External, Internal, and Frameless Backpacks

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

I just picked up that Jansport (Carson 80 - right) for practically nothing. Digging the style! SUBBED!

[@tennesseetrekker1951]

It is the Carson 80. I swear you could drag that thing behind your vehicle all the way to the trailhead and it still be in mind condition. Blows my mind how cheap you can get one when you can find them. Hope you love yours as much as I have loved mine.

[@cabinman]

I fully agree with you and have progressed similarly myself. I'm carrying a ULA now and love the ride and fit bit dont like the heat build-up on my back. There's probably no perfect pack, but it never hurts looking for it!

[@tennesseetrekker1951]

ULA has some wonderful packs. The Kumo definitely sweats my back out as well. I saw that Gossamer Gear has a replacement pad that is supposed to help with that, so I’ll be trying it out at some point. Like you said, sacrifices have to be made somewhere.

[@cabinman]

@@tennesseetrekker1951 I want to get a pack that has an air gap in the back and is more resistant to water...Zpacks fits that but I'm just not sold on them yet. They had way too many issues b4. It seems like since 2017 they have gotten better so I may back on that hunt. Dixie has carried one all the way through the CDT without damage. A few years ago two AT thru hikers i met said the Zpacks were not making the trip and had a bad rep on the trail. But maybe that's changed. I love the water proof'ness and air gap in the back.

[@BackpackingWithJason]

Cool video. Thanks for sharing.

[@tennesseetrekker1951]

Thanks Jason! Looking forward to putting that Kumo through its paces here soon. Think I've got it dialed in, but I haven't fully decided on hip belt or no hip belt just yet.

[@BackpackingWithJason]

Tennessee Trekker I’d do hip belt.

[@CaptainCullen]

Great video bud

[@alantaylor6691]

Great video. Just wondering if you noticed whether the 80L external frame backpack carried the same weight more easily than the 80L internal? Like if you were carrying 30 or 40 L would the weight feel considerably lighter with the external frame over the internal frame?

[@tennesseetrekker1951]

I have a feeling this is probably a personal preference type of thing. The straps and hip belt feel SO much better on my internal. BUT, when deciding to go pack mule and bring all the luxuries, I always go with the external. I like that it doesn't hug me and you can feel the weight sitting in its own space. Vargo makes an external pack that only weighs a bit over 2 pounds. Seems like it may be the best of both worlds.

[@halibut1249]

Good advice. I think the ext frame BPs are rare because they're heavier and it seems everybody in the BP community is now into the "lighter is better" mindset, so you're minimizing your carried weight. But ext or int frames transfer weight to you hips (via the hip belt) whereas the frameless gets carried from your shoulders so you have to really keep the weight down or it will exhaust you. I'm no expert, but I guess on a long hike (multi-day/multi-wk thru hike etc), you'd want a frame pack to distribute the load efficiently on your skeleton, or maybe set up a frameless so it does that. I agree with you, just get out and backpack; don't get yourself wrapped around the axle over gear choice..

[@tennesseetrekker1951]

So after we did 100 miles of the Sheltowee in 4 days of hiking, I'm definitely a convert to the frameless. But you are 100% correct that you need to be as weight conscious as you can be. I'm actually still shaving a few ounces here and there just to make it that much easier on my old body. I've got the hipbelt on it simply for storage. Those other two bags aren't going anywhere just yet though. Never know when I start to feel nostalgic! Hahaha

[@alantaylor6691]

@@tennesseetrekker1951 So what was your pack weight during your 100 mile Sheltowee hike with your frameless backpack, and how much weight do you feel you have to be carrying for the frameless to become not feasible?

[@tennesseetrekker1951]

@@alantaylor6691 I had a base weight of 12 pounds. Not unreasonable for the pack, but I have changed my sleep system and I'm now around 8-9 pounds. With food and water I was sitting a shade over 18 pounds total. The pack could easily handle 20, and most likely 25, but not sure if I'll ever see that weight again (at least I hope not). If I was consistently hitting 25 pounds or it was going over, I wouldn't go frameless.

[@happy-kz8lb]

What was the first external called?

[@tennesseetrekker1951]

It’s the Jansport Carson 80. You can still find a few, but it’s getting increasingly difficult.