Does anyone have the Jansport Deluxe Euro Sak?

[agent627]

I will be backpacking in Europe for the first time and I am searching for a good bag. I have heard good things about the deluxe version of the Euro Sak but I wanted to see what the veterans on here had to say. I am only going for two weeks but I intend to use this (or whatever other) bag many times in the future so I would like something durable with enough space for longer trips too.

Can someone give me some feedback on this specific bag or recommend another one? I found it for only $150 on mountainsports.com

Also, I see most travel bags come in different sizes but apparently this does not. I believe that I am a borderline medium/large as far as bags like this go. Would I be okay with this one if it's one size fits all? Thanks in advance!

[Eagle]

agent627, I'm not too familiar with the Jansport line, so can't offer any suggestions on that (I use Eagle Creek products almost exclusively). You might want to check the warranty (if any) provided by the various Backpack manufacturers. Since you stated that you will be using the Pack for many future trips, it's a good idea to ensure that the manufacturer stands behind the product. I would be more concerned with the quality, construction and features of the Pack, as opposed to the price.

Whichever Pack you choose, it's important to ensure that you are properly fitted according to your torso length. This has nothing to do with whether you're "borderline medium/large", but rather on the distance from your C7 vertebrae to the top of your pelvis. Most of the weight should rest on your hips, not your shoulders. A good quality Pack also provides "load balancing" straps to proportion the weight between hips and shoulders. I can tell you from experience that when a Pack is properly fitted, it's quite comfortable to wear for long periods of time with no discomfort in the shoulders (I stood on a train platform in Austria a few months ago for about two hours, while wearing my 50 lb. Pack - it felt very comfortable so I didn't see any reason to take it off).

Other features that I like to have are a "stowable harness" system, so that the straps can be stowed behind a zippered panel (prevents them from being torn off by airport conveyor systems) and a detachable Daypack (works great for carry-on when the main pack has to be sent as "checked luggage").

You might want to have a look at www.eaglecreek.com/bags_luggage/adventure_travel_packs/ to compare features with the Jansport product.

Good luck!!!