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Good follower backpack recommendations
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Howdy everyone! I’ve just started outdoor climbing with my partner and we’ve been leading quite a few routes outdoors, doing some multipitch climbs along the way. I’m currently using my old school backpack and it’s not cutting it. Does anyone have any suggestions for a good follower backpack? Looking for something relatively lightweight to wear while climbing that maybe has some gear loops on the side to clip shoes into. Any suggestions will help, I appreciate your insight! For context, we climb in the New England area and take up snacks, water bottles, hiking poles and our shoes and sometimes a change of clothes. |
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I really like the Arcteryx FL series packs for exactly this. They are totally bomber while being very lightweight, and are priced fairly well compared to brands that excel in ultralight durability (HMG, Samaya). While I dont have any Blue Ice packs specifically for this, I like all my packs from them, and they do make some pretty well reviewed packs for this function. I've always felt that the value (price vs quality) ratio for Blue Ice is exceptional. |
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Check out the Mystery Ranch Skyline. Little heavier than some other options but worth the extra features imo and still fairly light. Has compression straps for securing a rope nicely, daisy chain for clipping gear, and attachment points that could hold hiking poles. It’s also short length wise so it never gets in the way of your chalk bag/gear like my bd rock blitz did. |
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How long are your outings? You can stuff snacks and small items like phones in your approach shoes, clove hitch bike water bottles with cord and clip those to your harness, but not sure what to do about trekking poles. A goodsolution might be ultra running hydration packs, as they often have spots for poles and a small storage pocket without the extra bulk or tempting space for junk like a standard backpack |
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I like the suggestion of using a running type pack. Something like the BD Distance 15 or 22 should be able to carry everything you need. These packs have sleeves to take poles, assuming you have 3 piece poles that fold up. Tons of other models available but I am quite fond of the Distance packs. These types of packs sit nice and high so don't interfere with your harness. I would also forget the idea of a follower pack. Better if each climber carries their own stuff. That way when you lead a pitch you have your snack and jacket with you. Also it's no fun following pitches with a heavy pack, especially when your partner packs way too much stuff. Make them carry their own junk. |
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I see that you are new here. Welcome! Try using the "search" function in the forums, as many questions like this one have already been asked and answered, with very little variation, and there's a ton of good info to be found.
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If you want a pack big enough to also carry your gear in on the approach, the BD Rock Blitz 15 works well and can be found online for like $45. If I didn't already have one I like (which is unfortunately no longer in production) I'd use that. A hydration or running pack is going to be lighter and more agile, but will require you to do the approach+descent racked up (or carry a larger pack as well). But I'd echo the sentiment above that it's worth considering whether you need a pack on the routes you're doing. New England has few areas/routes that benefit from a follower pack. Cannon, Katahdin, and Huntington Ravine are the main ones I can think of (and the big slabs on Whitehorse or Mt Willard or something). Once you start leading closer to your limit it gets more annoying, so the motivation to bring it along needs to be higher. As you get used to either leaving stuff at the base or just clipping a water bottle and approach shoes to your harness you'll likely find it much nicer to not have to deal with a pack. |
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Mammut neon speed and pack more conservatively. |
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A lot of these suggestions are probably good but also are probably more expensive and worse than the REI flash 18. It's almost always on sale. I've probably paid more for bad sushi than I paid for this bag. It can hold at least 4 bottles of wine or like 30 beers (not in the box). It rolls up really small when you take the frame sheet out so you can jam it in a bigger bag for the approach. You can also replace the frame sheet with something thicker like a cut up zrest pad and make it cushy so your cams and nut tool don't bisect your vertebrae on long approaches. It's comfortable and light. It comes in a zillion colors. You can put a camelbak in it. It has a pocket for small stuff. There are enough connections points to tag it below you for that annoying chimney pitch. You can lead in it if you want. The straps adjust to fit a tall skinny human like me or a short curvy human just as well. There are used ones of all generations on eBay. Mine has been very durable (hundreds but perhaps not quite thousands of pitches, easy canyons, day hikes, plane rides, summit days over about 7 years). The only downside is that when you carry it in town, it doesn't scream "I AM A ROCK CLIMBER" at all the mere mortals. Does it have the "climbing specific" features that the other bags have? You don't really need them in a follower pack. 11/10, better than it should have been, will buy again when/if mine dies. Ps: why would anyone buy the Blitz 15? It's smaller, twice as expensive, and only comes in white. |
Frodeman wrote: I second this. I've been using my flash 18 for 8 years on all sorts of climbs and day hikes. Tough, cheap, roomy, secure. I've even gifted them to friends and everybody loves them. |
Frodeman wrote: It’s got a hip belt, more rugged attachment points and fabric, a rope tie down strap, and the shoulder straps are more comfortable. It’s also not at all 2x as expensive at the current prices. I got one for a friend as a gift for $40, a price that’s still easy to find, hence my recommendation. |
Ben E wrote: old thread.. but how does it hike in compared to rivals? I'm willing to take on a bit more weight as long as it is more comfortable to hike in with it. opinions? thanks |
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I use a mutant 22 now for carrying gear and climbing in, if you know you don't have to worry about durability (rubbing rock a bunch) i have used a flash 18 with success. |
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REI Flash 18 + a roll of tenacious tape. $40, super light (like 10oz), has a zipper pocket, comes in tons of colors, and takes up almost no room if putting it in another pack. It's worth getting some shock cord to keep the load against your back if the pack isn't full (particularly nice when rock climbing). I wear small holes in mine and then patch them with tenacious tape. The tape is a permanent solution. I've been abusing these little packs for a couple decades now. |
