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Nice posting, er, I mean term paper, Kent!
Really, I enjoyed it!
Richard
Hi Sean,
I used to backpack a lot while
in college years ago and even packed into some remote northern California
mountain lakes with my old lightweight spin/fly Fenwick rod. The state of
the art back then was a nylon Kelty on an aluminum frame to which one could
strap all manner of stuff.
Fast forward 25 years. I was reintroduced
to backpacking last summer as a means to the end of getting into lakes that
were much less fished than their drive-to counterparts. In dusting off my
old pack, I found that its buckles had rusted and that many of its straps
and zippers were all but unusable. To top it off, I have no idea what ever
became of the waist strap!
A mountaineering neighbor loaned me his
ten-year old JanSport frame pack which I used for the first two expeditions.
But its suspension system and nearly nonexistent back panels must have been
designed by sadists, so I started shopping for other, newer
alternatives.
Several manufacturers still make frame packs, but over
the past several years, more expensive (and profitable) internal frame packs
have become all the rage. Originally intended for mountain climbers, they
have a single large compartment into which all gear is packed and the
internal frame allows it to fit closer to your back.
I comparison
shopped at REI, Marmot Mountain, Outdoor Emporium and Sports Authority.
Internals started at around $175 and ran up to over $500. The few frame
packs available were more modestly priced at from about $90 up to $250 or
so. After trying on several dozen packs, many with dummy weights to simulate
a real load, I ended up buying another frame pack, a Kelty West Coast.
I chose the frame pack for several reasons:
I tend to sweat profusely
when provoked through exertion and the frame pack sat further away from my
back than the internals, offering better ventilation.
The frame
design is definitely easier to attach extra stuff like rod tubes or fins to.
Just use a couple nylon straps, twine or even some duct tape and away you
go.
The Kelty West Coast had an awesome suspension system that was
easily adjustable to my particular body shape. It distributed the weight
well between my shoulders and waist and allows me to easily change the
weight balance without taking it off.
Finally, it was cheaper. I got
it at REI for about $160.
So here's what I'd
suggest:
Try on lots of packs.
Make sure you dummy load 'em up with 25 or 30 pounds to see how they
feel with a load. REI and Marmot will let you do this, but the chain stores
will just give you a blank look.
Ask for help in adjusting the pack
to your own body size and shape. Better packs tend to offer a wider range of
adjustments.
Make sure it'll hold all the gear you'll need.
For day trips, I take a deflated float tube,
breathable waders, flats boots (NOT felts, they're too heavy), fins, PFD,
extra clothes, rain gear, lunch, water bottle/filter, compass, maps, camera,
patch kit, first aid stuff, plastic garbage bags to put wet tube and waders
into, plus rod, reel and gear. I seem to always end up taking more than I
use, but not by much. My pack has been weighing about 30 pounds or
so.
My first couple trips I took along my 9-foot 3-weight two-piece
in its tube. I lashed it to the pack but it kept snagging low branches so I
ended up carrying it instead. I've since bought a five-piece 4-weight in a
short tube that'll fit inside my pack.
I haven't done an overnighter
with tubing gear yet, but I'd guess that tent, sleeping bag, ground pad,
toiletries, flashlight, stove, pans and cooking/eating gear and food would
add another 15 pounds or so. If you pack in with a buddy, you can share the
weight of the tent, cooking gear and food. That's where having a pack that's
big enough to stow or attach all that stuff really comes in
handy.
Sorry for the term paper length. Hope this
helps,
Kent
Since everyone is talking about hiking into lakes recently I
figured I
would ask about what packs you use. I saw somewhere
recently a pack that
had came with rod tubes and a dry storage area
but have not been able to
find it. I am curious about what you guys
use to pack in your rods,
float tubes, tent, etc. Basic frame packs
or are there some specific
packs built for flyfishing out
there.
Any suggestions are appreciated as
usual.
-sean
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