Osprey Aether 60 as long as it was manufactured prior to 2005 or so. Great pack for an AT thrueeee.

Aether 60

I would also endorse the Mystery Ranch Trance that some folks were trying to pimp out.

Edited by frankenfeet on 10/09/2010 19:20:10 MDT.

Ok, since the MR Trance and McHale LBP36 packs were brought up,and I have both of which, here's what I find with regards to fit and comfort between the two packs.

Loaded with 30lbs, the McHale easily blows away the MR Trance for load transfer to the hips and comfort for "ME Personally"
The Trance probably carries the weight more equally between the hips and shoulders, were as the LBP carries more of the load at the hips, and less at the shoulders.

I realize that you may not be in the market for either of these 2 packs being they are expensive, but thought I would post my personal findings. Others may find the fit and carry of the MR Trance to be superior to all other packs they've owned, but not me, personally.

Take a look at Granite Gear packs as well, Vapor Trail or Nimbus Ozone. I believe that there are going to be some upgrades made next year, on some of their packs as well.

Edited by mfog1 on 10/10/2010 07:46:46 MDT.

Paul,

You mentioned that you were considering the ULA CDT. I have that pack and like it a lot, but I would not consider it a thru hiking pack. It is a comparatively small pack, fine for weekend trips, but IMHO not enough room for carrying several days worth of food. You will need one of the larger ULA packs.

Again - opinion; I have done 5 day trips with the Conduit (old CDT) in the UK where a tent if often (mainly advisable) together with good waterproofs.

The capacity is fine, everything fits well, BUT, carrying comfort is on the margins for me...2-4 days fine...more..?

I have a Catalyst that I used for the JMT (carrying all food for two people) - I would never consider it for a solo-thru-hike, it is way too big.

My favourite pack is a Crux AK37...why? As it is the most comfortable day-in day-out.

"I have a Catalyst that I used for the JMT (carrying all food for two people) - I would never consider it for a solo-thru-hike, it is way too big."

I assume you had many drop off points.

In my opinion, a true Thru Hike involves much unsupported time - 20, 30 days. That requires a high volume pack.

Isn't this an AT hike though, which the longest area, without resupply, being the 100 mile wilderness. (probably 7-8 days at most for NBO hikers)

I am from the Eric Ryback school of thought.

More impressive feats of backpacking.

Ah, then you'd want to use a Kelty Tioga external frame pack! or a McHale LBP36, that's what I'd use anyway!

Funny you mentioned Eric Ryback, as I was looking at books at Amazon last night, and thought I might pick up a used copy of The High Adventure of Eric Ryback.

I do have his 2nd book The Ultimate Journey (CDT) hardcover (35 yrs old) Some people were asking btwn $400.00-$600.00 for this book, wonder what mine is worth?

Edited by mfog1 on 10/10/2010 14:04:31 MDT.

1. Figure out longest unsupported stretch of trail to be through hiked
2. Remember to think about longest section without water as well
3. Assemble enough food and water for that longest leg
4. Be surprised at how heavy it all is
5. Take season and weather into account and assemble rest of gear
6. Agonize over details and trim load
7. Have someone else help you edit your gear
8.now find lightest best pack to fit

Note that many thru bikers mail caches ahead and you could even switch packs for different sectios

Lots of great suggestions all.

My vote goes to the Granite Gear Vapor Trail. It's a great all-around pack - sufficient volume, excellent padding in the back and belt (which is removable and cuts the pack's weight by 25%), great exterior storage capacity.

I have one and it is my go-to pack for all seasons.

"I assume you had many drop off points"

Last resupply was at Vermillion and we took 12 days from there....so had I been solo I would just about have managed your ideal of 20-30 days....

Many people have thru hiked with Granite Gear packs. You may want to check them out. I use to fit people for backpacks when I led trips. I always reccomend going somewhere like REI where you have access to different packs. Load up at least 20 lbs of gear in different packs-including whatever water storage system you use. You will quickly learn what features you like and dislike. Your back will tell you what type of suspension it prefers. Then I would repeat the process with 30 lbs. After doing this you will have a good frame of reference about what you want in a pack.

I own this pack and have used it countless nights. This is my go to pack...very comfortable and breaths well. I know it's 2 1/2 pounds, but it's worth it to me and my back/shoulders.

although i am completely happy with my Six Moon Designs Swift and I dont own one, its worth noting that ULA Circuits RARELY go up for sale on the gear swap. i was looking for one for a long time and just gave up. i guess people like 'em.

piggybacking on what brandon said.
i have 2 packs, the swift and the circuit. both great packs, but often wishing for something in the middle for many longer hikes. a swift with a circuit style delrin hoop (or i guess carbon tent poles acting as pack frame) would be ideal for me for most thrus. however, i'm thinking more remote than the AT. for the AT i think a frameless is fine. i carried an ION on the AT. for CDT (or similar with more food/water carry) I would want the light and durable swift with suspension, but not quite a circuit given my evolved kit.
that said, people thru with both frames and without. just figure out how much gear and consumables you'll need.

as far as your 'jack of all trades'--i'm always trying to simplify my gear towards that goal too: a circuit style pack is really versatile for large or small loads. carries both great and it compresses to a really small size, pretty much flat against the back. great for winter and mountaineering gear. and i think most frameless packs can be almost as versatile if you stick your tent poles inside as a frame. I like to climb peaks when hiking, so for 3 season, the swift is taken due to mobility. fwiw, i take frameless packs on desert hikes, sometimes carrying 9 liters (in 1.5L bottles: 3 on shoulder straps, 3 on hipbelt, 3 in waterbottle pockets). so really, you can thru with quite a range. a lot is preference.

Edited by yep on 10/12/2010 13:22:07 MDT.

David said: "In my opinion, a true Thru Hike involves much unsupported time - 20, 30 days. That requires a high volume pack."

That's a new one on me. Where and what are you thru-hiking that requires such long unsupported stretches? Perhaps you just don't like the idea of hitch-hiking ever, or ... ?

I think that once a person has lost most/all body fat and thru-hiker hunger has kicked in, it's going to be particularly difficult to carry enough food to not lose an alarming amount of weight with such long unsupported stretches. Thru-hikers regularly make up in towns for at least a mild net caloric deficit they run while hiking, or at least that's been my experience. I'm not saying that it can't be done, but it seems like it would get into real vicious circle time: more food weight that requires bigger and beefier pack, the substantial pack weight increase allows the hiker to thus do less miles per day, requiring yet more food weight ...

I used a Gossamer Gear pack (Mariposa Plus) on the PCT and then for the first part of the AT this year, switched to a ULA Circuit partway along the AT when my GG pack was showing too much wear. Had some problems with the Circuit, sent it to ULA for repairs after I finished, hopefully it will be fine on the CDT next year. For the particular base weight and load I anticipate on the CDT I suspect that the Circuit will be adequate in volume but perhaps only barely (going SOBO, starting in the snow in Montana in June).

On the PCT in particular the most common packs I saw in 2008 were ULAs and I've never met a dissatisfied ULA customer to my recollection. From my brief interaction with the folks that bought the company from Brian Frankle, my impression is that they're going to maintain the quality level and customer service.

And --- I just really like built-in waist belt pouches. :-)

ULAs aren't the lightest packs but my sense is that they hit a pretty good sweet spot between pack fit/comfort & features plus durability vs. pack weight.

i have spent quite a good bit of time on the AT the past 2 years. packs i've seen the most of...

Osprey
Granite Gear
ULA


this past year i think i saw more exos' than any other pack by thrus (at PA mind you, so they had their gear worked out by this point)

@Brian - weekly caches of food do not impress me. Treks that are 20-30 days unsupported are far more impressive. And yes, they are done.

Read my other posts.

Hiking 2,000+ miles stopping at towns to resupply is pretty impressive to me.

Edited by Eugeneius on 10/12/2010 21:30:33 MDT.

Sure. More than I can do. Still not as impressive as a 30 day unsupported hike prior to re-supply.

Again - think Eric Rayback