Backpack size for OL track

[hellsbellstaz]

Hi, just wondering what size back pack people have used for the overland track? mine i think is a 50 litre one and having put in my tent, sleeping bag and some clothes i'm thinking i need to get hold of a larger one for the rest of stuff i need, that or maybe downsize my tent and get a sleeping bag that packs down smaller.
other then that is it okay to carry your tent on the outside of your back pack or is it better in your pack??
thanks

[tasadam]

Personally I would be looking for a bigger pack, but more questions come to mind, though I'm on iphone at moment. Like, walking alone or sharing stuff for example?

[alanoutgear]

As Tasadam said, depends if you are walking alone or in a group, and depends on your plans (eg side trip to Pine Valley, and walking to Cynthia Bay rather than just to Narcissus) you might be carrying up to 8 days food, or your share of that.

I think a 50 litre pack is too small, especially when you have to carry clothing and gear to cover all eventualities (hot, cold, rainy, windy, snow etc - and maybe all in one day).

My pack is a One Planet McMillan in the large size (I'm 1.8m or thereabouts) and has a nominal capacity of 85 litres or so I think, and I get 8 days solo provisions in it relatively easily.

In my view it's much better to have a pack a little bigger than you need so you can pack it easily, then compress it with the compression straps, than having to tightly squeeze everything into a smaller pack or have stuff hanging off the outside (which is my personal bugbear). The difference in the weight between a smaller and a larger pack is inconsequential for most people.

[sthughes]

Hi, just wondering what size back pack people have used for the overland track?

85L

other then that is it okay to carry your tent on the outside of your back pack or is it better in your pack??

Better in, but the OT is a good open track so it will survive outside. I carried mine externally the first couple of days until some of my huge quantity of food was used up to allow space.

What size in necessary depends on a heap of factors, but mostly how big your gear is and how much comfort you want to take along. For example synthetic sleeping bags and foam core mats take a lot of room compared to say 800+ loft down bags and Neo Air (etc) sleeping mats. Things I took like 2 man tent for 1, inflatable pillow, pringles, tripod, 2 460g gas canisters (for crazy cooking) etc all eat up space but aren't necessary. Also cheap packs often overstate their size.

I COULD fit a winter OT trip in my 60L pack, but not my 50L. However I would CHOOSE to take my 85L.

[philm]

I'd suggest a 70-75 Litre. The thing with pack size is the larger the pack the more you are incluned to fill it up! The more volume the more weight. A 70-75 litre should be fine for most 7 day walks and this will also be definition control the weight!

[Azza]

I can get 14 days in a 85 litre McMillian.
I know guys that can achieve this with a 75 litre.

Anyway I think the ideal size for the overland depending on your gear is going to be 65-75 litres.

50 litres is too small... 85 is too big.. the rest depends on you and your gear.

[Azza]

other then that is it okay to carry your tent on the outside of your back pack or is it better in your pack??

oh.. and I should add... putting stuff you care about on the outside of you pack in Tasmania is not a good idea.
You'll get away with it on the OT, but anyone with any clue about walking in Tassie doesn't do it.
Stuff gets torn, shredded, and lost...

You just have to see all the chunky bits of blue styrafoam bed roll scattered along the Overland Track to confirm this.

So my advise is don't put anything outside your pack that your not prepared to lose.

[ILUVSWTAS]

I can get 14 days in a 85 litre McMillian.
I know guys that can achieve this with a 75 litre.

65 actually.

[Azza]

65 actually.

Not sure the average human being can live on 2 minute noodles and deb for two weeks.

[Overlandman]

Hi hellsbellstaz,
Welcome to the forum.
I like to have everything inside my pack so I use a macpac cascade (90 litre) for the overland track.
If you do cary gear on the outside of your pack, its a good idea to have a pack cover over the gear, it keeps the gear on board helps to prevent gear falling off, & helps prevent currawongs (birds) stealing your gear when you leave your pack on the side of the track to climb Mt Ossa (for example).
Regards Overlandman

[wayno]

How to Fit a Week's Gear into a Weekend Pack

http://www.backpacker.com/skills-how-to ... eshows/183

[ILUVSWTAS]

65 actually.

Not sure the average human being can live on 2 minute noodles and deb for two weeks.

True, I enjoyed this meal 4 times on our trip. Thanks again to Lady Mcgyver for preparing several delicious curry's and vegetable dishes for me on this one!!

[taswegian]

I'd second keeping all things inside your pack.
Edit - didn't see similar above from Overlandman, but maybe a double post won't go astray.

Be aware of the ubiquitous Currawong too. Packed inside or out they seem to enjoy the challenge/ torment.
This might be a valued read, not to put you off, but to prepare you.
http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=5407&p=83109&hilit=currawong#p83109
Don't let those blighters take the shine off your trip.

[hellsbellstaz]

Thanks everyone for the advice..
I'm not 100% the size of my pack, the measurements i took indicate to me it a smaller size but it could be a larger size then i think.
however i can hire a 70L one from the camping store for $20 a week and $2.50 extra days, which to me a damm good deal. A bit of planning the next week and i'll see if i can fit everything inside mine(not too keen on outside) otherwise i'll go hire one.
If there is anybody else who need camping stuff to hire Allgoods seem to have good prices on things

[Strider]

however i can hire a 70L one from the camping store for $20 a week and $2.50 extra days

There is a Golite Quest in the market forum for $100. Size large though...

[corvus]

Thanks everyone for the advice..
I'm not 100% the size of my pack, the measurements i took indicate to me it a smaller size but it could be a larger size then i think.
however i can hire a 70L one from the camping store for $20 a week and $2.50 extra days, which to me a damm good deal.

If you are not intending to do this on a regular basis that is a good way to go I believe
corvus

[Mark F]

We just spent 6 days on the OT with a 40 litre Macpac Amp and a 32 litre Osprey Stratos. We even had a heavy tent (REI Quater Dome T2 1.8kg). Nothing dangling from the packs and I still could have got in another 2-3 days food without any problems.

[corvus]

We just spent 6 days on the OT with a 40 litre Macpac Amp and a 32 litre Osprey Stratos. We even had a heavy tent (REI Quater Dome T2 1.8kg). Nothing dangling from the packs and I still could have got in another 2-3 days food without any problems.

Mark,

You say nothing dangling and all of this inside your 40lt and 32 lt pacs so a total of 72 lt for two if so with a not so heavy tent sheesh please let us know your Magic packing technique
corvus

[Mark F]

Apart from taking only what we need and carefully controlling our food (1.1kg per day for both of us and we walked out with 1 muesli bar and 2 tea bags - but not hungry) I tried a different packing technique I read of on BPL. Inside the pack place large dry bag - big enough for all the things that need to stay dry and with enough diameter to to fully conform to the sides of the pack. Into it I cram my quilt, silk inner and Neoair - all without stuff sacks. Into this soft bed goes other clothes, cooking gear (in stuff sac) and food bags (I use one each for breakfast, lunch and dinner) all intermingled to minimise any gaps. The lunch bag and tent go on top. The tent is packed outside the dry bag if it is wet. The beauty of this system is that by not stuffing the sleeping gear into individual stuff sacks they fill any voids and this seems to save quite a bit a volume. Rain gear goes in the back pocket and other essentials, 1st aid etc in the top pocket.

[Nuts]

It's not really that difficult. Its only 'theory' but the potential for a 38L pack is 38kg.. It would be impossible to pack stuff so dense as to make that happen but I recall getting 42kg in a 55L pack (recalled cause it was crammed solid & the last time iv'e carried & will carry that much weight). To go from 70L to 40L work on getting the single items 4/7th original size Swap, ditch or squish..

That's if one really wanted to do so. I just like that size pack for carrying, the -weight is a bonus.

I bought some yoghurt squeezies btw mark, good tip

[Mark F]

Nuts, my starting weight was 14-15 kg with tent, cooking gear, food for 2, water (1 litre) and fuel. My partner only carries about 6 - 7 kg of personal gear with water and her breakfasts (as a safety measure). So I only have a specific density of 0.35 kg/litre; not approaching your theoretical sd of 1 which is what you would get if you filled your pack with water.

[Miyata610]

?..... not approaching your theoretical sd of 1 which is what you would get if you filled your pack with water.

If you filled it with wine, oranges, pumpkins, cans, fuel, other stuff, you may also reach a SD of one or close.

Of course adding some lead, or gold could increase the SD way above that.

[corvus]

Apart from taking only what we need and carefully controlling our food (1.1kg per day for both of us and we walked out with 1 muesli bar and 2 tea bags - but not hungry) I tried a different packing technique I read of on BPL. Inside the pack place large dry bag - big enough for all the things that need to stay dry and with enough diameter to to fully conform to the sides of the pack. Into it I cram my quilt, silk inner and Neoair - all without stuff sacks. Into this soft bed goes other clothes, cooking gear (in stuff sac) and food bags (I use one each for breakfast, lunch and dinner) all intermingled to minimise any gaps. The lunch bag and tent go on top. The tent is packed outside the dry bag if it is wet. The beauty of this system is that by not stuffing the sleeping gear into individual stuff sacks they fill any voids and this seems to save quite a bit a volume. Rain gear goes in the back pocket and other essentials, 1st aid etc in the top pocket.

G'day Mark,
Thanks for that however I personally would not be comfortable with cramming all in to my dry liner so I will stay with my big pack and bugger the extra weight
corvus

[hellsbellstaz]

didn't see any bits of foam along the ol track at all (or maybe i wasn't looking hard enough)

[norts]

Hardly any places now where it can be ripped off. Try the South Coast/ Southern Ranges or the Lake Rhona track

Roger

[Solohike74]

Try and downsize the tent. I did recently. The usual hiking tents take up a huge amount of space. As for putting it outside the pack, it rains in torrents on the OT, that may be a strategy to end in tears.

The trangia (metho) stove is the most economic to operate (running costs) and there are a number of lightweight spirit burners online if you feel that the traditional trangia is too heavy. Do not use titanium pots, aluminium is a bit less light, but heats faster so uses less energy. A stove with flat bottom pots can also, if you're not in a hurry, the pot put on the top of wood or coal stoves to save on fuel (Windy Ridge, Bert Nichols, Echo Point, Narcissus).

Pick up a pack liner. It is essential, its not just a fancy add-on. You WILL need it. Tough bin bags can be used as a cheaper alternate. If you don't put your sleeping bag in the main pack liner, wrap it in another silnylon bag or a tough bin bag. Backpack raincovers are only for light rain. Backpacks with heavily padded backs/hipbelts will become noticeably heavier when they are wet......try and get backpack without heavy padding when shopping for another one.

If you have polarfleece for your middle layer, jettison it and get a DWR coated down jacket or down vest (vest can be got away with in summers or if staying in the major huts on the OT, but jacket best for all season use). If you can't afford to do this, consider this advice for the next trip after.

Sleeping bag if not very warm can be boosted by wearing the down jacket overnight in the bag, rather than upgrading to a heavy sleeping bag.......though I took my 10F (-11C) bag in late March, there was snow after Windermere to Windy Ridge & it was toasty to sleep almost nude in the bag.

Foam mat if you use one, can be put on outside of pack will get scratches but be ok.

I say to people starting out to buy the pack only after they get their other gear, so they don't get a pack which is too big, or alternately too small if they tried to scrimp.

If you take dried food, you will save space and weight. A food dehydrator allows you to make your own dehydrated foods, dried fruits, etc using stuff you normally cook at home (commercially prepared dehydrated foods are costly for a week-long trip).

[South_Aussie_Hiker]

Foam mat if you use one, can be put on outside of pack will get scratches but be ok.

Definitely don't do this. Frowned upon by Parks Tas as it can leave tiny pieces of foam scattered all over the track as you brush on things walking by. It is quite a wide track most of the time, but still potential to leave litter. If you do have to put something on the outside, make sure it isn't a foam mat. Always easier and better for your gear if you can get it all inside.

My first trip was 7 days, 2 people sharing a tent, 65 L - a bit of a squeeze.
Second trip was 8 days, 3 people sharing a tent with slightly better hiking gear, 65 L was roomy.
My next trip will be 8 days, 2 people sharing a tent - 50L pack should be adequate with a new ultralight tent and sleeping bag on the way.

It really depends on what volume of food you carry, and how ultralight/new/compact your big 3 (tent, mat, sleeping bag) are.

[stu]

If you have polarfleece for your middle layer, jettison it and get a DWR coated down jacket or down vest (vest can be got away with in summers or if staying in the major huts on the OT, but jacket best for all season use). If you can't afford to do this, consider this advice for the next trip after.

Sorry, I'd ignore this advice like the plague.
Down jackets / vests are fine for use at camp / in huts, but not at all practical as a mid layer for walking in Tassie. They are generally too hot for actually walking in and will get soaked from sweat if not the rain. Wearing down on the go is generally for dry, cold alpine conditions. Best to keep your fleece, or merino or similar wicking base layers are best, keep with that. My preference is merino base layer + windstopper fleece vest if its really cold, all under a shell jacket of course. I do love my downie at camp

[Strider]

If you have polarfleece for your middle layer, jettison it and get a DWR coated down jacket or down vest (vest can be got away with in summers or if staying in the major huts on the OT, but jacket best for all season use). If you can't afford to do this, consider this advice for the next trip after.

Sorry, I'd ignore this advice like the plague.
Down jackets / vests are fine for use at camp / in huts, but not at all practical as a mid layer for walking in Tassie.

Or anywhere else? Surely they are prone to getting compressed beyond being useful?

[Nuts]

Down is nice around camp (and in bed ) I agree with stu, a fleece is a good idea, even a thin one. They trap some warmth (and feel warm) even when damp.