Aarn pack - advice from other owners

gracethepilgrim

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So many since 2003.

• Aug 12, 2015

• #1

I have just purchased an Aarn Peak Aspiration with balance pockets. I’ll be walking CPI (Portuguese Interior) and the last half of Sanabrese in October so most likely encounter rain.
1. Love to hear from other Aarn users about their experience with the internal drysack in heavy rain. I’ll be taking a rain jacket and probably take long rain trousers also. No poncho this time
2. Any tips for transporting the pack on planes. I’m thinking about buying a large plastic shopping bag (suggested by Kanga) It’s too big for carry on and I’m not sure about removing balance pockets.

Many thanks in advance

 

Kanga

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Francés x 5, Le Puy x 2, Arles, Tours, Norte, Madrid, Via de la Plata, Portuguese, Primitivo

• Aug 12, 2015

• #2

Hi Grace - hope you also get some responses from others.
As to the internal dry sack - these days I use an Altus poncho and an umbrella but in the past both I and my husband have used Aarn packs with jackets only. We have never had any water get inside the pack. The outside does obviously get wet and that can be awkward. A few times when we got to our accommodation we lifted the dry sack (with our clothes) out of the pack, leaving the wet pack separate. It comes out quite easily, its just velcro holding it in place.

 

gracethepilgrim

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So many since 2003.

• Aug 12, 2015

• #3

Thanks Kanga. I have an Altus but I doubt it will zip up over the balance pockets. I have yet to try them together with pack fully loaded. I only bought it last week in Melbourne so I still have to do a bit of tweeking. I have seen a video online regarding a new ‘Aarn Pack cover/parker combo' but it doesn’t seem to be available yet. I’ve emailed the company and standing by.
I have walked in most seasons but never this late in October and in the Douro region of Portugal. There’s sure to be plenty of rain - especially in Galicia

 

Kanga

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Francés x 5, Le Puy x 2, Arles, Tours, Norte, Madrid, Via de la Plata, Portuguese, Primitivo

• Aug 12, 2015

• #4

@gracethepilgrim the Altus is so large both Ian and I had no trouble with it going over the balance pockets. It worked well. On another thread I posted a photo of Ian wearing the Altus with a big Aarn pack and balance pockets under (we were carrying a tent and camping gear). He looks like a green turtle. Attractive it is not! Its towards the bottom of this thread:
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/wet-weather-clothing.35680/#post-331680

 

D

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• Aug 12, 2015

• #5

gracethepilgrim said:

I’m not sure about removing balance pockets.

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Practice removing and installing the balance pockets; don't be intimidated by them. Removing them on arrival at an albergue increases the storage options. The pack fits better in a transportation sack if the pockets are removed. The Altus fits over them, but just barely if they are full and you already fit the poncho!

 

KiwiNomad06

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Le Puy-Santiago(2008) Cluny-Conques+prt CF(2012)

• Aug 12, 2015

• #6

The internal dry sack is good for heavy rain in the mountains in New Zealand. I know Galicia has a reputation for lots of rain, but I've never seen it as wet there as I've struck sometimes here at home. I think the internal dry sack will keep everything inside very dry.
Margaret

 

gracethepilgrim

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• Aug 13, 2015

• #7

Kanga said:

@gracethepilgrim the Altus is so large both Ian and I had no trouble with it going over the balance pockets. It worked well. On another thread I posted a photo of Ian wearing the Altus with a big Aarn pack and balance pockets under (we were carrying a tent and camping gear). He looks like a green turtle. Attractive it is not! Its towards the bottom of this thread:
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/wet-weather-clothing.35680/#post-331680

Click to expand...

@Kanga - lovely ‘turtle’ photo. My Altus is red so I look like a walking tomato! It’s a small so maybe not wide enough for the pockets.

 

Kanga

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Time of past OR future Camino

Francés x 5, Le Puy x 2, Arles, Tours, Norte, Madrid, Via de la Plata, Portuguese, Primitivo

• Aug 13, 2015

• #8

@gracethepilgrim try it on. Mine was a small too, but huge! Yours sounds like one of the new ones, so maybe not so big.

 

zzotte

Active Member

Time of past OR future Camino

2012 Camino Frances, 2014 Lourdes to SDC, 2016 Camino del Norte

• Aug 14, 2015

• #9

gracethepilgrim said:

I have just purchased an Aarn Peak Aspiration with balance pockets. I’ll be walking CPI (Portuguese Interior) and the last half of Sanabrese in October so most likely encounter rain.
1. Love to hear from other Aarn users about their experience with the internal drysack in heavy rain. I’ll be taking a rain jacket and probably take long rain trousers also. No poncho this time
2. Any tips for transporting the pack on planes. I’m thinking about buying a large plastic shopping bag (suggested by Kanga) It’s too big for carry on and I’m not sure about removing balance pockets.

Many thanks in advance

Click to expand...

Hello Grace

I have used Aarn Natural Exhilaration for two caminos and the internal dry sack works very well however your pack gets very wet and takes a little to dry according to the weather my experience on my first camino I notice that some of my clothes at the bottom was cool like a little moisture was coming in ( but I got hit with heavy rains for 5 days straight ) the second camino I toke my umbrella ( not just for the rain for the hot sun also) a rain Jacket and a pack cover it's was great i also had some long rainy days and for now on I will never leave home without it but did kept my sleeping bag inside a dry sack, no front packs I ditched my. My next camino I will use smaller dry sacks for everything else also they are light and keeps my stuff a little more organized.

Zzotte