Thread: Osprey packs

I've gone through a few packs and have now settled on a McHale. McHale Alpine Style Packs (Warning: the website is hard to navigate).

They're not cheap and the process of getting one can take up to 6 months or more (and involve hundreds of emails back and forth, trialing 'demo' packs, and watching a couple DVD's) but the pack's are hand built by 1 individual, and they're built to your individual specs (your body dimensions + desired features). Dan can make them out of a range of materials, including Dyneema.

In a nutshell, you'll end up with a pack that fits you like a glove and will last several lifetimes. Worth the investment I reckon if you're doing a lot of backpacking off the beaten track. Warranties mean f*ck all in the field, and the price of a quality bit of kit is soon forgotten.

Pack he built me:

Some other examples:










When I had mine built, I asked Dan to not put any velcro or mesh fabric on the pack (I hate that shit - always gets clogged up with hook grass etc, and degrades over time).

Dan doesn't do any advertising. Most of his business is repeat business. That should tell you something about the quality of his work.

Originally Posted by Frodo

I've gone through a few packs and have now settled on a McHale. McHale Alpine Style Packs (Warning: the website is hard to navigate).

They're not cheap and the process of getting one can take up to 6 months or more (and involve hundreds of emails back and forth, trialing 'demo' packs, and watching a couple DVD's) but the pack's are hand built by 1 individual, and they're built to your individual specs (your body dimensions + desired features). Dan can make them out of a range of materials, including Dyneema.

In a nutshell, you'll end up with a pack that fits you like a glove and will last several lifetimes. Worth the investment I reckon if you're doing a lot of backpacking off the beaten track. Warranties mean f*ck all in the field, and the price of a quality bit of kit is soon forgotten.

Pack he built me: Attachment 135921

Some other examples:

Attachment 135922

Attachment 135923

Attachment 135924

Attachment 135925


When I had mine built, I asked Dan to not put any velcro or mesh fabric on the pack (I hate that shit - always gets clogged up with hook grass etc, and degrades over time).

Dan doesn't do any advertising. Most of his business is repeat business. That should tell you something about the quality of his work.

Ballpark cost?

I'll flick you a PM.

Depends on the size, materials, and features.

His most basic stuff will still seem quite expensive compared to something off the shelf, but it's a bit like a tailor made suit vs something from Hallenstines. I really struggled to scrounge together the pennies, but I'm glad I did.