Packs

[Fluppy]

Just wondering what brand of packs people bought/found useful. Any brands I should be wary of?

I was looking at a BlackWolf pack that has a detachable day pack with lots of pockets (something I need because I have to take medication and need multiple pockets to easily access other things). It had a picture of an umbrella with some rain on it. I'm taking that to mean it is waterproof – or at least water resistant?

Anyway, what other packs are water-proof/mud proof?!

[phantom]

Hi,
I noticed your post and having hiked on Kokoda few times and just back from Mt.Everest I can tell you don't buy the Black Wolf pack as it is a travel pack not a hiking/ backpack. The extra pockets and gizmos just add weight and extra things to break.
Go and look at the One Planet, Wilderness Equipment or MacPac websites and you will see some First Class packs , not the cheaper varieties that are not waterproof, not comfortable and will hurt your back. The good packs cost a lot more but there is a reason for that and it is purely qualit and superior design. I wouldn't look at anything else and you don't have to worry about waterproofing these packs they are bombproof.
Cheers

[cdt smith]

Well Fluppy I just did the treck in july and i had a blackwolfe snail 70 lt travel pack and it was great and had no problems or any other difficulties and mite i just say it was only 80$. it was a great hiking pack really comfy on the back so really you dont have to go out of your way to get a great expensive one. but really its up to you hope u have a great trip

[Geoff Hardie]

Hi Fluffy,
The comments of both Phantom and Cdt Smith are sound although they may seem contradictory.
The issue is more what I have commented on previuosly, i.e. What are your future hiking intentions?
If Kokoda is to a "One of" and/or, you will only be doing limited hiking in the future, then the Black Wolf range of packs would be adequate. For comfort and durability you certainly cannot go past the suggestions of Phantom. If you can hire a Macpac pack for Kokoda this maybe a worthwhile alternative.
Cheers, Geoff Hardie

[Geoff Hardie]

Sorry Fluppy, I should have added, do not consider any pack rated/described as a "travel pack". This type of pack is not appropriate for serious hiking, in particular, Kokoda. I would rather have a comfortable pack than one with a multitude of pockets.
Cheers, Geoff Hardie

[Fluppy]

Thanks all for your input. Kokoda is pretty much a one-off.

Besides the historical aspect, I am also walking to raise awareness for autism. So I won't be needing anything too fancy. I am also hiring a porter, but am buying the pack to fit me and packing it as if I were carrying it.

Phantom, thanks for the confirmation about One Planet – as this was my next brand of choice.

[peterh13]

Ive just bought a deuter back pack from Anaconda and found its one of the most comfortable packs Ive ever owned.It was $300

[phantom]

Hi Fluppy,
Been out in the hills again. I was thinking about your inquiry while I was away and one of the other answers confirms my thoughts. Don't touch a travel pack for this type of trek. They are not designed for hiking even if you aren't carrying it. They are not designed to sit close to you back whilst going up and down hills.
Stick with the purpose built quality packs or just hire one from Holiak Hire in NSW and Vic. Look at their website. They use mainly Adventure Design Packs which are One Planet commercial division. They are rugged waterproof and designed to be carried. The Black Wolf Snail that was mentioned is a travel pack of cheap quality. If you were to carry both over 20 klm a day you would soon know the difference.But as you are using a porter your call.
In respect to this trek it is a truly great trip but extremely hard if it rains as it has done for all of my trips up there. Best of luck and keep training. Stairs and Hills.

[Fluppy]

Well, just bought our packs. I would like to know anything bad or negative about these in advance please!

Brand: Caribee

Make/Model: Dakar

Capacity – 75-85L & 65-75L

Removeable day pack, strong adjustable back, shoulders & hip support, waterproof (so they say – I will be doing my own water-proofing on them as a secondary precaution and using a pack cover)

Durability: unknown

fluppy

[Geoff Hardie]

Fluppy,

Given your comprehensive investigation and prepartion of all issues, and whilst I am not familiar with the pack you have selected, I am sure it will be OK.
Your thirst for knowledge to assist with your planed crossing knows no bounds which is great. Be careful you do not go into "information overload" though.
Best wishes with your continuing preparation.

Geoff Hardie

[Fluppy]

Thanks Geoff. Something we did discover yesterday was that the day pack might be a tad too small. So we are thinking of buying a separate day pack each – which will need to fit in it:

1 x 3L hydration pack
1 x t-shirt
1 x shorts (these are 1 set of spare clothes)
1 x headlamp
2 x 1 L or 500ml waterbottles in the side pockets
Munchies for along the way
Basic 1st aid kit (stingose, insect repellant, headache tablets, salt (for leeches), tea-tree oil (stings & bites) and bandaids).
My asthma medication & other medications
My notebook & pen (keeping a journal along the way – or at least for when we stop for lunch or something)
iPod
Camera and camera case
Deck of playing cards
Case for my prescription glasses and/or my prescription sunnies

The hydration pack seems to take up the most room – leaving little room for anything else (little stuff in front pockets is all good) – so it appears that we need a bigger day pack…

[Brian]

Hi Fluppy

I used a 2litre Camelbak on my trek with 2 litre bottles, one each side, this was quite adequate for my needs and I can recommend it to you.

I do though query what you are carrying in your day pack I would honestly suggest that you reduce it at least by half and remember if you are with KTL and you have a porter carrying your larger pack you will have immediate access to it any time you wish, your porter will only be too pleases to let you.

1 x 3L hydration pack Great idea or even 2L (3L is 3KGs)

1 x t-shirt You wont get a chance or really have the need change

1 x shorts (these are 1 set of spare clothes) ditto put your spare clothes one dry
set only in your main porters pack

1 x headlamp possibly not required until you reach camp. Put in the top of your
porters pack.

2 x 1 L or 500ml water bottles in the side pockets I suggest 2 x 1L bottles
another 2kgs though.

Munchies for along the way Keep to a minimum KTL feed you well I gave most of
mine away certainly will be reducing them next time I go.

Basic 1st aid kit (stings, insect repellent, headache tablets, salt (for leeches), tea-tree oil (stings & bites) and band aids). Essential but you may need to add a couple of items and perhaps delete one or two, your choice.

My asthma medication & other medications Essential I took my medications but as I only took them morning and night they were in my Porters pack.

My notebook & pen (keeping a journal along the way – or at least for when we stop for lunch or something) Good Idea

iPod You are keen but why not, you will though need to listen to your porters, always by your side, advice so it maybe off more than on.

Camera and camera case Essential keep in small if digital plenty of memory and spare CHARGED batteries I took over 400 photos and some video but all fitted on a 4gb card I did have spare batteries and cards.

Deck of playing cards You most certainly will not get a chance to use these during the day and perhaps not at nights when honestly you just want to hit the sack and early at that. Put in your porters pack.

Case for my prescription glasses and/or my prescription sunnies Essential Glasses the pain on my life fogging up continuously and being progressive lenses where a real problem watching where my feet were going Down Hill. Next time I go I will a standard NON progressive lensed pair. It rained 7 out of our 9 days we did not see a lot of sun but even if it did not rain we were under cover much of the time not requiring sunglasses then.
By the way it is not like walking here you will need, as you will very soon find out, to watch each and every time you place your feet the entire 96km believe me you will.

You may like to also carry some small light weight gifts to hand out to the kiddies along the track mine weighed in as 2kgs will reduce that next time.

Consider a light weight rain jacket as well, but I hope you do not need it.

I had ample room in my camelbak day pack with spare space as well for what I was carrying.

Forgot a couple of things Purotabs for your water when you top up
and carry your toilet paper in a sealed dry bag you never know you
may just need it.

I carried around 100 Kina, 5 & 10 Kina notes, in my pocket in what was supposed a waterproof tourist type bag first river crossing I found that it was not all my money got wet and by the time I got to Kokoda wa starting to get mouldy. Next time it will be in my daypack in a sealed zip lock plastic bag.

Hope the above helps in some way let me know If I can help further.

Brian

[Fluppy]

Thanks Brian – water purification tablets as well as anti-squirts medication will also come in the first aid kit…

Happy to take the advice on only a 2L Camelbak – this is what we actually have here at home, but thought a 3L one wouldn't go astray. Good thing a 2L one will do just fine.

Waterbottles – we found the side pockets weren't wide enough for these (standard Mt Franklin water or 'Pump" brand water) – although I have got waterbottles with those carabina-like clips – I could always clip these to the outside of my daypack along with my crocs (those sandal type things for water crossings/campsite) I suppose…

Happy to leave headlamp, clothes and cards in main pack with porter.

Raincoat/poncho – yes, forgot about this in my daypack and can't believe I forgot to put the toilet paper/Wet Ones in *mental note to self: make sure to put these in!*

Thanks tremendously for mentioning so-called waterproof pouches for the Kina – this thought never even crossed my mind. Will be buying zip-lock bags in bulk now lol!

Cards – you are right – could leave in main pack – was only planning to use them at night. Do you think the game 'Snap!' is too babyish to play with/teach to the porters as an ice-breaker type thing?

Was going to take a packet or two of balloons for the kids or some of those little kalaidescope things. Not keen on giving them lollies given the dental system over there…

Feeling a bit naiive and clueless *insert embarrassed smilie here*

[Brian]

Hi Fluppy

Must look like I live on here all the time, not so, but I do enjoy viewing this site so each time I pass the computer I check on my emails and this site at the same time.

I still work casual two or three days a week for a few hours usually check when having morning or afternoon tea lunch etc as the notebook sits right beside where I sit. I am a Radio Ham and look at those sites also but not as often as this one.

Not that I saw the boys playing cards at all but I reckon that they could show us a thing or two if they did. They do though enjoy any interaction with us.

I took mainly drawing books, crayons and a couple of smaller sized tea shirts perhaps I took too many will take less next time due to thier weight and space taken up in daypack. I think that the kalaidescopes if they do not take up space would be a good idea. I personally did not like balloons as they do not last long then taking for ever to rot away only adding to any pollution.
One of our group took marbles I felt this was a good idea also.
The kiddies like ours certainly like lollies whilst I did not take any we received a few with our KTL rations many of these ended being given away. I found the kiddies very good sharers you gave some to one and they were quickly passed around to others without even being asked to do so.

Fluppy ask away please do I amongst many others on this site want to see others enjoy it as much as we did and as such are only too pleased to answer your questions, we would far prefer you ask than have you not do so no matter how silly, to you, your query may seem.

Remember that as I beleive that 90% of those who get on this site only are readers and few ask questions those not doing so would be greatful of those few who do ask them.

Not sure when you are going but I suspect that you are starting to get excited already.

Brian

[Fluppy]

Brian – I did tend to think you lived here lol!

re; balloons. Didn't think of the environmental concerns, so might take the marbles instead…

I am trekking in October 2009

Always was the 'why' kid – the kids at school hated me in science for that

[Author]

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