Rucksack brands

paddylonglegs

Hello,

I will be travelling for six months with my girlfriend soon and have begun to research rucksacks. Having looked in a few shops around capel st today i noticed quite a difference in price.

Hopefully someone here would be able to tell me, is the difference in price for real reasons or am I just paying for the brand name? Regatta and highlander bags were coming in at around 60 euro while Lowe Alpine and Berghaus were around 120 at the same size. The more expensive brands did look better built but would like to hear from somone with a bit of experince in this to push me in the right direction.Will I notice the difference in bags and appreciate that I got the more expensive one after carrying around for six months?Or will I end up saying that the cheaper one did the job?

We will be moving around alot, so this means heavy duty on the bag.

Thank you

dogmatix

"You pay peanuts, you get monkeys".

Thats the rule I apply to Rucksacks and daysacks. So avoid Regatta / highlander / Eurohike etc and pay the extra for Lowe, Berghaus, North face etc. Deuter is worth consider too.

The cheaper bags will work and may last as long as the expensive brands but they will never feel as comfortable or well fitted as a good brand. I've owned a Regatta before and while it was a durable bag it was a horrible fit and never felt comfortable. I currently use a 35L Lowe and a 28L Deuter for day walks.

Also you might consider getting your bag properly fitted too so maybe avoid the cheapie places on Capel street and check out the Great Outdoors. Your back and hips will thank you.

paddylonglegs

Just what I wanted to hear,thanks dogmatix

nick23

what size bag would you reccommend for someone who's goin inter railing for a month. I Plan to bring about a weeks worth of clothes with me and then whatever other little bits and pieces i might need

dogmatix

1. I would say a 60L rucksack.
2. Or a combo pack - you know a 60L+10L or 50L+10L or similar (50L rucksack with a detachable 10L daysack).
3. Or maybe a large rucksack with a zip away harness.
4. Even a wheeled duffel - i've seen some wheeled duffels with zip away rucksack harnesses.

But option 1 would probably be best. Check out http://www.lowealpine.com.

fguihen

I got a 65L low pro from great outdoors for holidays and whatnot. I can go away with enough clothes for a week ( easily more) and still carry the backpack onto the plane as hand luggage. its very comfortable for a big pack ( Im quite short) and am totally happy with it.

http://www.greatoutdoors.ie/shopping_admin/product_details/product.cgi?product=CCK001&cat=Packs%20And%20Luggage&sub=Packs%20And%20Luggage--Backpacking%20Packs

Its hip supports are also adjustable for your height which allows you to achieve maximium comfort.

Before it, i had a cheapo 25 quid backpack, which half the zips had given up on, and it tore into your shoulders.

its worth spending a few quid on.

dogmatix

fguihen wrote: »

I got a 65L low pro from great outdoors for holidays and whatnot. I can go away with enough clothes for a week ( easily more) and still carry the backpack onto the plane as hand luggage. its very comfortable for a big pack ( Im quite short) and am totally happy with it.

http://www.greatoutdoors.ie/shopping_admin/product_details/product.cgi?product=CCK001&cat=Packs%20And%20Luggage&sub=Packs%20And%20Luggage--Backpacking%20Packs

Its hip supports are also adjustable for your height which allows you to achieve maximium comfort.

Before it, i had a cheapo 25 quid backpack, which half the zips had given up on, and it tore into your shoulders.

its worth spending a few quid on.

+1

Thats good advice. Don't skimp on your bag and get a quality brand like Lowe, North Face etc... If you and your bag are going to be together for a few weeks you'd be better off getting a properly fitted one.

buy a 65l bag and you'll fill it, simple as that.
I spent 2 weeks on the camino last year with a 35l bag,
you can wash clothes at night, and if need be buy stuff abroad.

You'll meet people with massive bags, all sorts of stuff, sleeping bags etc, when all you need is a sheet bag, spare jocks/socks, shorts, light rain jacket and not much else.

it's a hassle lugging a large bag, just remember that the main thing to bring is money in the form of cash or credit card, anything else is a luxury.

fguihen

for a weekend trip i agree, for a week or more you defo need a bigger bag. note, i dont fill my 65L bag, it has plenty of room for all my clothes. if i need a sleeping bag theres room also. its rarely full, and i never find it too big. i can carry it onto the plane man!

I suppose it's all down to your personal preference.
I prefer to travel light, very light.

I'm off to Norway, in a week's time to trek hut to hut, carrying all my gear, and if it doesn't fit into my Deuter (another good brand) 32l bag it's not coming on the week long trip.

More than once, I met Irish people abroad who end up dumping clothes, because they got tired carrying them.

As a general rule, you should aim to have your bag weigh no more than 10% of your bodyweight, so for most people this means 8-10kg,
ask yourself, do you really need that extra paperback/trousers/top etc.

I prefer to bring lightweight clothes, non cotton easier to dry, travel towel, silk sheet bag, etc etc to cut down on weight.

BarryM

Agreed, I use a Chinook, 40+10, a little heavier than 'recommended' but the day sack add-on is a boom. I also use a sack with zip in fittings, makes carry-on a dream.

leahyl

I know this thread is 2 years old but don't want to be starting a new one! I've decided to invest in a rucsac for a holiday that i am going on to San Fran and LA in September. Now it's not a trekking/hiking holiday just a regualar holiday although we will be spending a night in Yosemite (but hopefully will be able to leave our main luggage in hostel in San Fran for a night and then come back). I want something that will last me for years so that i can use it for most other long holidays and also want one ideally that has a detachable small rucksack (which i can use for yosemite). I'm sick of dragging suitcases on wheels around when i go on holiday to the states or further afield.

Can anyone recommend one? I want one that it is properly padded on the back so that i am comfortable - last thing i want is for the bag to be dragging at my neck if you get me.

obviously i am going to go into one of the shops that sell these and try a few but i was looking at this one on the great outdoors website.

Does anyone have this or have anything from the Deuter brand? Or would this be way too big for a 2 week trip to the states? But then i'd use it again in the future so might be worth investing...

Thanks:)

http://www.greatoutdoors.ie/shopping_admin/product_details/product.cgi?product=33827&cat=Packs%20And%20Luggage&sub=Packs%20And%20Luggage--Expedition

BarryM

I mentioned Chinook in my earlier post and still recommend it, especially the capability to fold in and cover the straps, very handy for leaving it in a hostel and for airports...

They are Canadian, I got mine in the NL, but they have a email on their site anf the catalogue is at http://www.chinooktec.com/Chinook_Cat_2009.pdf.

Have a good one!

Evil Phil

leahyl wrote: »

I know this thread is 2 years old but don't want to be starting a new one!

It's better to start a new thread tbh.