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DougMartin
Aug 26, 2011, 8:16 PM
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I am in the market for a new pack that will handle all my gear and the necessities for a day climbing. Currently I have great little Osprey (22 liter) that I carry while I climb locally but my big climbing pack (Black Diamond 45 liter Axiom top loader) struggles to carry my gear and my lead rope. Leaving my rope outside the bag and strapping it down just doesn't seem to get it done! My rope just slips and ends up a mess. So any advice on a good bag to get your trad rack and rope to the rock. The stair master at Seneca sucks enough as it is, its worse when you have to *&%$ with your pack the entire approach! What are your recommendations!
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brockfisher05
Aug 26, 2011, 8:30 PM
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I would say probably the Arcteryx ALtra 65. I know it sounds like a big bag, but honestly its gonna do everything you need and more. I have owned and stil own a lot of arcteryx gear and though a little pricey at times this gear takes a licking and keeps ticking. Here is a link to the bag. http://www.arcteryx.com/Product.aspx?EN/Mens/Packs/Altra-65#
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gunkiemike
Aug 26, 2011, 9:11 PM
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Learn to drape the rope over your shoulder. Or let your partner carry it. You have a large (45 L) pack that should be adequate for a day at the crag. (Editorial aside - Stop looking to acquiring more material goods to solve all your minor problems.)
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brockfisher05
Aug 26, 2011, 9:21 PM
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meh... *shrugs shoulders* lol Actually my rope is carried on the outside of my bag as well.
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summerprophet
Aug 26, 2011, 9:48 PM
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A 45 liter pack is more than large enough for day tripping. It is possible that you are carrying far to much equipment or (more likely) you have never learned how to properly pack your bag. My climbing/Rescue Pack is a Arcteryx Khamsin 40, and I can fit Rope, Rack (doubles to BD #3) rain gear, food, first aid, blue bags, light sleeping bag and a micro stove..... Helmet strapped up top under the top lid. Oh, and the rope is inside the bag as well. If I can overnight with it surely you can spend a day with yours. Pack it like you hate it.... I suspect your pack is probably loosely packed with plenty of room inside. Don't hesitate to stomp that rope down with a foot in the bag. (I do have to upsize to a 65 Liter in the winter, due to a bigger sleeping bag.)
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DougMartin
Aug 26, 2011, 10:40 PM
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summerprophet wrote: A 45 liter pack is more than large enough for day tripping. It is possible that you are carrying far to much equipment or (more likely) you have never learned how to properly pack your bag. My climbing/Rescue Pack is a Arcteryx Khamsin 40, and I can fit Rope, Rack (doubles to BD #3) rain gear, food, first aid, blue bags, light sleeping bag and a micro stove..... Helmet strapped up top under the top lid. Oh, and the rope is inside the bag as well. If I can overnight with it surely you can spend a day with yours. Pack it like you hate it.... I suspect your pack is probably loosely packed with plenty of room inside. Don't hesitate to stomp that rope down with a foot in the bag. (I do have to upsize to a 65 Liter in the winter, due to a bigger sleeping bag.) Your absolutely right the size of the pack is not the issue. I feel as if it all fits just fine, if my rope is outside strapped under the top flap!. My problem is how to keep the rope from becoming a mess or hanging of the side of the bag and dragging the ground. I tend to think I just don't like the bag! There has to be some way of getting the dang rope to stay on top of the bag, but I haven't found it and have decided to stop trying to figure it out and buy a new pack!
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bearbreeder
Aug 26, 2011, 11:28 PM
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learn how to coil it tightly you dont need no fancy dead bird altra for cragging, or any other expensive pack fit the rack on a sling or in yr pack ... and coil the rope as a pack or use a rope bag and have yr partner carry it ... do you REALLY both need 45L+ packs for cragging??? ... learn how to travel light and itll serve you really well when you do bigger multipitches ....
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Rudmin
Aug 27, 2011, 12:21 AM
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I have made do with a 20 L pack for carrying a rope (70m X 10mm), light rack, rock shoes, jacket, first aid, crampons, ice axe, helmet. Except for the ice axe and helmet, that is inside the bag, not hanging all over the place. If you can't fit your rope and rack and assorted stuff inside a 45 L pack, you are doing it wrong.
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summerprophet
Aug 27, 2011, 2:05 AM
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Allright, I am going to give you the goods on packing your bag. In the event you just have excess cash burning a hole in your pocket, feel free to go and buy that shiny new whizbang sack. In the event you go down that road, don't ask strangers for advice.... go and load them with shit and test them for fit. Everyone fits differently. Fit and construction should come before EVERYTHING else the pack offers. That shiny new Gregory with everything you always wanted isn't going to do you much good if it gives you hot spots 2 miles in. Anyways, Back to packing....... Grab your rope, butterfly coil it and fold the coil in half. That goes in first, and stomp that puppy down. It should fill up every square inch Next your rack. Throw your gear sling around your neck, and wrap your hands around the gear. place it in the pack, cramming it in there to lay flat. Next the soft gear and shoes. If you have clothing or other soft stuff, push it in around the edges, filling every void you can. A water bottle or camera fit nicely inside your helmet and that goes on top of the pile. Hope this helps.
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summerprophet
Aug 27, 2011, 2:12 AM
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brockfisher05 wrote: I would say probably the Arcteryx ALtra 65. .... Unless you ever want to use it as a mountaineering pack. The Altra ditched the ice axe loops in order to save weight.
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DougMartin
Aug 27, 2011, 3:00 AM
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summerprophet wrote: Allright, I am going to give you the goods on packing your bag. In the event you just have excess cash burning a hole in your pocket, feel free to go and buy that shiny new whizbang sack. In the event you go down that road, don't ask strangers for advice.... go and load them with shit and test them for fit. Everyone fits differently. Fit and construction should come before EVERYTHING else the pack offers. That shiny new Gregory with everything you always wanted isn't going to do you much good if it gives you hot spots 2 miles in. Were was this before I bought my Black Diamond? And where can you go and use a pack for a few trips and then decide you don't like it without feeling like you are abusing the stores return policy. We are climbers right there is some moral and ethical standard somewhere to be upheld right ?
summerprophet wrote: Anyways, Back to packing....... Grab your rope, butterfly coil it and fold the coil in half. That goes in first, and stomp that puppy down. It should fill up every square inch Next your rack. Throw your gear sling around your neck, and wrap your hands around the gear. place it in the pack, cramming it in there to lay flat. Next the soft gear and shoes. If you have clothing or other soft stuff, push it in around the edges, filling every void you can. A water bottle or camera fit nicely inside your helmet and that goes on top of the pile. Hope this helps. Now, this is good stuff! Is this a common method?
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rgold
Aug 27, 2011, 3:13 AM
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More than buying a new pack or properly packing the one you have, it sounds like you really need to learn how to coil your rope, perhaps a declining skill in the era of rope bags. There is absolutely no reason you should be having any trouble carrying a rope outside your pack.
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DougMartin
Aug 27, 2011, 3:27 AM
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rgold wrote: More than buying a new pack or properly packing the one you have, it sounds like you really need to learn how to coil your rope, perhaps a declining skill in the era of rope bags. There is absolutely no reason you should be having any trouble carrying a rope outside your pack. I know that's what bugs me, I can coil the dang rope, it just won't stay tight in the straps! I think it is just a crappy pack! Thus why I was looking for advice and recommendations on a new one!
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rgold
Aug 27, 2011, 3:50 AM
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You've got a state-of-the-art modern backpack. There's really no reason to buy another one. If your coil is really neat and tightly wrapped and, for some reason I don't think any of us can imagine, does not stay in place under the top flap, then tuck each protruding end of the coil under the top compression strap and tighten those up. You can also take an accessory strap, loop it through the haul loop, run it under the lid, and use it to hold the coil in place. Maybe you should post a picture of your pack and runaway rope...
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TarHeelEMT
Aug 27, 2011, 4:15 AM
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And where can you go and use a pack for a few trips and then decide you don't like it without feeling like you are abusing the stores return policy. We are climbers right there is some moral and ethical standard somewhere to be upheld right ? No, not try it out and return it. Actually load it up with stuff and walk around in the store. You only need a few minutes to figure out if there are hot spots. And, like everyone else said... you need to learn to pack better. My standard crag pack is a 30L marmot, which fits rope, multipitch rack, shoes, water, first aid kit, headlamp, guidebook, helmet and snacks all inside the pack. I'll only bring a 45L if there's a planned bivy.
(This post was edited by TarHeelEMT on Aug 27, 2011, 4:16 AM)
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TarHeelEMT
Aug 27, 2011, 4:18 AM
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And by the way... what's the list of stuff you're carrying inside your pack such that you can't fit a rope inside a 45L pack?
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