Another Rucksack Question

[mattyn1]

My daughter has announced she and her mate are going travelling next year to Australia, and I said I would but her a rucksack and day pack (she does not like my Bergen for some reason!!)....as I didn't think she would want to be bumbling about with suitcases etc. Now I thought this would be easy and not too expensive ...

Decided on a budget of up to £200 for both... seeing this has been recommended in the past:

https://www.gapyeartravelstore.com/product/osprey-...

Or we saw this when in the shop:

https://www.mountainwarehouse.com/p/053319/mw/trav...

What do we reckon? Any other ideas? She does not want something massive so the 55-65 litre area for the main bag seems about right and of course they don't have to be "a set" as these two are.

Cheers experts!

[Regbuser]

The MH one is good

[nvubu]

I've got a couple of Osprey Farpoint 40s with the 15L daypack as well - It is very similar to the Farpoint 55 (although a more expensive combination), but the main bag has a slightly different design.

They will get on most airlines as a carry-on and a personal item - so no checking bags in, with the additional hassle and cost.

[TGCOTF-dewey]

I'd take her to try some on given she'll be wearing it a lot. They all fit different and some just work with your body shape better.

I've had loads over the years, of all prices, but the one that I kept throughout - and used during my time in mountain rescue for all day / night searches was a cheapish Quechua one from decathlon - even fully loaded it was / is so comfy.

They might want to consider a steel mesh liner or cover to stop aholes trying to cut it and steal from it.

[FiF]

Possibly going to upset your budget but would recommend something additional like a compact cross body sling bag for carrying money, passport, cards etc.

https://pacsafe.co.uk

[LRDefender]

Lots of backpacks are absolutely fine but if you’re buying online then try to get one that adjusts for back length. A good fitting backpack is rather important imo and being uncomfortable for long periods of time makes for a miserable experience.

Failing that get down to your local Cotswold or similar and get the kids to try a few on.

Not that it matters but I’m a big fan of Osprey backpacks.

[//j17]

Unless she's actually going to be hiking I'd look at a duffel with detachable rucksack straps and separate day pack. The North Face and Mountain Equipment are the famous brand names in the duffel game but you can also get them from Mountain Warehouse/Decathlon/etc.

I'd go that route because they tend to be a much more versatile shape as they are basically cylinders, with backpack straps removed/shoved in bag there's less flapping about to get hooked up on things, and take up less space when empty and packed away. All while still giving you the ability to huck it on your back when you do have to move it some distance.

As for day pack, well that's your carry on bag for flights and with a bit of lateral thinking you can usually come up with a way of attaching the day pay to duffel. I use a TNF duffel for skiing and have a couple of short clip straps that let my hang my day (avalanche) pack in front of me from the duffel so ky arms are free to drag my ski bag to get to/from airports.

[Griffith4ever]

Something with wheels - even a wheely bag. Travelled far and wide 18 years back and didn't need a ricksack anywhere.

[_Rodders_]

Osprey and Deuter have been my go-to's, they make great bits of kit.

That said I've used plenty of Quechua stuff, particularly for the kids and most of it just works.

[mattyn1]

Thanks all.

We did go to Millets the other day but I need to go again as I can’t recall what she looked at… she did however liked the adjustable back straps so agree on that point.

I mentioned the cross body idea and she nodded so that will be added. I quite like the duffel idea but I doubt she is that keen. 19yo wannabe influencer (well she spends all her time on her phone is what I mean) …. The wheeled case like my American Tourister won’t cut it apparently (my fav for road trips)!

I don’t want to over think it (which I am prone to do)… thanks though! Food for thought!

[captain_cynic]

Regbuser said:

The MH one is good

Another vote for the MH pack, I've got one and just got back from Oz last night. I bought mine for 90% off during the pandemic (I guess they just weren't selling bags then) and had it for almost 4 years now, it seems light and flimsy but it's taken all the abuse I and countless baggage handlers have been able to throw at it.

Lightness is actually a good thing though, it makes it easier to carry and doesn't take up 4-5 KG of your baggage allowance just for the case. Full with clothes and a few treats from Oz (mainly Cherry Ripes and Caramel Crowns) and it was still only 12.5 KG according to the scales. Pretty comfy to wear as well and it has a cover for the straps (this helps with baggage handling systems as your straps can get caught on things).

Plus the more distinctly coloured ones are incredibly easy to spot from a distance on the luggage belt amongst a sea of black/grey boxy suitcases.

For $60 you can't really go wrong.

[smifffymoto2]

My daughter did 10 months travelling with an Eaglecreek Cargo hauler XT.
Basically 35l carryon wheeled luggage.

Reasons being,on planes and out of the airport quickly,easy on public transport,no bad back,wheels and you don’t look like a traveller/backpacker so don’t stick out.

[Griffith4ever]

mattyn1 said:

. The wheeled case like my American Tourister won t cut it apparently (my fav for road trips)!

She'll learn, but won't take it from "us" :-)

Honestly, I can count the number of times I had to take the rucksack along a long beach, on one hand, all the other times, a wheely case (and a small day bag, SMALL!- Ryainair size) would have been better. No crumpled clothes, no having to sift through everything to find one item at the bottom, no squashed / burst liquids, and no delays on baggage reclaim due to straps, and of course, you get to enjoy having wheeeeeels!

Times have changed and unless she's going hiking in Katmandu, she'll pro be better off with a wheely case, but, young ones want what young ones want :-)

We recently did 3 weeks in India (top to bottom) then 2 weeks in Goa. One "overhead" wheeled bag and one ryanair size underseat mini day bag each. That was it. Little bag slides on bigger bag handles.

[silentbrown]

Can't comment on the MH pack but Osprey stuff is very well designed and made.

The Osprey Farpoint is basically a lightweight suitcase with a harness, so not ideal if you're actually going hiking with it, but great for travel.

Something like a Renn would be better for actualy hikes, but a lot more faff at airports due to all the straps...

https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/products/osprey-women...

[ATG]

Loads of good stuff on this thread already. Duffel versus rucksack: both have their place.

Duffles are great if you're carrying a lot of stuff and you aren't carrying it every day. They have huge capacity, they are tough as old boots, they are designed to survive being thrown around and sent down luggage chutes. They also have huge unzippable lids so it's really easy to access anything inside them, just like a suitcase. You can wear them like a rucksack to get them from A to B, which is very, very useful, but they are uncomfortable and nothing like as stable as a rucksack.

Rucksacks are designed to be worn (!) so their shape is not about maximising carrying volume, nor are they primarily designed to withstand abuse by luggage handlers. It can also be awkward to access stuff if you've rammed them full, because the main pocket tends to be a tube that only opens at one end. But if you get one that fits (often helped enormously by having lots of adjustment options) you can comfortably wear it all day, cover significant distances and carry quite a bit of weight. If you want to be free to move and mobile, there is no substitute.

So, if I am traveling fairly light I'll carry a rucksack. If I'm traveling heavy, which usually means carting a lot of outdoor cold weather gear, then I'll use a duffel. Duffel in the hotel room is better. Rucksack is better when legging it through a train station or walking a couple of miles.


And one final thought. Secure way of carrying passport and cash/cards is important. Being a middle-aged bloke I tend to have secure pockets for stuff like that, or I'll be wearing a day sack on my chest, so its top pocket will be under my chin with its zip facing my chest. But if I was 20 something and wearing light clothing in a hot climate or sitting on a beach, I'd be looking for some kind of discreet, secure pouch.

[Regbuser]

MH in use:

[FiF]

Just to add, they're not cheap but the reason I like pacsafe are the security features. The material with the wire mesh to resist cutting attacks, ditto straps with reinforcing wire. The zips that can be locked and the handy strap with the pop-lock clip so you can easily attach the bag to something fixed to prevent some scrote just walking off with your stuff while your attention is distracted say in a cafe or bar.

[silentbrown]

Regbuser said:

MH in use:

Design looks a bit different to the one OP listed. Has that got wheels/handle integrated in some way?

[JQ]

It's too long ago for my travel experiences to matter, but my son is planning a few trips shortly - in this day and age does having an expensive branded bag such as North Face, Mountain Equipment or Osprey make them more of a target for theft? or do thieves care more about the contents? My lad wants to take a Mountain Equipment duffel and I'm just worried it makes it more of a target.

As for recommendations - you can't beat Decathlon for good quality at a decent price, we've got a couple of large rucksacks that have seen both my kids through all their DoE's. You can spend as long as you like trying them all on in store and get what's most comfortable.

[king arthur]

I wouldn't bother with anything from Mountain Warehouse, IMO it's cheaply made and overpriced for what it is. Osprey is the best but like boots, I wouldn't buy a backpack without being able to try it on first.