30L Packs
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I'm in the market for a 30L pack for use on alpine climbs to replace the one I thrashed this past season (Marmot Matterhorn 30). It was awesome, except that the pack interfered with looking up while wearing a helmet because of the way it rode. |
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I love my Osprey Variant, but it's a bit over 30L, carries a full rack and rope easily and comfortably. |
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Check out the BD Demon. It's a good minimal pack that doesn't interfere with a helmet. |
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cilogear 30 or 30:30 |
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I'm a big fan of the osprey mutant. 38l, but designed as a do everything alpine pack. |
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The BD Demon is a great pack in the 30L range, although it doesn't carry tools or crampons well on the exterior - that would require some rigging - it really is a great, oftentimes overlooked, pack in that size range. |
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Loving my Cilo Gear 30L Worksack. Well lets say i love the way it rides/fits and i love the WNWD matterial. |
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+1 on the Osprey Variant. BC ski/ski carry/snow climbs/alpine climbs/general cragging...everything I've done with it it's been just about perfect. I could see going smaller for alpine climbs but with the 37L you can carry everything internally so you're more stable on talus-y approaches and descents. Plus it compresses well and you can remove the hipbelt if it's in the way while climbing. The suspension is really comfortable with heavy loads as well. |
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well depends if you want something ultralight (hard to go wrong with the MH Scrambler 30, especially at a sale price) but if you want something a bit burlier I've got this up for sale: |
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Dave77 wrote:cilogear 30 or 30:30Yup. I love my 30L. If Cilogear is too strap-covered and fiddly for you, get a Cold Cold World Valdez. It is an excellent pack and very affordable. |
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Dane wrote:http://blueicegear.blogspot.com/Got to see one of these pack out last week in person. From what i could tell without pulling it off the guys back it looked very very nice. So much so i think i may have the lid of my Cilo Gear pack fitted that stretch material for my helmet. |
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Of all my packs, the two that see the most action are both made by Black Diamond. The Jackal 45L is an excellent pack that hardly feels like a 45L, but i believe it has been discontinued. The other is mainly just a day pack but i have used it for single-night trips just fine. In spite of this, neither rank as my favorite. That title goes to the Figure Four Delta Pack, which i believe is a 35L. The Figure Four Delta is simply the most versatile, user-friendly, easy-to-pack, backpack i have ever used. I tried a demo when i went to the valley last year and climbed all day with it up in Tuolumne. It is excellent for alpine ascents, as it can hold all your gear on the approach and then compress down to almost disappear on your back as you are climbing with it. Figure Four also has a larger pack called Omega and also a pack called the Tau, neither of which i have tried, but both of which i would gamble on based on the precedent set by the Delta. |
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Another vote for the Black Diamond Demon. It's simply a great pack that I am finding more and more uses for. Simple design, well executed, and a great size at a hair over 30L. It fits a bunch of stuff but carries "smaller" than it's size, I'll prob use it next year for long trad routes instead of my typical nugget bag, just without the frame sheet and cinched down -- it feels and climbs that well. It has the good little details I like for a bag this size:
Photos stolen from Splitter Choss: splitterchoss.com/2010/06/0… |
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Im a big fan of my MEC Alpine Lite 30. Its lightweight, no frills, durable, and CHEAP! $40 |
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Does MEC ship to the US fairly inexpensively? I've wanted to try the alpinelite but just never bit the bullet. |
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BD Speed 30 |
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the cilogear worksack 30:30 is great. i would recommend it to anyone looking for a light mountain pack capable of carrying a rope, full rack, and 1/2 the camping gear. The variations that you have with the straps are awesome. If I want to ski tour I have a set up for my skis, but if I want to go climbing I can strip it down. |
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I agree. It's a great pack. Has what you need. Nothing you don't. At the 30 liter size, I don't see any reason to get a heavier, more expensive pack. This is my go-to daypack. darin wrote:Im a big fan of my MEC Alpine Lite 30. Its lightweight, no frills, durable, and CHEAP! $40 mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/Packs/Da… |
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Kai Larson wrote:I agree. It's a great pack. Has what you need. Nothing you don't. At the 30 liter size, I don't see any reason to get a heavier, more expensive pack. This is my go-to daypack. mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/Packs/Da…it also comes with the mec feed it to a polar bear and well take care of it warranty .... |
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Chris Plesko wrote:Does MEC ship to the US fairly inexpensively? I've wanted to try the alpinelite but just never bit the bullet.It seems that it's usually a flat $19 shipping from CA to CO. Its probably best to split it with a friend or wait until you need a few different items. Even still, for $60, its a good pack. |