Best Hiking Pack 2020

[crestone14ers]

I've got three Dan McHale packs, two 1000 Cordura and one Dyneema, different sizes, sixteen to eighteen years old, all custom size and made with accessories. Without any doubt, the finest packs I've ever worn. Not a single tear, not a loose stitch, no rips, they're all in great condition and been on many peaks and trips.

Dan is a consummate design artist and manufacturer and if you look at the money spent and amortized over many years and trips, the packs have paid for themselves... with interest... comfort... form... and function.

[ker0uac]

Yea totally... one good thing is that since I got the pack I stopped munching on espresso beans and kitkat and lost some weight

[easyridertme]

I recommend the Alpinisto 35, I really like the crampon pocket and the attachment for ice tools, but you can also carry skis on it too.

Why is it that you can buy either a pack with front stash pockets, or a light alpine 25-35 liter with two tool attachments, but not both? Having to take off your pack to get to food and small clothing like gloves is a huge pain, especially if you’re carrying skis.

I currently use an Osprey Duro 15, which is light with lots of accessible pockets, but wouldn’t mind something a bit bigger for some objectives.

Sort of relatedly, are there any 30-40ish L packs with a separate avy gear pocket, but also more technical features? I have the Alpinisto 50, and would be interested in the 35 if I felt like there was a more secure way to stow my probe and shovel than the crampon pocket... The Kamber 42 has the rope strap, but you can't really strip any weight off of it like you can with the Alpinisto, and trading out one of the hip belt pockets for a gear loop would be nice.

[Conor]

I recommend the Alpinisto 35, I really like the crampon pocket and the attachment for ice tools, but you can also carry skis on it too.

Why is it that you can buy either a pack with front stash pockets, or a light alpine 25-35 liter with two tool attachments, but not both? Having to take off your pack to get to food and small clothing like gloves is a huge pain, especially if you’re carrying skis.

I currently use an Osprey Duro 15, which is light with lots of accessible pockets, but wouldn’t mind something a bit bigger for some objectives.

Sort of relatedly, are there any 30-40ish L packs with a separate avy gear pocket, but also more technical features? I have the Alpinisto 50, and would be interested in the 35 if I felt like there was a more secure way to stow my probe and shovel than the crampon pocket... The Kamber 42 has the rope strap, but you can't really strip any weight off of it like you can with the Alpinisto, and trading out one of the hip belt pockets for a gear loop would be nice.

Neal makes a killer pack.

https://youtu.be/3rIXMbzeeRU

[Bean]

Sort of relatedly, are there any 30-40ish L packs with a separate avy gear pocket, but also more technical features?

Patagonia Descensionist? I've got the 32L and I think there's a 40, only has one dedicated ax strap but it'd be trivial to rig a second.

[719BR]

I bought one of the cuben fiber packs from Hyperlight after Conor on this site recommended using the material to cut down pack weight. My previous pack, a lightweight Arc Teryx 55 liter, was almost 5 pounds heavier than it. The addition of a cuben fiber tent will collectively reduce my pack weight by a full 10 pounds.

+1, HMG makes some great stuff.

If you are looking at UL tents, check out the Lunar Solo by Six Moon Designs. I have had mine for a couple years and it is the bee's knees. The entire setup is 28 ounces, out the door. That's pole, stakes, everything. But more importantly, I don't have to sacrifice to get to that weight - it's got a bathtub floor, complete enclosure so i don't have to deal with bugs, a very generous vestibule, and plenty of room inside. it's really like a 1 1/2 person tent. in fact, if you were really friendly (or in an emergency), you could squeeze two people in.

[719BR]

I've been very happy with Marmot Compressor 20 (similar to REI Flash 20).

oh my god yes. i found a site that had a slew of them on clearance (the old model) and bought up a bunch of them. it's hard to not put up with "not the most comfortable pack" for a couple hours if it's only ten ounces.

[easyridertme]

Sort of relatedly, are there any 30-40ish L packs with a separate avy gear pocket, but also more technical features?

Patagonia Descensionist? I've got the 32L and I think there's a 40, only has one dedicated ax strap but it'd be trivial to rig a second.

I've been really happy with their Snowdrifter for day to day touring, but some how the Descensionist wasn't on my radar. Looks really solid, but unfortunately, I think they discontinued it.

Neal makes a killer pack.

https://youtu.be/3rIXMbzeeRU

That thing looks super slick and incredibly reasonably priced for a boutique piece of gear. Do you have experience with it or his other packs? I feel like the only thing I'd really want to add is back panel access so I wouldn't have to go digging from the top for everything. At first I was questioning the three separate tool pockets, but I kind of doubt it would really slow you down in an emergency.

Thank you both!

[Bean]

I've been really happy with their Snowdrifter for day to day touring, but some how the Descensionist wasn't on my radar. Looks really solid, but unfortunately, I think they discontinued it.

I recall the pack just vanishing from the face of the earth in previous springs...if you're still in the market, maybe take a look next fall. Hopefully it's still around, I'm pretty happy with it - after a minor mod or two anyway.

[SandH]

Anyone have a pack suggestion that carries skis well?

I've been using an Osprey Kamber 42 for my ski mountaineering pack the past 2 seasons. It carries skis great, and avy gear.

[SandH]

All that said, I personally think the UL pack thing is a phase for many hiker/climbers.

My take on that is that if I'm going to "spend" weight it will be on things like tent and sleeping pad, not on the pack itself. That said, "UL" for me is my Osprey Exos 38 at 2.3 pounds, and that's plenty light.

[Conor]

Sort of relatedly, are there any 30-40ish L packs with a separate avy gear pocket, but also more technical features?

Patagonia Descensionist? I've got the 32L and I think there's a 40, only has one dedicated ax strap but it'd be trivial to rig a second.

I've been really happy with their Snowdrifter for day to day touring, but some how the Descensionist wasn't on my radar. Looks really solid, but unfortunately, I think they discontinued it.

Neal makes a killer pack.

https://youtu.be/3rIXMbzeeRU

That thing looks super slick and incredibly reasonably priced for a boutique piece of gear. Do you have experience with it or his other packs? I feel like the only thing I'd really want to add is back panel access so I wouldn't have to go digging from the top for everything. At first I was questioning the three separate tool pockets, but I kind of doubt it would really slow you down in an emergency.

Thank you both!

Yes, i own a selkirk. It's been a great pack. I hate back panel access, so i don't feel like I'm missing anything. But avy gear pockets being seaparte aren't really that big of an issue. As most packs with dedicated shovel probe storage are compatmentalized in some way, with the shovel broken apart.

I've also gone to fixed break part hiking poles and in the summer they store super slick where the shovel handle and probe would go. Crampons fit perfectly where the shovel head goes.