To buy a new pack or to make do?

[flippinkittin]

Hi!

I will be hiking the CF very soon. Ideally I would like to bring a pack which is between 28-35 liters, and weighs less than 2 lbs. This would cost between $50-150

My go-to is my Osprey Ace 48. This pack is a bit over 3 lbs. It has a hood which I believe I could remove to shave some weight.

So...what do we think? Should I make do with my trusty pack? I'm afraid of the temptation to over pack it.

 

[HalfDomeOrBust]

I'm thinking that 48 Liter pack may be just perfect for your Camino. But, I would suggest that you first (before you buy a new pack) get everything that you plan to take with you and pack it up in your existing back pack. Then you will know if it is an overkill or not. Buen Camino!!

 

[Mike Savage]

If the pack is comfortable to you and in good shape I see no reason to replace it (or fill it too full.)

Mike

 

[Mark Lee]

Just bring your old pack. It will work just fine. I've done the Camino with a 48L and never over packed it, and carried it on flights several times, instead of checking it in.
Now if you just got the itch to buy a new, smaller pack and got the cash to do it? Yeah, why not...go ahead and buy one. Otherwise you will keep thinking about it...

 

[flippinkittin]

A detail I failed to mention earlier:
I regularly go on 3 day backpacking trips and carry my tent and stove and food in this pack. I'm great at packing light!

 

[t2andreo]

My fifth Camino starts next week, from Lisbon. Every year, I struggle with trying to carry less, and fit it into a smaller, lighter rucksack.

Every year, I keep coming back to my original rucksack, an Osprey Kestrel 48-liter bag, with integral rain cover. No matter what I try to cut corners, size and weight, I keep returning to 'old faithful."

After four Caminos, it has some torn stretchy mesh, stains I cannot get out soaking with Nikwax and scrubbing with a stiff nylon brush, and all my accumulated Camino patches. I am on my second rain cover. But this one is neon yellow in place of the original red cover. The miles / kilometers we have covered together...(sigh)

OTOH, this pack is so well fitted to my torso, that it feels like an extension of me when it is all up and in use. In fact, when I take it off for a break or at the end of the day's trek, I actually feel a little "naked." I miss it hugging my back. So, it must be the right solution for me.

REI properly recommended and fitted this pack for me in 2013, before my first Camino (Frances, from SJPdP). That it continues to provide such good service is a testimony to their efforts. As I am wont to say, you remember the value LONG after you forget the price...

The two things you ought never scrimp on are your rucksack and your footwear. You WEAR these things. Everything else is like ornaments on a Christmas tree.

When the time comes to replace it, I will likely look for a similarly sized Osprey rucksack that is lighter. The Kestrel is NOT the lightest bag available. But it IS built like a tank. I see many of them in different sizes (28, 38, 48 liter) on Camino each year, in a variety of colors.

One thing I am doing differently this year, I already packed everything, six-days before I leave. This weekend I will unpack everything and spread it on my home floor.

Every item will be scrutinized one last time. In doing this review, I will challenge myself, asking what I WILL use this for, based on four previous outings. I will challenge the quantity and size of each item.

Finally, I will carefully repack the rucksack according to how I will need to retrieve items each day, again based on experience. Once all done, I will weigh the final result. Presently I am at 12.5 kg. It will be a small miracle if I can get it to 11 Kg. But I will see what happens. This weight is in my "normal" range...for ME.

I hope this helps someone else.

 

[Tia Valeria]

Tried and trusted old pack, but not over-packed, would seem to be better than a new untried pack, which may be too small or less comfortable.

 

[Glenn Rowe]

A 48-liter pack sounds just about perfect for the Camino. Use your old one and save the money to splurge on a great meal and wonderful bottle of wine along the way.

 

[kmrice]

A 48-liter pack sounds just about perfect for the Camino. Use your old one and save the money to splurge on a great meal and wonderful bottle of wine along the way.

If your old pack fits well, I agree you should probably use it. A 48L Osprey Exos has been perfect for me on the Camino.

On the other hand, buying a new pack is always a lot of fun.

 

[flippinkittin]

OK! Thank you all for your responses, and your well thought out arguments and justifications.

As much as I would love to buy a new piece of gear; I've decided to stay with Ole' Faithful. I'm going to take her out on a 3 day, 45 mile backpacking trip to make sure my love for her has not waned from September.

 

[Sue Kranz]

Yes, backpacks...I was going to have to take my Deuter 60+10 on the Camino Frances, and knew it would be too big and not so comfortable (the one size adjustable model just never worked for me).

I recently came into some unexpected financial support which allowed me the luxury of going to REI and trying on virtually every bag they had, and coming home with a better fitting pack! (It was like being in a candy store ) I am 5'2 and 109 pounds. The only bag that fit and was reasonably comfortable was the Gregory Jade 38L. It comes in sizes and the Small worked well! I feel very grateful for the support and see that the smaller size will limit my desire to take more than I NEED.

Small women, check out the Gregory Jade! While striving for a discomfort-free journey is neither possible nor desireable, it helps to start off with essential gear: pack and footwear that fit!

Buen Camino a todos,
Sue

 

[Tia Valeria]

I agree @Sue Kranz . Except it is our old Camino packs that were sized. We thought that we would use them at home and buy new for another Camino. The 'one size fits all adjustable ones' are awful. So we manage with them at home and now keep our old packs for the Camino itself. They fit us well and are 30lts and 45lts - just right when we are together.

 

[Glenn Rowe]

While striving for a discomfort-free journey is neither possible nor desireable...

Nope. The best one can do is to eliminate all needless discomfort.

If we desire to be completely free of discomfort, we need only to plop ourselves down into that overstuffed recliner in front of the television. Oh, we should also take all of our eats-and-drinks with us so that we don't have to move again for hours....

 

[trecile]

Nope. The best one can do is to eliminate all needless discomfort.

If we desire to be completely free of discomfort, we need only to plop ourselves down into that overstuffed recliner in front of the television. Oh, we should also take all of our eats-and-drinks with us so that we don't have to move again for hours....

And that kind of inactivity leads to a lot more discomfort later.

 

[intrepidtraveler]

Nope. The best one can do is to eliminate all needless discomfort.

If we desire to be completely free of discomfort, we need only to plop ourselves down into that overstuffed recliner in front of the television. Oh, we should also take all of our eats-and-drinks with us so that we don't have to move again for hours....

I guess we all have our own definition of discomfort. Not moving for hours in an overstuffed recliner while overstuffing myself sounds way more uncomfortable than walking around with a pack on my back-even a heavy one.

 

[Glenn Rowe]

I guess we all have our own definition of discomfort. Not moving for hours in an overstuffed recliner while overstuffing myself sounds way more uncomfortable than walking around with a pack on my back-even a heavy one.

That was sort-of my point...

 

[flippinkittin]

As my training progresses, and I'm starting to make all the choices about gear, I'm thinking more and more about getting a new pack. If I do, I will make sure I wear it in well before the trip. I have a few pre camino backpacking adventures planned.