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Could do with a new one.
Before I get a Berghaus Trailhead 65 can anyone recommend something else that I should consider?
I’ve already got a Berghaus Arete 45 and the material is tough as. Only damage after 20 years of abuse is a broken clip… that I stood on.
Budget is around £100. I’m sure an Osprey, or something similar is all very lovely, but that is out of my range.
Mrsmidlife has a Trespass Trek 66 which seems decent and can be had for under £60. In fact she has a couple spare since the Jamboree got cancelled due to COVID. Only £45 at Argos or you could negotiate a donation to the Norway trip fund with her.
Budget is around £100. I’m sure an Osprey, or something similar is all very lovely, but that is out of my range.
Rucksack prices always amaze me how much a nylon bag costs. Osprey bags are very nice, but not the toughest design, ours are full of small holes from normal hiking (not climbing).
Gregory are better designed and more durable for the same price (a little heavier though)
Rucksack prices always amaze me how much a nylon bag costs.
To be fair you're generally paying for the back-system/suppprt/chassic or whatever you want to call it design rather than it just being a 'nylon bag' with a couple of straps sewn on. With Osprey you pay a s**** premium, but you do generally get well thought-out design even if the lighter fabrics and the mesh in particular can be a bit fragile.
Fwiw, I've always found Lowe Alpine a good mix of durability, really good carrying tech and well thought out features. Berghaus generally okay too. I'm sure the Trailhead will be fine.
Fwiw, Sport Pursuit has a bunch of half-price Osprey packs atm, though the big ones are still way over budget unless you fancy yourself as a budding Nims Purja, in which case you can buy a signature 90L Mutant for £120, reduced from £300. Not that much demand for 90L expedition packs I guess.
Not that much demand for 90L expedition packs I guess.
Maybe back in the day when camping kit weighed a ton, but modern kit is so small and light...
Maybe back in the day when camping kit weighed a ton, but modern kit is so small and light…
I suspect the main market for 60-litre and over packs these days is DofE Expedition kids, who tend to use heavier, bulkier mid-market kit rather than ultra-lightweight gucci stuff, along with self-supported expedition climbers. I think of 50L as a 'big pack' these days, When I were a lad, it would barely have accommodated my sleeping bag and a mat 🙂
A mate and I walked the Pennine Way when we were 17 using lots of army surplus kit and a full classic canvas Force Ten tent. I could barely lift my pack off the ground. I have no idea how we managed. It rained every day, not all of every day, but at some point. We were usually hung-over too having just discovered beer. It was simultaneously brilliant and ridiculously hard work. Sigh...
you can probably get a Osprey Rook 65 for £90
I got the trailhead but havent used it yet
those were the top 2 on my shortlist
cRC had some fohn ones for about 20 to 30 depending on size. might be too late now.
I'm a fan of Gregory and Lowe Alpine.
They tend to be less "fussy" and less over designed compared to Osprey. I'm also a fan of second hand - many big bags are bought and used for one trip....
My most comfortable and useful big rucksack is still my Karrimor Alpiniste (in 90s PURPLE).
Not much to add to above except I've got and used various Lowe alpine, osprey and Gregory bags.
All well made and comfortable providing you buy the correct back size/length. I've made that mistake a few times, just because I'm tall doesn't mean I have a long back. I'm 6'3 my wife is 5'5 and we both have 18" back length. (also an issue sizing bikes as I need L/XL for height, but S/M for reach).
Osprey and Gregory do tend to have all the bells and whistles on some of their heavier bags.
Managed to pick up an Osprey Aether plus 60 for an absolute steal in the wiggle sale, looks like a lot have ended up on ebay, you might be able to pick one up there for a bargain.
"Outdoor gear for good" eBay store usually has some osprey bags up for auction.
Lowe alpine tend to be a bit more reasonable price wise.
I got one of those fohn's off wiggle for £30, really pretty good for that cheapness. Obviously not as nice as osprey but I won't be a grumpy dad when my eldest probably trashes it on his first DofE trip
Your original choice dropped in price at Amazon
"https://www.amazon.co.uk/Berghaus-Unisex-Trailhead-Litre-Rucksack/dp/B07JNKLR2W?tag=pepperukegc3-21&ascsubtag=2667169239"
you could get an ex-army bergen, tough as old boots, had mine 25+ years (olive green!). I've seen em for about £50-60 online.
I’m a big fan of Deuter bags. They’re not the lightest, or cheapest, but I find them comfortable and they last for ever. So if you’re calculating the cost over, say, a decade of regular use I reckon they do work out to be better value than cheaper bags.
Decathlon for VFM.
Forclaz range is their upper tier.
Plenty of reviews on YouTube.
If you don't think Gregory aren't fussy what are you comparing them to!!!
I like Lowe as well, but I would qualify that as dislike least.
If you don’t think Gregory aren’t fussy what are you comparing them to!!!
Osprey .
Which everyone loves and I don't.
Fair nuff.
Have you tried the alpinisto? I can get a very good price for one, and I'm looking for something 50ish , a little big than an old style mutant.
In a similar vein everyone seems to like M Equipment sacs but I've got an Ogre and think it's utterly mediocre at best
Your opinion was voided when you declared your 90s Alpiniste your best rucksac, Matt. 😉 I've got one, mid-80s purple. It's heavy, digs into the bottom of my back/bum rather than spreading the load over the hips (which Ospreys do), requires tight straps to stop it tipping back which is a pain downhill. Progress has been made in 40 years. The only thing I miss is the foam back stiffener which could be pulled out to sit on.
Madame Edukator has an Osprey and hasn't used her Alpiniste for years.
When I post pics on here I'm usually wearing a GoSport rucksac which are cheap like Decathlon but lighter, more comfortable and fewer irritating gimics. Simond is now owned by Decathlon and used as a brand for their upmarket rucksacs, a bit like an Alpiniste but much lighter if you need something that won't catch on everything when climbing.