Backpacks

If I have to replace my 2nd hand Karrimor 85 liter backpack I bought for R350, I would buy the Osprey 75l Volt. It is very light for the volume!

Viking wrote: Bush and Bundu in Pietermaritzburg have the Osprey Kestrel 68l M/L backpacks going for R1100.00. They have about 8 left.

I just read through older posts in the 'Backpacks' thread for a few ideas and found Vikings post from 5 April 2014. And to think that you could buy a Osprey Kestrel for R1'100 That is really cheap! Its better than any investment I know of. The bag doubled in value in 2 years. Viking, you should have bought all the bags!

Does anybody have an opinion on the CapeStorm Inca Backpack 60L + 5? I can't find any reviews on the internet.

At only 1.3kg for R999. I think it could be a good deal?

GerritHuman wrote: Does anybody have an opinion on the CapeStorm Inca Backpack 60L + 5? I can't find any reviews on the internet.

At only 1.3kg for R999. I think it could be a good deal?

I've also been having a look at those Cape Storm packs over the past few months. From what I can see, I'm not sure that the materials are going to be very hard-wearing. But I stand to be corrected.

Sent from my SM-N910C using Tapatalk

I knew I'd seen an opinion somewhere, finally found it....
www.vertical-endeavour.com/forum/44-gear/2773-backpacks.html?start=90#61036

Hi Papa Dragon. Wow that should have taken you some time to find between all the posts. Thank you.

The closest Outdoor Warehouse to me is in Woodmead, they are quite large so they should have it. I will go and look at it over the next weekend. I am in the market for a smaller lighter pack, but I am not in a hurry. Still reading all the reviews, and there are many brands and many reviews!

Grandeur wrote: Just some feedback on the Cape Storm 60L + 5L backpack:

Cons:
Shoulder strap height isn't adjustable
No rain cover
No front entrance to main compartment]
No sleeping bag compartment
Hip belt has little padding
(I would hazard a guess and say it's a "small" 60L pack - doesn't look as big as some other packs of a similar size)

Pros:
Is super light at 1.3kg - feels like a feather
Does have an "internal frame" - full length rectangular piece of stiff plastic board housed inside its own sleeve in the main compartment.


I did purchase this backpack but sadly it doesn't quite suit me size wise. My torso length isn't suited to the fixed shoulder strap height so I will in all likelihood return it.
Looks like I'm heading towards the Osprey Kestrel range as the shoulder strap height is adjustable (plus the hip belt feels a bit more paded from what I remember and it comes with a rain cover... but this does come with a 280g weight penalty for the Kestrel 48L pack which by the way feels and looks about the same size as the Cape Storm 60L).

Hi Stephen
Like you I was interested in the Capestorm 60+5l backpack but cannot find a shop with one in stock. They say the bag is discontinued. I am trying to go as light as possible. So I looked at kestrel 48 today and in a shop and it seemed very large, much more than 48 liters. What is your opinion on the Kestrel 48? Is it big enough for an overnight trip in the Drakensberg? Would you buy it again?

I have a very old 85 liter Karrimor (3kg) and I always seem to pack it full of stuff I never use and end up with a 19-21kg bag, so I want to go smaller and lighter, I am just afraid 48 liters is too small. But in the shop it looked like a 60 liter bag on the inside!

Is there anyone else that can comment on the Osprey 48?

Like you I was interested in the Capestorm 60+5l backpack but cannot find a shop with one in stock.

Seems you can buy one straight from their website: www.capestorm.co.za/product/inca-backpack-60l-5 and they have a 7 day returns policy.

GerritHuman wrote:

What is your opinion on the Kestrel 48? Is it big enough for an overnight trip in the Drakensberg? Would you buy it again?

I have a very old 85 liter Karrimor (3kg) and I always seem to pack it full of stuff I never use and end up with a 19-21kg bag, so I want to go smaller and lighter, I am just afraid 48 liters is too small. But in the shop it looked like a 60 liter bag on the inside!

Is there anyone else that can comment on the Osprey 48?

The temptation to take as much as your pack allows does seem to be a common problem!! Only thing that's harder is going back to a heavy pack once you've hiked light .

Your pack size will be determined primarily by the size of your sleeping system (sleeping bag, liner & mat) & tent: these are the biggest items you'll have to find space for. On a recent 2-night hike with ghaznavid he got away with a 33 liter Osprey Talon, but he squishes his sleeping bag smaller than a size-5 soccer ball and we didn't take a tent. So I'd say that's the bottom end. I used my Osprey Kestrel 68 (don't have another pack) and had plenty of space, but probably not 20 liters because I don't have a compression bag for my sleeping bag and it ended up easily twice the size of ghaz's.

Certainly recommend Osprey packs for adjustability (and therefore comfort), features and build quality. Also look at the Variant 52 and Volt 60, both available from Mountain Mail Order.

@GerritHuman
"Is there anyone else that can comment on the Osprey 48"
I find Exos models by far better in this Brand. The weight gap between 48L and 58L is nothing thus for me a 58L is more versatile. Otherwise Talon models are fine and a little more resistant. New model of exos is very good and not so expensive. Their aftersale service exchange me my old model which was too early used with this one without any problem. Great services.

May be interesting
sectionhiker.com/osprey-packs-exos-58-backpack-review/
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Beware, in many brands they give a wrong nomber of liters and they incluse in their figures the external and extra pockets. These features are never actual, It is always much less.