Backpacks

Moderator insert: the following few posts where moved from this thread .

I'd like some suggestions on this Deuter backpack. My wife is 1.66m & have a short torso, we went to CUM to let her try on the Deuter 65+10 pack. It is adjustable but it still looked a bit big for her. She said the back support was comfortable and the hip belts was sitting great. My question is, should we rather go for a smaller version Deuter pack for her? (The longest trip might be the Otter trail in the future.)

The other packs we tried was the North Face Terra 65 - (sits great on me btw) - but it looked like she favoured the Deuter more. I did some quick browsing and this seems like a good option for women specific design:
The Deuter 50+10 SL

Any thoughts?



www.deuter.com/de/en/trekking/aircontact-50-plus-10-sl-33432-45.html

www.capeunionmart.co.za/deuter-air-contact-50-10-sl

I own the Deuter 50+10 SL that you mentioned, and am also a fairly short person. I love my Deuter 50+10 SL - it sits really comfortably on me (I also bought it at Cape Union Mart, about a year ago I think). The main difference that I have found with the SL Deuter packs is that the shoulders are narrower, which really makes the pack sit more comfortably on me.

In terms of capacity:
I have never had a problem fitting my gear for a 3 day over night hike in the Drakensberg into this pack (including the poles and ground sheet for the tent that my husband and I share). In fact, I could probably get away with a smaller pack. Once I have tightened the compression straps on my Deuter 50+10 SL, the bit of extra space doesn't really matter though. That being said, I do try not to take too much gear along when hiking (in the interest of saving weight rather than space), and I have not done any over night hikes in the Berg in winter, when you would need more/bulkier gear.

Hope this helps

Thank you so much for the info Ruth

I haven't tried the SL packs (tho they may fit me better, I'm not that big), but I swear by Deuter packs

I'm now torn between the North Face Terra 65 & the Deuter 65 + 10 Pack for myself.
The Deuter seem to have more compartments, comfortable fit etc.

Deuter also have an ACT Lite range you might look at... I think a pack this size should weight more that 2.2kg?

ASL wrote: Deuter also have an ACT Lite range you might look at... I think a pack this size should weight more that 2.2kg?

I'm not sure if SL ACT Lite's are available in SA

I'm not sure if SL ACT Lite's are available in SA

Here is a listing on Cape Union Mart's website (the bag is a smaller capacity than the 50+10 L though):

www.capeunionmart.co.za/deuter-act-lite-35-10-sl

I bought the ACT Lite 40+10 from Cape Union for my wife a few years back and was so impressed with it that I subsequently bought myself one soon after. Takes everything I need to carry for up to 5days and it only weighs 1,5kg which is half of my previous bag's weight at 3kg (TNF Crestone 75L). It's now my preferred bag, haven't used my TNF bag since. Good bag

thanks for the info guys. I have decided on the Deuter Aircontact 65+10