Is there such a thing as a crag pack that’s too big?

I’ve started climbing outside a lot this year and i’m looking at a good bag.

Now after a lot of testing i have decided on the mammut neon (women) 45/55.

But I can’t decide which one, I usually prefer being able to take some back up/ luxury stuff, but is there such a thing as a pack that’s too big?

I seem to be able to stuff all i need inside the 45liter one. But with a rope some shoes will probably have to be hung on the outside.

The big one has ample space for everything and more and because of a good deal it will cost me about 20 less.

So is there a thing as too big? What size do you use? Do you maybe have the mammut neon 45/55 and what are your thoughts?

much thanks!

Large packs have a tendency to get filled, often with luxury items that don't feel so luxurious when carrying them up a mountain.  

My current pack is 38L, if that helps.

You'll fill a bigger pack and end up carrying more than you need out to the crag. Call it training weight, but I prefer not to lug around heavy packs. 

Where do you climb, Evelien?

If you are using it just for cragging the bigger the better. I use a BD Creek 50 and I love that I can put all the stuff inside (rope included). I have a friend that regrets to have bought a smaller pack than mine (he uses BD Crag 40).

FrankPS wrote:

Where do you climb, Evelien?

Mostly Belgium/ europe. So walks to the crags are mostly 20-30min, 1 hour tops

I just got the neon after years of using the creek pack. Get the 55. It carry’s great. Organizes way better than the creek (for me), and it has compression straps if you partially fill and want to snug it down. It’s a really great pack and I doubt you’ll be disappointed in the larger size.

No there isn't such a thing

Somewhere between 30L and 50L.  I have a 50L BD 50 Cal (a model that preceded the Creek series) that does not reduce too conveniently and if i'm not filling it up, it is a bit saggy.  Conversely, when needed i can load that thing up with a full rack, bag of slings, water, snack, harness, shoes, pruning tools, etc, one rope inside and another strapped under the lid......so there are times where i exploit or even exceed the full volume of the thing and i'm glad it can take it.  Seems like 35L to 45L might be just right

I love my creek 50 for cragging. The fact that it’s slightly rigid and stands up on its own is a big reason I like it.  I don’t know if I’d like a similarly sized floppy bag.

 I also use it to carry my 4 year old on day hikes.

I think bigger is better, 55 is a good size, and the argument that you'll be incapable of resisting the urge to fill the pack is weak sauce.  If you don't have that much stuff on a particular trip, usually putting the rope and/or the helmet in the bag will fix that.  Meanwhile, you have room for extra clothing and perhaps specialized gear like large cams or maybe a tarp if the ground is muddy or snowy. Room for a first aid kit.   I see folks with smaller packs with various items clipped on the outside.  I'd rather have a clean exterior, especially if there is going to be any thrashing in the bushes, and I'm skeptical that a partially filled bag carries worse---I've never noticed it. In some cases, partners with smaller bags pack super efficiently and once the stuff comes out at the crag they struggle to get it all back in while the rest of the party is standing around waiting.  So I think there's just about no downside to a slightly bigger bag and several upsides.  Go big!

Yes, if you're 4'11".

Old lady H wrote:

Yes, if you're 4'11".

I stand corrected.

Summorum Pontificum wrote:

If you are using it just for cragging the bigger the better. I use a BD Creek 50 and I love that I can put all the stuff inside (rope included). I have a friend that regrets to have bought a smaller pack than mine (he uses BD Crag 40).

I agree with this. For a cragging pack, bigger is better. It's nice to be able to drop the ropebag in the bottom of the pack, then just dump everything else in, without having to pack it all perfectly to fit.

Some people will say "with a bigger pack, you'll bring more stuff you don't need". For cragging, that's a good thing. If you're unsure of whether you want that second pair of rock shoes, or the puffy coat, or whatever, just bring it. Better to have it in case you want it.

This is for short-approach cragging. Alpine climbing, backcountry routes, different situation.

Thank you all for your advice and sharing your own experiences.

I ended up buying the 55liter for multiple reasons.

I wanted to maybe have some extra space so that in the future we could get away with everything we needed for 2 people in one backpack & a rope bag.

More space makes it easier to just dump everything in and be ready quicker, i also won’t have to think too much about whether or not to bring an extra jacket…

But more importantly, the big one seemed to carry more of the weight on the hips whereas the little one i felt more in the shoulders. Maybe this has to do with the wider back? Considering that, i felt that coming back from a long day of climbing would always be more comfortable with the big one.

Get the bigger pack. Bringing more stuff to the crag is ok. More food, water, layers, foam sit pad, etc. They’re not luxury items if they help you send.

I have the Creek 55 and for most of my local cragging it's too big, even with a trad rack. But it's better for lugging rack and rope than my smaller packs if the approach is more than about 20 minutes. I've shaped a foam block to pack up the bottom by about 150mm for smaller loads, that really helps get the balance up where it should be.

I prefer a larger pack. I started out with a pack that was just-barely-big-enough, so yes, the shoes were hanging on the outside, the rope had to be packed just so, and i had to choose between bringing and extra Nalgene vs a thermos.

Now I use a 55L pack, and I love that I CAN bring extra stuff when I need it.

Lena chita wrote:

I prefer a larger pack. I started out with a pack that was just-barely-big-enough, so yes, the shoes were hanging on the outside, the rope had to be packed just so, and i had to choose between bringing and extra Nalgene vs a thermos.

Now I use a 55L pack, and I love that I CAN bring extra stuff when I need it.

Hey Lena,

may i ask which pack you use now?

Evelien wrote:

Hey Lena,

may i ask which pack you use now?

Deuter Traveler. It’s not the lightest pack, I wouldn’t call it a climbing or crag pack, but I bought it to travel with, as well as climb. And it is very comfortable to carry, so I don’t feel the extra weight. It has a panel that zips over the shoulder/waist belt straps, if you need to check your bag, so straps/buckles don’t get damaged when you check it in, and a side handle, so you can carry it as a duffle, if you need to, for short periods.

And it opens up with a U-shaped zipper like a duffel for the main compartment. I really wanted this feature in my crag pack. I can open the pack and get access to everything, instead of pulling out things one at a time, in order to access something at the bottom. 

I can and do go trad climbing with 28 liters but 37 is probably ideal, I take a full frame camera as my luxury item, I cant take it with the 28 but 37 is spacious. I have a 45 that seems excessive, and a wild things pack that is close 90 lites expanded that I never use.