Packs

[Lorna]

Hi Fluppy. i'm trekking in June 09. I'm in the same dilemma as you with the day pack. My kids bought me a black Wolf 'Python' hydration pack for Christmas…. but once I've got the 3 litre bladder full there is very little room for anything else. My list of 'to take in the daypack' is similar to yours, so I'm now investigating a larger one. I'm hiring a porter to carry my main pack.

Even though it probably won't be sunny under the canopy of trees, I still need to wear prescription sunglasses during the day so will also need to add the glasses case with my reading glasses too. Someone on this site a few days ago recommended to me that I ditch the 2 x 1 litre water bottles as there is plenty of water on the track. However, I want to sterilise all water and feel it's best to use the system that seems popular – putting the tabs into the bottles and then transferring to the hydration pack.

cheers

[Fluppy]

Hi Lorna,

I've been doing a little bit of research and the brand 'One Planet' seems to be ok. I am looking at the mini-Freddy with attachable harness for my day pack although it doesn't have side pockets for those extra water bottles.

A task that is proving quite difficult for me – so far I have either found a daypack with side pockets for waterbottles, but no room for my 2L bladder or I get a daypack with room for the bladder, but no side pockets and little room for anything else :/

[Brian]

Hi

I had the Camelbak Day Pack recommended to me by previous trekker I purchased one on his advice am very pleased that I did.

I have the version with a 2litre bladder with a pocket for a water bottles up to 1 litre on each side.

I usually kept the bladder topped up and depending on my porter Brendan's advice I carried either one or two of the bottles full. I did drink between 4-5 litres of water each day.

I now use the day pack for any day walks that I undertake here having found that it is ideal, better than my older day pack, for this purpose. Generally 2 litres is enough for a day walk around here with no necessity to carry the extra bottles.

I did take Gatorade using only little of it not sure if I would take it next time. In my case when I just added a teaspoon to a mug of water to drink. I did not and would not put put any additive other than puratabs in the bladder. I generally topped up the bladder with water that had been previously treated first in the one litre bottles.

What ever day pack you take I suggest that you load it up when training I carried 9-10kgs whilst training but only around 7kgs on the trek when carrying a full compliment of water.

Brian

[Lorna]

i'm staying on in PNG to do some scuba diving once I've completed Kokoda, so will need extra clothes other than my trekking gear. Also need something to store them in at the hotel and am mindful of luggage limits on the plane over. So I'm hiring a backpack from the company I'm trekking with. That way I can go over to PNG wth a suitcase and leave what I don't want to take trekking at the hotel in it..

I've been looking at the Camelbak ladies day packs Fluppy. They're designed for a shorter torso… did I read somewhere on this forum that you were height challenged?? Could be ideal. They have 2 versions that seem to have everything we're looking for ( outside pockets for the extra water bottles, padded sunglasses pocket, plenty of room inside and 2 or 3 litre hydration, designed for hiking) The Helena and the Trinity. Both are on sale at Paddy Pallin's for about half the recommended retail price at the moment…. making them extremely good value. Find them on paddypallin.com.au.

Cheers

[Fluppy]

Ok, went and had a look at the Trinity and Helena packs. All good, but doesn't mention if they are waterproof/mud proof. This is even more important to me than the space itself – what good is all the space in the world if all my stuff will get wet, damaged, mouldy, muddy and rendered useless?!

[Lorna]

Yep, I wondered about waterproof too, but decided i'd have everything inside in zip lock type bags and if/when it rains my poncho will go over my head and cover my pack as well. Is this what other past trekkers of Kokoda have done????

[Brian]

Hi

I do not think that any pack that you may buy will be 100% waterproof I would recommend that you get covers for them to use when raining, available at all good camping stores.

Use zip bags or dry sacks for everything that you want to keep dry take a spare couple to put wet items keeping them away from any dry items.

If buying bladders separately make sure that they are good quality as they have been known to leak.

Ponchos whilst good can be a nuisance when walking in some areas like dense scrub or where you need to use your hands a lot to grab tree, rock or root for a hand hold etc. Whilst I walked much of the time without any coat when the rain was really heavy and a little cold I wore a light weight rain jacket leaving my hands free. Remember you are wet all the time even if not raining.

Lorna I am wondering who you are trekking with?
Who ever do have a great one.

Brian

[Lorna]

Our Spirit Brian. As well as the personal challenge I'm incredibly interested in the military history.

[Lorna]

Have finally purchased another daypack ( and sold the smaller Black Wolf on ebay). It's difficult for me as I'm in the middle of nowhere so have to rely on research on the net and assistance from salespeople at the stores by phone … then do a mail order. I wanted the pack now so that I could begin training with it.
I settled on the ladies specific Camelbak Trinity ( 26 litre with 3 litre hydration pack) and it arrived on the mailtruck last weekend. Paddy Palin have a half price sale on camelbak at the moment. Fantastic. The size is good for all I'll need to carry … first aid, daily food pack, gatorade and purification tablets, eating utensils, sunblock, mozzie-off etc, loo paper, face washer to wipe my feet dry before I put my boots back on after river crossings, camera, light rain jacket ( a friend from Broken Hill said when he trekked in June 08 he nearly froze in the rain), 2 outside pockets for the 1 litre bottles, and a lightly padded glasses case at the top. . It's very comfortable and fits 100% better than the Black Wolf… this obviously has to do with it being designed for a woman's shape… and being a more expensive pack.

I also purchased a bite valve cover ( $12) to protect the mouthpiece from grot and parasites when I put the pack down and a waterproof cover for the rain. Will still pack everything inside in plastic bags though I think to make certain.

I'm happy with this … so now to train with it.

[Fluppy]

[Fluppy]

[Fluppy]

[Fluppy]

[Fluppy]

One Planet brand 'Mini-Freddy' – Details/specs:

Harness: Mini
Sizes: Universal
Capacity (litres): 45
Access: 1
Pockets: Internal

Bottle Pockets: 1 + 1 Bladder holder
Fabric: Waterloc Canvas, Poly binding

Weight (kg): 1.7
Colours Nu Blue/Cherry or Slate/Forest

Link to pic: http://www.oneplanet.com.au/adventure/mini-freddy

[Fluppy]

One Planet brand 'Frog & Toad' – Details/specs:

Harness: Mini
Sizes: Universal
Capacity (litres): 40
Pockets: Internal
Attachments:
2 x Poles, Keys

Bottle Pockets: 2 (not sure if hydration-pack compatible though)
Fabric: 1000 Denier Nylon
Weight (kg): 1.4
Colours: Black/Platypus
Black/Forest
Black/Cherry

Link to pic: http://www.oneplanet.com.au/mini-packs/fro…af66a1289f91974

Details on (optional) harness: http://www.oneplanet.com.au/technical/15-p…ni-pack-harness

So hopefully, someone, somewhere out there will benefit from all the above information lol! I am printing the specs out with their respective pictures and taking them to my local trekking stores to see if they have them in stock, so I can physically see for myself what will or won't work for me.

Edit: Saw and tried on both 'Mini-Freddy' and 'Frog & Toad' packs by One Planet. They are huge for daypacks. Very unsuitable for me. Big and bulky and really not suited to women in regards to support, so these get crossed off my list…

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