Hiking Bags

P.K

hey all

iam not exactly new to the outdoors but dont know it all just yet:)

i have a Vango Contour bag at the moment and its terrible.
Rips & tears in the pockets on the seems etc etc.
Didn't stand up well to a bit of "strong" use.

iam lookin into decent hiking bag with a high capcity ie 65l and up(but under a 100l).
i would like something with an adjustable back setting
wide and thick shoulder and waist straps.
Also something that can stand up to a bit of abuse as such

Would like some of your experiences and advice

thanks
Paul k

Evil Phil

I've a lowe alpine Vision 40 which I don't think they make anymore. Have had it for about 4 years and used it hiking, ice climbing, mountaineering loads of hard wearing stuff and its going strong. I'd suggest going with something in the same brand.

irishlostboy

i am using the Lowe Alpine Saracen.
it is nuke proof, massive, and very comfortable.
look at the mili range of lowe's packs here;
http://www.lowealpine.com/Products/SearchMenu.asp?ProductTypeID=22&SpecificActivityID=17
the mili stuff has less gimicks and garish colours, and tends to use more sturdy material grades throughout. after all, it has to stand up to army abuse. the stingray would probably be the best pack for regular users. i carry more than most so i opted for the bigger pack. the down side is its "army" colours all the way. olive green or woodland DPM. the olive green is nice though. more "ray mears" than army.
downside to these packs are; not cheap, and tough to find. in fact you will probably need to order it in specifically.
pro points of the saracen and stingray;
great construction. supertough cordura stuff throughout. top quality fixings.
great back support system.
molle carry system on the ack is a nice touch.
is much bigger than its litre measurments would suggest. i have yet to fill mine, and i dont use the plce side pouches (they are detatchable and match into any plce kit by any company. i use one of them as my food bag, and the other with a plce yoke for carrying water and ammo while playing airsoft.)

my previous packs were vango, and although good for the money, they are best suited to backpackers going from hostel to hostel. not hostile to hostile hee hee i think i am funny all my vango packs recieved extensive stitching to repair busted seams. all my saracen has recieved is abuse, and it loves it.

other pack to look out for are the berghaus vulcan. another good solid, pack. with less frills.

P.K

thanks very much
thats more of what i was looking at
would be the military grade stuff. Only problem there are so many bags out there claiming this and that. I was intending on getting one but thought id ask the opinion of other hikers etc.

on a side note i know cordura is a tough material
but what would be the significance of something about 1000D Cordura?

irishlostboy

ya, with mili kit there are a few things to watch out for. there are three variations. real ex army stuff, knock off army stuff, and good alternitive stuff (the good alternitive stuff usually gets used by special forces and the like who dont have to stay strictly to their issued kit. other stuff is so close to their nations kit they swap higher grade stuff without their co's noticing)
the real army surplus stuff can usually be very tough, but sacrafice a lot of comfort. the cheaper knock-off stuff (the kind of stuff you get in your local "surplus" stores usually. not naming names. :rolleyes: ) is usually just horrible.
for packs, i would stay with either carrimore, berghaus, lowe alpine or kifaru.
http://www.rvops.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=cPath=77_5
http://www.kifaru.net/MGpacks.htm

regards different grades of cordura, (their numbers and all that) i have no idea. i have experiance with the army bergens of 3 of the four companies i listed (not kifaru. they are rare, and brutally expensive) and the materials used are really tough. like "pack for a lifetime" tough.

the problem would of course be the fact that you will have to get whatever you choose from the net. it is nice to get hands-on with kit before you buy, but with this kind of kit its just not possible usually. when you are ordering, do not be afraid to ask questions to the retailer you order from. most of the english lot i have dealt with really know their kit and a phonecall can be very helpful, especially if you can wrangle a deal out of them. (always ask for a free p.l.c.e. yoke. they will usually throw one in if they like ya)

Morpheus

Hi all,

Does anyone know where in dublin I might get one of these?

Lowe Alpine Saracen

Seems very hard to locate them on the web (

cheers!

Donny5

Morphéus wrote: »

Hi all,

Does anyone know where in dublin I might get one of these?

Lowe Alpine Saracen

Seems very hard to locate them on the web (

cheers!

They aren't made anymore. You might find a few left in stock online or on eBay.

Morpheus

thanks, thought it might be that. any idea what the replacement lowe alpine model is?

Donny5

I don't think there is one, strictly speaking. The Sting and Salient models are the ones the Dutch use, I think. They have a good rep.

Karrimor SF bags are similar enough, too.

keenan110

I recently bought the Lowe Alpine TFX Fitzroy bag in Great Outdoors, for half price, a real bargain! They may still have a few left. It's a 70:90L bag, so possibly too big for what you're looking for? The back system is extremely adjustable and also very comfortable even when the bag is very heavy.