Realized my pack is TOO heavy!

[Stellbell3]

After reading others posts that they try to have a bag under three lbs, I am realizing that my Kelty Coyote 4500 bag is going to be way too heavy ( I think 6 lbs maybe) or too big for my 2009 thru (bag purchased before I got into distance hiking and knew what the hell I was doing). Since funds are low I found this one on craigslist for $50.
Anyone have any experience with it?
What do people think about it for a thru hike?
Also I am a woman (with wide shoulders) and have only ever used "womans" gear.
Opinions? Thoughts?

Thanks in advance. WB has been great prep for my hike!!

Stell


DETAILS FROM WEB: http://www.travelcountry.com/shop/gregory/backpacks-adventure-racing/gregory-g-pack.html
The Gregory G Pack gets a complete update for 2005. This minimalist pack is lightweight, streamlined and delivers only the essentials. Designed for the backpackers who know how to pack, and look to carry loads up to 30 pounds, the G Pack is a solid, comfortable bag. The Exo Frame and Wraptor stabilizer ensure a smooth ride. A padded back with removable stay and framesheet saves 9oz. A supportive Gullwing waist-belt carries extremely comfortably.

Features

* Material: Silicone impregnated 30D G, 210D nylon reinforcements
* Volume: [S]2500cu in.
* Weight: 2lb 12oz
* Zippered top pocket
* Mesh front Pocket
* Side mesh water bottle pockets
* Hydration compatible
* HUGE hip belt pockets

[Rusty_S]

Gregory makes good packs. Can you fit all your crap in that small of a pack. 4500 to 2500 ci is a big jump.

[Egads]

Agree with Rusty_S, this pack is probably too small for a thru hiker unless very experienced. It may make a good weekend pack. Try it before you buy it.

[Phreak]

I'm a fan of Gregory packs - as I've used a handful of them over the years. The G pack is the only one I was disappointed with.

I can't see it being large enough for your thru hike.

[Egads]

I'm a fan of Gregory packs - as I've used a handful of them over the years. The G pack is the only one I was disappointed with.

I can't see it being large enough for your thru hike.

I purchased Phreak's and gave it away a year later. It gave me sore shoulders no matter how I adjusted it. YMMV as we definitely have different torsos.

[Stellbell3]

Thanks........I see that now.

What IS a good size for a pack for a thru? Is 4500 too big?

Stell

[shelterbuilder]

I've been out for a week at a time with a pack that's around 2500 c.i., but ALL of the luxuries tend to get left at home. That's okay for a week, but probably not for 1/2 a year. YMMV.

[George]

early G-packs had durability issues I believe gregory cured them but you don't know in used for 50$ you cannot go to far wrong. If you can use a small- granite gear vapor trail 97.47 free shipping backcountryoutlet.com great pack 2 lbs 3600 in. / good size for prime season nobo

[shelterbuilder]

...What IS a good size for a pack for a thru? Is 4500 too big?

Stell

4500 is closer to expedition-sized! BUT...you don't have to fill it to capacity. At this size, though, the weight of the thing starts to come into play in a big way.

There is, however, a number that's half-way between 2500 and 4500 that might work....

[Rusty_S]

Thanks........I see that now.

What IS a good size for a pack for a thru? Is 4500 too big?

Stellwhatever you can fit all your crap in. if you want a number then 3000-4000 sounds about right.

[Egads]

Thanks........I see that now.

What IS a good size for a pack for a thru? Is 4500 too big?

Stell

No, You should be able to make do with a pack between 3500 to 5000 ci depending on your gear selections. Shelter & bag take the most space, followed by food, platy, clothes, stove - fuel, filter. I stitched from tent to hammock to tarp to save weight & space on long hikes.

Many have said that you can hike comfortably or camp comfortably, but not both. Choose your priorities. I am a foolish gearhead and pick my shelter, pack, stove, bag depending on weather, distance & speed of hike, and mood.

Granite Gear Vapor Trails & ULA Catalysts are popular thru hiker packs

http://www.granitegear.com/products/backpacks/ultralight/vaportrail.html

http://www.ula-equipment.com/catalyst.htm

[BitBucket]

I've tried a number of different Ospreys & Gregory's (35/50/70 L) and settled on the Gregory Z65. 45-50 L is a tad bit too small for the stuff I have and anything over 65L is way too much to carry.

The Z65 weighs in at about 3# 14oz for a medium, fits and wears as well as a Baltoro 70 (which is one of the best fitting packs I've ever had on), is well built, and at about 3950 ci will comfortably carry a 30-35 # load all day w/o hurting shoulders/back.

I've also got a Vaude Cross Ultralight 35 that weighs in around 1# 8 oz for 2100 ci. It's a good lightweight pack and great for day or overnight use, but its too small for the crap I normally carry and once you get over about 20-25#, it just doesn't fit or ride well when you carry it all day.

Best advice is to try several brands with the stuff you have and pick the one that fits as good as your shoes/boots do...you're going to be married to that critter all day, every day for 4-6 months so it should fit well for the stuff you are going to carry.

[skinewmexico]

Lots of online stores have the women's 2008 Jam2 on closeout right now, for under $70. Or the Pinnacle, if you want a giant pack.

[Jim Adams]

I have 2 G Packs and use them alot. I would not hesitate to thru the AT with a G Pack as water is plentiful. I started my PCT thru with a G Pack but switched out for my Dana Bridger (3600ci) not because of size but I needed more suspension due to the weight of the water required to carry. I simply had the suspension over loaded.
As long as you can fit all of your gear in the G Pack and you can keep the weight under 30lbs. you will be fine...it is a good pack IMO.

geek

[le loupe]

Coyote 5lb 6oz $128
Z65 3lb 14oz $200+
Gpack 2lb 12oz $40 New from GearX

Gpack makes more sense if its not too small, but seems like it is.

Z65 saves 1 1/2 lbs for a swing of $300. Sounds steep to me.

[Wags]

weight of the pack should be secondary to comfortability while carrying the load

[Stir Fry]

Get all your gear together. worst case, winter clod weather, 6 days food. Go to a good outfitter and see the smalest pack thet will work for you. When I did this I found that it fit in one pack 3800 cc but in another brand that was 4100 cc. I foung that the cc, of L rating is a diferant from one man. to another.

[randyg45]

Too small for me. I have an old Wild Things Gear AT- a 5000c.i. rucksack that comes in, I think, at about 2.5 pounds. Granted that storing down compressed is worse, but imo compressing down any more than you have to is bad. Look at it this way- putting that expensive down bag (or synthetic, for that matter) in a compression sack for 12 hours a day for 6 months is, again imo, far worse than storing it compressed for 3 months because every time it is fluffed and recompressed new damage is done. My opinion. So I pack the down stuff on top, under my poncho, to take advantage of the extra room. YMMV

[Dogwood]

Stellbell, I'm an UL hiker. Before U get too worked up about what other hikers R using for gear remember plenty of people have thru-hiked with packs weighing more than your 6 lb pack. Sure, listen and learn to what others R saying(they offer some good advice), but it sounds like U were OK with your pack until someone told U it was too heavy or too big for an AT thru-hike. ABSOLUTELY, gear, and specifically gear wt., can affect your hiking, but U shouldn't totally let it limit U or make U feel U R inadequately prepared for a thru-hike totally based on it... Yes, the volume and wt. of your backpack could be less for an AT thru-hike, but that is best determined by U. I've seen thru-hikers on the AT with packs ranging in wt. from 1 lb to 7 + lbs and volumes ranging from the low 2000 cubic inches to as much as 5500 cubic inches. If U don't know how big(volume) of a pack U need U might want to try putting all your AT gear in different volume packs to determine the volume that's right for U on this hike. U might want to try doing what traftonm suggested. IF U HAVE DETERMINED the volume and wt. of your pack is too much and finances R limited than U R doing a good thing to remedy the situation. U R learning about and looking for a good used pack that suits your needs.

[tiptoe]

I've been reasonably happy with the Kelty Illusion (http://www.backcountry.com/store/KEL0338/Kelty-Illusion-Backpack-3500cu-in.html?CMP_ID=SH_FRO001&CMP_SKU=KEL0338&mv_pc=r126). (Mine is more of a blue and white, but the link takes you to one on sale.) 3500cc, I think, and lots of pockets.

[cravj1988]

A 60-65 liter pack, or about 3600 cubic inches is about all I needed for my thru hike. I started with a Gregory Palasade (7 lbs) 6000 cubic inches pack, when I got to Damascus Va I went with a 65 liter Mountain Hardware (3.2 lb pack) and it made all the difference in the world. Try to keep your big three gear items as low as you can go.... Pack, sleeping bag, and shelter.

[YoungMoose]

i wouldnt of bought a kelty. i think they are a ****ty brand. i would of spent the money for a better one

[Panzer1]

Volume: [S]2500cu in.

My Granite Gear Meridian is 3800 cubic inches. I think a 2500 cube pack would be too small for me.

Panzer