(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best internal frame hiking backpacks

I wouldn't say you need to be that extroverted, but you kind of have to realize that you are going to be a little out of your comfort zone, and kind of just force yourself to meet people. Really picking the right hostels to stay at helps. I don't know exactly what you're trying to do, but if you go to hostels.com or hostelworld.com they have great descriptions for most of them.

I'll give a couple examples just from my time in Mexico. Same experiences have applied in Spain, Italy, Germany etc. with solo trips.

Read into what hostel you want to stay at, and find a good one with a description of what they are about that aligns with what you want to do. In Mexico, I basically was there to party. So I stayed here:

http://www.hostels.com/hostels/cancun/hostel-quetzal/15786?p=6#

> Hostel Quetzal prices include breakfast, family dinner and a tequila shot
We are a hostel focused on socializing and partying
Daily drinking games
Swimming Pool

Basically I checked in there, they were about done with dinner, and everyone staying there (probably 25 people) all eats at one huge table, and then sits around and plays drinking games and then they have a bus that they take you to a club in Cancun.

Another great one in Mexico was this:

http://www.hostelworld.com/hosteldetails.php/Hostel-Che-Tulum/Tulum/101407

> you will also have different activities to take part in such as our free tours, yoga and salsa classes, social events and our classic Garden Bar with BBQ and pizza nights, live music, mojitos, tequila and great party!

This was actually probably my favorite hostel I've ever been to. Tulum is absolutely incredible, and this place still has the nightly parties, but its less of a focus on that. But every morning they have bicycle tours that ride to go see the old Mayan ruins, or the different Cenotes (underwater caves), or busses up to Coba to hike the ruins, and stuff like that. I did a few of them, usually it was a group of like 6-7 people to do whatever activity that day, and made good friends with all of them.


Lastly, I've never felt unsafe in a hostel. You don't have the privacy you do in a hotel, but every hostel comes with a large locker that you can lock all your stuff up, so i've never worried about anything getting stolen either. This is the backpack that I have. I've lived out of it for over a month, not hard at all as long as you can find places to do laundry occasionally.

https://www.amazon.com/High-Sierra-Tech-Hawk-Frame/dp/B004EBRDXI

Hi!

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I am the same, always bring a flask of whiskey. I also always bring a pipe and tobacco, cob pipes are pretty light.

Anyways, here are my suggestions:

• Your backpack is very heavy. You might be able to find one on the gear exchange or something so you could potentially do that before the trip. You could also get the Osprey Levity which would save you about 2 lbs. The 3F UL Backpack is also a quality, very inexpensive, UL Backpack that would save you some weight.
  
• Lose the sleeping layers. You can use your hiking layers to sleep in as long as you keep them dry.
  
• Lose the camp shoes.
  
• You can get a flask like this and save a few oz.
  
• Camelbaks or hydration bladders in general are really inefficient for carrying water as far as weight goes. Consider just bringing another smart water bottle is you feel like you need more storage.
  
• You will need a wind screen for the BRS
  
• Your tent is on the heavy side. If you aren't ready to splurge on something else, The 3F UL 1 person tent is a great, fairly light, tent for a great price. Also, I have never found a footprint to be needed. You can also get similar tents on amazon if you are on a time crunch but I can't attest to their quality.
  
• First aid kit and hygiene kit is very heavy. For the first aid kit you could probably bring less of each thing to get it down to a little over an ounce. You probably don't need deodorant. For hygiene I only bring a toothbrush and little 15ml eye dropper of Dr. Bronner's soap, I brush and wash with it. Maybe consider the weight difference between bringing glasses and the contact solution? I don't wear either so i'm not sure.
  
• If you bring the Dr. Bronner's you don't need hand sanitizer.
  
• Looks like you have a heavy knife. There are much lighter options. I really like my Opinel No.6, weighs 0.9oz
  
• You could save weight by bringing a Picaridin spray pen.
  
• I don't know about you but I have found that I can get 5 days on one full charge from my phone if put in airplane mode and only used for photos and minor navigation. If you were confident and didn't absolutely need your phone you could go without the power bank.
  
  All together these adjustments would save you around 10.4lbs. Hope this helps!
  
  ​
  
  Good luck and have a great trip!

48L is pretty small if you are going to be doing any sort of camping etc. I'd recommend at least looking at a 60-65. Anyways, that's not what you are asking.

As far as cheap but sturdy, I bought both the Teton Fox for myself and the Teton Sports Explorer for my girlfriend and found them to be both fairly reliable. This was for an 8 week backpacking trip where I stayed in hostels through Europe (my gf was there for 5 of the weeks), so it didn't go through the rigor of camping, through I'd be willing to say that they would be entirely adequate.

For you, I would say that maybe the Scout or the Summit could be good matches.

Another advantage of going this cheap is that even if the backpack ends up breaking (again, not likely on the first trip), you'll be in a better position to understand what you do and don't like about it.

Oh and don't forget a raincover if they aren't built in.

TL;DR: Teton makes good cheap backpacks but I don't have experience with the smaller sizes. Also think about a slightly larger backpack.

Edit: Forgot to mention that I bought mine without trying it on first and it was close to the perfect size (could have used slightly longer straps over the shoulder, I'm 6'1"), but I have some decent experience with backpacks. For the most part, if you read enough of the reviews you'll find people of certain sizes fitting/not fitting.

Edit dos: Even more thoughts. It's free to try on backpacks in stores, and worth your time just to get accustomed to what the various sizes actually feel like and what sort of features you like. Once you try a few you'll get the hang of it.

I haven't used that backpack you're looking at but I can tell from its design, that it doesn't look like it'll carry the weight comfortably if you're planning on a 3 day backpacking trip in wilderness. This pack is probably better for normal travel so if you're car camping and have access to amenities then this pack should do fine. It also doesn't look big enough to carry a tent, sleeping bag, food, water, etc.

Assuming you'll be deeper in wilderness and using a tent, sleeping bag, pad, etc., I would recommend something that will carry comfortably (aim weight toward your hips and reduce weight on your back) and there are better options out there. You'd want a backpacking backpack at least and you can probably find lots of options within (or close to) your budget.
Below are a few suggestions within a few different price ranges (not sure how strict your budget is).
Side note: I used to own the previous version of the Teton - it was my first backpack - for the price it did a pretty good job and never had any major complaints:

TETON Sports Scout 3400 60L

Mountaintop 55L Backpacking Pack

Mountaintop 65L Internal Frame Backpack Hiking Backpack with Rain Cover

50L Hiking Backpack EocuSun Waterproof Camping Backpack Outdoor Sport Lightweight Backpacking Bag

Hope this helps - have fun on your trip!

Here you go! This may seem too little, but honestly you don't need anywhere near what 99% of the folks bring. You'll see the old timers (who have done it 10, 20+ times) with a little day backpack and they may think this is too much.

• 3 pairs of shorts - 1 for hiking, 1 for relaxing, 1 to wear when washing the other 2
  
• 3 shirts
  
• 2 pairs Darntough socks. I've tried wool with silk liners, that worked but still got blisters. Darntough are perfect - a bit expensive but you'll love them
  
• Get a trail running shoe (no boots) I went with New Balance and loved them
  
• Flip flops/something to relax in (flip flops being the lightest)
  
• Bring a roll of athletic tape
  
• Silk liner to use under blankets at the albergues (saves tons of weight instead of sleeping bag)
  
• Bag: Osprey Kestrel 48 (however you could probably get a smaller bag as well since it is summer and you won't need to worry about cold weather clothes
  
  
  Done!
  
  
  
  

I'm going to honest with you. In my opinion, if you're spending less than $90, you're buying something that will be needing a replacement within the first couple treks. I've had my Kelty Redwing 50 for years and it has never let me down once. I have a bigger pack for longer treks, which are few and far between lately, but for the most part the Redwing is my go-to. Its a bit pricier than what you're looking to spend, but I promise you it till last you many year, and many miles. My wife uses an Osprey Stratos which she loves, but I personally find the Kelty so much more comfortable to wear for extended periods. Again, a bit pricier than you're looking to spend, but I'm a believe that when it comes to things like packs, boots, and tents, you get what you pay for, so spending the extra money once make a bit more sense to me than spending a lesser amount multiple times. Hope this helps, and please let me know if you have any other gear questions! Happy travels!

If you're going to be lugging around 3 days worth of gear i would recommend something with a much better hip belt. Something similar to the below pack would be better. Its much more pleasant to put the load on your hips.

Also, first time backpackers tend to bring along too much stuff. Watch a few youtube videos to see what backpackers typically bring. Aim for a pack weight <35lbs including food and water.

Have fun! I hope you wind up loving it.

hiking bag

This is why we went with a Gregory Z40 and J38 vs one of the "travel" packs(including Minaal, Tortuga etc). They fit in the overheads no problem, clamshell opening, elastic side waterbottle and hip belt pockets, integrated rain cover and most importantly a great suspension for those unexpected long carries. 40L should be fine for carry on which is a huge plus, unless you go crazy with weight with stuff like heavy laptop/camera gear. If you know your going to be carrying your pack for longer periods, there's no way I'd buy one without a hiking suspension/hipbelt. The good news is that these days the hiking packs can do pretty much everything the travel packs can except for maybe dedicated laptop storage, which is easy to workaround with a neoprene sleeve, while the travel packs cannot do what the hiking ones can as far as comfort for extended carries. Combined with a decent personal item bag I think its tough to beat this setup. No brainer IMO.

I commented on a very similar question here.

Also looking at a couple other backpacks?

Bolang 45L Internal Frame Pack Hiking Daypack Outdoor Waterproof Travel Backpacks 8298(Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RAIJM7W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Bq8nyb0S18MGP

Guerrilla Packs Admiral Internal Framed Backpack, 40-Liter, Navy Blue https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QQ9Q5DA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Nr8nybRZEG8G3

Kimlee Water Repellent 45L Internal Frame Backpack Travel Daypack Hiking Backpacks Royal Blue https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YOTPOAY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_9r8nybFB4XR7P

As you can see I am kinda lost but am trying my best. Any help appreciated. Thx!

As many of the other commenters have stated - buy your pack to fit your gear. If you buy your pack first you will find all sorts of things to fill it with.

That said - I have the Deuter pack a size larger than this - the Deuter ACT Lite 65 + 10 Pack. and it works great for my needs. I have used it on many weekend trips and one 10 day trek. All my trips are Boy Scout trips, so we tend to carry more gear than non-Scouts. The 10 day trek was to Philmont last summer. Philmont required us to carry several days worth of bulky food at a time. My gear took up about 2/3 of the pack and then I had plenty of room left for food or large water dromedaries when needed. The +10 expansion worked great for this as I could fill to the brim and then shrink it down as we used up the food and water.

A couple critiques I have about this line of packs.

• There are almost no accessory pockets. Externally the only zip pockets are 1 on the lid and the 2 belt pockets. Everything else goes into the large compartments. I made this work with multiple small bags to keep clothes, cooking gear, rain gear, and other things organized. This worked well for me, but would not work as well for a more disorganized person who really needs the separate pockets to put stuff in.
  
  
• The hip belt pad only comes about 2/3 of the way around my 34" waist. Around the front is adjustable strap. This was different than some of the other packs that wrap almost all the way around. I was ok with this and it carried the load well. It may not work for everyone.
  
  
• Buy a rain cover that is large enough. The +10 will make this equal to a 60L, so if you buy a 50L cover it won't be big enough. Also know if you will strap anything to the outside, because your cover will need to be large enough. I bought the Deuter cover which fits 40-70L.
  
  If you are a beginner and want to try something cheaper to get started - we
  have had luck with Teton brand backpacks for our Scouts. My son took the
  [Teton Escape 4300](
  https://www.amazon.com/Sports-Ultralight-Internal-Backpacking-Mountaineering
  /dp/B006JYHI24/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481035907&sr=8-1&keywords=teton+4300)
  to Philmont and it worked well for him. The Teton Hiker
  3700 might be more the
  size you are looking for.
  

First thing, get fitted. Find a local outfitter or REI near you and get your measurements. They will have a harness that attaches to your waist that then pinpoints your back length. Remember your backpack weight should actually be distributed to your hips, not to your shoulders, unless you really have ultralight gear. Next identify what your needs are. Trip length is important when deciding on the volume for your backpack. The longer the trip the more food and water you need. If you have all other gear (Sleeping bag, tent....) bring it with you to the store and see what bags fit your gear and remain comfortable. All reputable gear stores will understand what you are doing and allow you to use some of there gear to really load the bag. Now walk around the store with the different bags and see which feels right on you. Not knowing your budget, what you are doing or how long you will be out in the woods makes it difficult to make recommendations. Top brand of bags in my opinion, Granite Gear and Osprey, yet they are pricey. Great cheap bags include REI Flash, [Golite Jam] (http://www.golite.com/Jam-50L-Pack-Unisex-P46812.aspx) or ULA CDT. Quality and weight really matters with all gear. Pay a little extra for top gear now and it will perform and last longer than buying cheap.

TL/DR: Get fitted first, test out different bags, find what is most comfortable in your price range.

I had the same goal and price range as you and just ordered the Osprey Radial 34L for $160 a few days ago. I don't have it yet, but I absolutely love my Osprey Aether 70L. The quality, lifetime warranty, and comfort are top notch and I'm expecting the same from this new pack. If you were curious I could let you know what I think of the Radial when I get it next week.

I went travelling with the 40L farpoint.

For a daypack I used this and it was great. Being able to get on to flights with just hand luggage was important to me. With this day pack I could just fold it away and hook it onto my bag.

I too went over the 40L vs 55L pros and cons. The 55L actually has a 40L main compartment and a 15L day pack. The 40L incorporates most the features of the 15L daypack, including the laptop compartment.

In hindsight, the 55L would have been fine as hand luggage as I could have just detached the bag and used it as my secondary hand luggage.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CGLV9ZX/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_WmOCDbP54H0A2

This was the first pack I ever purchased -cheap, not ultralight (3.3 lbs I think) but the thing is actually built really well - I've had it for 3 years and taken it on many overnight trips and it's still in great condition even in rainy and muddy conditions. At the very least its been good for packing up and using as luggage on airplane trips. The straps are better than some of the pricier packs I've tried on - by all means not the best but a decent gateway to backpacking

Thanks! I have this pack, http://www.amazon.com/Deuter-ACT-Lite-65-Anthracite/dp/B006RB6CDA. The most we will be hiking at one time on this trip is 9 miles with 35-40 pound packs. In practice hikes ive gone 11 miles with 43 pound packs so i'm not to worried about not being able to do it because of the weight, but will definitely take that in to mind on future trips. Yeah our Troop leader is making us have at least two snickers on hand while were hiking, he says it has sugar and protein to keep you going and is loaded with calories, and Dont worry I have no problem with shatting in a hole. I will look into a treking pole before the trip, can you recommend a cheap one?

I have a few savings accounts going. One for a some day home of my own, a car (Jeep, specifically), and to help pay off my student loans one day which thankfully are far lower than what some people have to deal with. Those are my three main ones right now, though I have a few others like an emergency fund.

Less financially focused, I'm saving up Amazon gift cards I get off Swagbucks for this Outdoor Products Skyline Backpack, which fortunately I don't need much more. Maybe around $15. So I guess yes, technically I'm hoarding gift cards right now too.

That's a tough call OP. I think personally, if it was me, I'd find a used Honda or Toyota SUV for around 1,200, and then spend 800 dollars on gear for living out of that vehicle, including gear to live in case that vehicle breaks down within the next year.

800 dollars on gear is actually plenty of money...I'll give you a rough list just as example:

1. Tent w/Rainfly - $76.00 - https://www.amazon.com/Mountainsmith-Lichen-Peak-Tent-1-Person/dp/B072J9LDFK/ref=sr_1_20?s=outdoor-recreation&ie=UTF8&qid=1549583739&sr=1-20&keywords=solo+tent&refinements=p_n_size_browse-bin%3A2204488011
   
2. Backpack - $170.00 - https://www.amazon.com/Marines-ILBE-Main-Rucksack-Back/dp/B00AFOQIR0/ref=sr_1_7?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1549584289&sr=1-7&keywords=ilbe+backpack
   
3. Zero Degree 4-season Sleeping Bag - $175.00 - https://www.amazon.com/Kelty-Cosmic-Degree-Sleeping-Regular/dp/B014JQA5DC/ref=sr_1_18?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1549584063&sr=1-18&keywords=zero%2Bdegree%2Bsleeping%2Bbag&th=1
   
4. Camoflauge Tarp - $10.00 - https://www.amazon.com/Stansport-T-810-C-Reinforced-Multi-Purpose-Woodland/dp/B000SKKHVY/ref=sr_1_2?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1549583840&sr=1-2&keywords=camoflauge%2Btarp&th=1&psc=1
   
5. LED Healight - $12.00 - https://www.amazon.com/Energizer-6-LED-Industrial-Headlight/dp/B000MGGT66/ref=sr_1_9?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1549583963&sr=1-9&keywords=energizer+LED+headlight
   
6. Leatherman Multi-Knife - $70.00 - https://www.amazon.com/LEATHERMAN-Knifeless-Multitool-Standard-Sheath/dp/B01EVJSN2W/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1549584401&sr=1-2-spons&keywords=leatherman&psc=1&smid=A1XBRK5C7K9FB8
   
7. First Aid Kit - $12.00 - https://www.amazon.com/GO-Compact-First-Aid-Kit/dp/B015PJIVJM/ref=sr_1_7?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1549584552&sr=1-7&keywords=camping+first+aid+kit
   
8. Paracord - $10.00 - https://www.amazon.com/BENGKU-Survival-Mil-SPEC-Parachute-MIl-C-5040-H/dp/B07226B3FJ/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1549584610&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=paracord&psc=19)
   
9. Water Bottle - $11.00 - https://www.amazon.com/Nalgene-Wide-Mouth-Bottle-Clear/dp/B002WAPQSC/ref=sr_1_5?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1549584733&sr=1-5&keywords=nalgene+water+bottle
   
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   I mean all of that is less than $550.00 in gear that you can use while being a trainhopper/hitchhiker, or living in a van or SUV. In fact, you'd probably be twice as prepared as most other tramps and vagabonds you meet on the road, in gear alone. Plus if you can still afford 1,450 for a used van or SUV in good condition?
   
   Also, keep in mind those prices are retail prices. Shop around at thrift stores, pawn shops, military surplus stores, ebay, and you'll easily cut those prices nearly in half. For example, that leatherman knife can be found at pretty much any pawn shop in America for around 30-35, bucks, easy.
   
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Sorry. Looking to donate a bag to anybody or any organization that would benefit from it. I haven’t replaced the adjustments strap. Bag is a Teton hiker 3700.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006JYHHL6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_FWYzDbGCVMDGW

Marine ILBE pack

https://www.amazon.com/Marines-ILBE-Main-Rucksack-Back/dp/B00AFOQIR0

Best pack ever, can usually be had at a gun show for $80

Seriously, 10 flavors of tits.