I'm going backpacking? Looking for a first pack.

[Highwayman]

As we packed up our car camping site yesterday morning, the guys all decided that we'd gather our lighter gear, get backpacks and head for an overnight in Southern Illinois. None of us currently own a ruck, we're just casual gear collectors who car camp at campgrounds and concerts. My goal is to keep this affordable but durable if this becomes a regular hobby. Account for the following:

-One Eureka Apex 2XT tent, it's a bit bulky but is still designed for backpacking. A small two person dome basically with a full coverage fly.
-Sleeping bag, to be determined and purchased. Most likely will be a twenty degree synthetic, not one of those sexy small-packing ones.
-No stove or fuel, just no-cook foods and snacks.
-Thermarest scout, bare-bones economy model that rolls down to a small bundle, no need to strap anything on the outside.
-Tarp cut down for a homemade tent footprint.
-Only enough clothes and layers for two days max, past that I'm just swapping the clothes.

Do note I am a 130 pound male, about 5'6. Looking for lighter civilian gear, military surplus is just overkill for my lifestyle.

[H60DoorGunner]

Keeping things affordable and durable, I would recommend going with an REI brand pack. They're at the bottom of the top end spectrum of packs, so for the uninitiated, I doubt you would know the difference. I've been backpacking/climbing for 15 years now, and I can barely tell a difference in the quality. My long hike pack is a Gregory Denali Pro, they're expensive but worth it. My 3 day pack/every day pack is an REI Trail 40. It's fantastic for what it's made for...and a little more if you're of the ultralight mindset.

I understand your desire to go stove-less/cook-less, but stoves can be valuable for a couple other things as well. If you do decide on getting a stove, I recommend anything by MSR, but the International in particular.

One thing I absolutely advocate spending lots of money on to get good quality is boots. Yes they're expensive. But wearing crap can get expensive when your feet are so torn up you need a helicopter ride out of the woods. Asolo and Salomon are my preference, but depending on your foot shape YMMV.

EDIT: packs are like shoes. Because of the different frames and shapes of them, you really should try them on before you buy them.

[apamburn]

There can only be one answer to this post:

Large ALICE pack, sans frame. You will love it, trust me. :)

Seriously I've loved my kelty redcloud. Check them out.

[BeardedPelican]

Look up Zpacks for keeping things light. I had one for many years and it served me well.

[coastalcop]

2nd on Rei the were having a sale on self branded packs this week. Avail yourself of a fitting by the pack specialists, and be honest about your budget and needs. Almost everyone I've run into working REI, will at least say". I'm not sure, let me get Bif, he just came back from solo hiking the trans American trail..... Or hi!, I'm Bif!" You will also get a few customers likely pitching in, kinda like WT, they might point you in a new direction, or a hey when you're there, see this. I talked with a couple about the realities of a Fitbit the last time I was in the store for about half an hour, just to give them a realistic assessment.

Would still pack a micro stove, or even a jet boil. ( can be shared by all) never underestimate the power of hot water,coffee,or meal ( boil in a bag) after a hard day if the temp drops below 73 degrees ;)

Everyone is right on boots, I'm partial to Lowa for lighter stuff and Matterhorn for a heavy pack. Solomon is great too, as is Asolo, they just don't fit my feet right in boots. I swear by my Solomon hiking low quarters though for a run with 20 lbs or less.

Oh and I'm sure everyone will tell you, don't get more pack space than you need,if you have the space you will be tempted to fill it with something. Which will just be added weight. We have ALL been guilty of this at some point.

Take all the stuff you want to take with you, the staff will let you pack and check, and a fitted pack is a joy to wear

Also recommend ex-officio underwear, low smell , quick dry , practically beat it against a wet rock to clean It and it holds up.

Don't forget clearance racks at Rei as well.

[ChuteTheMall]

If it's just overnight, you might consider skipping the tent and just sleep under the stars.
If rain is likely, bring just the fly and footprint. Because pounds matter.

+1 on having the pack fitted at REI, somebody will know how to adjust it, and let them know your budget. Ditto with boots.

[Captain Ron]

2nd on Rei the were having a sale on self branded packs this week. Avail yourself of a fitting by the pack specialists, and be honest about your budget and needs. Almost everyone I've run into working REI, will at least say". I'm not sure, let me get Bif, he just came back from solo hiking the trans American trail..... Or hi!, I'm Bif!" You will also get a few customers likely pitching in, kinda like WT, they might point you in a new direction, or a hey when you're there, see this. I talked with a couple about the realities of a Fitbit the last time I was in the store for about half an hour, just to give them a realistic assessment.

Would still pack a micro stove, or even a jet boil. ( can be shared by all) never underestimate the power of hot water,coffee,or meal ( boil in a bag) after a hard day if the temp drops below 73 degrees ;)

Everyone is right on boots, I'm partial to Lowa for lighter stuff and Matterhorn for a heavy pack. Solomon is great too, as is Asolo, they just don't fit my feet right in boots. I swear by my Solomon hiking low quarters though for a run with 20 lbs or less.

Oh and I'm sure everyone will tell you, don't get more pack space than you need,if you have the space you will be tempted to fill it with something. Which will just be added weight. We have ALL been guilty of this at some point.

Take all the stuff you want to take with you, the staff will let you pack and check, and a fitted pack is a joy to wear

Also recommend ex-officio underwear, low smell , quick dry , practically beat it against a wet rock to clean It and it holds up.

Don't forget clearance racks at Rei as well.
All great stuff, I would add that when these posters are saying try on the pack, they mean do it with weight in the pack. Load it up and walk around the store for a while. Bend, crouch, step up and over their mini-hill in the shoe area. Thats what I did with my larger pack(Gregory I think).

This is thread makes me sad. Two kids under four means no through-hiking for four years now...

[jcart]

Used an Osprey Farpoint 40 for a month traveling Europe this summer,and it has become a favorite.
Good boots, smartwool socks, dri-fit shirt, ex-officio underwear, for a stove consider a Solo. Find the fuel on the ground.
A cup of hot coffee is comforting in the morning.

[bog]

If it's just overnight, you might consider skipping the tent and just sleep under the stars.


^^^This^^^^
or I it rains just bring a tarp big enough to sort of burrito yourself up in it with your sleeping bag and pad. Grab one end of the tarp above your head, fold it in, and roll over. You won't sleep quite as well, mostly because of the patter of the rain right in front of your face, but it sure beats carrying a wet tent the next day, or a tent at all..... I can't stand tents and mostly hotel it if a tent is required b/c of weather, but I almost never book rooms ahead of time so I know some tricks ha ha, def need a synthetic bag in case you get wet though.

[LawDog]

Already said, but I'll repeat it: Don't skimp on boots. Spend whatever is necessary. Get the best. Make sure you wear the socks you will hike in when you shop for them. Try them on at the end of the day, when your feet are already swollen. And replace the liners when necessary. You can usually revive a pair of worn out boots with a new set of liners.

The pack is the second most fit-sensitive item. I'm partial to Osprey. Their design philosophy meshes well with my style of travel. Their organization of pockets is superb, and their choice of materials is the perfect balance of 'lightweight vs. durable.' I've also been pleased with REI packs, and you can save a few bucks that way. But look at the more expensive options and consider them. They are often worth their price. Buy once, cry once.

The tent is the single heaviest item you'll choose. In great weather, you don't need one. In miserable weather, they can save your sanity. One-man tents are virtually useless. If you really need to save that much weight, just get a bivvy and suffer the immobility. Three-man tents add significant weight and are still not really large enough for three men. The two-man tent is the right choice 90% of the time. Single-wall tents save a lot of weight, but can leave you drenched in your own perspiration and condensation. The tent is the item where you are most able to save money and still get a good product. There are no real "fit" concerns. Wait for a sale (in fact, REI is about to have their Labor Day sale) and find something from last year's line that is on clearance. For a footprint, my choice is Tyvek rather than a tarp. Tyvek is super tough and weighs less. For day hikes, I often carry the little Tyvek sheet as an emergency tarp, picnic blanket, and potential rain cover. I placed grommets in the corner to make it more versatile.

For short hikes, I prefer a canister stove to something (like the WhisperLite) that burns white gas. Canister stoves are smaller and easier to use. Their weakness, though, is the cold. Living in Alaska, that's significant for me. Around 15-20F, canister stoves start to sputter and have problems. But for anything less than 5 days and over 20F, I'll take a canister stove or a JetBoil. More and more, it's the JetBoil.

I don't know enough about Illinois weather to determine the best sleeping bag insulation for you. On the east coast, I'd go with a synthetic because of the humidity. In the southwest or Alaska, I prefer down. The new treated down bags are very resistant to the problems that down is historically known for--and those concerns are often overblown anyway. Be sure to get a bag that is warm enough, but don't go overkill. If your feet get cold, consider adding down booties rather than getting a warmer-rated bag. That can save you some weight and provide a solution that is more versatile over a range of temperatures.

The sleep pad is a HUGE part of staying warm. It is often more significant than the sleeping bag. In Alaska, I use two pads--one full-length inflatable and one 3/4-length foam pad. Foam pads never spring a leak or break a cap, but they do take up more room. Hence why you usually see them strapped to the outside of a pack.

While you don't need a lot of clothes to hike, have extra underwear and socks. Go super redundant on the socks. For a two or three day hike, I usually don't take any change of pants or outer shirt, but I'll have two pair of underwear and four pair of socks. Go with either wool (Smartwool socks are awesome) or synthetics (I like UnderArmour underwear). Both can be washed out in a stream, tied down to your pack, and will dry out in a few hours on a dry day.

Other things I would recommend:
-Two pair of gloves. At least one pair needs to stay warm when wet. And at least one pair needs leather palms tough enough for hauling logs.
-A boonie hat or something (not a baseball cap) that will guide rain off of your head and not spill it right down the back of your neck.
-Quality sunglasses.
-A small dry bag, for essential items at unforeseen water crossings or downpours.
-For filtering water, the new Sawyer Mini filters work great and really save a lot of weight and volume over traditional filters. And they don't taste like crappy Iodine tablets.

[Highwayman]

Luckily enough I work five minutes from an REI, I just joined last week, and a fraternity brother works there in the pack section. I got fitted for an Osprey Kestrel 50 liter bag, just big enough for a weekend. They have a Kelty cosmic 20 degree bag on sale currently, it's a type of inexpensive down and is the halfway point between synthetic and down really. If I get accepted for an REI credit card and they toss in the free gift card, that sleeping bag will be mine very shortly. The Osprey may have to wait for Christmas, but wow was it well balanced with a lot of clever design features that were more practical than extra. They loaded me up with thirty pounds and insisted I wander the store for half an hour in it, it held up well without chafing or sudden aches.

[coastalcop]

Now that youre to this point, when I camp either hiking or motorcycle I use a Hennessey Hammock. Packs down tight (so long as you can find two anchor points. I use two woobie poncho liners in cold weather (made by Wiggys) . Was in a great northern in Alpine Texas in the winter 45 MPH winds and 30 ish degrees all night. The wind was folding the tents of my friends ......and gently rocking me to sleep ( a good tarp helps a lot) Much more comfortable than sleeping on the ground, even with a pad (for me)

Warbonnet also makes some nice stuff too. Or you can DIY there are tons of instructions on the web.

[noonesshowmonkey]

While you are only going for a weekend this time, I'd highly recommend looking into a 60-70 liter pack. The mid-size pack, sort of like the Glock 19, is a great do-all size. I used an Atmos 60 by Osprey for a long trip, and operated solely out of that pack for anything from 2 to 10 days without feeling like I was under or over packed.

Then again, I have 6 inches of height and a bit of weight on you, so my advice is speaking toward someone of a different build.

Either way, give it some thought if budget is a concern.

[H60DoorGunner]

Now that youre to this point, when I camp either hiking or motorcycle I use a Hennessey Hammock. Packs down tight (so long as you can find two anchor points. I use two woobie poncho liners in cold weather (made by Wiggys) . Was in a great northern in Alpine Texas in the winter 45 MPH winds and 30 ish degrees all night. The wind was folding the tents of my friends ......and gently rocking me to sleep ( a good tarp helps a lot) Much more comfortable than sleeping on the ground, even with a pad (for me)

Warbonnet also makes some nice stuff too. Or you can DIY there are tons of instructions on the web.

/\ this too! Hammocks are where it's at on a nice summer evening. I have an Eno hammock I use occasionally. It's been great!

[docholliday13]

I HIGHLY recommend an osprey atmos. I've put over a 1000 miles in mine and it fits like a glove still! It's taken its fair share of falls and beatings. And good job on the hammock. I got a Hennessy hammock but if I were to do it again I would do an emu