Pack Size Reccomendation Needed

I'm looking for a pack that is suitable for winter day trips and still capable to handle the gear for winter overnights. How many litres would you recommend? I'm looking at BD backs would you suggest any particular model?

60 liters is a nice size. You could go smaller, but when you add climbing gear to winter camping gear, you can sometimes end up carrying a fair amount of stuff. 60 is useful for multi-day trips as well.

If you have a 40 liter and a 60 liter, you've got the bases covered.

If this is your only pack, then maybe a 45 or 50 liter would be better. I've used my 45 liter Cilo worksack for winter overnights, so it will work.

Can't help you with BD packs, as I've never used one.

Sport=small is good enough for a rope, shoes, harness and 12 draws. Trad= get yourself a giant pig to haul heavy metal gear of all kinds.

ospreypacks.com/Packs/Varia…

Go with this. It holds lots of gear and its really light when you wanna do day hikes. I bought it for the same reasons that you are describing. Tons of features!

Keep in mind that while you can fit enough for an overnight in a sub-40L pack the frame and straps may not be enough to support the weight. There have been times when I shoehorned 50lbs into a 38L Osprey daypack only to have the pack eat up my shoulders and lower back. Using the Osprey Variant 37L and 52L as an example (because it was mentioned), the larger pack has thicker shoulder padding, more lumbar support, and a heavier frame (not just larger sack).

If you're thinking about an Osprey pack they list the weight ratings for their packs on their site. The ratings are pretty accurate too.

ospreypacks.com/

Brenden Eng wrote:I'm looking for a pack that is suitable for winter day trips and still capable to handle the gear for winter overnights. How many litres would you recommend? I'm looking at BD backs would you suggest any particular model?

http://www.gregorypacks.com/products/mens/technical/15/baltoro-70

That's what I use now for almost everything now. Even if it's half a day at the sport crag, over night "back country" trips with full trad rack, and generally my carry on for an airplane. It has nice compression straps when it's not fully loaded, and expands out nice for larger loads. It rides well too. I figure it's better to have a little too much space than not enough.

Atmos 65 is my next pack

ospreypacks.com/Packs/Atmos…

Meshed Back so you don't get the hot and sweaty spot in the middle of your back when you hike in the winter. In talking to a couple of friends that have the pack i always thought that a mesh back on the pack would collect snow and what not... He said its not a problem and never had an issue with it.

You can't really go wrong with a BD pack. The Predator series is great, the Sphinx, I have the Speed 40 which is superlight and fits a lot. I also have a Gregory Alpinisto which I've been very very impressed with, super comfortable. If you can go pretty minimalist and have light gear, a 40 could maybe handle it if your ropes outside, but in reality a 50-60 is probably a better fit with puffy winter gear, sleeping bag kills your space.

You really can't go wrong with Cilogear.

I have a 20, 30 & 60L pack. i almost never use the 60.... if i fill that, then i am carrying way too much! the 30L is great for cragging, alpine and 1-day ice climbs. it might be a little cramped for overnight in winter, but you could make it work. their 40 or 45L would likely be the go-to pack for what it sounds like you want.

as for Cilogear the company.... Graham is the shit for customer service!

If you want to go ultra-minimal, you can make a 35L pack work. I have a 35L BD pack and I've been able to get a stove, fuel, bag, pad, and bivy packed along with a light alpine rack (rope, half a dozen screws, set of nuts, a few cams, 'draws, etc.). It worked but there wasn't much room for anything beyond the absolute necessities.

A 40L pack may be better if you'd prefer a little more room to work with.

Nick Votto wrote:You can't really go wrong with a BD pack. The Predator series is great, the Sphinx, I have the Speed 40 which is superlight and fits a lot. I also have a Gregory Alpinisto which I've been very very impressed with, super comfortable. If you can go pretty minimalist and have light gear, a 40 could maybe handle it if your ropes outside, but in reality a 50-60 is probably a better fit with puffy winter gear, sleeping bag kills your space.

I've pretty happy with the BD packs overall. The Quantum is just a baller, lightweight pack with great support. I have the Sphinx as well and although not as nice, is big and a great "value" pack.

I've really been impressed with the BD speed as well. Mine's a 30, but it carries alot and WELL. The lightweight frame really holds up w/ a double rack or ice gear. Really great light pack. The only thing I wish BD packs had a little better ventialtion on the back. The ports are decent, but get pretty sweaty.

I bought the BD Quantum 45 for exactly the purposes you mentioned. I could not be happier with this pack.
It is very light and holds a ton of gear when you need it to but will cinch down very tight and small when you don't have much in there. I highly recommend it even thought it does cost a penny or two.

The size you get really depends on your other gear choices and habits.
In the 45L I can pack a half & half down synthetic 15* bag along with my BD Firstlight 2 person tent (highly recommended), 2/3 length PA Ether Thermo 6, rack, food, down jacket, fleece, and rope stowed under the brain.

If you have a bigger tent/sleeping pad/sleeping bag, you might be better off with the 55..

I really like the removable hip belt and the webbing hipbelt they give you which works very well. The bivy pad is good and it is very easy to remove the frame completely.

Overall, the BD Quantum is an excellent pack.

I recommend the north face backpack to you,you know I had used this backpack 50l.
it works pretty good.

One thing to keep in mind, and you probably already know this. If you get a large volume pack you will ALWAYS fill the darn thing up and end up carrying lots more weight than you intended. For winter I restrict myself to a 35-40 liter sized pack. I can get everything I need for an ice climbing day in it with just a little bit of extra space. There is enough volume in this size pack that I can squeeze a sleeping bag and stove in it with climbing rope and sleeping pad on the outside.

My prefered pack is the Osprey Variant 37. It carries weight well, has just enough straps to carry a couple of extras and feels good with up to 45lbs. Carrying anything bigger usually means that the bottom of the pack is larger and gets in the way for hiking. Cilogear is also a great brand to look at.

sunder wrote:Atmos 65 is my next pack ospreypacks.com/Packs/Atmos… Meshed Back so you don't get the hot and sweaty spot in the middle of your back when you hike in the winter. In talking to a couple of friends that have the pack i always thought that a mesh back on the pack would collect snow and what not... He said its not a problem and never had an issue with it.

I love the hell out of my Atmos 65, but I will say this about it.

I just did a 6 day trip to the Wind Rivers and it sucked. I was loaded down pretty heavy and it just didn't have the support. I was probably overloaded so it's my fault. I had a doubles rack, 14 runners and 28 biners for runners, belay devices and misc cord, two ropes, shoes, harness, some clif bars, clothes, stove, water pump and my sleeping bag and pad. Probably clocked in over 60 pounds, but I didn't weigh it. I was compensating for my girlfriend if that gives it any merit.

That being said, I absolutely love this pack for everything else. It's been cragging with me for two years and for just carrying gear (usually a double/triple rack and draws), some lunch and water for the day, dog food and maybe some clothes it's absolutely my best friend.

I think I would agree with some of the posters and would lean towards a pack in the 50-55 litre range. I have a Grivel Alpine attack 55 +15 in the expansion tube, and that will work for any trip from overnights to multi-day trips with technical (roped) climbing. If you go with a pack this big just remember not to fill it on day trips, or get a second 35-40 litre pack like the cilo-gear 35 or equivalent. And if you lean to the lighter side just make sure your partner is on the same page. Nothing sucks more then setting out for a light and fast push and seeing your partner toting 20 litres more than you and knowing they can't keep up. You spend the whole day waiting and freezing while they are out of breath (sweating, digging around in their pack) mocking you for being "under prepared". Of the BD pack line I would lean more to the quantum or speed line then the others, but I like light and fast and focus on survival and speed more then comfort. So to recap 35-55 litres and make sure you and your partners ascent style are on the same page.