New-to-backpacks question

[Adamg82]

Hi there, I was just curious how many cubic inches should I be looking for in packs for about 1 weeks worth of clothing and other items needed for that week.

I was looking at the Eagle Creek bags and I'm rather new to the whole purcashing of backpacks. All the capacitys meant nothing to me, hehe...and I was hoping someone could help me out

-Thanks in advance!!

[Kim]

For a week, you won't need too big of a bag but then again, I think I would still buy something like the Eagle Creek Continental Journey.

Reason being is this probably won't be your last trip and you don't want to buy a tiny pack, then need another one down the road.

The Continental Journey is small enough that it can still travel as carry on if you want it to but has great features such as a removable daypack etc.

Plus, extra room in your pack when you leave just allows for bringing home some souveniers! ;D

Kim

[Adamg82]

Do you have any experience with this pack or know anyone that has? It's not gonna be on my back very long but...say if it is...is it comfortable? Will it destroy me after a few hours? hehe

I'm being told by my friends who are going...to get one w/ a frame.

Opinion on this?

[MuvverRussia]

Get one with an internal frame, not an external frame.

Generally I'd say anything over 50 litres would be fine (I don't know what that is in cubic inches, sorry), although I find that sometimes a huge pack is disadvantageous on a short trip- I seem to fully pack my pack regardless of the length of the trip.

[Adamg82]

Alright so let me get this straight...the Eagle Creek one Kim is speaking of is an internal, correct?

[LHR02]

Yep....most 'backpackers' Eagle Creek packs are internal...and they are terrific packs! You'll not go wrong choosing one of theirs. Agree that external will prove to be a problem in many instances and you should seriously consider an internal one. Those plane, train, lockers need a pack that can be squished/crammed/stuffed and external just don't adapt so well. ;D

[Adamg82]

wonderful, thank you very very much!! ;D

ONE last question, lol...I promise.

Is 3100 CI enough room for 1 weeks worth of a 22yr old males clothes and etc...or should I be looking for 3800+?

[LHR02]

3100 would 'probably' do you....but the difference in price between that one and the next larger is quite minimal, so I'd go for the bigger one in anticipation of future, longer trips where you will require a bigger one. JMHO of course! ;D

[narcissusgray]

Is it really important to try on the pack before purchasing? I don't think any stores around me (Atlanta, GA) sell Eagle Creek bags and I'm a bit wary of buying a pack before actually trying it on, although the enthusiasm showed should be enough to spur me onwards

[Adamg82]

There's an REI about 45 mins from me that sells Eagle Creek so I'll probably take a trip over there to try some out and ask some questions.

[Eagle]

ADAMG82, a few comments to add on your question......

I use a Continental Journey Pack and am really pleased with it so far. You could check the Eagle Creek website to check the specifications for the pack size, but I believe the main pack is about 50 L. and the Daypack is about 14 L. The Daypack is expandable by unzipping a panel on the back, which I found to be a really useful feature.

I just returned from England yesterday, and found that the charter carrier I was flying with did NOT consider the main pack to be "carry on size" -- I had to check it unfortunately.

One other very nice benefit of this Pack is the fact that you can zip the harness away, as that minimizes the risk of one of the straps being caught on a Converyer Belt or whatever, and being ripped off. I found that it took me less than a minute to stow the harness when I reached the check-in counter.

If you're going to buy a Backpack over the net or in person, the MOST important thing you need to consider is your torso length as that is the only way to get the proper fit for a backpack. Any reputable store can measure this for you (basically, the length from vertebrae C3 I believe, to the top of your hip bone). The majority of weight should rest on your hips, NOT your shoulders. I observed one person on my recent travels who bought a pack on a whim, and the hip belt was riding about the middle of his abdomen -- I can't imagine what his back and shoulders felt like after a day of hiking!

If possible, have the sales staff fit the pack to your torso and then load it up fully and try it out for a few hours. Most places will allow this (although you might have to leave an imprint of your credit card or something).

Overall, I've been very pleased with the CJ and expect to be using it for many years to come. It's quite adequate for size, and one thing I learned on this last trip was that I'll be packing lighter for the next one (something that Rick Steves recommends strongly -- PACK LIGHT!). I didn't have a lot of room to bring back souvenirs on this trip, as I was packing a dress suit which took up some extra room.

A "limited lifetime warranty" is provided, so EC stands behind their product. If you have any questions, send them an E-mail -- I found them very helpful when I was researching Backpacks. They have some new models also, so have a look at the entire line. I also use some of their other products, such as the Packing Cubes and Pack-It Sacks and find those really useful also.

The one very minor critcism I have, is that it's sometimes difficult to connect the Daypack to the Main Pack when they're both fully loaded -- it's hard to get the zipper to connect. I wish EC had retained the loops they used on the older models of the CJ Daypack so that one could attach the packs using the top compression straps. It would have been nice to have that option, but that's a very minor problem and I would still buy the same pack regardless.

Hope these few comments will be of some help. Good luck with your Backpack!

Cheers!!!

[Adamg82]

Thanks a TON Eagle, your comments are much appreciated! This is why I'm going to try before I buy on Wednesday...everyone said it's the best thing to do so...I figure it will be worth it.

Thanks again everyone, for your great advice and for being so helpful!

-Adam