cheap, good, backpacks

[seldomseen]

I'm a big fan of the older lowe alpine packs. They usually come in subdued colors, and have a quick access panel for taking out your sleeping bag. Suspension is comfortable enough for a 40 lb load and they can be had for cheap. Get one in the 3400-4000 CI range and you have a world beater.

 

[hotsauce]

ive been rolling with condor and so far so good. far more expensive at military surplus stores. www.desertdeuce.com has some kinda cheap bags.

 

[hotsauce]

I'm using a Condor pack right now but I'm not too pleased with the pack straps...this style of strap almost blew out on me before using a different pack with the same straps. I wanted to know if anyone had used or heard about the quality of the Phenix Gear CFP-90 backpack. It looks large enough and the specs sound pretty dern tootin...its also priced somewhat low ($74) compared to the full price on Ebay ($189) Any Ideas? THX!

http://www.rangerjoes.com/phenix-gear-bagpack-cfp-style-with-patrol-pack-p-3757.html

 

[ayron]

All depends on how much stuff you wanna carry i guess... i just got myself a really nice millspex backpack looks like this but with webbing and in acu

its perfect for what i need and ive comfortably fit two tarps, sleeping, sleeping bag, 2 liter water pouch ect in it, it was $70 at a surplus store. totaly water proof, seems durable as hell, gonna test that tomorrow. but yeah surplus stores are your best bet id say

 

[stanktank]

I'm using a Condor pack right now but I'm not too pleased with the pack straps...this style of strap almost blew out on me before using a different pack with the same straps. I wanted to know if anyone had used or heard about the quality of the Phenix Gear CFP-90 backpack. It looks large enough and the specs sound pretty dern tootin...its also priced somewhat low ($74) compared to the full price on Ebay ($189) Any Ideas? THX!

1-PHENIX GEAR Bag/Pack - CFP-90 GI Style with Patrol Pack | Ranger Joe's | Military and Law Enforcement Gear | ACU's, BDU's, army boots, rank, and custom name tapes

Hotsauce, what type of condor pack was it? I just got a 3-day pack from them and i thought it looked pretty good. haven't had time to break it in yet, but it seemed like it should hold up alright. what was the problem you had with the straps?

 

[NBDDreamer]

I'm using a Condor pack right now but I'm not too pleased with the pack straps...this style of strap almost blew out on me before using a different pack with the same straps. I wanted to know if anyone had used or heard about the quality of the Phenix Gear CFP-90 backpack. It looks large enough and the specs sound pretty dern tootin...its also priced somewhat low ($74) compared to the full price on Ebay ($189) Any Ideas? THX!

1-PHENIX GEAR Bag/Pack - CFP-90 GI Style with Patrol Pack | Ranger Joe's | Military and Law Enforcement Gear | ACU's, BDU's, army boots, rank, and custom name tapes

I travel with a military issue CFP-90 I found at a surplus store for 70 bucks. I like the design, it's pretty light at 6 lbs., it's hydration compatible, has a sleeping bag compartment at the bottom, compression straps all around to consolidate the load, and the large size requires discipline when packing so it doesn't end up full of stuff I don't need. Travelling in Spring, I had 50 lbs. packed and my back and shoulders had no problems.

The original military issued ones only came in woodland camo. Every site I've been on looking for info on this pack has warned to stay away from the "mil-spec plus" models (imports). The PHENIX GEAR pack you link to doesn't haves the adjustable ladder system for the straps, and it uses 600D nylon; not very durable.

Poke around online for army issue CFP-90s, or gunnyssurplus.com has ILBE (New marine rucksack) packs for 100 bucks.

 

[hotsauce]

Condor MOLLE 3 Day Assault Pack - ACU, OD, Black, Coyote Tan
This its a 3 day and for the most part its pretty solid. I don't agree with the strap style but it works...Its similar to the straps of a fox outdoor bag I had except the fox bag straps weren't reinforced. They started to pull away from the bag after a few trips with light loads...Condor is kick ass. it's just the strap style. who knows...its lasted 6 months in maui so far...i'll try to remember to post when it retires and give details of what happened. CHEERSCHEERS!

 

[Brand0nRagged]

you can get good used (or sometimes new) light weight gear under the "gear swap" section of BackpackingLight.com -- Home Page.

 

[Diagaro]

Some old homebum in Richmond, VA had a sick ass CSX day pack - tried to trade something to him for it but I didn't have anything I could part with. I had a sad.
Probably unrelated to the topic but whatever.

 

[boosker]

so how about army issue duffle bags ?yay or nay.are they any good to use?

 

[Dishka8643]

I just bought one of these. Swedish military rucksack. Pretty impressed with it so far. It's a good pack if you are carrying less than 25 pounds. Made of waterproof rubberized nylon. only 8 bucks.

Swedish Military Rucksack, 24" High x 12" Wide

 

[Gypsy Smile]

You Lucky Lucky man. EMS = Pricey. You have my dream on your back sir.

I got an EMS 4500 ST kicked by a friend a few years ago. It works great for me, I love my pack!

 

[outskirts]

I just got an older style Swedish military rucksack. The Newer ones look good too.
It's one of these:
http://theeverydaycyclist.wordpress.com/2011/02/06/swedish-army-rucksack/

I got it for under $20, the leather straps are a bit tough but nothing a little neatsfoot oil & elbow grease can't soften up.
I had it on my back with about 15 Lbs in it and it didn't feel bad at all. All the leather straps look like they'd kill your back,
but surprisingly they actually seem to do a good job of distributing the weight. I'm gonna make a few modifications
though. I'm looking forward to trying it out, I don't plan on packing more than 20 Lbs so it should be just fine.

I got mine from The Sportsman's Guide. You can also find Army surplus backpacks in Cheaper Than Dirt.
You gotta look towards the back of Cheaper Than Dirt, the front of the catalog is dominated by shooting
supplies, and The Sportsman's Guide has a lot of the surplus stuff online not in the catalog.

 

[skitter]

i have an army surplus pack. it holds my stuff and sometimes i sit on it, so that is a nice quality.
i have stuffed enough crap in there to fit what i imagine to be sixty or seventy pounds- works ok. i like the leather straps, i think the big hikey padded ones would kind of annoy me even though i thought i would want them.

 

[RSTY802510]

I have a jansport big bear I got at campmor on sale awhile back. http://www.campmor.com/jansport-big...ce=CI&ci_sku=60983&ci_gpa=pla&ci_kw={keyword}