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Anybody know about good backpacks on a budget? I'm looking at carrying around 55lbs/25kgs. Would I need one with an alloy frame to support the weight or would anything designed for hiking be suitable?
Also, what would be the best thing to make up the weight. I have heard sand is good because it will mould to the shape of your back but that would mean me having to carry a whole bag of sound around to make the weight. Not sure a bag of sand will fit in a 30 litre backpack. Any ideas?

Chris

How big is a bag of sand pray tell? Sand is generally good stuff, don't use it myself for practice on the hills, I usually take a pack and fill it with free weights and clothes to bulk it out. I have one of the nifty little 30 litre Berghaus packs for things like this and it can easily manage 25kg, although it is a little short and the weight has to be distributed just right. Be sure to get something with a waist and chest strap as this will help to distribute the load across your body.

Well I got a rucksack designed for cross country with chest straps and hip straps. I filled it up with reams of paper around 2 stone in weight. I was walking in the woods for around 2 hours and then tripped up on a protruding root and fell down a steep hill. Hurt like hell.

Try adding a first aid kit sounds like it might come in useful!!!

redeye321 wrote:I was walking in the woods for around 2 hours and then tripped up on a protruding root and fell down a steep hill. Hurt like hell.

That would have been fun to see Chris

Did it happen in Bostall Woods ?

From www.rv-1.co.uk

Berghaus Munro Daysac



Karrimor Sabre 30ltr


Das sacs/patrol packs, same thing. I just used that site because of the good pictures. They are a little expensive i have to admit but from what i've heard they are bomb proof and last a while. They ride high on the back and you'd have room for webbing etc.

I'm going to invest in a munro, just have to find one cheaper first!

Yeah Jason it happened in Bostall, It's ok down there. I walked around a couple of times using the paths but then decided to go off the paths and then it got interesting. I came across a fence that was too tempting not to cross. Turns out that the land belongs to that hospital in abbey wood, Goldie Leigh Hospital. I think they deal with mental patients which explains all the screaming that I heard.

redeye321 wrote:Yeah Jason it happened in Bostall, It's ok down there. I walked around a couple of times using the paths but then decided to go off the paths and then it got interesting. I came across a fence that was too tempting not to cross. Turns out that the land belongs to that hospital in abbey wood, Goldie Leigh Hospital. I think they deal with mental patients which explains all the screaming that I heard.

Yer from what i've herd Goldie Leigh Hospital is a mental hospital . Your right i've herd some right funny noises coming from there.

I train with a Forces 33 Highlander bergen. Was about £40 or summet when I got it. Started off with 15lbs and ever since I been training from several different weights between 15lbs and 70lbs. Note: The time I did 7 miles cross country tabbing with 70lbs on my back, it almost killed me lol. Recommend you build the weight up gradually. Another thing, avoid running with a bergen on yur back. I was stupid enough to run with a 35lbs bergen on my back on saturday. Ran the last 2mile of the tab, and felt fine, but by hell yesterday and today my lower legs feel fk'd up. NOT RECOMMENDED - DONT RUN, or at least not straight away untill your well accustommed to carrying that weight with ease,

Mal

Mal wrote: Recommend you build the weight up gradually.

Mal

Well, I have learnt this the hard way. I went out on my travels with 35lbs on me back and thought this was to easy so I increased it to 55lbs on the same day. It was much harder but I felt ok after. Come morning I found it hard to get out of bed and it wasn't down to the I had done the day before. I have learnt my lesson and now I am building the weight up slowly.

the berghaus munro is as it says on the tin bomb proof, i know lads that had them full of link in iraq and didnt fall apart, and you dont look like rocket man, most paras use them.

I worry about you lads carrying weight during your civvy training. It is something you have to build up gradually, not whacking 30-50lbs on your back at the first opportunity. If you injure yourself as a civvy you endanger your career, and future; at least in the services they will compensate you for injuries. it is a sad reflection on life, that you may have to think this way, but that's the way it is.

Like a dull dwarf..........it isn't big and it isn't clever.

When people say they carry 30lbs, do they mean that is 30lbs on top of what the bergen already weighs, or the combined weight?

Cheers

P.S. Here is a cheap place to buy the british army issue ones, the 35L is only £25: http://www.surplusandadventure.com/isho ... r1216.html

Why are you guys looking to carry bags of sand around? reserves?