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savedbymynuts
Oct 22, 2003, 3:57 AM
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I need advice on the size of my first haulbag.
I have never climbed a big wall yet but I intend to in the next year. I own a alpine back pack (it’s a north face A5 series 62 liters that’s about 3800 in^3) that can be hauled but it’s not designed for extensive hauling. I was wondering what would be a good size for a first haulbag. Is it best to buy a big one, or is it best to have a smaller one to witch I will add more small ones? As I understand it eventually I will need many bags. I am wondering because a big bag seems like a hassle when the time comes to get something in it but on the other hand it avoids multiple trips from the camp to the bottom of the wall. I need any input I can get before I buy one as they are expensive.
Further more any opinions on the brand or the features I should be looking for?
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onelung
Oct 22, 2003, 4:00 AM
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My humble opinion.
go large
and go Fish!
www.fishproducts.com
i am bill
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brianstltz
Oct 22, 2003, 4:02 AM
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I second that!
Fish products are really nice for the price - definitely check them out.
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savedbymynuts
Oct 22, 2003, 5:35 PM
Post #4 of 18
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ok go large but why? I would like to understand your reasoning. And how large? I will most likely go on 2 to 3 day trips with a partner for the first big walls.
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savedbymynuts
Oct 22, 2003, 6:22 PM
Post #5 of 18
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no one can help. I am surprised no one has a comment
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dingus
Oct 22, 2003, 6:38 PM
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Registered: Dec 16, 2002
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You're gonna need several big wall haul bags? What? PTPP gotten to you too? Headed to Baffin next week or something?
You don't need all that horse shit to go climbing. And you don't need a 10,000 cu in bag to get up a 3 day trade route either.
The vast majority of climbers who take up wall climbing will climb less than 10 walls in their lifetime. Yet many of these Big Wall Schmucks go out and buy portaledges, haul bags and all sorts of gadgets for their first outting.
Ebay would be proud of them. Hey, if ya got the dough and don't mind wasting it, I suppose there is no harm in it.
There is an alternate approach and to my way of thinking better besides:
GO CHEAP.
First step: Hook up with someone for the first climb who already has the necessary community gear. Then borrow anything and everything for your first wall. If you can't borrow the item, see if you can do without. If you must have it, go used if you can (certainly haul bags and portaledges can be found used if you look hard enough). If you have to buy new, try to buy "seconds" that are cheaper because of blems. etc. Finally, if you have to pay full retail, buy the cheapest unit that will suffice for the job at hand.
And by all means GO FISH! But GO CHEAP FIRST! I know Russ would agree btw.
So that when 10 years from now you discover you've only climbed 5 walls and have little desire to do another, you won't be calculating how much each climb actually cost. And if you turn into a wall master (as unlikely as that may seem) you will have done it in the classic dirtbag fashion. Besides, hardmen wear out their gear and because they are hardmen they will usually have scored some great used deals from the above putz's to equip an army.
GO CHEAP!
There. That's my advice.
DMT
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onelung
Oct 22, 2003, 6:40 PM
Post #7 of 18
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you're going to be on the wall for a couple days. SO between the water, your pits, some food, and some foul weather gear, you will need allot of space. If you get a mid sized one, you will at best run close to not having enough room.
How large? Between 7500 and 9000+ cubic inches oH and look they are even on sale this month.
http://www.fishproducts.com/catalog/haulbags.html
I am no Big Wall Master, but I own a Fish Bag and I have been amazed at how full we have stuffed haul bags. I am really wanting to reduce the amount of crap in that thing, but damn it just fills up. Walk along the base of any wall and see what folks are hauling.
Not too many tiny ones out there.
or
Climb with somebody who already has a bag.
i am bill
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crotch
Oct 22, 2003, 6:50 PM
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I'll be the first to say go small. Two small bags are easier to deal with than a big one. And before I had a haul bag, I hauled a backpack and that worked fine too. Put on your harness at the car. Put all your gear on your harness gearsling and then fill the haulbag with water, food and sleeping crap. If you get a big bag you'll end up bringing too much crap. FISH Atom Smasher is the right size for 1 person on a grade V.
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savedbymynuts
Oct 22, 2003, 7:27 PM
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Thank you dingus for your advice I would love to borrow gear for my first walls but don't know anyone that could lend it to me. My climbing buddy owns a Black Diamond touchstone Haul bag it's 70 L (4272 cu. in.). It is great for bringing gear to the local climbing crag with out destroying his backpack. I was thinking since I already own a alpine backpack 62 L (3783 cu. in.) I should go with a bigger haulbag.
Are you suggesting that between the two of us we already have enough gear?
Buy the way I don't understand why In reply to: And by all means GO FISH! But GO CHEAP FIRST! I know Russ would agree btw.
In reply to: You're gonna need several big wall haul bags? What? PTPP gotten to you too? Headed to Baffin next week or something? |
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ricardol
Oct 22, 2003, 8:02 PM
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Registered: Nov 11, 2002
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my $0.02 ..
.. i just did my first wall .. and i unfortunaly am a gear-junkie .. so i did not go cheap .. but luckily i'm hooked and will be doing many walls in the future .. so i hope not to be calculating the cost of each ascent 10 years from now..
.. go BIG .. as big as you can ..
i bought a fish deluxe bag, and it was full .. (i was soloing a grade VI) .. i was glad to have the space for 9 gallons of water + gear ..
.. as far as FISH vs. other brands .. i've carried a fully loaded FISH, A5, and YATES bag ..
.. the suspension on the yates bag is beefy and more comfortable than the other 2 ..
.. the fish bag is the most inexpensive ... and it gets the job done! .. my bag has no significant wear, and i trashed the living shit out of it on my climb .. (event rolling it off the final 80 feet of the east ledges rappels.. because i was too lazy to carry it anymoe .. -- this is after the hand line ends..)
.. so if you've got extra dough .. get the yates .. since you'll be more comfortable when schleping your loads .. once you're on the wall, they all behave the same..
-- ricardo
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savedbymynuts
Oct 22, 2003, 8:32 PM
Post #11 of 18
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Can any one give me the link to Yates haulbags? I can not find the haulbags on their web site.
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ricardol
Oct 22, 2003, 8:36 PM
Post #12 of 18
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In reply to: Can any one give me the link to Yates haulbags? I can not find the haulbags on their web site.
yates phat sack
http://www.yatesgear.com/climbing/bigwall/big/fatsac.htm#2
-- ricardo
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savedbymynuts
Oct 22, 2003, 9:05 PM
Post #13 of 18
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thank you for the link now I understand why In reply to: .. so if you've got extra dough .. get the yates .. since you'll be more comfortable when schleping your loads .. once you're on the wall, they all behave the same.. |
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dingus
Oct 22, 2003, 9:25 PM
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In reply to: Thank you dingus for your advice I would love to borrow gear for my first walls but don't know anyone that could lend it to me. My climbing buddy owns a Black Diamond touchstone Haul bag it's 70 L (4272 cu. in.). It is great for bringing gear to the local climbing crag with out destroying his backpack. I was thinking since I already own a alpine backpack 62 L (3783 cu. in.) I should go with a bigger haulbag. Are you suggesting that between the two of us we already have enough gear?
OK, I came up in a similar situation. So I can dig it. And no, 70L isn't big enough and you will destroy your backpack unless the route is totally overhanging. I think my bag is either 7000 or 8000 cui. Adequate for my needs.
In reply to: Buy the way I don't understand why In reply to: And by all means GO FISH! But GO CHEAP FIRST! I know Russ would agree btw. Why FISH? Please explain.
Price. I got a sub $100 bag from the man. It's gotten me up the few walls I've done and is in great shape. But if you find something cheaper... by all means, do it.
I almost always put price first or a strong second.
But thats just me.
Cheers
DMT
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savedbymynuts
Oct 22, 2003, 10:22 PM
Post #15 of 18
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thank for the response I was concerned with getting at the gear while climbing with a big bag any one ever have that problem or am I just imagining things worst then they are.
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ricardol
Oct 22, 2003, 10:43 PM
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Registered: Nov 11, 2002
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think about what gear you'll need when you pack your bag ..
.. water goes at the bottom .. and then work up from there in order you'll need it during the day .. put your day's worth of water, food and snacks at the top .. -- also the extra climbing gear goes at the top.
separate gear into bags that have clip in loops .. i had a bag for cooking stuff .. (yes i brought a stove!) .. a bag for personal cleanliness.. hehe (tp, and wet wipes, tooth brush, and pain killers, etc) ..
.. at night you usually take everything out o fthe bag (except for the water and food) .. and then you re-pack in the morning ..
.. no problems getting to the bottom of the bag ...
-- ricardo
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savedbymynuts
Oct 23, 2003, 1:35 AM
Post #17 of 18
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Registered: Apr 15, 2003
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thank you ricardol
so:
1-a big bag is better
2-saving money is good
3-if well managed big does not cause a problem
How many bags for a team of two on a grad V or Vl trad climb
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savedbymynuts
Oct 23, 2003, 2:33 AM
Post #18 of 18
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In reply to: We all had pack up to the base but only 1 big bag was hauled up per team.
What did you do with the bags you did not haul?
ps yes it helps greatly
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