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Re: [at-l] A new pack for Chase
Chase writes:
> What I would really like to hear is some opinions of people who own
>both an internal and an external pack.
I used a Kelty Super Tioga on the AT in 1995. Before I left I was
convinced that I was going to need something big and that an external
frame was going to keep me cooler by allowing air to flow between my
back and the pack. Well my Tioga was big all right... too big, and man
could I haul a load with it. And I don't care if there is a inch of
space between your back and the pack on a 100+ degree, 99% humidity, and
still day in the Shenandoahs you are going to sweat. Also the range of
motion with an external frame back is much less than with an internal
frame back. This doesn't make much of a difference on wide open trails,
but once I got to the Whites and some areas of Maine, I really cast an
envious eye towards my hiking buddies who had internals. As to
workmanship, I had to replace my hip belt on two occasions during the
hike and finished the hike with a large safety pin securing one of the
load lifters on the hip belt. Kelty's customer service was great and
they replaced my hip belts free of charge, but it still takes time and
energy that could be devoted to other things. Even with all that, I
thought my pack was more than adequate, and it got me all the way to
Maine.
The first backpacking gear that I purchased when I returned from my thru
hike was an internal frame backpack. I shopped around and finally
purchased a Dana pack. Not a Terraplane like most people who had Dana's
had used in 95, but the Arclight Glacier. I bought the Glacier because
it was smaller, lighter, and less expensive than the Terraplane. I have
used my Glacier ever since and love it! It performed flawlessly on my
hike of the Colorado Trail this summer. It fits incredibly well, allows
for a wide range of motion, and the workmanship is impeccable.
I guess you could call me an internal frame convert.
Keep on Keepin' on !
GA - ME '95
Colorado Trail '97
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