Eagle Creek Centerline Maiden Voyage 7OL - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**Sabrosa** · 04-12-2006, 09:09 AM

So.....this is the pack I'm looking at. I've had a number of friends steer me away from toploading packs, and strongly suggest Eagle Creek travel packs. I tried this one on last night. Seems I will have to pay $220 for it, unless I can find some steal online.

http://www.eaglecreek.com/10053.html

Any suggestions or recommendations?

Whoa...I'm gonna have to pack light! I'm pretty much banking on the fact that I will be buying and ditching clothes quite often.

Echo Of Reason · 04-12-2006, 10:39 AM

moosejaw.com has a 20% off sale at this point... i figure every little bit helps.

**space virgin** · 04-12-2006, 10:43 AM

70 litres?? That's HUGE!!!

My 50L pack is plenty for at least 5 weeks of traveling. And it has a side zipper too. It's also less expensive.

Seriously, I think that pack will be WAAAY too big [read: friggin' uncomfortable]. Is there any way you can get to a store and try a bunch of stuff on? That's the best way to go about it when sinking so much money into a piece of gear that will dictate a big portion of your overall happiness throughout your trip.

**Sabrosa** · 04-12-2006, 10:50 AM

SV- Even for a year+ of travel????

Trying it on last night....it didn't FEEL to big. But...of course, I'm having a hard time imagining fitting all I think I'll need for day to day shit in any bag!

**space virgin** · 04-12-2006, 11:57 AM

Well, packing for a year isn't really different than packing for a month.

The only consideration a year would have is that you'll be accumulating stuff along the way, but even then a 70L pack may not be big enough. You'll likely end up mailing things home.

If you tried it on with at least 35 pounds of weight in it and it felt fine, well-- go for it.

**Sabrosa** · 04-12-2006, 12:07 PM

You HIGHLY recommend this Marmot bag? You looooooove it??? In all your travels, it's the best pack ever???

Kidding....I'll definitely go in and check it out. I really liked the simplicity of Eagle Creek....but, I'm open to looking at other bags. The salesman at REI didn't seem too thrilled about the "travel pack"....he kept pushing the "back pack".

**space virgin** · 04-12-2006, 12:36 PM

^

I don't know if I'd recommend it above anything else, but it's very comfortable and works for me.

Travel packs are fine, but they're not geared as specifically towards comfort as "backpacks" or mountaineering packs are. Travel packs aren't built for hiking or walking for hours and hours on end-- they're geared more towards carrying your pack for short amounts of time. Mountaineering/whatever packs are built to keep your back and legs from screaming after you've been hiking either in the hills or down cobblestone streets for miles and miles for hours and hours. That's probably why your REI guy is saying that.

**Sabrosa** · 04-12-2006, 12:46 PM

Hmmm.....hiking, trekking for miles and miles for hours upon hours.....EEK.

Yeah...umm...I really want a comfy pack.

**space virgin** · 04-12-2006, 12:53 PM

You should know also that just because I've said all of this doesn't mean that people with travel packs don't like them!!

I know that Joker loves his Eagle Creek and there are a few other travelpunks who use them too.

My big point is that you should try on lots of things, with heavy loads, to see which one is going to fit better. Top loaders can be a bit of a pain sometimes but they're not THAT bad. Go with what feels best!

**Sabrosa** · 04-12-2006, 12:57 PM

Word.

Actually....I need to just go by myself. I went with a buddy (who swears by eagle creek, and is an avid backpacker) last night. So, of course he was biased, and I don't know anything...so, I went with the flow. I do want to go in and spend some time by myself...armed with the knowledge I'm gathering.

Thanks for the advice and suggestions....there's so much shit to think about, it's nice to have some people to just "check in" with. Awe...I love tpunks.

**TheJake** · 04-12-2006, 02:47 PM

yeah and ask the REI guy to stuff it for ya so you can get an idea of what it will feel like full. That's the best way, until you get used to having a pack on, to tell whether or not it fits. I think I have a backpack on more than I don't so for me it's a non-issue. I can almost walk into a store and tell by sight what's gonna fit. So keep on keeping on! And remember with REI you can return it no questions asked! So buy whatever you want, load it up, and hike 9-10 miles and then see if you still love it.