Backpack Safety

Tip:
If the backpack forces the wearer to move forward to carry, it’s overloaded.

I finally found a scale so I could measure the weight of my backpacks.

I already have three backpacks, but none of them are perfect for all of my trips. I have a little Deuter Bike 22 liter bag (622 grams), a small Tatonka backpack (891 grams) and a Deuter AirComfort Futura 28 (1326 grams)

I usually use a light fabric suitcase and the Tatonka backpack as my general holiday cargo carriers. The suitcase isn’t that comfortable for carrying anything but short distances. The bigger Deuter backpack is fine for non-flight travelling, but I can’t check it in at airports due to many carrying straps and harness.

Not owning a car, I really like backpacks and I’ve been looking at Osprey’s departure travel bag (3540 grams) as a universal replacement for all my other packs, but the problem is that it wouldn’t work well as a camping and hiking backpack.

As a ultralight hiking pack my short list has pretty much boiled down to:

• Granite Gear Vapor Trail
• Mountainsmith Ghost
• Gregory Z pack
• Osprey Aether 60
• One of the Osprey Atmos Ultralight packs

None of these would work well as a global urban travel pack though. I’m looking at a total carry weight of about 6-12 kg for hiking purposes and about 8-20 kg for flight travel purposes. Choices, choices…

Posted by api in Outdoor pursuits

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