Backpacks

Riaan has just got one of the new anti gravity packs from Osprey. His initial comment is that his Black Diamond Mercury is slightly more comfy but I will ask him for more...

I also have BD and Osprey packs in the Mission 50 and Variant 52 which I use for overnight trips in the berg. Overall there is not much in it. My summary would be that comfort is very similar similar while features are better on the Osprey. The Mission is more manoeuvrable but the Variant is more stable. Pick your horse...

OK, Took a look at a LOT of bags this weekend and managed a short list.

Osprey Aether 70. This bag was recommended by a few shops.
Osprey Volt 75. Less bells and whistles.
Black diamond Mercury 65/75.
Black diamond Mission 75. Very basic, similar to Volt.

I am leaning more towards the Aether, but any comments on the above or other options to try will be much appreciated. Will the 70 Litre be large enough? I have heard mixed comments that it should be at least 75, while others say 65 will do.

I'm more of a minimalist follower, anything getting close to 60L will just make you fall for the "in case" illness. Some purists will say even my 60 cap is over the top.
Case in point....ghaznavid just came back from a 5 day hike using an Osprey Talon 33.

The trip type and weather etc will dictate I suppose.

don't forget the need for speed...

So I compare the weight of each pack and it's carrying capacity. All things are not equal though. For example both my Mission 50 and Variant 52 are more than adequate for long weekend trips to the Berg but the Variant performs well above its weight and carries more gear than the Mission cause of it's wider base.

You also need to consider all your gear as a system. If you decide on a lighter and smaller pack you probably want a lighter and more packable tent and sleeping bag that will fit.

This brings in cost considerations as the lightest smaller stuff tends to get pricier.. basically all your needs have match. I work backwards from what I plan to do and how I want to do it.

If I take your list for example, a Mission 75 is best suited to Mountaineering and is easily the lightest for its carry capacity while the Mercury 75 is 800gm heavier but imo the most comfortable bag on the list. The Aether has been replaced by the new Gravity pack but is still a very good all rounder... still your choice

Coeta & ASL make valid points, can't add much except to say that having a too big pack does make it harder to leave the what-if things behind, but on the other hand having things strapped all over the outside of your pack because it's too small also has it's drawbacks (easier to lose stuff, may alter the way your pack behaves on your back, gear is exposed to light fingers/pilferers).

If it were me, from your list I'd pick the Aether for its multiple entry, almighty guarantee and it's slightly smaller capacity than the others on your list. The Osprey Variant 52 that ASL referred to also looks like a great pack (and is currently on special at Takealot @ R1709 down from R2400) but may be a bit small unless you have a small tent and sleeping bag like ASL, and share a lot of gear like Ghaz did on his recent 5-day GT.

Edit: just seen that the Aether70 weighs 2.3kg; considering the Osprey Kestrel68 is a similar pack that weighs 1.9kg, 400g is a lot for the convenience of accessing the middle of your pack.

It really depends what you need the pack for - my 33 litre pack is great for cave-to-cave stuff, my 20 litre pack is great for day trips and my 70 litre is necessary for anything that includes a tent. Never underestimate the size and weight of a tent.

That being said - I would be lying if I said I wasn't looking at ways to do a 12 day GT with my 33 litre pack...

Pyro wrote: OK, Took a look at a LOT of bags this weekend and managed a short list.

Osprey Aether 70. This bag was recommended by a few shops.
Osprey Volt 75. Less bells and whistles.
Black diamond Mercury 65/75.
Black diamond Mission 75. Very basic, similar to Volt.

I am leaning more towards the Aether, but any comments on the above or other options to try will be much appreciated. Will the 70 Litre be large enough? I have heard mixed comments that it should be at least 75, while others say 65 will do.

This pack will need to be suitable for a 12 day GT around April. I would be carrying my own tent, not sharing it. I plan to go as light as practical but still try to remain comfortable. Bag needs to be as comfortable as possible as my back is not in the best condition

I currently have a Kelty redwing 50 for climbing with or one nighter warm hikes. I haven't tried packing for longer and as comfortable as it is, I dont think I could pack everything in for more than 2 nights with my current gear especially if we talking colder nights like in the drakensberg. and I hate having anything except maybe sleeping mat hanging around outside the pack.

I will be upgrading most of my gear over the next few months building up to the GT to thin down the bulk and weight so this could also help, but unsure how small I can go practically without rebonding my house to get the real lightweight stuff

Pyro wrote:

I will be upgrading most of my gear over the next few months building up to the GT to thin down the bulk and weight so this could also help, but unsure how small I can go practically without rebonding my house to get the real lightweight stuff

HaHa, know what you mean; unfortunately it's only gonna get worse @ R14:1US$ / R15:1Euro / R21.5:1GBP

I have not done a DGT so don't know how much more stuff you need to take over & above a 3-4 day hike, suspect it's probably mostly food and socks which depends on how many re-supplies you have.

As Ghaz said, most of your pack will be filled with tent (& footprint/groundsheet) and sleeping system (sleeping bag, sleeping mat, maybe a bivy bag too), so use an 8 litre bucket to estimate these when compressed as a starting point. Then maybe a few of us can do the same to give you an idea of what is required/possible.

@Pyro, please update on your decisions as you change your gear selections and pack please!

I think Ghaz is correct in that some gear is best for a specific purpose. I have made the mistake of trying to get the perfect item for all purposes. I have ended up spending more because there is always a purpose built product that is far better...

I thought my Mercury 75 would cover most of my Berg hike needs but I haven't used it for 2 years because my lightweight packs do the job and enable me to move quicker and be more agile. So if I were buying a pack for a 12 day hike it would be great but it depends how often I plan to do long hikes..