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Budget Travel Gear Yo Nellie, which backpack should I git? Questions and answers on gear related topics (i.e. backpacks, sleeping bags, tents, hiking boots, stoves, etc.).

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Old 08-10-2005, 12:35 AM   #1
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I'm finally entertaining the plans for two European adventures...first, in December & January, mostly to Finland - but at least a few days in London as well, if I can make arrangements that work.

My question, to the seasoned travelers on this board, is how much has your pack usually ended up weighing. I realize different packs have different capacities, but in general, I am curious as to how much the "stuff" you've packed has weighed. Anyone can chime in with the weight of their pack from any length of a trip. The biggest reason I'm asking this is because I'd like to fly from the Helsinki area (probably Tampere or Tallinn) to London...but the budget airlines easyJet and ryanair, of course, both have low baggage allowances (20kg and 15kg, respectively)...

So, this is probably my first official "question" to my fellow t*punkers to assist me in planning my trip. Have at it, folks.
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Old 08-10-2005, 01:28 AM   #2
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Mine was massive, I did a horrible job of packing and shouldve known better. It was always over the limit for Ryan Air, so I always had to take stuff out and put it in my carry on. At least they let you do that. Going to Finland in winter though you are probably going to want to pack heavy with winter clothing.
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Old 08-10-2005, 09:51 AM   #3
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For five weeks I never went over any weight limits with my pack. It was probably 35 pounds at the heaviest when I was bringing some crap from France back to Birmingham for my auntie. But I was also discarding stuff willy nilly as I went along too, like the Let's Go Spain/Morocco book that was absolutely freakin' USELESS. I left it in the nightstand of a small pension in Valencia next to the bible, lol.
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Old 08-10-2005, 10:00 AM   #4
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Let's see.. 20kg/44 lbs - that's PLENTY for just about any length of trip.

I've only gone over that with my large backpack once, and that was for a weeklong backcountry camping trip carrying all the gear.

I got close to it for a one-week trip in the UK, but that's because I had camping gear, as well. I

I went pretty heavy for a three-weeker, and ended up surpassing the limit on the way back due to all the crap I'd bought. Booze bottles are heavy.

I've since learned a few things:

Pack lighter. You won't need 1/3-1/2 of the things you think you'll need. If you come up short, buy it there! The cost of a new _____ is usually less than the excess baggage penalty for various airlines. And they make for cool stuff to take back, even if it's just a bottle of shampoo that you never see at home.

Wear your heavy shit on the plane. If you're taking boots, winter coats, etc. etc., sweat it out a bit in the security line, then strip it off after you get on the plane. That way you don't use up valuable luggage space. Added bonus: You're armored against box-cutter weilding terrorists.
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Old 08-11-2005, 12:41 AM   #5
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Just make sure you take that stuff off before you get on the tube. Could get messy.
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Old 08-11-2005, 01:07 AM   #6
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hah! And don't run for the train either. Believe me, it's worth waiting 4 min. for the next one...
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Old 08-11-2005, 01:07 AM   #7
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HA! No kidding...but if I go, it'll be in January anyway - so then it would be fitting to be wearing heavier clothing.

Thanks for the imput all...Omi, I do believe you're correct...20 kgs will (hopefully) be enough, and that's only for my flight(s) in Europe...going to Finland, I'll be able to carry 32 kilos (in two bags), and the same thing home.

I hope I can make this trip happen! Finland, Estonia, Sweden, and the UK...while not in the best season, I think I'll still enjoy it. -10c in Helsinki is better than -40c in Saskatoon!
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Old 08-12-2005, 11:52 AM   #8
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My pack weight 22 pounds or about 10 kgs. It was a 35 Liter pack. I had some thigns that I wont pack next time and some things i will bring instead.
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Old 10-25-2005, 02:20 AM   #9
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A friend of mine once went to Iceland and with a 20kg limit he weighed in at something like 19.5! Now thats a close shave!
I usually pack light and like my carry on so I usually keep it at the 12 (lightest) to 18kg mark. Just me and rucksack!
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Old 10-25-2005, 05:05 PM   #10
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before i went into vietnam mine weighed 12kg, coming home it was 27kg
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Old 10-26-2005, 02:36 PM   #11
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Did you bring home a Vietnamese child?!
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Old 10-26-2005, 06:37 PM   #12
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yeah, the lighter you go, the happier you'll be. when i go backpacking/camping, i usually never exceed 35 lbs.
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Old 10-27-2005, 12:32 AM   #13
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yep it only takes one trip camping with 70 lbs on your back to learn that lesson
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Old 11-01-2005, 06:42 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally posted by xanthuos@Oct 27 2005, 07:36 AM
Did you bring home a Vietnamese child?!*
[snapback]83137[/snapback]
yes
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Old 11-01-2005, 07:14 PM   #15
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I'll give you $20 for it if it knows how to make Pho.
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Old 11-01-2005, 07:51 PM   #16
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i was telling Xanthuos.. my luggage got lost in transit, so if you ever find my bag you can have it!!
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Old 11-02-2005, 01:05 AM   #17
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Do you guys mind listing what clothing and other items were in your packs which made up the various weights and also what size pack you put them into. Im planning a backpacking europe trip and just trying to get an idea of the clothes ill be carrying, how much they weigh and what size pack to buy.

cheers Alex
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Old 11-02-2005, 08:29 AM   #18
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mine usually weighs between 16 and 18 kgs, but that includes some climbing gear and everything i own, the variance is mainly due to how many books im carrying ( 4 at last count) i have trouble throwing books away
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Old 11-05-2005, 12:28 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally posted by Alex@Nov 2 2005, 07:05 PM
Do you guys mind listing what clothing and other items were in your packs which made up the various weights and also what size pack you put them into. Im planning a backpacking europe trip and just trying to get an idea of the clothes ill be carrying, how much they weigh and what size pack to buy.

cheers Alex
[snapback]84113[/snapback]
i cant really remember i know i overpacked..... i think i took 5 shirts, 2 jumper, 3 pants,4 pairs of socks, toiletry shit, 3 shorts, 2 lp books, heap of plastic bags...thats all i can think of for now

on the way back .... bout 15 shirts, 2 jumpers, 4 pants, toiletry shit, shoes, 6 shorts, 2 lp books, 4 cartons of ciggarrettes, 3 x 2 litres bottles of vodka, 2 bongs some other cheap wooden shit i bought so the lil turds would piss off and thats all i can think of
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Where ive been: Cộng Hňa Xă Hội Chủ Nghĩa Việt , Preăh Réachéanachâkr Kâmpŭchea, Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Česká republika, Slovenská republika, Magyar Köztársaság, Republika Slovenija, Republika Hrvatska, Bosna i Hercegovina, Republika Srbija, Republika Balgariya, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, România, Rzeczpospolita Polska, Lietuvos Respublika, Latvijas Republika, Eesti Vabariik, Republiken Finland



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