Backpack - Medium Capacity These are our work-horse packs that fit the needs of most of our customers – those going on casual weekend or longer backpacking trips. We carry several makes and models within this line, mostly models from Gregory and Mountainsmith – top-quality brands that are durable and fit well as you rack up miles on the trail.
The packs in this series are designed for around 40 pounds of gear, but if packed carefully with a balanced load, can satisfactorily carry 50 or more pounds without stressing out too much. But, 40 pounds should be way more than enough to get you thru any common multi-day trip, especially in moderate weather when you don’t have to carry so much in the way of extra clothes. I’ve been out for 8-day trips with these backpacks, and that included a space-eating bear canister. Most of our renters won’t need anything bigger. This size pack is also our recommendation for international trips – for example, bouncing around Europe for a month or so.
The specific packs we usually have on hand are the Gregory Forester, Gregory Triconi, and Mountainsmith Cross Country. The Gregory’s are some of our long-time favorites and the Mountainsmiths often make magazine “best buy” lists, so any model we have will do well for you. If you have a preference of a model, you can specify so in the Comments Box of the shopping cart; otherwise we send what we have available. You won’t be disappointed either way.
These packs have a lot of comfortable padding, weighing in at a bit more than five pounds and have a capacity of around 3500 cubic inches, give or take a few hundred. What does that mean? These are all big enough for most multi-day adventures. Exceptions could include trips where you need to pack a really big sleeping bag and additional warm clothing, or when one person is packing gear for several people. In those cases, consider renting a high-capacity pack instead. We also rent expedition packs when you need to take the kitchen sink. If you can take lightweight gear that packs down well, and want to shave weight from your back, we also rent a few ultralight backpacks.
You have to specify a torso length when you select your rental period. What’s a torso to a backpack? It’s the length along your spine, starting at the top at your C7 vertebrae - that bone at the base of your neck that sticks out when you bend your head forward. Measure down your spine to a point on your lower back even with those hip bones that stick out and support your spare tire – the iliac crest is what that’s called. It’s tricky to measure yourself, so get a friend with a measuring tape to help you figure it out. For a picture/diagram of how to measure your torso, see here.
The long models are for torsos of 19" – 21”. The small/short models are for torsos of 15” – 17”, while the mediums are for torsos of 17” – 19”. Packs are adjustable within each size range. We also have a few extra-small-torso packs ( ~ 14” torso) that might work for kids or very petite women.
If you don’t want to go to too much trouble, just use this as a guideline: if you’re under 5’7”, odds are a “small” will work just fine; those 6’1” and over will likely use a “long”; and in-between, a “medium”. Unless of course you’re all legs or all back. Generally, as long as you’re within a couple of inches of the suggested ranges, you should be fine except in cases of really heavy loads.
We also have a few packs available that are designed for women, although nearly all packs are reasonably unisex in comfort, form and function.
Learn more about backpacks, including the pros and cons of externals vs internals; info on fitting; how to load up with your gear and how to select the best pack for you. We also have a series of videos about backpacks. Or just give us a call at 800-994-4537 to ask any questions about the best backpack for your needs.
