Need to buy a hiking back pack for backpacking

[mr sti]

Hey guys, Im going o/s for 3 weeks in SE Asia and need a backpack to go backpacking around.

Any ideas where I can pick one up online at a reasonable price? And any recommendations as to what is the best one to get? I need it in about 3 weeks so I can still order from o/s if the price is worth it.

Thanks!

[Eclipsor]

Buying hiking gear from the USA is usually worth it. Check out Campsaver, REI and backcountrygear as some of the bigger shops that ship overseas.

How much time will it be spending on your back? Will you be doing any actual hiking, or much site seeing with it? If the answer is yes then good fitment is probably more important and you'd be best to buy locally to make sure it is comfortable. Any brand will make one that they quote as being the right size for you, but its a bit like shoes in that different brands will fit your body better or worse and you just have to try them on.

If it's not going to spend that much time on your back (less than and hour or two per day) then fitment probably isn't as much of an issue and you should just get a travel pack from a reputable brand so it doesn't fall apart. Travel packs usually have a front opening zipper and a clip on day pack. Usually wider shape too.

[Mifferz]

Originally Posted by Eclipsor

Buying hiking gear from the USA is usually worth it. Check out Campsaver, REI and backcountrygear as some of the bigger shops that ship overseas.

How much time will it be spending on your back? Will you be doing any actual hiking, or much site seeing with it? If the answer is yes then good fitment is probably more important and you'd be best to buy locally to make sure it is comfortable. Any brand will make one that they quote as being the right size for you, but its a bit like shoes in that different brands will fit your body better or worse and you just have to try them on.

If it's not going to spend that much time on your back (less than and hour or two per day) then fitment probably isn't as much of an issue and you should just get a travel pack from a reputable brand so it doesn't fall apart. Travel packs usually have a front opening zipper and a clip on day pack. Usually wider shape too.

What he said; Try before you buy. I went to Vietnam and Thailand years ago and used one of the luggages with wheels and retracting handle thingy. It had straps where you can lug it like a backpack... but wasn't the most comfortable position. Sure I wasn't 'cool' as the rest of the backpackers but 0kgs on my back and ease of travel was worth it.

However I bought my current backpack through ebay/gumtree after doing research.

I was specifically after a backpack that opens up like a briefcase (or primary school bag for better reference). I hate top-loaders with a passion! So I hunted around for a while and got a Black Wolf Grand Tourer 65L for a cool $40!

[Daft_Munt]

Originally Posted by Mifferz

I hate top-loaders with a passion!

I can see where you are coming from but for hiking a top loader shits on others as it is easier to keep the contents dry, just line with a garbage bag and then load everything in.

[Mifferz]

Originally Posted by Daft_Munt

I can see where you are coming from but for hiking a top loader shits on others as it is easier to keep the contents dry, just line with a garbage bag and then load everything in.

Yeah for hiking I can see the pros since you won't have too open/dig up your bag frequently.

If OP is planning to do hiking with his full backpack and not just a daypack, then yeah get a top loader.

[munka]

Originally Posted by mr sti

Hey guys, Im going o/s for 3 weeks in SE Asia and need a backpack to go backpacking around.

Any ideas where I can pick one up online at a reasonable price? And any recommendations as to what is the best one to get? I need it in about 3 weeks so I can still order from o/s if the price is worth it.

Thanks!

A hiking backpack to go hiking with or a back pack to lug around on holiday.

Big difference
I have an osprey bag that i picked up for $289 (fairly big discount) but for hiking it is worth its weight in gold. Even if it only weight 2kg.

Otherwie a big macpack or similar for lugging heavy stuff around and taking some travel abuse.

[Stevros]

I just got back from a 4 week SE Asia backpacking trip and this is what i used.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Caribee-A...ht_4330wt_1396

Did quite a bit of research before i bought it and it turned out to be great.
The day pack is small but was the perfect size for taking on the plane, bus, motorbike or pushbike. The best thing about this pack was that it also has a side shoulder strap, so you can just quickly grab it, throw it over your shoulder head for the taxi or whatever and not have to lay the thing down to pull the 2 back shoulder straps out and attach the day pack.

If you do use the back shoulder straps its also really comfortable with the waist strap taking alot of the weight off your back.

The other advantage of this pack is the clips that help to squash the pack down. We were squashing 6 of us plus our packs into taxis or 3 x 2 into tuk tuks when we needed our luggage and my pack was taking up the least room of anyones.

One of my mates had an Osprey pack that was similar to mine but a little bit bigger and we both thought my pack was the better of the two.

[mr sti]

Thanks guys, mainly looking at a pack for travelling rather than hiking (oops). Stevros, that looks good, might just get that...

[stevenx]

In my experience in South East Asia... if it's not possible to travel with a carry on sized travel pack (with a proper harness including waist strap) then a travel pack with both proper harness and wheels is the best compromise.

There's nothing worse than being stuck with a backpack when you'd kill someone for wheeled luggage, and vice-versa.

[mr sti]

Originally Posted by stevenx

In my experience in South East Asia... if it's not possible to travel with a carry on sized travel pack (with a proper harness including waist strap) then a travel pack with both proper harness and wheels is the best compromise.

There's nothing worse than being stuck with a backpack when you'd kill someone for wheeled luggage, and vice-versa.

I dont tend to walk around that much... However I know what you mean, I fly 2-4 times a week and wheeled luggage is much easier.

[_slappy_dn]

Originally Posted by mr sti

I dont tend to walk around that much... However I know what you mean, I fly 2-4 times a week and wheeled luggage is much easier.

Take a 35/40L pack and carry on! Every trip I have done to SEA I have done this and not regretted it, never left anything I couldn't fit in. I think 65L is too big, and will certainly be painful after a week or so.

Last month I went to the Philippines and Cambodia and had this setup of 35L pack plus a laptop bag, including snorkel and mask * 2 and still had room to spare!

[mr sti]

Originally Posted by _slappy_dn

Take a 35/40L pack and carry on! Every trip I have done to SEA I have done this and not regretted it, never left anything I couldn't fit in. I think 65L is too big, and will certainly be painful after a week or so.

Last month I went to the Philippines and Cambodia and had this setup of 35L pack plus a laptop bag, including snorkel and mask * 2 and still had room to spare!

I think that is good advice and will save me some money also. I already have a 35l pack that I can use. Thanks for the advice all, I just use an existing ~35l pack.

I already have this, perhaps I will use it if it suits?

http://www.desabags.com.au/shop/item...kpack+Daypack+

[_slappy_dn]

Originally Posted by mr sti

I think that is good advice and will save me some money also. I already have a 35l pack that I can use. Thanks for the advice all, I just use an existing ~35l pack.

I already have this, perhaps I will use it if it suits?

http://www.desabags.com.au/shop/item...kpack+Daypack+

My only other piece of advice would be to take something small that can roll up and then be used as a day pack if your not taking a laptop style satchel or something. You can get really small shoulder satchels and they can then be used as a day pack without a huge glowing sign over your head of IM A TOURIST WITH A DAY PACK AND MY WATER BOTTLE IN THE SIDE.

[mr sti]

Originally Posted by _slappy_dn

My only other piece of advice would be to take something small that can roll up and then be used as a day pack if your not taking a laptop style satchel or something. You can get really small shoulder satchels and they can then be used as a day pack without a huge glowing sign over your head of IM A TOURIST WITH A DAY PACK AND MY WATER BOTTLE IN THE SIDE.

I actually hate bags and don't go out with a bag. Just buy a bottle of water and chuck when finished. But yeh maybe I will take a small satchel. I have a small one that can be rolled up.

Worth buying a sleeping bag to take to vietnam when staying in backpackers?

[Stevros]

Originally Posted by mr sti

I actually hate bags and don't go out with a bag. Just buy a bottle of water and chuck when finished. But yeh maybe I will take a small satchel. I have a small one that can be rolled up.

Worth buying a sleeping bag to take to vietnam when staying in backpackers?

You wont need a sleeping bag, we stayed in some really cheap backpacker places and they are fine for bedding, although the beds are as hard as a rock. Dont worry about the water thing either, heaps of backpackers (like us) are walking around with water bottles, and constantly buying them/throwing them in the bin or whatever, its no big deal.

We mixed it up with some reasonable hotels and some super cheap backpacker places and found that the cheaper the place, the more friendly the staff were and happy to help you out. I definitely recommend staying somewhere in the backpacker district in ho chi minh. So many great places to go out, so many people to meet, and good prices.

By the way, where abouts are you going?