Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more

Outdoor Activities => Other => Topic started by: RedLeader on January 12, 2010

Title: Rucksack Storage Bottom Areas
Post by: RedLeader on January 12, 2010
What does everyone use the zippy area at the bottom of their rucksack for?

I can never really see the point of it as once you fill the rest of the bag it's a bugger to get stuff back into the bottom again. I'd really rather have one big storage space so cram my stuff in.
Title: Re: Rucksack Storage Bottom Areas
Post by: MG1 on January 12, 2010
Why dont you put stuff in the bottom first?
Title: Re: Rucksack Storage Bottom Areas
Post by: RedLeader on January 12, 2010
Why dont you put stuff in the bottom first?

Getting it in first is fine. It's once you've used whatever it is and are in a forest trying to lever it back in that the problem starts.
Title: Re: Rucksack Storage Bottom Areas
Post by: chris on January 12, 2010
If your talking about what I think you are then its for your sleeping bag. Put it in there and you can unzip and pull it out without having to turf everythin out of your bag an then repack it,
Title: Re: Rucksack Storage Bottom Areas
Post by: MG1 on January 12, 2010
I don't have one on any of the bags i'm using at the min.
Title: Re: Rucksack Storage Bottom Areas
Post by: ulsterwalker on January 12, 2010
As far as I know they're supposed to be for your sleeping bag but whenever I'm using my sleeping bag everything else is coming out anyways  ???

My Deuteur  pack had an internal zip that let you close off the bottom so you can make your pack into 2 compartments or leave it unzipped for one large volume. I ended up just cutting it out as the duel compartment is just too impractical, in my eyes, and steals come useful volume of your sack. If you don't like it why not just cut it out? save you some gramage while you're at it?

Title: Re: Rucksack Storage Bottom Areas
Post by: RedLeader on January 12, 2010
As far as I know they're supposed to be for your sleeping bag but whenever I'm using my sleeping bag everything else is coming out anyways  ???

My Deuteur  pack had an internal zip that let you close off the bottom so you can make your pack into 2 compartments or leave it unzipped for one large volume. I ended up just cutting it out as the duel compartment is just too impractical, in my eyes, and steals come useful volume of your sack. If you don't like it why not just cut it out? save you some gramage while you're at it?



Think I might do. What sort of pack do you use?
Title: Re: Rucksack Storage Bottom Areas
Post by: ulsterwalker on January 12, 2010
It's a Deuter Futura Pro 38. Nice enough bag with an "air contact" system to help slow down sweaty back syndrome. Its not light at just under 1.7 kg but all ventilating packs suffer from weight problems.

My main gripe (except for the weight) is the lack of hip belt pockets, which as I've said before are a feature you miss once you've had them. After removing the inner zip, I'm thinking of taking a bit more off it, like the some of the compression straps, the useless waterproof zipped compartment, lowering the mesh side pouches as they're a bit hard to use and maybe taking the lid off, but am a bit worried that I'll miss these 

It's 38+5 so in total should be 43, that was big enough for the Ulster Way, and just about dealt with the re-supplies that I picked up on the way. It seemed to be able to carry more kit than my mates berghaus freeflow 35+8.

(http://www.outdoorkit.co.uk/images/products/103611_enlarged.jpg)
Title: Re: Rucksack Storage Bottom Areas
Post by: RedLeader on January 12, 2010
It's a Deuter Futura Pro 38. Nice enough bag with an "air contact" system to help slow down sweaty back syndrome. Its not light at just under 1.7 kg but all ventilating packs suffer from weight problems.

My main gripe (except for the weight) is the lack of hip belt pockets, which as I've said before are a feature you miss once you've had them. After removing the inner zip, I'm thinking of taking a bit more off it, like the some of the compression straps, the useless waterproof zipped compartment, lowering the mesh side pouches as they're a bit hard to use and maybe taking the lid off, but am a bit worried that I'll miss these 

It's 38+5 so in total should be 43, that was big enough for the Ulster Way, and just about dealt with the re-supplies that I picked up on the way. It seemed to be able to carry more kit than my mates berghaus freeflow 35+8.

(http://www.outdoorkit.co.uk/images/products/103611_enlarged.jpg)


I have a Berghaus Airflow 35+8 and it wouldn't carry the wifes necessities for an evening out ;) The airflow system makes it too restrictive and hard to pack plus the side pockets are pretty useless. Pretty comfy tho.

I'd really like a bag where it's possible (without being a chimp) to get your water bottle out of a side pocket without taking the bag off. Or maybe my arms are just short!
Title: Re: Rucksack Storage Bottom Areas
Post by: ulsterwalker on January 12, 2010
Aye, the depth of the Berghaus freeflow make them pretty crap when you're trying to pack anything into them, the deuter's ventilation is shallower and doesn't suffer too badly, I could pack my laser comp in it vertically without any problems, something which I wouldn't like to try with the free flow. The freeflow also felt really uncomfortable and like it was digging into my back when I had it on, it would have crippled me if I had to wear if for more than an hour. My mate wasn't overly enjoying the sensation either, you must have a different version, or it just fitted the both of us really badly?

The OMM and inov8 packs are the best I've seen for pocket accessibility, and are generally very well designed packs. I could just about get the water bottle out of the deuter without cramping my arms.
Title: Re: Rucksack Storage Bottom Areas
Post by: RedLeader on January 12, 2010
I hated the freeflow at first but it feels fine now. I've only used it for day walks though.