UKH

Hi

Im after recommendations for best day rucksack. Something that can fit all sport climbing gear and a rope / trad climbing gear and a rope. I would guess around 40 - 45 L.

Also in the 100 pound area..

Thanks!

In reply to billb:

Outstanding
youtube.com/watch?v=qeVdZK85BZk&

In reply to Aigen:

Thanks - definitely a contender!

In reply to billb: You don't really give that much info on what you want it for:
For short Gritstone walk-ins or epics like Carnmore?
Are you going to want to climb with it? regularly? occasionally? never?
Are you a 'fast and light' climber or due you tend towards a 'let's take everything just in case'?
Are you (or your climbing partner/s) one of these people who is insist on each having your own rack/draws to climb with?

For most situations where you are going to climb with your rucsac it is very hard to beat a Blue Ice Warthog. Although for those who don't do 'fast and light' you might be better off with something like the ever popular and very versatile Osprey Mutant.

Otherwise, if you're never going to climb with the sack, the DMM Flight stands out as one of the best cragging options. However, personally for sport I still take a separate rope bag as I find the heavy duty Beal Folio pretty much unbeatable compared to the lightweight rope tarps including with cragging sacks.

FWIW I think the DMM Vector is a bit of a case of a solution trying to find a problem. I t is a nice design but it just seems a bit too specialised when compared to something more traditional like the Mutant I mentioned above.

In reply to The Ex-Engineer:


Only if you've got an exceptionally short back. I'm 6' and just found the Warthog too painful to use, even with light loads. It's a shame they don't make a long backed version (with a slightly wider hipbelt) because it is an excellent design.

To the OP:

I'd got for one of the long established, 'everyman' 45 litre sacks on the market, if I were you. The likes of a Lowe Alpine Alpine Attack 35, Crux AK47, Osprey Mutant 38, Aiguille Alpine Stratos ect.

All of them are very well made and should last you many years of climbing.

A good way to turn any mountaineering designed sack into a crag sack is to supplement it with a £1 Ikea carrier bag.

HTH

In reply to billb:

POD sacks are great, if heavier than average - last forever though!

Lowe Alpine Alpine attack - also excellent, only had mine since the summer so can't comment on longevity; however it's survived a few long days scraping and cursing my way up chimneys in the dolomites without much obvious wear so bodes well for it!

Cheers,

Stuart

In reply to billb:

Hi Bill,

Force 10 Alpine.....a 35 for summer.....a 45 for winter.....simples......best sacks on the market at the moment IMHO...
ANdy

In reply to billb:

A mate of mine just picked up a top spec Lowe Alpine mountain attack from the Rab sale the other day for 35 quid! The thing is tooled up better than Jason Statham. It's side zips are fantastic and the mountaineering spec covers epics but is suitable for simple, hiking walk ins. I have bag envy but that said I use the Montane Torque 40 just because of it's rugged construction and the fit on my back, it's like a slug.
There seems to be these simple sack bags like the DMM kit that are all well and good but they are 1 use bags, I opted for a multi-use.

In reply to olddirtydoggy:

why the f does a mountain sack need side zips? the for.the beta on the blue ice warthog. I have a very long back and something that doesn't come with a variety of back lengths rings my alarm bells.

crux is very good. check decathlon for value options my friends rate their Simond crag sack and they're pretty picky

In reply to StuDoig:
Yep. Second that opinion on Pod sacs. And at the moment you can pick one up for half your budget. Google podsacs.

In reply to Pbob:

what are the. new style pod sacs like? I have an Sheffield built black ice which I love.

In reply to alasdair19:

Pod sacs have basically folded. There was the story behind that on here recently on another rucsac thread. Sad.

In reply to JayPee630:

I though they were bought by equipe I knew all the production had gone over seas like rab.

In reply to alasdair19:

.....then bought by Planet X, who promptly ballsed it up and I believe are winding it down. Sad.

In reply to galpinos:

now that does suck. dissapointing too cause most people day good things about their bikes

In reply to billb:

For a big bigger sack (I'm one of those who takes the kitchen sink types) I really like my Blue Ice Yeti. Think it would withstand a direct hit from a fairly large bomb. But you can strip it down if you want it light and still large enough for winter.

In reply to alasdair19:

It does. For such a classic quality brand, born out of POD's own handiwork, to just get wound up is a real shame. I've got an On-One (Planet X Brand) Inbred 29er and love it, great product, price and service. I've no idea how they couldn't transfer those skills across?

In reply to billb:

As the OP still hasn't answered a few of the key questions... we can only give our non fact based opinions.


The key questions, that require answes are:
1) will you be climbing with it? If not, perhasps a crag-sack is an option.
2) is the walk in short or long? If no climbing with the sack and short'ish approach perhaps a small basecamp duffel, small haulbag or crag-sack is the way to go.
3) will you be using it for also hiking and so on?


So, the "best" sack depends on numerous things... and can vary from expensive 'Ryx rucksack (Alpha FL45) to 1 quid Ikea bag (if you don't steal the shop one).

For what it is worth.
A bag I climb with one of these 3, Warthog 26l, old c. 35l 'Ryx Cierzo or c. 55l Virga 2. Which sack, depends on the route and what I need to bring with me.

For craggin' with a walk in, it's generally a small c. 60l haulbag or DMM Vector (rigged to also suit ice tools).

For crags, with minimal approach, it's the Ikea 1 quid bag.

In reply to All:

Thanks for all the replies. The Osprey Mutant Looks to be the best contender so far having read a few reviews. As I want it to be as versatile as possible. I.e. short walks to the crag with sport gear / trad gear. Or longer mountain walks / climbs.

Cheers

In reply to billb:

Mutant is certainly a good sack. But I'd also have a look at 'Ryx Alpha FL45, my friends rate theirs highly and if I didn't already have a rucksack overload... it would also be my pick.

In reply to billb:

OMM villain is a great sack and, if you can find them, cilogear are brilliant. I have a cilogear worksack 30 and it is incredibly hard wearing-very basic but functional. Strips down for climbing with a removable belt and lid.

In reply to Scott K:

I second the OMM Villain, mine is going strong after nearly 8 years.

I'm sorely tempted by one of these (plus the aforementioned Ikea bag...) https://www.alpkit.com/products/el-packer-pack

In reply to alasdair19:

I bought an Alpine 30 last year. I like the design a lot and the fit is good (personal preference obviously). It looks really well put together, but then again they all do until things start splitting and falling off. I'm prepared to believe that POD himself had a hand in the design and specifying the manufacturing standards. It hasn't had too much use yet (pesky rotator cuff injury) but I've found it good. Small niggle is that the back padding is designed not to absorb water so as not to get soggy or freeze up, but that makes it a bit less breathable for warm weather use. Not a serious issue though. I've just bought an Alpine 50 for a trip I'm hoping for in a couple of years. The price was too good not to. Only negative I can say about it is that the foll top which allows it to expand, is perhaps a bit too big as it slightly hinders access when it isn't fully loaded. Again, not a serious issue. As to whether they are as good as the older products - ask me again after 20 years of hard use!
Agree it's a crying shame what happened to Pod but I guess you have to accept that the benefits of having an artisan making kit is that when he or she retires, it's never going to be the same.

In reply to billb:

I've just ordered a Montane Torque 40 from here: http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/30-to-50-litres/UC111-2.html

Can't comment on it from personal experience, as I haven't actually seen it yet, but most reviews seemed pretty positive. I wanted something reasonably uncomplicated and durable, rather than too many bells and whistles. Its to replace a 17 year old Karrimor Hot Earth 40, which steadfastly refuses to die, but is no longer even waterproof and too much hassle to re-proof regularly.