trail was THE most comfortable pack that these hikers had ever used. can't wait to try one on soon and see for myself

Granite Gear Vapor Trail pack

REI Cruise UL 60 pack

I am an osprey lover... Ariel 50 would do the trick nicely. I have found osprey to be the only pack maker to finely tune their packs to a woman's frame and shoulder girth. I am a proud owner of 4 ospreys' and will run 'em into the ground!

I've seen that pack but not used it. I've known a couple people with them. One loves it, one doesn't. A bit pricey too, because of the material.

Yes, buying a lightweight pack is the LAST thing you buy when cutting your gear weight. They won't carry 50 pounds. I have used a Bear Vault in my G4 pack with no problems, standing the can upright (sleeping bag under it) and stuffing my other things on either side. That way I can get into the bear can without taking it out of the pack. Just be sure to remove it from the pack at night so a bear doesn't run off with your pack!

I've used the same technique of placing the BV at the top of the pack (GoLite Trek - missing top pocket) with the lid exposed. As AsABat states, you can then get snacks and other items of food out of the canister by just spinning the lid off. When you're trying to cover a lot of ground in a day, this method saves quite a bit of time over the course of a day.

Huh! I learned something new... Kewl! I never thought of doing that with the bear canister.. it is always been in the middle of my pack and a hassle when it came time to eat. Thanks guys!