Western Pack 5400ci

[Gerard01]

I came across this on ebay. It sells for $39.99. Anyone one have an opinion about it?

[Altbark]

Gerard, I did a search on this pack and couldn't find the parent company. Save your money and buy a pack new or slightly used from one of the recognized pack manufacturers. Think Granite Gear (a favourite of mine), Osprey ( a forum favourite) or one of the other quality packs. I would heartily recommend staying away from packs with multiple pockets and dividers. If you pack just what you need, the pack will be just about empty when you set up for the night. Al

[Gerard01]

thanks, Al. You're the reigning authority on equipment. I'll keep scouting around.

[Altbark]

Originally Posted by Gerard01

thanks, Al. You're the reigning authority on equipment. I'll keep scouting around.

No No No. I wouldn't say that or assume that. Everyone hikes and packs differently. But if you are interested in getting a handle on the gear end of hiking, I would suggest a read of a book by Colin Fletcher and Chip Rawlins. It's called "The Complete Walker IV" published in 2002. You might be able to find a copy at your local library or at a used book store. A lot of the gear reports are out of date but I think you will find you can get a very good overview of what makes good gear good by reading the book.

For summer hikes of around two or three days, a simple light pack of no more than 60L with a good suspension is all you need. I personally prefer my packs not to have a lid. My pack needs to be hydration compatable and I like to have a mesh pocket on each side. And that's it. Everything goes inside except fuel, bear spray, water pump and snacks. Al

[DackerDan]

Al is correct, buy a quality pack - it can make or break your trip.
Everyone has thier favorite pack, like a pair of shoes it is a personal preference.

I have the type of pack Al suggests, a Golite Pinnacle. I also have a Gregory Baltoro 65, very different packs. If I am carrying a load, it's the Gregory, if I am going in light, it's the Golite. I use the Gregory most of the time but am working on upgrading my other gear so that I can use the Golite more and carry less overall weight.

My daughter has a Teton 3400 scout. I budget pack that really has some great features although a little on the heavy side. I would not recommend it for an adult although I have used it. It is a great kids pack and she can routinely carry about 20 lbs.

[debmonster]

Most important part of buying a pack is to make sure that you get a pack that fits you properly. Go to a good store (if you're in NYC, go to either Tent & Trails or REI), have them measure your torso & hips and start from there. Find a few packs in your size, fill them up with sandbags or gear, adjust the hipbelt and straps and walk around for a while. Go up and down their stairs, etc. A good quality pack will be a worthy investment. I totally agree with Al to try to keep the pack design fairly simple. Extra compartments, bells and whistles are totally unnecessary. They present potential points of failure and add weight. If you organize your gear in a smart way using a few small zip-loc bags, and carry only the necessities, you won't need a large or complicated pack. For a 2-3 day backpack trip, consider a pack size of 45L - 60L, or approx. 2700 - 3700 cubic inches. You really shouldn't need more than that if you have decent quality gear that packs down small. I carried a 50L pack for 8 days with 9 days worth of food and gear in the 100 Mile Wilderness and Katahdin. Food is generally the only thing that will increase with additional days out on the trail. You might (*might*) bring an extra pair of underwear

[Gerard01]

Originally Posted by debmonster

Most important part of buying a pack is to make sure that you get a pack that fits you properly. Go to a good store (if you're in NYC, go to either Tent & Trails or REI), have them measure your torso & hips and start from there. Find a few packs in your size, fill them up with sandbags or gear, adjust the hipbelt and straps and walk around for a while. Go up and down their stairs, etc. A good quality pack will be a worthy investment. I totally agree with Al to try to keep the pack design fairly simple. Extra compartments, bells and whistles are totally unnecessary. They present potential points of failure and add weight. If you organize your gear in a smart way using a few small zip-loc bags, and carry only the necessities, you won't need a large or complicated pack. For a 2-3 day backpack trip, consider a pack size of 45L - 60L, or approx. 2700 - 3700 cubic inches. You really shouldn't need more than that if you have decent quality gear that packs down small. I carried a 50L pack for 8 days with 9 days worth of food and gear in the 100 Mile Wilderness and Katahdin. Food is generally the only thing that will increase with additional days out on the trail. You might (*might*) bring an extra pair of underwear

Good advice. Extra underwear..hmmmm. I tried a pack in Campmor last year. Yeah, I could go for that again. This was one cheap and I figured it could replace my daypack with some extra room for $40.00.

[DackerDan]

I would recommend that on you next trip to Tmax & Topos, stop by the Mountaineer in Keene Valley, they are extremely helpful and knowledgable, they have a great selection of quality packs (as well as other gear). The guys who work there are really great. I usually find thier prices to be about the same or just slightly more than on-line stores. I just salivate at all the great stuff in that store.

I good store will spend time with you selecting the right pack, they will fit you, they will outfit it with a load so you can get the feel and they will show you how to adjust it for a comfortable fit. Some of the adjustments are counter intuitive for the novice, I know I was surprised at the difference in feel when they showed me how to adjust the pack properly to my body. It took me very little time to buy my first pack, I did a lot of shopping and research before I bought my second.

Good luck.

[Gerard01]

Originally Posted by DackerDan

I would recommend that on you next trip to Tmax & Topos, stop by the Mountaineer in Keene Valley, they are extremely helpful and knowledgable, they have a great selection of quality packs (as well as other gear). The guys who work there are really great. I usually find thier prices to be about the same or just slightly more than on-line stores. I just salivate at all the great stuff in that store.

I good store will spend time with you selecting the right pack, they will fit you, they will outfit it with a load so you can get the feel and they will show you how to adjust it for a comfortable fit. Some of the adjustments are counter intuitive for the novice, I know I was surprised at the difference in feel when they showed me how to adjust the pack properly to my body. It took me very little time to buy my first pack, I did a lot of shopping and research before I bought my second.

Good luck.

I'm thinking about that Dan. I need to buy some moisture whicking t-shirts, and was going to buy them there. I'll take your advice and have them fit me. There are just so many to choose from....

[DSettahr]

5000+ cubic inches is a huge pack. Packs that big are meant for for weeks-long expedition-style winter trips. It'd be overkill for a weekend summer trip in the High Peaks.

[Gerard01]

Originally Posted by DSettahr

5000+ cubic inches is a huge pack. Packs that big are meant for for weeks-long expedition-style winter trips. It'd be overkill for a weekend summer trip in the High Peaks.

Yeah, I doubt I'd need one that big too. dont plan on anything big until next year maybe.

[Altbark]

Just remember that you will invariably buy five or six of each item in the quest for the perfect one. As time goes on you will sell off the obvious failures and keep the stuff that matches the kind of hiking you do. Good gear costs - just like good tools but lasts a long time.

The most important factor in buying something like a pack is how well it works for the kind of hiking you do. The second important factor is weight. If your summer pack weighs more than 3 pounds then it is probably too heavy. I say probably because depending on the type of hiking you plan to do and how often you plan to be out, a pack made of heavier and more durable material might be warranted. My day packs are Black Diamonds - a Nitro (22L) for summer and a Sphynx 32 for winter. Both are tough and made for dragging through the scrub and over rocks. Both will last a long time. My Granite Gear Vapor Trail is a great 60L lightweight pack that I have used for years. I managed to poke a small hole in the back of it while climbing up Gray last summer. Go figure! I suppose a future 46er patch might go there. Al