Overnight pack you're willing to wear while leading?

Jacob Smith wrote:The trick is to just not bring all the crap you don't actually need so that everything fits in a 30-40 liter pack, at which point you have plenty of options (I love my TNF Prophet 40). Unless it's going to be below 30 degrees you don't need a sleeping bag and unless it's going to rain you don't need a tent. You don't really ever need a inflatable mattress. Being cold and uncomfortable builds character.

That's a strategy I'm going to pass on. I don't need any more "character." (suffering) I want to enjoy my trips!

Jjensen wrote:I did the Upper Exum of the Grand Teton this last weekend using the BD Epic 45. Worked out great, although I packed my DSLR in a small Lowe pro case on the hip belt. The pack was fully loaded on hike up to the lower saddle. For the summit climb, I removed waist belt and top lid. Camera, rope and gear all went back into the pack. Worked out great.

Fully loaded 45L pack for the Upper Exum? I'm thinking some of the advice in this thread could be ignored.

FrankPS wrote: That's a strategy I'm going to pass on. I don't need any more "character." (suffering) I want to enjoy my trips!

Suffering will find you, no need to go looking.

J Antin wrote:I've used the CCW Chernobyl many times for the situation you've inquired about. coldcoldworldpacks.com/cher… As many above have stated, go with something compressible. This pack is 50L, but has a removable brain and can really crank down. You have to pack it smart (think whiskey, not beers), but it works great. I'm sure any similar volume pack of its nature would work equally as well. That all being said, you definitely feel the pack on your back. If you want to feel light & free while climbing, I'd say it's worth bringing a light pack such as an a bullet pack or super packable summit pack (10-20L).

+100. The Chernobyl expands out well to carry in all your stuff to the base, and then cinches down well for climbing in. There is no frame, which improves the flexibility and compressibiliy of the pack (good for climbing with it), yet it is well designed to carry a heavy load well sans-frame. It also has gear loops on the hip belt, which is nice. It is absurdly durable and well made; mine is over 10 years old now and has easily seen over 1000 days of use. It looks barely used, and I fully expect another 10 years and 1000 days from it. Can't say enough good things about the quality and design of the pack.

One thing to think about with the Chernobyl, and other ~45 liter* packs, is that it is a bit small to carry in base-camp comforts, plus rope, plus rack, harness, food etc. The Chernobyl is adequate to carry minimal bivy gear, but if you are hiking in to the base, camping, and then climbing the next day, it can be nice to have a bit more space. An alternative system would be a ~65 liter pack to carry in the camping gear, and then a much lighter summit pack (Bullet, Bug, Flash 18, etc) for climbing the route. If you can't fit everything you need for summit day in a 15-20 liter pack, you are blowing it.

• Note: My Chernobyl is a size "Small", since I have a relatively small torso. This version has 5 or so liters less capacity than the regular version. Those with the regular 50 L size might find that carrying in camping gear is more reasonable.

Jacob Smith wrote:Unless it's going to be below 30 degrees you don't need a sleeping bag

Man I feel like a weenie

oakie wrote: Man I feel like a weenie

Right! I sleep blazing hot EXCEPT for when I'm outdoors. I'm using a zero degree by August.

If you are still in on the idea of packing a small day pack I would highly recommend the First Acsent Bacon. That thing kills in in every aspect. If not then I would learn to pack less and bring a small frameless 35-40 liter pack. They will all be good as long as they get small. Even better if you can remove the hip belt. It also depends on the terrain you are climbing and your level of comfort on that ground. I have no problem carrying a large pack (up to 55 liters) up to 5.11 if I'm following, but probably don't want that leading. If a large pack is ok with you then put both yours and your partners gear in it and have the follower carry it. Suck but ok if you are swapping leads

My day pack is the North Face Verto. I can take the back pad out and use it as a stuff sack in my main pack. It weighs about 22 oz. I pull it out and use it on summit/climbing day.

Jacob Smith wrote:The trick is to just not bring all the crap you don't actually need so that everything fits in a 30-40 liter pack, at which point you have plenty of options (I love my TNF Prophet 40). Unless it's going to be below 30 degrees you don't need a sleeping bag and unless it's going to rain you don't need a tent. You don't really ever need a inflatable mattress. Being cold and uncomfortable builds character.

Bluster aside, it's important to consider trade offs. Will carrying that sleeping pad mean that you sleep better and therefore recover better? Is that incremental improvement in recovery going to translate into a less shitty (e.g. faster) second day?

I'm not answering these questions for anyone. More pointing out that it's worth considering. It's probably a case-by-case thing.

jaredj wrote: Bluster aside, it's important to consider trade offs. Will carrying that sleeping pad mean that you sleep better and therefore recover better? Is that incremental improvement in recovery going to translate into a less shitty (e.g. faster) second day? I'm not answering these questions for anyone. More pointing out that it's worth considering. It's probably a case-by-case thing.

It's a legitimate point. Personally, I've found myself feeling unaccountably wasted far more often from an alpine start after sleeping in a nice comfy tent with a nice comfy bag than after a shiver bivy wearing everything I brought, but there are any number of independent variables...

I guess I just prefer waking up at dawn and the kind of climbing that encourages, rather than the kind that encourages carrying 20 extra lbs and starting at 12am.

Jacob Smith wrote: It's a legitimate point. Personally, I've found myself feeling unaccountably wasted far more often from an alpine start after sleeping in a nice comfy tent with a nice comfy bag than after a shiver bivy wearing everything I brought, but there are any number of independent variables... I guess I just prefer waking up at dawn and the kind of climbing that encourages, rather than the kind that encourages carrying 20 extra lbs and starting at 12am.

haha truth right there. Or there is a in between. We've bivy'd in bags and sacks nearby (or at) the trail head. When it's time to get up make your coffee, throw your stuff in the truck and head out.

here is a link to someone selling a 45l ascentionist if you are still looking

mountainproject.com/v/patag…

Anything more than 40 GU packets and a liter of water is too much.

FWIW when another geriatric and I did the Teton Grand Traverse a couple of years ago I used an Osprey Variant 37 and I was able to fit everything in just fine. We each carried food & fuel for 3 days/2 nights, sleeping pads & sleeping bags (mine was a WM Ultralite), and we shared a tent (BD HiLight) and a stove.

If I'd been younger & more resilient I'm sure I could have carried less (and used a smaller pack). For me the benefit of a good night's sleep outweighs the disadvantage of a slightly heavier pack. Anyway the sleeping pad & bag are less than 3 lbs total, and the HiLight tent is lighter than two heavy-duty bivy bags.

OTOH I'm sure the Variant 37 holds more than 37 liters. It seems to have almost as much room as some 50 liter packs I've owned, including some other Ospreys.

Nick Drake wrote:That dead bird pack is also worth checking out, it starts stripped down and the fabric seems to be more abrasion resistant than it's peers of similar weight.

I have an old (circa 2003) Khamsin that was the most bomber, yet still light pack that I have ever owned. They don't make them like that any more b/c there's no incentive to upgrade.

Martin le Roux wrote:FWIW when another geriatric and I did the Teton Grand Traverse a couple of years ago I used an Osprey Variant 37 and I was able to fit everything in just fine. We each carried food & fuel for 3 days/2 nights, sleeping pads & sleeping bags (mine was a WM Ultralite), and we shared a tent (BD HiLight) and a stove. If I'd been younger & more resilient I'm sure I could have carried less (and used a smaller pack). For me the benefit of a good night's sleep outweighs the disadvantage of a slightly heavier pack. Anyway the sleeping pad & bag are less than 3 lbs total, and the HiLight tent is lighter than two heavy-duty bivy bags. OTOH I'm sure the Variant 37 holds more than 37 liters. It seems to have almost as much room as some 50 liter packs I've owned, including some other Ospreys.

The same with my Variant 52. It holds more than a 78l Jansport I once had.

WyomingSummits wrote: The same with my Variant 52. It holds more than a 78l Jansport I once had.

LOL yup I got a 28 and it's a beast.

Hyperlite Mountain Gear makes some very nice climbing packs.

The Ice Pack has become my go-to alpine pack for when I'm doing a carry over and have to climb with overnight gear.

hyperlitemountaingear.com/u…

I was on mt moran two years ago:
Both had smallish packs, mine 30l ozone, partners was 30/35 l.
Single set of cams
Nuts, one sleeping bag, down hoody, sleeping bag X1
Tent, stupid bear canister, 3 meals and high calorie snacks.
Dromedary water bags. Jetboil.
Map, compass blah blah, but one of us got the rope, the other the canister.
It fit in my ozone with the collar just slightly bulging.

I hate to admit it but I really like my BD Epic 45. Using the rope strap on top I can get a 2 night 3 day trip in there pretty snuggly. Kind of a no frills bag but I've been impressed with it.