Backpacking rucksack recommendations please

As above really. Looking for a pack to up to 2 nights on the hills. What are you guys using ?

I was looking at the Osprey Atmos AG65 in a shop over the weekend. Very comfy on the back and seemed to have all the features. Just wondering if there are any others I should be considering.

Thanks all.

I’d have thought 65l for 2 nights is way over the top assuming decent backpacking kit and not Vango/DoE stuff.

65L is rather large for 2 nights. I have a selection of Osprey Talon’s in different sizes and they are great, worth looking at that range as well as the Atmos.

I’d have thought 65l for 2 nights is way over the top assuming decent backpacking kit and not Vango/DoE stuff.

Depends on time of year, where in the country, what height you plan to camp at and if you are solo or can share kit.

I was leading a group a few weeks back when we had a bit of weather come through (snow in the ‘gorms) so I was using a my 4 season Hilleberg Soulo and my winter bag, duvet jacket etc. Very glad for a reasonable sized sack. Similarly, I’ve done 4 days trailing a DofE gold group in the summer with a 40L bag. Horses for courses and all that. Modern bags like that Osprey cinch down well if you don’t need all the capacity so it’s no biggie if you only have one bag having one that can have the capacity when you need it.

OP – the atmos is a nice bag. Cheaper options available if you don’t think you’ll ever use it again but its a good option. IMO Ospreys are quite feature rich and physically light in lieu of some robustness so need treating with a little respect.

Decathlon rucksacks in their mid to high end range are surprisingly good, and have a 10 year guarantee.  Maybe not the lightest, but robust, comfortable and have a built in rainproof cover.

I have the 20L version of this as a daypack:

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/mountain-hiking-backpack-40l-mh500/_/R-p-310102?mc=963085&c=black_carbon+grey

They also do a 30L version, as well as the 20L and 40L.

Depends on time of year, where in the country, what height you plan to camp at and if you are solo or can share kit.

Fair enough. As he was asking for advice, I assumed a fair weather entrant to test the waters – so to speak. You know what they say about assuming…

So yeah, more info needed. 2 nights in a predicted Hymalayan storm at 6000m or 2 summer nights in the South of Ingerlaaand…?

In the olden days, we bought 1 75L sac to carry the one set of everything all the time. These days, we have different kit for every season, day of the week,  prevailing wind direction etc – and long may it continue 🙂

Thanks guys. I always err on the side of caution when it comes to pack size. Planning on year round trips so the insulated jacket / dry clothes and rather bulky 4 season sleeping bag do take up a lot of space. As @convert states, these bags do tend to pack down well when not using the full capacity.

Will have a look at the decathlon bags thanks nerd.

The Sierra Designs Flex Capacitor range get good reviews though there doesn’t seem to be much stock available at present. The companies linked below don’t have stock at present but one has its own review of the bag and the other has an option to setup an email alert:

https://ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/flex-capacitor-40-60l-rucksack/

Sierra Designs Flex Capacitor 40-60L Backpack

edited to add a few places do have stock with some having it reduced :

https://www.trekitt.co.uk/rucksacks/hiking-trekking-packs/sierra-designs-flex-capacitor-40-60l-backpack-peat__55069?currency=GBP&chosenAttribute=80710223PT-M/L&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADpEPujg6mbZwzRYyD8ET8P4hgHtk&gclid=Cj0KCQjw7Py4BhCbARIsAMMx-_KYGzKzYjrat3ECEpfqwRuvdEJu078ii62NwY1gJ-2MKRdQu7RIFmkaAhAMEALw_wcB

Flex Capacitor 40-60L Backpack with Waist Belt | ** New Version **

I have a Flex Capacitor and it is excellent. Thoroughly recommended.

IMO Ospreys are quite feature rich and physically light in lieu of some robustness so need treating with a little respect.

I agree.

The Decathlon range and the Lowe Alpine bags are good in my experience. IME it’s hard to go wrong these days, more a case of  decisions such as ‘do I want either a big hole and lid pocket, or more pockets and dividers? Do I want light or robust?’

Do look on Facebook as there’s a lot of barely used quality packs for sale usually.

What about a front handle bar bag for sleeping bag, mat and down jacket?

Deluge Handlebar Bag 20L

Takes a load of bulky stuff out of your rucksack.

I don’t like the weight of stuff on my back when paddling as it hurts my bum after a few hours.

tall_martinFull Member
What about a front handle bar bag for sleeping bag, mat and down jacket?

Deluge Handlebar Bag 20L

Takes a load of bulky stuff out of your rucksack.

I don’t like the weight of stuff on my back when paddling as it hurts my bum after a few hours.

Need to read the memo. He’s backpacking not bikepacking 🙂

Rough weather for either if he’s going to be paddling 🙂

I’ve a few Osprey bags and they’ve been pretty good and durable for me.  I have an old Lowe Alpine and that’s been a good bag as well ( for a lot of years) , Ultralight gear is nice to have but a decent frame for a comfortable carry and some durability never hurt.

I’d maybe also have a look at the Lowe Alpine Sirac packs, there’s a 50 and a 65L and some smaller capacity variants. I’ve always found Lowe Alpine packs to carry really well and find them a bit more robust and durable than Osprey. I’ve had an Altus 42:5 – I’m pretty sure the Sirac is effectively an updated version – since 2018 and can’t really fault it as a tough. comfortable all-rounder.

The issue I’ve found with really lightweight backpacking packs, is that if the rest of your kit isn’t similarly stripped back – particularly tent, sleeping bag, mat – they don’t always cope well with the additional weight. It’s worth, if you can, loading up the pack in the shop to get a better idea of how comfortable it is with kit in. A good outdoor shop will either have some dedicated heavy bags you can use or throw some climbing ropes or similar into the pack for you.

Lightweight stuff is nice but sometimes it is lovely to have proper large backpack to throw in all the stuff and just cinch the straps and go. Not every hike is so demanding that few extra kilos would kill the fun.

^Current Lowe Alpine gear has no relation to previous stuff, IIRC the brand was sold to Rab and every item is designed from ground up. Might be better or worse than the old stuff, I haven’t seen it live.

^Current Lowe Alpine gear has no relation to previous stuff, IIRC the brand was sold to Rab and every item is designed from ground up. Might be better or worse than the old stuff, I haven’t seen it live.

My post was talking about current Lowe Alpine stuff. My Altus dates from 2018 when Lowe Alpine was already part of the Equip group including Rab. Before that they went through a period of being Italian owned – back when they still did clothing – but the pack guys were still, at that point, up in Kendal. They’re now based in Alfreton with Rab and the stuff, ime, is still very good.

I got an Ortovox Traverse 40, which I’ve found brilliant. Big zip at the front too means you can open it up well to search for stuff so you’re not having to unload everything to get to stuff at the bottom. Plenty of different pockets and compresses down well when not filled completely. Found it on offer, definitely didn’t pay full price https://www.ortovox.com/es-en/shop/backpacks/p660615-mountaineering-backpacks-traverse-40?srsltid=AfmBOopEgS2cpyw9tzLK9uOOHngKqefLvxyW-4td8hPBSUb8AcepmSAb&size=40%2520l

I’d always size up and cinch down. The difference in comfort between an over-packed, under-sized sac and a bigger pack more thoughtfully loaded is striking.

In my experience the fit of the bag is the most important thing, so being able to try the bag with some weight in is a good idea. Any good shop will have some sandbags you can pop in and try, and the best shops will show you how to fit the rucksack to you. Half way through day 2, all the features in the world won’t make any difference if your back/shoulders/whatever are in agony.

I agree with @smiffy that a bigger rucksack cinched down will tend to be more comfy – this is of course true up to a point when one night’s summer kit in an 80l rucksack can be a bit off. I’d say that anyting 55-65l will be great for 2 nights.