Backpacks For A.T. Thru-Hike

[Guests]

Quick question as we are organizing our equipment….what size backpack should we take? We plan on going light, and I saw that on your webpage one of the dumbest things one of your guys brought was a 7000 cubic bag. So what’s a good size? I’m thinking for me 5500-6000. My wife is much smaller.. so for her at 5’3, 120lbs I was thinking 3500ish. Any insight would be most appreciated. Thanks! S.W.

[BirdShooter]

I’ve heard a lot of thru-hikers are using Osprey’s these days but I have no experience with these backpacks. In my day (1994), the Dana Design Terraplane was all the rage. I upgraded to a medium Terraplane in Hanover, NH (5800 cubic inches) but it was too small for me in size (not in capacity) and I eventually bought a large Terraplane (~6200 cubic inches) in 1996. I use the large Terraplane on short backpacking trips to this day. The only issue is that the Terraplane is really heavy – 7+ lbs.

With all the advances in technology since ’94, I’d shoot for a pack that weighs no more than 4 lbs. My “go to”

[Zip and Troggy the Brit]

Thanks BirdShooter. We are members now so I will repost…the photos are almost the same.

Quick question as we are organizing our equipment….what size backpack should we take? We plan on going light, and I saw that on your webpage one of the dumbest things one of your guys brought was a 7000 cubic bag. So what’s a good size? I’m thinking for me 5500-6000. My wife is much smaller.. so for her at 5’3, 120lbs I was thinking 3500ish. Any insight would be most appreciated. Thanks!

Zip

[chazzc1980]

I’d recommend visiting an outfitter or an REI store if you have one relatively close to you to get sized for the right pack. Me personally, I prefer to have several different packs, tents, and sleeping bags for various trips. I have a military modular arctic sleeping bag for those cold winter months or car camping, for 3 season spring to fall backpacking trips I have a Marmot Plasma 15*. Same for packs, I have a Gregory Denali for long expedition type trips that require a lot of gear and have a North Face pack for lighter trips.

[Author]

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