Backpack for Female Hiker

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  1. #1

    Backpack for Female Hiker

    Can someone recommend a good backpack for petite female hiker? Price range and where to shop? Thanks!


  2. #2

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    How much do you need to carry, where are you hiking, what are you prepared to pay?

    Small backpacks can range from $100 to $1000


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    Or off the top of my head, I'm going to assume you intend to just hike around HK (where it's hot most the time and you don't have to carry much stuff):

    Look at the Osprey Stratos bags, probably the Stratos 18 in the S/M size. It's small, well built, well designed and has a well ventilated back which is great for sweaty HK summers. It carrys weight well. Get it from RC Outfitters in CWB for (off memory) around 700.

    If you prefer simplicity, get a Black Diamond Bullet- 16L pack, no internal frame, no frills whatsoever. They are built to last forever and because it has no frame you can throw it into the wash. I think they're still available at: Chamonix. Can't remember the price, but less than the Osprey.

    Last edited by jgl; 20-11-2008 at 08:41 PM.

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    Fully support the above posts re Osprey. I have a 25l; 30l; 50l and 60l osprey pack (ok, think normal women and shoes and you have me and packs...) They are GREAT packs.

    If you are not just hiking around hong kong, then consider the larger ones. Suggest you do NOT buy anything larger than 50l if you are petite, even if you are off for a several day trip, as you will not be able to carry it. (remember, if you have spare room you will be temped to fill it with junk you do not need - no space, no junk - less weight = happier hiking)

    Always check the frame sizes - most the these packs some in several sizes, and go for small. Try it on in the shop,either take some heavy stuff or grab a few other items in the shop and stuff it in the pack - make it about 5kg (10kg for a large pack) and then put it back on and see how it feels. Get the staff to help you adjust it and show you how to adjust. A well adjusted pack makes all the difference if you are carrying anything greater than about 5kg!

    Last edited by MovingIn07; 20-11-2008 at 08:51 PM.

  5. #5

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    But if you're just looking for something to carry a towel and some water for a couple of hours in Hong Kong then anything with a frame is way over the top. (And yes I have a couple of 40-60 litre Karrimors and a 25 litre frameless Berghaus)

    There are some good little (10-15 litre) Nikko packs for a couple of hundred dollars which will do just fine, and which can be thrown in the wash when they get sweaty/dirty.

    Last edited by PDLM; 20-11-2008 at 08:57 PM.

  6. #6

    I'm actually getting one for a 4 days vietnam trek. Think will check out the Osprey packs. So where exactly in CWB is RC Outfitters?

    Will Gigasports (Pacific Place) have what I might be looking for?

    Thanks for all the replies, sooner than I expected! This forum is brilliant.


  7. #7

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    No - Gigasports doesn't have serious backpacks.

    Mountainsports on Gloucester Road (100m west of The Excelsior hotel) has some, as do the various branches of Protrek


  8. #8

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    Are you carrying your own gear for Vietnam (tent, sleeping gear, cooking equipment)?

    RC Outfitters has a website. Google 'em.

    Gigasports is, to use the quaint British phrase, pants. They''ll be okay for the cheapo, non-specialised stuff that is fine for walking around HK in. I wouldn't want to carry 4 days of clothing, toiletries and possibly sleep gear in (even if they have packs big enough).


  9. #9

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    Quote Originally Posted by MovingIn07:
    Fully support the above posts re Osprey. I have a 25l; 30l; 50l and 60l osprey pack (ok, think normal women and shoes and you have me and packs...) They are GREAT packs.
    Collecting backpacks is so much more fun than shoes- packs have more bells and whistles to compare I've got over ten, ranging from a 3L MEC cheapie to a 110L McHale custom job. I've only had a couple of Ospreys, but the recent range seems to be excellent.

    Quote Originally Posted by MovingIn07:
    Always check the frame sizes - most the these packs some in several sizes, and go for small. Try it on in the shop,either take some heavy stuff or grab a few other items in the shop and stuff it in the pack - make it about 5kg (10kg for a large pack) and then put it back on and see how it feels. Get the staff to help you adjust it and show you how to adjust. A well adjusted pack makes all the difference if you are carrying anything greater than about 5kg!
    This is good advice. In addition to loading it up, wear the pack you think you want for at least 10 minutes (preferably longer) as you wander around the store. Check that the shoulder straps don't chafe either your neck or underarms- this sometimes happens if you wear a pack designed for someone larger.

    The Osprey and the Black Diamond I mentioned should be fine for a small person though- my wife uses them with no problems and she's on the small side.
    Last edited by jgl; 20-11-2008 at 09:37 PM.

  10. #10

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    There are several stores in Mongkok that also sell packs. The Chamonix store that jgl mentioned earlier is one; there are is another one in Yau Ma Tei (Exit from exit C, cross the little lane and go in the first door back from Nathan road - up one flight of stairs and follow the signs).


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