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Thread: Before You Ask About A New Pack........

  1. #1
    Quality Control Director Ken's Avatar
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    Default Before You Ask About A New Pack........

    We get frequent requests for advice regarding which pack a member should buy. I propose that we use the following “inquiry” as our guide to answering such questions. Any comments or suggestions here?

    Okay, you’re looking for a new pack and you want us to recommend one to you. We get these questions all the time here. The more information we have, the better our recommendations will be. Before we recommend a pack for your consideration, please provide us with as much of the following information as possible.

    1. What is the gender, height and build of the person who will be using this pack?

    2. How much do you expect this pack to weigh empty?

    3. Will this pack be carried or worn as a backpack?

    4. What do you intend to carry in this pack?

    5. What is its intended use? BOB, Backpacking, Backcountry Ski Trips, Mountaineering?

    6. Do you prefer a MOLLE or ALICE type pack? Do you know what they are?

    7. Where, in terms of terrain, do you intend to use this pack?

    8. How long do you expect to carry or wear this pack each day?

    9. Do you want a frame pack or a frameless pack? Internal frame or external frame?

    10. Are you looking for a pack made of a specific type of material?

    11. Do you know your volume requirement in cubic inches and/or liters?

    12. Do you require hydration compatibility?

    13. Do you require water bottle pockets?

    14. Do you want a waist belt and/or sternum strap?

    15. Do you want a torso adjustment?

    16. Do you prefer top-access, rear-access, or bottom access?

    17. Do you require multiple pockets? What kind? How many?

    18. Should your pack have a detachable day-pack or fanny pack built in?

    19. Do you need a sleeping bag compartment?

    20. Do you need a tent compartment?

    21. Do you need a rain cover? Attached or removable?

    22. Do you need a shovel pocket?

    23. Will you be carrying a snowboard?

    24. Will you be carrying skis?

    25. Do you require gear loops?

    26. Do you require ice axe loops?

    27. Do you require a built-in Avalung?

    28. How much are you prepared to spend?
    Last edited by Ken; 06-17-2009 at 11:53 PM. Reason: Forgot to include the Avalung.
    “Learning is not compulsory. Neither is survival.”
    W. Edwards Deming

    "Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils."
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  2. #2
    Super Moderator crashdive123's Avatar
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    All good questions to answer for one that is looking for a pack.
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    Administrator Rick's Avatar
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    I agree. It deserves a sticky......stuck!
    Tracks Across the High Plains...Death on the Bombay Line...A Touch of Death and Mayhem...Dead Rock...The Griswald Mine Boys...All On Amazon Books.

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    Super-duper Moderator Sarge47's Avatar
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    Cool Heh, heh!

    And that, my friends, is why Ken is in "Quality Control"!
    SARGE
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    Super-duper Moderator Sarge47's Avatar
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    Cool Yo Ken!

    Now let's see what you can do about the "survival knife".
    SARGE
    "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."
    Albert Einstein

    Proud father of a US Marine....SEMPER FI!

    They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
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    Quality Control Director Ken's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sarge47 View Post
    Now let's see what you can do about the "survival knife".
    This could take a day or so.........
    “Learning is not compulsory. Neither is survival.”
    W. Edwards Deming

    "Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils."
    General John Stark

  7. #7
    Super Moderator crashdive123's Avatar
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    If you do, just make it is the 1,188th post of the knife sticky.......since the first 1,187 posts have not seemed to answer anything definitively.
    Last edited by crashdive123; 06-18-2009 at 07:00 AM. Reason: fat fingers
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    Senior Member SARKY's Avatar
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    The question pertaining to external or internal frame packs should be based more on wether you will be on trail or going cross country. If you are going to exclusively on trails, then an external frameed pack works just fine. But if you are going to be hiking cross country in rough terrain and climbing over things (like debris after a disaster) then an internal framed pack is prefered as its center of gravity will be closer to your natural center of gravity.
    I know what hunts you.

  9. #9
    Senior Member vthompson's Avatar
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    That was a very nice post Ken, with all of the right questions.
    Take only what you need, and leave the rest.

  10. #10
    Quality Control Director Ken's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by SARKY View Post
    The question pertaining to external or internal frame packs should be based more on wether you will be on trail or going cross country. If you are going to exclusively on trails, then an external frameed pack works just fine. But if you are going to be hiking cross country in rough terrain and climbing over things (like debris after a disaster) then an internal framed pack is prefered as its center of gravity will be closer to your natural center of gravity.
    I agree, Sarky....


    Quote Originally Posted by Ken View Post
    5. What is its intended use? BOB, Backpacking, Backcountry Ski Trips, Mountaineering?

    and

    7. Where, in terms of terrain, do you intend to use this pack?
    “Learning is not compulsory. Neither is survival.”
    W. Edwards Deming

    "Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils."
    General John Stark

  11. #11
    Senior Member chiye tanka's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sarge47 View Post
    Now let's see what you can do about the "survival knife".
    Hey, hey, I'm working it. Jeezzee!
    The Earth does not belong to us, we belong to the Earth. What befalls the Earth, befalls the sons of the Earth.
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    If it's ok I'd like to wake this conversation up.
    First I'd be willing to bet that none of you own "a" pack, and right here I'm willing to lighten my soul and confess that I have on occasion owned as many as five backpacks at one time ,A frames, internal frames no frames... . So I guess what I'm saying is that there may be no (at least I haven't found it) one pack if you do a lot of different stuff that requires portage by oneself. I don't know about now but back in the day places like R.E.I that operated out of old warehouses and didn't sell frills, rented outdoor gear and that was one way to try out different stuff, you could find out if it was a backpack , a backache or a pos
    Peace

  13. #13
    Quality Control Director Ken's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by notlost View Post
    First I'd be willing to bet that none of you own "a" pack, and right here I'm willing to lighten my soul and confess that I have on occasion owned as many as five backpacks at one time....
    I have about 20.
    “Learning is not compulsory. Neither is survival.”
    W. Edwards Deming

    "Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils."
    General John Stark

  14. #14
    Administrator Rick's Avatar
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    Too true. Do I include vehicle bags in that count? Sheeesh.
    Tracks Across the High Plains...Death on the Bombay Line...A Touch of Death and Mayhem...Dead Rock...The Griswald Mine Boys...All On Amazon Books.

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    Senior Member doug1980's Avatar
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    Looks good but wouldn't it just be easier to tell them to go down to the store, try some packs on, fill them with some weight and see how it feels? I'm just saying.
    Alaska to Florida, for how long, who knows...

  16. #16
    Super Moderator crashdive123's Avatar
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    Full sized, medium, small, bob, vehicles - yeah 20 sounds about right.
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    Quality Control Director Ken's Avatar
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    Now duffel bags are another story. There always goin' on sale someplace, and Ocean State Job Lot is always gettin' really neat new ones in, and they're only a couple of bucks, so figure, maybe, 100.
    “Learning is not compulsory. Neither is survival.”
    W. Edwards Deming

    "Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils."
    General John Stark

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    Quote Originally Posted by doug1980 View Post
    Looks good but wouldn't it just be easier to tell them to go down to the store, try some packs on, fill them with some weight and see how it feels? I'm just saying.
    Well sure, can I do that for 4 or 5 days, throw in some rain, scoot around some dead fall and walk some slippery rocks ?
    peace

  19. #19
    Senior Member Jonesy's Avatar
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    Maybe the admins should lock the "Stickys" so they don't end up full of...stuff
    -Jonesy

  20. #20
    Senior Member doug1980's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by notlost View Post
    Well sure, can I do that for 4 or 5 days, throw in some rain, scoot around some dead fall and walk some slippery rocks ?
    peace
    No you can't but asking someone else how it works in those conditions won't be much more help either. They all fit each person differently.
    Alaska to Florida, for how long, who knows...

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