I thought I would take a trip down memory lane with the backpacks I carried on various trips into the wilderness.
When we first started backpacking lightweight gear was not an option. Case in point is my first backpack: Gregory Whitney. This beast weighed 7 pounds and held 89 liters of gear. I put this pack to good use when we backpacked with our daughters because I carried 2 tents. The pack handled heavy weights better than I did.
As we got more into backpacking and wanted to do longer trips, pack weight be came more important. I began searching for lighter packs that could also carry a large size bear can (required in many places).
ULA pack weighed leas than 3 pounds and held 75 liters of gear. If you want a light pack you have to also carry a light tent, sleeping bag etc. I carried this pack on all trips west of the Mississippi (except Alaska).
After numerous trips out west we thought we were ready for the ultimate challenge: Alaska. This meant we were back to heavier gear that can handle the weather of the great North. I had to get a new pack to handle this challenge and I went back to Gregory. The Baltoro weighed 5.3 pounds, held 80 liters and was rated for up to 70 pounds. Fortunately I never had to carry that much but if you are forced to carry a heavy load this is the pack you want. I carried this pack for all of our trips north of the Arctic Circle.
My current pack: Granite Gear Blaze 60, weighs 3.2 pounds, pack volume of 60 liters. I like this pack but it would not handle a full size bear can very well. Time for a new one?
HAPPY TRAILS, STEVE