What would it be. This would be as a carry on and for doing something like the AT, as well as for just bumming around the world. Lets say you could take one change of clothes, a micro puff and a rain/wind breaker w/pants. With this, a shelter, pad, bag/quilt, pot and stove. It would have to fit the carry on requirements. Something like 22x14x9 inches.

You would want it to be able to carry a load of water comfortably, if need be. At least a gallon, maybe two, for those sub Saharan locals, or the desert SW.

I have this ten year old Columbia panel loading travel pack, that has tuck away shoulder straps and hip belt, that came with a zip off day pack. It was horrible to carry with the day pack on it, but with that zipped off, surprisingly, it's not too bad and it fits the carry on size requirements, has a frame sheet and aluminum stays, but it's sort of heavy, probably in the 4-5 pound range.

I'm just curious what others would come up with, if faced with a single pack challenge.

Edited by Reluctantwaterhauler on 01/28/2012 13:44:39 MST.

I'd probably carry my Golite Jam. It is extremely comfortable and can compress down very well for smaller loads. Lots of features although it is a bit heavy (26 oz trimmed) for a frameless pack.

How would that feel, if you had to haul a couple gallons of water, for twenty miles though, without a frame in it. It would be your trip of coarse, but it just seems to me like something with a frame would be better, if you had to haul water, for an extended period.

I would carry my ula ohm. Big enough for a thru hike but the awesome compression system allows me to really shrink it down

2-3 lb strippable framed climbing pack ...

they are designed to be durable, and haul decent loads, and be form fitting enough to climb in ...

remember that the internal frame pack was invented by greg lowe, a climber ... so you could say that the most of the modern internal frame packs sold today are offspring of climbing/mountaineering packs ...

I'd stick with my myog frame pack. It can and has done everything you list here and weighs less than 1 lb. I use it everyday to haul gym clothes and groceries, backpack with it, day pack with it, travel with it, etc.

Re: If you could only have one backpack...... Posted 01/28/2012 14:22:02 MST by Daryl Clark (lyrad1)
I'd stick with my myog frame pack. It can and has done everything you list here and weighs less than 1 lb. I use it everyday to haul gym clothes and groceries, backpack with it, day pack with it, travel with it, etc.

That sounds interesting. What's it look like? Have any pics?

Really like my HMG Windrider. Durable, waterproof, pretty lightweight, plenty of volume, basic/simple design and it carries well too

Depends what else you were going to do with it. If you're going to use it for a climbing pack at some point then you need more volume and weight carrying ability than just a backpacking pack.

My Osprey Exos 58 backpacking pack that would also work fine for climbing too but a bit less durable. I have a BD Sphynx 44L(ish) for my climbing pack so I can be rougher with it.

Re: If you could only have one backpack...... Posted 01/28/2012 14:44:34 MST by Jake D (JakeDatc)
Depends what else you were going to do with it. If you're going to use it for a climbing pack at some point then you need more volume and weight carrying ability than just a backpacking pack.

My Osprey Exos 58 backpacking pack that would also work fine for climbing too but a bit less durable. I have a BD Sphynx 44L(ish) for my climbing pack so I can be rougher with it.

I thought the Osprey was 28 inches tall, if so, that wouldn't qualify as a carry on.

Since I have only one backpack, my ULA Ohm will have to suffice, but I must say that I'll be screwed if I have to tank more than 2 gallons.

Posted 01/28/2012 14:06:59 MST by Tyler Barcelli (youngster)
I would carry my ula ohm. Big enough for a thru hike but the awesome compression system allows me to really shrink it down

I was looking up the measurements of the OHM and it and found the large to be 25 inches tall, which would make it too tall for carry on status as well.

I'd get a McHale Pack with customized bayonet stays to fold down small enough to fit on a plane and some kind of cover for the pack so the straps wouldn't snag if I had to send it as checked luggage.

22x14x9 inches is carry on size, so it can't be taller than 22 inches.

Even though they give those measurements we've all seen the size of some people's carry ons. If we must restrict it to 22 inches then I would also get a custom McHale pack wig the bayonet system

We recently traveled using Air Canada to China and only hard-sided or stiff cloth carryons were subjected to the chrome cage test prior to boarding. My old no name wheeled backpack passed because it can be squashed into any overhead compartment or under any seat.That's a good thing to know . The following article is a good read and in the comments section there are links to places that sell backpacks built to double as carry-ons.
http://travel.nytimes.com/2012/01/01/travel/tips-from-political-reporters.html?scp=7&sq=carry-on%20&st=cse

Check out this site esp.
http://www.onebag.com/


and this company
http://www.meipacks.com/

Edited by Meander on 01/28/2012 15:57:29 MST.

"
I thought the Osprey was 28 inches tall, if so, that wouldn't qualify as a carry on."

mine is Sz Small and only 22" with the lid off. lid is removable and you can stuff it inside easy enough.

I think that the only restriction on carry on would be the length of the internal frame. Beyond that it is how much you fill it up. Otherwise you can always compress it down to fit in a carry-on compartment. So using factory spec dimensions is quite correct as a limiting factor.

Could the core of the pack be 22" long (or close) but then have an extension? - the standard extension collar being one approach. Of course a stuff sack could be lashed on top and/or bottom, but those are often pretty floppy.

You won't have food or fuel with you on a plane, so some type of extension seems appropriate so you can upsize it when you resupply and hit the trail.

If you never check it (by being carryon size), you can go a lot lighter in fabric weight/strength compared to something that can handle baggage-handling equipment.

Re: Must be carry on size Posted 01/28/2012 17:07:23 MST by David Thomas (DavidinKenai)
Could the core of the pack be 22" long (or close) but then have an extension? - the standard extension collar being one approach. Of course a stuff sack could be lashed on top and/or bottom, but those are often pretty floppy.

You won't have food or fuel with you on a plane, so some type of extension seems appropriate so you can upsize it when you resupply and hit the trail.

If you never check it (by being carryon size), you can go a lot lighter in fabric weight/strength compared to something that can handle baggage-handling equipment.

David, I think the length of the frame would have to be 22" or shorter, for sure, but anything more, like top pockets ect., may be able to be cinched down or removed, to meet the carry on size requirements though.

Edited by Reluctantwaterhauler on 01/28/2012 17:20:02 MST.