Climbing backpack 35 liters or 45 liters?

I'm looking at two packs: one is 30 liters and the other 45 liters ($21 more expensive). I'm using it mainly for sport climbing, where I'll carry ropes, few shoes, harness, few carabiners, and grigri. I'm also planning to use it for school so I'd have a laptop and a few notebooks in there. I'm leaning towards 35 liters but not sure if everything would fit?

35 will fine for sport climbing...I fit a single trad rack and everything I need for a day in a 38L pack with a rope strapped under the brain of the pack. 

I like being able to carry the rope inside the pack instead of strapping it to the outside. I'd go for the larger one.

I'm in the same camp as Fritz

Even with the rope inside the pack a 30L pack should be sufficient for sport in most cases. My patagucci ascensionist 30 can fit a single trad rack, rope, helmet etc all in the pack no problem 

For single pitch cragging I like the 45. You can keep everything inside and rummage around to get what you need without unpacking everything. I would recommend some kind of long zipper access. It will be awfully big for hauling books around campus though!

Just make your life easier and buy the 45 liter. You’ll never have to play packing Tetris and will have room for extra layers/water/etc. 

I’ve done the 30 L crag pack and it’s just a hassle. My kit is usually a helmet, harness, 2 pairs of shoes, chalk bag, rope, some hardware, 2 L of water, food, rope tarp, 70M rope, knee bar pad. With a rope carried on outside, a 30 L will work, but with a 40-45, I can pack sunscreen, bug spray, flip flops for belaying, a jacket, portable hangboard, etc no problem. Trying to do that with a 30 L pack requires precise gear packing plan to fit it all.

I love the BD Stone duffel for cragging. 

The 45, then you can bring your boom box, dog bowls, hammocks, 12 pack of beer and that gallon chalk bucket.

look into the ortovox peak 35L. Yes it is ski specific but works great for a crag pack on single or multiple pitch climbs because its so comfortable to climb in. During winter, I fit in 1 60m rope, my ice tools, crampons, extra layers, ice screws, harness water, food and some rock gear. strap the other 60m over the top!

Jason A wrote:

During winter, I fit in 1 60m rope, my ice tools, crampons, extra layers, ice screws, harness water, food and some rock gear. strap the other 60m over the top!

You can fit that much stuff into a 35L pack? I use a 60L pack during winter, and I still often end up with crap (usually climbing shoes) dangling on the outside of my pack... the funny part is that I'm just sport climbing in winter.

Not all 30L packs are created equal. I've seen 50L packs which are just 40L packs in reality and I've seen 30L packs which are closer to 45L. 

Brands are notoriously unreliable when it comes to actual pack volume. 

Mike Lofgren wrote:

Just make your life easier and buy the 45 liter. You’ll never have to play packing Tetris and will have room for extra layers/water/etc. 

I’ve done the 30 L crag pack and it’s just a hassle. My kit is usually a helmet, harness, 2 pairs of shoes, chalk bag, rope, some hardware, 2 L of water, food, rope tarp, 70M rope, knee bar pad. With a rope carried on outside, a 30 L will work, but with a 40-45, I can pack sunscreen, bug spray, flip flops for belaying, a jacket, portable hangboard, etc no problem. Trying to do that with a 30 L pack requires precise gear packing plan to fit it all.

I love the BD Stone duffel for cragging. 

Agree with this. For me the biggest advantage of a larger pack is being able to just leave the rope in the rope bag, and drop the whole thing into the bottom of the pack. Then everything else fits in above. Much easier and nicer than carrying the rope bag separately, or having to awkwardly strap things to the outside of the pack. It's nice to be able to bring all the comforts and useful odds and ends also when cragging (thermos, second pair of climbing shoes, etc) without worrying about getting it all to fit.

Get the 45 liter. 

aikibujin wrote:

You can fit that much stuff into a 35L pack? I use a 60L pack during winter, and I still often end up with crap (usually climbing shoes) dangling on the outside of my pack... the funny part is that I'm just sport climbing in winter.

Probe and Shovel too!

Thanks guys I ended up getting the 45 liter one. Found the same bag on another site and it was only $30 more than the 30 liter one.