What size pack do you climb with?

I can't say enough good things about the mountain tools packs, if you want durable.
And functional.
I have the jet and the stealth packs, they have lasted for over 15 years. They are made from burly cordura and the cut is contoured for climbing. This is huge!
The other feature that rocks for climbing is the wide waist strap with velcro instead of a buckle. It's not a rinky-dink strap that rides up, and it doesnt have a big fastex buckle poking you in the gut either- very low profile and it works well with a harness. The climbing specific fit really distinguishes these packs.
The jet pack is big enough to put on a second with room for the leader's stuff. The stealth is small enough to lead with. For longer routes where both want to carry small packs, the combination of the two is tops!

mtntools.com/cat/mt/packs/m…
mtntools.com/cat/mt/packs/m…

Well, if you are gonna carry a pack I think either the Bullett by BD or one of the Talons by Osprey are good value. Get the 11 or 18 liter Talon. OR go big and fill it up with extra weight.
Always good training for longer or alpine routes...........and for when you carry beer for the summit!

Actually now that I see Amy's post, I'd also vote for the Mountain Tools packs.....
REALLY well made with good functional lashing points and carry high enough on the waist to be out of the way when I rack on the harness..............

Thanks for all the reply's! There's more options out there than I thought. I'm leaning towards the BD Bullet right now or this pack
blackdiamondequipment.com/e…. Anyone have and experience with this pack?

Tyler Smith wrote:Thanks for all the reply's! There's more options out there than I thought. I'm leaning towards the BD Bullet right now or this pack blackdiamondequipment.com/e…. Anyone have and experience with this pack?

Tyler, if you plan on using an ice ax or crampons to approach your climbs, it's nice to have a loop for the ax and a way to secure your crampons to the outside. Doesn't look like the Shot pack has those.

Charles Savel wrote:I'm surprised that the Cilo Gear fan section hasn’t come running to this thread. Cilo Gear 20L Worksack Generally anything in the 20+/- liter range is good, it can fit quite a bit of stuff if you really need it to but it isn't too big. Also, +1 on girth hitching a sling to the pack when it is required in chimneys and such.

+1 for the 20l Cilo Gear pack. If I'm getting on longer stuff I'll bring it and the follower carries it. It's big enough for water, approach shoes, and a rain jacket for both climbers. Plus fairly durable.

Tyler Smith wrote:Well I'm a beginner trad climber, so until I get more experienced I like to climb with a pack. Also Im sure it takes me a lot longer to climb 5-8 pitches than most of you experienced trad climbers. I've looked at the Rei flash 18, my only concern was the durability of it. Other than that it looks like a great little pack.

REI has a 100% satisfaction guarantee for life. You could, and people do, return the pack after 10 years of great service for a full refund.

Yes that was my other option especially because you can't beat the price.

Josh Olson wrote: REI has a 100% satisfaction guarantee for life. You could, and people do, return the pack after 10 years of great service for a full refund.

petzl.com/en/outdoor/vertic…

This pack is a champ! I just bought it and love it. Plus I can haul my rope plus all my gear AND my wife's gear! Love how it feels when I climb. Now when everything I listed is on it, it isnt the most comfortable...but with two harnesses, 8 biners, 15 draws, 4 runners, two pairs of climbing shoes, two helmets and 2 liters water!!! How can you beat that.

Killis Howard wrote:...some guy hauling a 6 and 8 year old up slabs, who guides for a living, told me that "you can't climb shit because you climb with people that can't climb shit". And the irony award goes to...

Funniest thing I've read all week. You always make me laugh, Killis.

I rack on my harness, so I don't like having my water on my harness. I climb with a bullet. It's a great pack, but it's only big enough for one person's gear. I never notice it's even there unless I'm climbing OWs or tight chimneys, in which case I hang it from my belay loop via one of the four footers I bring on every route (I don't carry a cordalette).

Hope that helps a little.

--Marc

Another nice looking pack

moosejaw.com/moosejaw/shop/…

It is a good point someone made - the bullet pack generally has only enough room for a single pair of shoes, a bit of water, etc. Consider the attachments pts ect if you ever carry an axe or have much of an approach

Buy accordingly.

As for the REI pack - having used it a handful of times in the tetons, I won't use it again except when I am very space limited in my packing options inside another bag (business travel, approach to multi-day alpine climbs). You get what you pay for with that one. You will feel every little edge and protrusion of your water bottles and shoes.

PT

I use the north face verto 26 pack. It is so useful for fast climbing...
youtube.com/watch?v=3u2CbGv…

Petzl Bug kicks tail. Great features, small, cheap, durable.

The BD hollow point rocks! Fits a rack, bladder, and a few other items, plus the rope stacks nicely on top. It has a nice slim design and is made of tough materials.

backcountry.com/mammut-neon…

This thing is small and sits well above your harness. I can fit 2 48 oz nalgenes, snacks, and an extra layer. It is hydration compatible and has tons of little extras like a camera cord. The red one looks sweet too.

Interesting to come upon this thread. I am crazy about packs and am struggling with a balanced climbing pack. I find that i sometimes have a mile hike sometimes in to get to the base of the climb. I typically thought it best to carry my climbing rack and gear in my pack instead of around my hips while i trek through the brush. Also, if i climb a long multi pitch that is intended to be a few miles hiked out, again i would think packing my gear back into my pack is much more comfortable than keeping it all in a rack on my hips. Or any approach. Even short ones I carry everything in my pack to the Base. With this I have carried a 30 liter Bitt Boss by camel pack, and a 40 liter GO RUCK 2. Both of which i find maxed out to the brim as i usually carry a rack for multi pitch, ropes, and sometimes i have a little extra gear because I solo climb as well. Add beer for days end and I am fully maxed out. Typically as I climb, i simply Haul the pack on pulley and clip to the side of the mountain, i never climb with it on my back. during this time it is mostly empty and i also use it as a rope bag instead of having the rope on a ledge. This is very efficient, fast, and comfortable and helps my rope stay clean and snare free. But i feel like i need a slightly bigger pack for approach and hike out. I am thinking like a 55. And what if i want to camp, forget about it i need more space. Anyone have any experience like this? I see a lot of Mockery of people who carry large packs and small pack talk, and i don't consider myself a amateur, although i am no expert,so what do you do with longer approaches or a decent hike out? Does it all stay on your hips from the car back to the car?

I told a friend not to bring a big pack once on an alpine route. It turned out to have very tricky traverses with thin feet and the pack messed up their balance, turning a fun obstacle into a terrifying mess. So...don't bring a big pack. Right?

slim wrote:if you are carrying a pack for a typical 5-8 pitch route, then you are probably doing something pretty wrong.

Regardless of the geriatric status of this thread, I love statements like these.

In essence:

My opinion = fact

In reality:

My opinion = my opinion

Jonah

I bought a Mammut Trion 45 +10 (awesome pack btw) for a recent alpine trip, my first. Money's tight and it was a week-long trip so I had to pick something that held a ton of stuff, yet was highly compressible for climbing. It really did well with the rack, rope, food, bivy, gear etc. but it was maxed. The other guys had big expedition packs and carried a smaller packs on them for climbing.

Preparing for the trip, I experimented with using just the external frame from an older backpack and simply hanging my Trion on it, then lashing the sleeping bag, bear can and other big items to the frame as you'd normally do. In the end I regretted not doing this, and next time I'm going to try it. I'd have been able to carry more stuff a lot more comfortably, then of course just remove the Trion at camp and use it for a climb pack.