Looking for a new pack

With all the trouble my knee has been giving me I am now moving to lighten up all my gear as much as possible, I have an old Fairydown 75ltr pack that is bombproof but is also pretty heavy.
Has anyone tried or use the Osprey packs? They seem pretty lightweight, and from what I can tell by playing with them in the shop I quite like their harness, allthough under load it could be an entirely different kettle of fish...
Im looking at going to around 70 liters as it seems a good compromise between multiday trips and overnighters with a bit of room for meat and not lugging around "too much pack". The Osprey Aether70 seems to tick most of the boxes for me but interested to here from anyone that has used one, especially how comfortable they are under load, and how well they transfer load away from the shoulders and onto the hip belt. Thanks for any advice.

If I had the spare cash I would be buying a Kuiu one along with a shitload more of their stuff.

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Originally Posted by mikee

If I had the spare cash I would be buying a Kuiu one along with a shitload more of their stuff.

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You'd do better with a plain old Macpac mate.

Yes they are nice but I cant justify the cash on one at this stage, im slowly learning that buy once cry once really does pay dividends but they are just a step too far right now, plus I hate being that guy that has "hunting brand" everything haha.

What are the newer Macpacs like? Have seen a few of the older ones up close and not really any difference between them and my heavy old bombproof Fairydown. I know im probably not going to save a whole heap on weight but an updated harness would probably go a long way towards helping as I feel with my current pack I need to lean into it more than I have when picking up others more modern packs.

The new macpac is a lot lighter than the older generation.
The harness seems better, I have a 65litre cascade which weighs 2.4kg
Have had the kuiu and Sitka packs and while they look the bizzo they didn't carry heavy loads well for me so went back to macpac.


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I have a new 65 litre cascade as well, served me well for 10 days in Fiordland with everything on my back.

I currently have a 90l Macpac Cascade that is 25-26 years old. Still a good pack but you need to be aware that the straps all shrink as the pack gets older, especially the waist belt !!
(thats my story and I'm sticking to it)

Dunno about about packs Ryan, but seeing as we both got knackered knees what say we go halves in a pack horse.....

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Originally Posted by matagouri

Dunno about about packs Ryan, but seeing as we both got knackered knees what say we go halves in a pack horse.....

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Haha I was talking to someone about this the other day mate, my mums got a couple of donkeys, useless bloody things just stand around eating and making obscenely loud noises every now and then, reckon I should grab one and put it to work.

You using treking poles at all? Using them will help your knees

Tatonka do 70 litre is packs, bisons are comfy

Hi Ryan,
My wife uses a lightweight Osprey pack and really likes it. I was a bit sceptical about how it would last but I've been impressed with it to the point that I'll give one a go next when it's time.
She also has a Macpac Cascade which she only used a couple of times before ditching it for the Osprey.
Sorry it's not quite first hand experience and not hunting use.
I don't think it'll stand up to stand up to 'hard' use like a Macpac would, but the compromise on weight and a better body fit for her is certainly worth it for the trips that she does. It seems to be lasting just fine with normal tramping use and she has found it plenty comfortable.

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Originally Posted by mikee

I currently have a 90l Macpac Cascade that is 25-26 years old. Still a good pack but you need to be aware that the straps all shrink as the pack gets older, especially the waist belt !!
(thats my story and I'm sticking to it)

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Yep but they stop the jelly wobble when you walk, sorta grow up with you?

Im using a macpac accent at the moment. Really liking it. Good for attaching stuff to the outside as is designed more for light mountaineering.. Only single compartment is the only downside some might see.. Got mine for under $200 on clearance..

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@Ryan_Songhurst @199p has mean light exped pack that he rates, can see one in my future for next summer


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Originally Posted by BRADS

@Ryan_Songhurst @199p has mean light exped pack that he rates, can see one in my future for next summer


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Yeah mate i was really impressed with the pack ( except breaking the clip ) Its a 55L i think but has heaps of room and because of the strapping system you can put a lot securely on the outside of the pack if needed.
We pushed through some very shitty tops scrub and no wear on the pack at all.

I have a lightning 60L, had it out for quite a few walks just got back from thrashing round the kaimais for 4 days. Did a bunch of good old fashioned of track kaimai scrub bashing with it and it held up sweet. Wasn't as noisy as I would have thought either. I rate it.

Kaimai load haul mode
Attachment 48818


There is a thunder 70l which is the same but slightly larger and heavier 1.5kg on tardme at the moment. $300 landed
EXPED THUNDER 70L BACKPACK (BLACK) | Trade Me

Foray

this is mine, i rate it, i wouldnt go away from canvas

i got mine off the 2nds shelf for under half price 3 or 4 years ago

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Originally Posted by Smiddy

Foray

this is mine, i rate it, i wouldnt go away from canvas

i got mine off the 2nds shelf for under half price 3 or 4 years ago

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A mate has one of them and they are very nice and quite tempted to get one I just wonder about the weight of it, I suppose I could take the benefits of a more modern harness system and try save some grams somewhere else

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Originally Posted by Smiddy

Foray

this is mine, i rate it, i wouldnt go away from canvas

i got mine off the 2nds shelf for under half price 3 or 4 years ago

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Same. Must of had a run of seconds around that time. I can't pick what it was though as mine is fine. I think it had a loop missed on the waist belt or something I would never use.

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Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

A mate has one of them and they are very nice and quite tempted to get one I just wonder about the weight of it, I suppose I could take the benefits of a more modern harness system and try save some grams somewhere else

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I actually thought they were light weight lol,
Last thing you want to do is go super light and have it fuck out like a lot of super lite stuff does these days, South Island alpine is hard on gear

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Originally Posted by kiwijames

Same. Must of had a run of seconds around that time. I can't pick what it was though as mine is fine. I think it had a loop missed on the waist belt or something I would never use.

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Yea mine was missing a strap and had bird shit on it haha

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Originally Posted by Smiddy

I actually thought they were light weight lol,
Last thing you want to do is go super light and have it fuck out like a lot of super lite stuff does these days, South Island alpine is hard on gear

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Thats the thing that worries me about the lighter nylon type material, it seems like the kind of stuff that will continue to rip pretty rapidly if you manage to poke a hole in it, my old Fairydown has had everykind of abuse thrown at it, its even fallen off the back of my truck and bounced/skidded along the road as I drove through Franz Josef township, and its still strong as ever and has never ripped or anything so I really want that kind of durability, a nicer more modern harness system, and save a few grams. All thse suggestions are good food for thought...

Most modern ripstop style fabrics are pretty strong to near impossible to tear, but are a bit more prone to abrasion or puncture. There is a trade of but I don't think its as big as many people make it out to be. The expeds have a dyneema weave ripstop. That stuff is ridiculously strong, have a read up on it.

What about a k2 alpine

I have had the aether 60 for a few months now done 3 overnighters and 8 days in fiordland. So far it's holding up well and comfy under load. I brought it because of being reasonabley light weight,good compression system, removable lid and lifetime warranty.

Anyone using a Lowe Alpine pack? I went and tried a few packs while I was in town the other day, Tatonka, Exped, North Face, Mountain Designs, and a few others, I decided I would have a play with them all then look at the prices, I quite liked the Lowe Alpine pack and low and behold it was the cheapest of the lot at only $300

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Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

Haha I was talking to someone about this the other day mate, my mums got a couple of donkeys, useless bloody things just stand around eating and making obscenely loud noises every now and then, reckon I should grab one and put it to work.

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Hey Ryan_Songhurst at least if you get skunked on your trip you would have something to eat at the end....have you ever tyres to use a donkey as a pack horse :pissed off: go on try it, mind you you will have to dress the little buggers up in blaze our they might end up in the freezer any ways :O_O::o:wtfsmilie:

When I buy new pack I take all my gear into the shop and then pack it into the pack I'm looking at. Yep I get a few strange looks at first but then once I tell them what I'm doing they all say that's a bloody good idea.
It tells me if the pack is big enough and gives you a good idea of how it going to feel loaded up on your back rather than just throwing in a few sleeping bags in the store to fill the pack