EAGLE CREEK BACKPACKS

[BostonC]

Hello,

I was planning a trip to Europe this July through . I was able to get a ticket with an open return date of a year ($1200!!!! Thank goodness I have skymiles to cover it) but most likely I will be traveling for about 6 months. I am definately going with an Eagle Creek Backpack but am not sure which one would be the right size. I was looking at the Ultimate Journey and saw one for $175. I am about 6 foot 2 so it seems like the length of the pack would not be an issue. (I will be carrying a sleeping bag as I found one very useful for vagrancy on the beaches of Algarve last summer.) Has anyone ever used this pack? Is it good if you are carrying some extra stuff or way to big and heavy to be lugging around? Does it even fit into lockers?

Thanks

[Kim]

My boyfriend used it, it had a different name that year but it's the same size, Eagle Creek etc.

It was an excellent pack. He's 6" and found it to be good all round. I even tried it on and thought it was very comfortable.

As far as fitting into lockers, if you have it stuffed with big, heavy things it might be a problem but its really flexible and our packs were quite full and we didn't have a problem. If you do run into trouble, you could just take some non-valuable things out and bend it down.

As far as it being too big and heavy to lug around, it's never the pack that's too big and heavy, it's what you put in it! Just make sure to leave home with alot of room in your pack in case you pick up things along the way.

Kim

[BostonC]

Cool. Thanks for the info. The EC Ultimate Journey it is then. I'll do my best at packing light.

[BostonC]

Thanks. Got me Eagle Creek Ultimate Journey pack, going to try to pack as light as I can.

[Eagle]

Congratulations on your purchase of an Eagle Creek Backpack. I don't think you'll be disappointed in your choice. The quality and design of all their products is excellent!!! If I had seen your post before you purchased, I would have suggested something slightly smaller such as the Global Travel 65L or similar as this may start to "wear on you", especially on such a long trip. However, without knowing exactly what you'll be packing, it's difficult to make an educated suggestion. The Ultimate Journey has adjustable suspension, so you should be able to configure this perfectly for your torso size. You can decrease the size slightly for storing in lockers by removing the "Tri-cera-top" Butt Pack and / or cinching down the Compression Straps.
I have also just purchased a new Eagle Creek Pack, the Continental Journey. I am going to try and travel with ONLY a carry-on size Pack, which explains the logic behind my choice. Now the fun begins -- trying to fit everything in! Rick Steves frequently says that you pack the same for three weeks or three months, so I'm kind of going on that theory. Incidentally, if you haven't already purchased Guide Books, you might find some of Rick's books would be useful for your trip (check his web site). I also hope to head to Europe sometime, but not sure when I'll have my money situation sorted-out.
Anyway, have a GREAT time on your trip!!! Happy Travels!!!

[Kim]

Yeah, it's really true about packing-we packed the same for 7 months as we would have for 3 weeks. You just get really sick of your clothes!!

Actually, we did have to bring some winter clothes for the beginning of the trip that later got sent home but all in all, you do take the same things. You do need a bit bigger of a pack for travelling through a few seasons as you may need to bring warmer and cooler clothes.

Where people go wrong most times is with shoes! You need one, at the most two pairs of shoes. I had some hiking shoes and some Nike sandals and that was perfect. I took a dressier pair (why??) and sent them home.

Kim.

[BostonC]

Thanks for the info guys. I figured since I need to be carrying a sleeping bag and might be carrying extra stuff it would be better to have my backpack half full than not be able to fit stuff in there.

Kim, was it really expensive for you to mail your stuff home

Thanks.

[Kim]

Yeah, pretty expensive-although ground is much cheaper than air, it just takes about 2 months to get there!

I remember one country didn't even offer a ground service so we lugged the stuff around to the next to save money.

We also chose to send it from fairly reliable countries-as in, we didn't send anything from Eastern Europe, Greece etc. as we figured it was the safest that way. Who knows though! It all did arrive, however.

But yeah, it was expensive-so really think about what you are bringing to avoid shipping tons home. Something can be brought and just thrown away as well. Sometimes it's not worth it to pay the shipping.

Sleeping bags were one of the things we sent home-we used them a few times in freezing hostels when we first arrived in March, but you won't need them after spring for sure.

Kim

[BostonC]

Cool thanks for the info. Do you know of a good sleeping bag that I could get? Lightweight but still comfortable. The reason I ask is that I am planning on doing some park sleeping while in Pamplona.

Thanks