50 IS THE NEW 80
EVEN though as hikers we love the simplicity and peace of nature, and the lack of electronic intrusions, it’s fair to say that technology is our friend when it comes to load carrying. Lighter and stronger materials, an increased focus in multi-purpose designs, and an all-round downsizing philosophy mean that many of us are carrying much less than we used to 20 or even 10 years ago. Consequently, unless one is doing America’s famed Pacific Crest Trail or an unassisted traverse of Tasmania, the 80 to 100 litre behemoths of yore can stay in the cupboard, replaced by slimmer, smaller and altogether easier-to-carry packs in the 40 to 50 litre range.
With quality modern equipment, that volume should be sufficient for trips up to several days in length, and backpacks have evolved as a result of that emerging need. This issue, our Gear Guru Dan tests eight prominent brands’ mid-sized offerings for comfort, usability, features and ease of squashing in a weekend’s worth of gear. Depending on the day, he was generally carrying between 10-12kg in each of these packs.
