Backpacks

Both my day pack for climbing, and my multi-day trip backpack are Osprey. I met a guy who sells them here, but both of mine were purchased in Canada. For all you gals out there, the selection of female fitted backs are slim pickings around here. But it makes all the difference in the world to purchase a pack that fits, no matter how much it costs, and regardless even of some other specs. The pain I endured from a crummy fitted pack pretty much diminished my enjoyment of my first couple Berg hikes. Since the Osprey pack however, I can enjoy the hike rather than fixating on my pack fit.....although it was a heart sore when it first got dirty!

SeriousTribe2 wrote:

Boerkie wrote: I see it comes with an instructional DVD is that some people wear it upside down by mistake or by pressing the wrong button you can accidentally deploy the emergency parachute? He did once.

He did deploy the parachute or he did put it on upsidedown . Although these packs are so complicated, I only recently figured out how to move my hip strap up on my K-Way Venture 70 and I have had this pack for over a year now (I had it slightly too low but couldn't work out how to get it that small bit higher).

Ps. just noticed that the laugh and lol smilies are identical...

@Smurfatefrog

Great news for you, CUM has a policy that is perfect for you situation, this is from their website:

"3. Specials and Promotions

Should any item purchased go on special or promotion within one month of the date of purchase, the customer, on producing a cash sales docket, shall be entitled to a refund of the difference between the original price and the special/promotion."

So you can go get your discount! YEAH!

Just came back from CUM, that 40l 800g bag is actually pretty good. Its straps are fully adjustable, it has a compartment and outlet for a hydration bladder, it has access to the main compartment through the front (a zip vertically down the front of the pack - I wish other packs had this) and it has small side compartments. It only has 1 compartment in the top of the pack (I usually only put a map and playing cards in this top compartment anyway) and it has no bottom compartment.

It has all the usual straps (including compression straps for the side, although I have no clue why you would do that, you wouldn't be able to take things out quickly and your weight would still be the same). The biggest problem it has is that it has no bottom or side staps to hold a tent or high density foam matress (i.e. it has all the straps for weight distribution, but not those clip things on the front of the pack).

It has no splash cover, but is water resistent material.

Basic summary:
Its a really good pack for day hiking and maybe overnight hiking if you are sleeping in Bannerman Hut or on the Giant's Cup Trail (basically anywhere where you don't need a high density foam matress or a tent)

A strap for a matress isn't the biggest issue ever the back i use doesn't have one i just improvise and carry an extra belt and loop it through the loop on top of the pack. This works perfectly but it needs a tightning every few hours. In fact one of the guys that came with us up rhino had one of thes straps and i had to help him twice to tighten it.

The side compression straps are there to pull the whole pack towards itself, it is a good system and works well. You can also stash your hiking poles/tent poles (see below) vertically to get them out if the way when scrambling or climbing over steep ground.

I have used the older 65l version (image is the new model). That down zip was the reason i sold my thar and bought this one (the hip belt on my version did not support anything, perhaps the latter version is better . It does kind of work, but with a tripod on the back was not that useful. Also, it should be an inverted u-shape (see yellow marking on pack)allowing access to the entire back section of the pack. Trying to pull gear out of a slit zip system is ok but not brilliant.

Get yourself a inflatable mattress, that either folds up inside the pack, or rolled on the side, that sorts that problem out. Also, I would suggest you carry your tent near the top of you pack, square packed or rolled, give the other half to your mate, the poles you can carry vertically synched up with side straps if you have a mountain type pack. This puts the weight in the correct place, near your shoulders, and not dragging your centre of gravity downwards and backwards. I saw one chap who had it hanging off the bottom straps, swinging back and forth, and banging into the back of his legs. He obviously has thick skin or calluses, because that would drive me skatty!

Nothing is water resistant, so a backpack cover would be needed.

@ Smurfatefrog

I also went out and bought (it's stealing at R499) the venture 60 today. I was very excited to go to CUM because of the specials but guess what?? Like always the items on special is out of stock, left cheesed off!!! I wanted 2 backpacks, the K-way kids tent for my boy and 8 of the K-way Segura bottles, only got the pack and it was dusty and dirty from the store room. Like always I go to the sleeping bag display to check on new arrivals, I showed the sales guy that the one particular bag is priced more expensive than the website, he just said "the price has gone up". I'll check for you or dont worry sir if it is cheaper on the website that's the price you'll pay. Crapy overall experience.

I would have expected the manager to at least try to find the items I wanted from other branches or offer to order it from me. I usually buy from The Glen store but have today gone to The Carnival Mall one because of business, I wont go there again.



K-Way Venture 60 R499