How to choose the best climbing pack?

Hi all

What features are you looking for when choosing a new climbing backpack?

I have summarised my own thoughts in a video at youtu.be/dtQ0nWTXRcc, but I am very eager about hearing your experiences too.

Henrik Overballe wrote: Hi all

What features are you looking for when choosing a new climbing backpack?

I have summarised my own thoughts in a video at youtu.be/dtQ0nWTXRcc, but I am very eager about hearing your experiences too.

Size - big enough to fit what I want to carry without having to become a human compactor, yet not so large that there's still room for a crag baby.

Fit

Comfort

Removable top pouch - maybe; depends on other features like.....

Side opening zip in addition to the top opening - again, a maybe, depending

Perhaps some kind of cool feature I haven't thought of

Color - no, it will never be red or pink

Quality

Weight

Price

Disclaimer: I almost exclusively climb single pitch sport routes these days.

Marc801 C wrote:

Size - big enough to fit what I want to carry without having to become a human compactor, yet not so large that there's still room for a crag baby.

Fit

Comfort

Removable top pouch - maybe; depends on other features like.....

Side opening zip in addition to the top opening - again, a maybe, depending

Perhaps some kind of cool feature I haven't thought of

Color - no, it will never be red or pink

Quality

Weight

Price

Disclaimer: I almost exclusively climb single pitch sport routes these days.

Actually, I think color is something prople should think about. Especially when alpine climbing and you want to be visible from a distance. Orange, green, blue and red

Henrik Overballe wrote:

Actually, I think color is something prople should think about. Especially when alpine climbing and you want to be visible from a distance. Orange, green, blue and red

I agree. When I added color to the list I meant that is definitely one of my considerations - just that in my case it will never be pink or red (and a few others).

Seems like spam, post up a question that leads to your youtube vids, or are you serious? 

Back Packs; the best are gear - the worst are tote bags.

 There is a wide range in between, all have their place depending on circumstance.

The right tool for the task is the key to solving the question of which choices need to take priority.

Things like - How far will you be walking? number of climbers in the party, conditions, needs etc.

 For years at the Gunks, you could get by without a big sack; parking on the side of the road,
 400yrds across the street from the cliff.

 We would take a fanny pack or messenger bag with food water & stuff, carry the rope (in a bag?) & gear,
 so there was very little need for a pack.

 When that all changed, the best plan was still to try to go in with 1 pack for 2/3 people, and personal day packs for 'needs'.

In the real world of approaches, how a pack carries at various weights has been what I care most about.
The packs accumulated over the decades share most of the same features.
Weights & sizes vary
 a color that allows clear vision in dim light, is a must,
adjustable straps, sternum and side stabilizing
Sturdy double bottom, not compromised by a zipper, a top pocket,
 I like a detachable top(brain), and a pad sleeve along with a removable hip belt.
My wife climbed more alpine, so often went bigger(55L-80L, & carried a day pack)
A secondary access option, other than just top load is nice,
 cragging, just long-day, rock climbing I found that I didnt use them as much.

Mason Stone,
 our friend Henrik has a very Germanic mindset & presence.  He is comfortable in his own skin, has a command of English & the facts. His strong opinions are based on personal experience & he feels the need to share this expertise here in this climbing arena.
For the most part his presentations are excellent & his (Austrian?) demeanor is not at all unusual.  He is foreign, different to you.

Mason Stone wrote: Seems like spam, post up a question that leads to your youtube vids, or are you serious? 

Of course I am serious :)...I am looking for advice from other people about what they believe are the right features for a climbing pack. I could have listed my thoughts in text, but I believe that video is a much better way to convey a message like that - and something that is very relevant for a lot of people. As long as it helps people making the right choice, then I would not consider it spam ;)

You posted before I could answer your friend. If you are looking for advice you may want to hear what they have to say before sharing your truth. Otherwise you come off as providing spam. By using youtube you further come off as wanting for people to hit the like button and enhance your youtube channel.
Great to hear that is not the case.

I agree with color being a criteria for choosing a pack but function and form are more important, although I would only choose white if I was hunting or in the military.

Mason Stone wrote: You posted before I could answer your friend. If you are looking for advice you may want to hear what they have to say before sharing your truth. Otherwise you come off as providing spam. By using youtube you further come off as wanting for people to hit the like button and enhance your youtube channel.
Great to hear that is not the case.

I agree with color being a criteria for choosing a pack but function and form are more important, although I would only choose white if I was hunting or in the military.

Thank you.

Yeah, it is a shame that that is the first perception. I am sure that if I wrote my own experiences in plain text in the forum that would not be considered spam ;) I also think that it is a shame that many users of internet fora (speaking generally here, not Mountain Project specifically) see linking to videos as spamming - a lot of videos are actually really relevant. I would agree if it was some random shop trying to sell stuff - then there is an economical incentive to link to the youtube channel, and that is definitely not the case for me.

Now that is settled, I really agree on the color too and I actually regret that I didn't put that in the video as well. Especially on alpine or ice, or rock for that matter, where you are climbing high up, and no one are able to spot you. Especially when hiking glaciers or climbing hard alpine, where there is a real possibility for injury, and you need helicopter rescue. Blending in with the environment would be fatal. I actually think about the same when choosing clothing. Personally I wear a lime green shell when alpine climbing and a red or blue T-shirt when multi-pitch rock climbing in good weather. And my backpack is red too.

Marc801 C wroteColor - no, it will never be red or pink

You're missing out, red is always faster. 

NorCalNomad wrote:

You're missing out, red is always faster. 

Haha!

NorCalNomad wrote:

You're missing out, red is always faster. 

...into the consignment room at IME!