Hi,
I'm 99% ready to place my new gear order but since I don't have most of my gear to take to a local store to try out I have no clue as to the volume I will need.

I've finally decided on the Osprey Atmos and Aura backpacks for me and my wife and they come in 50L or 65L. My wife is a small so take 3L from one pack. Im not sure if the listed capacity is just the main compartment or all pockets.

PLEASE HELP ME! haha.

You can see what we intend on stuffing them full of in my gear list in my profile page.
The tent will be either the hubba hubba hp or scarp 2 and since we are using neo-air mats we plan on using the external pad straps for the tent to free up internal space and make it easy to get to.

We want to fit all of that gear, plus a little more winter gear (rain coats and probably a few other things) and food and water for long trips.

Sorry for a slight re-post but I have had no response to this question in my other post.

Thanks again :)

Benen

Benen,

Hard to say without packing your gear into a pack. As a guideline, here are my two most used packs. Capacity includes pockets:

Gossamer Gear Murmur = 36 L
This is used for short trips, and could be used for long treks, depending on food re-supply options.

Gossamer Gear Mariposa Plus = 59L
This would be ideal for a multi-month trip. The exception for us here in North America, would be tight quarters if we are required to carry a bear cannister.

Here is a picture of my Mariposa plus



Basic gear list on this trip to handle temperatures in the high 20s F included:
GG SpinnTwin tarp
BPL Torolite pad
GG 1/8" foam pad
WM Ultralight sleeping bag
MB Ex Light Down Jacket
MB UL Windshirt
MLD eVent rain mitts
Wool glove liners
Wool socks
(4) l-liter Platys
(1) 2-liter platy
Snow Peak Stove
.8 Liter tea pot
Personal/1st aid items
Meals for 4 days & 3 nights

Total base weight = 7lbs 15.4 oz

Thanks Nick :)

Could you work it out by volume of each item in our list and being generous?
ie.
stove 1L
pots 5L
2x 3L platy's 6L
platypus clean stream 2L
2x neo-airs 3L
2x wm ultralite 6L
fak 1L
lights, bug spray, toiletries 2L

tent being on outside of pack would mean that im only up to 26L between two packs.
13L each in a 50L pack leaves 37L of space for food, clothing and fuel. Plus the floating lid for extra space if needed.
I guess winter clothing takes up a lot of space though and the 65L is only about 80 grams more.

Benen,
Go find a couple of boxes that you can tape together giving you a result that is close to the dimensions of a pack. For instance two wine boxes will give you 9x12x26 or 2800 ci or 46L.

Pack lose and you'll be pretty close.

Thanks :) yeah that's a good idea but the problem is, my sleeping bags are in the post and we havent ordered our tent, sleeping pads, some clothes, hydration system, filter and some other things yet. The whole order is going in at the same time.

65L for you 50L for her. In the summer you'll have extra room, making packing less of a seam-busting exercise, and your winter stuff will fit.

As you learn about gear you can always downsize and sell.

Edited by greg23 on 03/25/2010 10:22:42 MDT.

Thanks Greg :)
Short and sweet. Just what I wanted to hear :)

Depending on your gear more than anything else...

My "week long" pack is 28L and there are plenty of folks here with much smaller -- or bigger -- packs! I just don't see how anyone can arbitrarily give a short and sweet answer -- gear unseen!

Are you in that much of a rush? Your bag is in the post -- I highly recommend that you wait for it to arrive -- and get all the other major pieces of your gear together (tent, pad, insulation clothing, cookset and stove, etc.) -- make a determination whether they are all keepers -- then go shop for a pack that will have the right fit, comfort and carrying capacity for YOUR gear.

"We want to fit all of that gear, plus a little more winter gear (rain coats and probably a few other things) and food and water for long trips."

Benen,
Another way to look at the decison is that One of the packs May go back, and this way you'll have the experience of trying both.

And, although my first post is terse, it did get a fair amount of thought.

I live in australia, so postage is about $80 a pop. Probably a bit extra for a package of that weight so its not something i can go and buy seperately. They are coming up on twice the price to buy locally.

Ouch!

Benen -- I think that if you try and guess your pack's carrying capacity and weight (cause you don't have all your other gear pieces decided yet) -- then you will quite likely go for bigger "just in case" -- esp. given the expensive hassle of return. Not the end of the world or anything, but you can cut way down on the guessing if you defer your pack purchase until you know the carrying capacity and weight you need.

Ok, I'm repeating myself... :)

"Ouch"

Ben it is okay. More than likely in a couple years, they will have several packs in the gear closet like most of us.

Remember, you are the "gear enabler."

Ha, thanks guys. You're right, I am going for the just in case. The weight is practically the same so I might as well save myself that extra $80 postage of the seperate order and go for the 65L. We will no doubt end up with a smaller each too once Summer comes around and we don't need the wooly clothing!

Take care all, I'll let you know how it goes. Very exciting times!

"Ok, I'm repeating myself... :)"

Benjamin, we'll make you head of the Department of Redundancy Department.

--B.G.--

Bob, we'll make you head of the Echo Dept. You and I will work well together -- to the benefit of these forums! :)

Edited by ben2world on 03/25/2010 13:21:04 MDT.

Ha, stop stealing my thread! haha

Does anyone know if the sizes of the osprey packs are just the main compartment or the total volume of all compartments?

My understanding is that they measure the main compartment only.

Given your gear lists, I would buy the 65 for you and the 50 for your lovely wife.

Thanks Ken :)
but you mustn't know my wife if you call her lovely haha. j/k