Any Thoughts On This Pack?

[SA Bill]

At 4 plus pounds, it's heavier than I'd like but the price is okay and I've had good luck with North Face stuff in the past.

http://www.basegear.com/north-face-terra-60.html

Thoughts?
   Bill

[SHANEA]

    * So what's the catch? We haven't found one." - Backpacker Magazine 2008 Gear Guide

BUT - (big But there)...

I'd want to try before I buy...

[SA Bill]

Yeah...just hard to do without putting lots of miles on the PT. Cabelas has this model but I'm not out that way very often. I'll swing by Whole Earth (about 3 miles from home) and see what they have. Worst comes to worst, I can order one, try it at home and sell it on the big auction site (or here) if I'm not 100% comfortable. Hey! It comes with an attached whistle!! Must be a real live professional model! 
   Bill

[SHANEA]

Hey! It comes with an attached whistle!! Must be a real live professional model! 
   Bill

make sure you weight that 

[SA Bill]

The whistle...or the pack? Hmmm...I could lose the whistle and save an ounce on my back!!

How about Mountainsmith?

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/Product.aspx?baseno=85834&cdf=TopSeller

I'm just "fishing" around for pack ideas since it's been such a long time since I bought one. I do like that Osprey of yours Shane. But...if I spend that much on a pack, I'll have to backpack more regularly to justify the expenditure. 
   Bill

[mule ears]

The whistle...or the pack? Hmmm...I could lose the whistle and save an ounce on my back!!

How about Mountainsmith?

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/Product.aspx?baseno=85834&cdf=TopSeller

I'm just "fishing" around for pack ideas since it's been such a long time since I bought one. I do like that Osprey of yours Shane. But...if I spend that much on a pack, I'll have to backpack more regularly to justify the expenditure. 
   Bill

Mountainsmith makes good packs, I own two of them.  I still think both of those packs are too heavy, especially knowing that the advertised weights are probably lower than what they really weigh.

How about something more like this from ULA Equipment? The Circuit at 2 lbs http://www.ula-equipment.com/circuit.htm  or it's bigger brother the Catalyst at 43 oz. http://www.ula-equipment.com/catalyst.htm
The price is not bad and in the right weight range.  These packs get great reviews and are favorites of AT and Pacific Crest thru hikers.

[RichardM]

So what's the carrying load range for the Terra 60?  The Circuit says 25-35 pounds while the Catalyst says 30-40 pounds.  Guess you'll have to estimate your total gear/food/water weight without the pack before you can figure out which pack to buy.

[SA Bill]

Hi mule ears!
Those are nice...might consider them if nothing else works out.

Hi Richard!
Nowhere is a weight capacity listed for the Terra 60 but one review mentioned that 40 pounds was no problem. My goal is to have no more than 40 pounds on my back to start a one night trek to the S Rim. Since 20 pounds will be water, the rest of the stuff needs to be well thought out...and light weight!
   Bill

[stingrey]

That pack is nice! Like others have said, you probably want to try it out first, though... Loaded up, if possible. I STILL love the High Sierra Long Trail 90 I got... They had it at REI, so I got to try it before i bought it. Has a built in rain cover (awesome), plenty o' room, and sturdy enough to hold all of my gear comfortably. That was the ultimate selling point... Comfortably...

REI's packs have whistles built into 'em too... They don't take up any more weight than the chest harness buckles would because the harness snap IS The whistle! My wife's pack is designed in this way. It is awesome to have something like that on tap in case you need it! I love built-ins, so your pack choice sounds like an elite pack choice indeed!

My Long Trail 90 weighs a little less than the one you are after, but the one you are after is made by a better known manufacturer. For comparison, check this link/reviews out. For that matter, be sure you do a search for your pack model on Google with the word "reviews" after it. In that way you'll be able to see what people have said about your pack in the field!

http://www.amazon.com/High-Sierra-Long-Trail-Pack/dp/B000P5839K

[stingrey]

No matter what pack you get, you might want to get a rain cover for it if your pack doesn't come with one built in... I never thought I'd use mine, but I did! Rained on Mandy & I this past week and we busted out both covers and were very pleased to have had 'em on hand. On that note, REI sells those whistles that you can use in place of the existing harness strap clasps. They just replace the strap clasps that are on the pack... Costs all of $1.80 or so, just as a heads-up.

[presidio]

At 4 plus pounds, it's heavier than I'd like but the price is okay and I've had good luck with North Face stuff in the past.

http://www.basegear.com/north-face-terra-60.html

Thoughts?
   Bill

Does that bad boy have wheels on the bottom? 'cause after you load it you won't be able to lift the thing. 

[randell]

I recently got the Granite Gear Vapor Trail 3900 cu in.  It only weighs 2 lb, 5 oz.  I have only had it on a 6 mile hike so far, but it was very comfortable.  One of my friends will be using it on the South Rim in a few weeks so we'll see how it works for him.  It is $160 unless you can find it on sale.  I found it for $130.  It is an award winner and in my research I read it was very popular with PCT hikers.

[Al]

Randall, nice sized pack but how do you keep the weight under 30 lbs?!

Al

[RichardM]

Randall, nice sized pack but how do you keep the weight under 30 lbs?!

Carry only dehydrated water.
Pardon me while I borrow one of my Dad's favorite jokes from my Cub Scout days.

[SA Bill]

Looks like a nice pack Randell. How much weight were you carrying on the 6 mile hike? I'm figuring I'll be at 40 pounds on the way up to S Rim.

Funny Richard!
  Bill