Rucksack Size & Strategies

Hi all

This might be in the wrong forum but WTH!

My GF and I are heading off RTW in November calling at various countries over the course of about 10 months. We'll be spending the bulk of this time on a Working Holiday Visa in Australia.

The guy in the local shop was trying to sell me the Jalan 70 + 15.

Am I mad in thinking I don't need that big of a bag. I mean, its only a spare pair of jeans, some T-Shirts, a Jumper and some underwear and a change of footwear? Right?

Also, I really want a bag I can put the netbook and the odd book into for taking on planes etc. As such I'm considering running with two bags, a main pack of maybe 45 or 50L and a day sack of say 15 or 20L that can double up as a city tour bag.

I really like the look of the Berghaus Arete 45 or the Freeflow IV 50. Any comments?

Thanks!

Hi there

2 bags is good option as if one misses a plan you always have soem essentials with you. As for main pack, get as small as possible, I took a Berghaus Freeflow 25 + 8 it was plenty for me, (female). The freeflow was comfy and cool in hot climes, I really liked it.

Make sure that you are not overloaded whatever you take as you are a target for pickpockets then.

Thanks for the tips fussy,

I'm uber-impressed at a 25 + 8 main pack! My GF is taking a Jalan 55+10 and she reckons that small :-p

I was thinking of a small main sack alright but something maybe in the 40 range since I'll be gone for up to 12 months? I see Berghaus for a 35+8 Ramblesack (maybe you meant 35 rather than 25? just a thought)

Do the smaller Berghaus packs have lockable zips? I guess thats important also and you're right about the pickpockets when I think about it. I was once robbed of my mobile phone in Belfast of all places whilst carrying a laptop and a sports bag - little s**t knew i was too weighed down to chase him!

Thanks again

My plan is to take a 40L pack that conforms to carry-on standards. The fave so far is the Lowe Alpine TT Carry-on 40.

I want to keep the packing light as I don't want to lug too much. Plus, I HATE waiting for baggage in airports and I certainly won't need to worry about my stuff being lost by the airline.

So I checked out the Berghaus 35+8 today, not sure its quite big enough so perhaps the FreeFlow IV 40+10 is the correct choice for the main 'checked baggage' pack.

For the day pack I looked at the FreeFlow 20L but again felt it might not hold everything I want. There was a regular non-FreeFlow Berghaus 25L pack there which looked the right sort of size but I like the whole rigidity of the FreeFlow back especially as a protector for a netbook, etc. So I guess the FreeFlow 25L is the day pack.

Job done unless someone has a bad experience story with either of these packs?