Backpacks

[TheMercinary60]

though i might as well ask here for some suggestions, ive pretty much figured out i want an external frame pack, preferably pretty big to hold everything and the kitchen sink, looking for an external frame so in a pinch i could tie some ammo cans on since im not sure how else i could get them around, any suggestions would be appreciated

[saggs]

Not many companies still make external frame packs.  Internal frame packs pretty much dominate the market now.

I would suggest Mystery Ranch.  www.mysteryranch.com  Made in my former hometown Bozeman, MT.  In addition to civilain stuff, they make a lot of packs for military special forces, so you know it's tough stuff.  They have a modular system called NICEframe that might be what you're looking for, one frame with dozens of different bags and accessories that can attach to it.

It's expensive stuff I know, but it is also top notch quality, and they are paying American labor (they actually pay their workers quite well) not Chinese or Vietnamese.

[Devonai]

One of these served me just fine for six years in the Army, and I have one of my own for long hikes:

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/used-us-military-surplus-large-alice-pack-with-metal-frame.aspx?a=721849

You may want to add extra padding under the shoulder straps.  It wasn't uncommon to see soldiers attach a layer of thin foam to the straps.  It helps out on those 12+ mile marches.

[pembquist]

Google kelty external frame pack. I had one in the late 70’s early 80's and at that time they were the gold standard even with metal zippers.

[Babalonian]

Google kelty external frame pack. I had one in the late 70’s early 80's and at that time they were the gold standard even with metal zippers.

I guarentee they still make it or an improoved version of it.  I bought mine in ~'99-00
http://www.kelty.com/c-backpacks.aspx#subcategory=external-frame

I love my Kelty external frame pack - light, tough, versatile, and been tested/improoved through generations of backpackers.  Couple carabeeners and some webbing should hold anything to it, you can remoove the pack part to clean (or remoove for just the frame with straps, or conjure up your own custom pack to swap on with custom tailored pouches).  They also make some very excellent internal frame packs that I'd recomend for wetter conditions (I've personaly seen more than a couple come out of surf, rivers, lakes and drenching downpours dryer than anything else that went along with it (although just one or two black trash bags solve many issues with any external frame).

If you're new to backpacking, most important thing (besides a god pair of boots/shoes and dry socks) is to remember that all the weight in the pack should be resting and carried on your hips and that strap around you, so make sure it does that (and can be adjusted to do it) well.

[68valu]

Cabelas

http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/search.cmd?form_state=searchForm&N=0&fsch=true&Ntk=AllProducts&Ntt=alaskan+pack&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products

                                                                                     68valu

[USRanger]

This never failed me in Bosnia/Kosovo/Afghanistan/Iraq:

[Devonai]

That's exactly how I feel when I have to carry my Air Force-issue chem gear bag around.

[VonMessa]

This one is easy...

Large ALICE pack. 

Room for everything including ammunition, small children and large pets.

[Babalonian]

Cabelas

http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/search.cmd?form_state=searchForm&N=0&fsch=true&Ntk=AllProducts&Ntt=alaskan+pack&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products

                                                                                     68valu

They're discontinueing big and tall sizes, me and the rest of my family are boycotting them now.

/endhijack

This one is easy...

Large ALICE pack. 

Room for everything including ammunition, small children and large pets.


(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

Note the Kelty pack in the background of the first pic, bringing up the slack.   

[saggs]

They're discontinueing big and tall sizes, me and the rest of my family are boycotting them now.

/endhijack


Note the Kelty pack in the background of the first pic, bringing up the slack.   

I see you're a Kelty fan.

All I have to say is that in the last decade or so the quality of Kelty gear has dropped significantly.  Up to the mid 90's I would have to qualms about recommending a Kelty pack or tent to someone...  ... now I'd stay away from them however.



To the OP, for what it's worth, I would at least TRY an internal frame pack first.  Generally speaking they are much more comfortable, and practical.  And any decent one will have MOLLE points, or similar lash points to attach whatever you want to carry outside the bag.

[TheMercinary60]

thanks for the advive, this is what i ended up getting, so well see how bad i screwed up 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Alice-Pack-LARGE-Rucksack-Backpack-Army-USA-Military-VG-FREE-SHIPPING-/271116711254?_trksid=p2047675.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D333005%26algo%3DRIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D12%26meid%3D4096567265395574464%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D1005%26rk%3D2%26sd%3D390508049155%26

[VonMessa]

They're discontinueing big and tall sizes, me and the rest of my family are boycotting them now.

/endhijack


Note the Kelty pack in the background of the first pic, bringing up the slack.    

I know you are joking, now  

I had food for both of us for 72 hours in my ruck, in addition to the tent, my rubber biatch, mess gear, 3 gallons of water (above and beyond the 2 quarts on my hips), revolver, hatchet, tinderbox/firestarter, extra pair of boots and 72 hours worth of clothes, etc.

When you absolutely have to carry a truck-load of crap, a large ALICE pack is the Cadillac of rucks.  

[saggs]

I know you are joking, now  

I had food for both of us for 72 hours in my ruck, in addition to the tent, my rubber biatch, mess gear, 3 gallons of water (above and beyond the 2 quarts on my hips), revolver, hatchet, tinderbox/firestarter, extra pair of boots and 72 hours worth of clothes, etc.

When you absolutely have to carry a truck-load of crap, a large ALICE pack is the Cadillac of rucks.  

 

Don't know what you're on about with this "Cadillac" stuff.  Fact is there are hundreds of packs out there that are bigger, lighter, more comfortable, more practical, more durable, and just better then the ALICE system for what you're doing.  The ALICE system was great for the military in the 1980s, but there are much better solutions nowadays.  There are many, many internal frame packs that could easily fit everything on that ALICE on the inside, and be lighter and more comfortable while doing it.

I've worked as a backpacking guide in the Wind River range Wyoming for 7 summers.  And trust me, the kids who borrowed dad's old external frame pack from the 70's or 80's for their trip, always regretted it.  Frame squeaking with every step, half their gear banging around lashed to the frame and falling off every mile or two, no load-lifter straps and no torso adjustment means the load never fit right, wearing them down, frame rubbing into shoulders, pins that hold the bag to the frame breaking.  A good, proper fitting, properly loaded pack on trips like that is the difference between misery and ecstasy.

In my mind the ONLY thing external frames are good for now days is big game hunting, when you just need a bare frame to lash a quarter elk or deer to.

And why on earth are you carrying 3 1/2 gallons of water?   That's over 20lbs man.    Where are you camping, the Sahara?

Now I'm not afraid of roughing it, I've even been through a 2 week survival course in the Southern Utah desert where I wasn't allowed ANY pack (just a tarp and some rope).  But given the choice, why be miserable?   I'll take my nice high-tech, ultra-light, modern backpacking gear any day.

[saggs]

thanks for the advive, this is what i ended up getting, so well see how bad i screwed up 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Alice-Pack-LARGE-Rucksack-Backpack-Army-USA-Military-VG-FREE-SHIPPING-/271116711254?_trksid=p2047675.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D333005%26algo%3DRIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D12%26meid%3D4096567265395574464%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D1005%26rk%3D2%26sd%3D390508049155%26

Well, for $44, how big of a screw up can it be?  That has to be the cheapest you can find a pack of that size anywhere.  Hope it works for you.