Just gear: Part 2

My Deuter ACT Lite, 65+10 backpack, fully loaded, Laguna Capri, P.N. Los Glaciares, Argentina.

First, as I think I mentioned before, I am a total gear junkie, I like gear, I own a lot of it, and what the heck, I might as well share my knowledge and experience like so many others out there. I do not test gear, I do my homework, I buy the best gear I can afford, and then, I use it, and hope my homework has paid off. Now, this does not mean that I never make a purchase without exhaustive research first, impulse buying does happen. Also, I enjoy many outdoor pursuits, so I have lots of gear used for different kinds of activities, though most of my time is spent just camping, biking, hiking and paddling (though I have skied (downhill) pretty much my entire life, I also snowshoe, fly fish, I even have a SUP).
Previously, I talked about stoves, which was essentially Part 1 of my Just Gear series. Here, a very quick review of my new backpack. My last backpack, a Kelty Coyote 65, I had for years, and it was time. I happened to be in LLBean in Freeport, Maine late last spring, and I wandered down the isle of backpacks, many sizes, shapes and colors. After chatting to folks there, and trying on a few of the models I felt would work best for my purposes, I ended up buying a nice Osprey, and on sale, all packs were on sale, kind of rarity at LLBean. But when I got home, filled the pack with what I figured I might take on an overnight, or a long weekend trek, all I am likely to do at this point, it was not even close, no way my tent, sleeping bag, stove, pot, other camping necessities would fit. So, next day, back to Freeport, but the next largest Osprey model was sold out, and no rain-checks on backpacks (at sale prices), so I ended up buy a Deuter, German brand, very popular in Europe (and thus in Patagonia). I had tried on the pack the day before when I was basically trying on every pack within the range of sizes which seemed appropriate for how I would use it; have no plans for through-hiking the AT or the Pacific Crest Trail in the USA anytime soon. I really wanted an Osprey, but, as the size I wanted, needed was no longer available, I bought the Dueter, ACT Lite, 65+10. This is a good size for most of us, and the pack fit well, at least in the store. The list price was US$209, but I paid much less, again, was on sale. I got it home, threw in the pile of gear heading for South America, and did not even bother to take off the tags, let along actually fill it with gear, try it on, adjust it, etc. Oh well, would figure things out when necessary.

Unfortunately, "when necessary" did not come until I was in Argentina, El Chalten, and Fitz Roy, when I finally got a chance to give my new pack a test. So, loaded it up, gear and "supplies" for two nights, up to Laguna Capri, 4 km up towards the Fitz Roy massif. The pack filled up nicely, separate, bottom compartment easily handled my sleeping bag (15 degree down bag, old, but still in service), sleeping pad (Big Angnes inflatable, Q-Core SL sleeping pad, which I love, or loved, until it developed a leak, very annoying leak, worse than ever, arrrrggggggg), and my camp pillow (Therma-Rest Compressible pillow, own two of them, large and medium, love 'em). The main compartment easily held my tent (Marmot, Limelight 2P) and poles, stove (MSR Dragonfly with fuel canister, see note below, I am an idiot at times), one pot from my MSR nested set, "spork", matches, headlamp, some food, etc., pretty standard stuff for a couple of nights camping. There is one outside pocket in the back which held a couple of last-minutes items, snacks, and side pouches, one for my camera tripod, the other for my Nalgene water bottle. So, bottom-line, this pack held everything you would need for a long weekend outing, though not sure about a 10-day outing in the White Mountains in New Hampshire, US. And, once I swung it up there, felt great, but there are like a 20 straps to adjust, pull in this, tighten that, etc. If properly adjusted, pack rides nice, though I never seemed able to get the hip belt as tight as I would have like. The hip belt is not fully free and independent of the pack, it is attached at the back, and I just could not get it as tight as I would have like. But everything else, once you figure out which strap does what, work great, especially if you pull the pack into your back properly (I got some help from a Canadian, who happens to own a camping equipment store in Toronto, who adjust packs all day, who I randomly ran into while hiking down). I like my new pack, and you see a ton of them on the trail. I think Osprey is still the best for many, but do not be afraid to go European, and try a Dueter, they make excellent packs, I am happy with mine. Go for it, and get out there. 

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