By Stephanie Brochey
Last October, my fiance Brandon and I left for Southeast Asia for 4.5 months. We had never done a trip like this before, and we were pretty confused about what equipment we should be buying to prepare. We knew we wanted to bring luggage/packs that would pass as carry-ons, and we knew rolling luggage would be a nightmare, but beyond that we weren't sure what would work best.
In hindsight, if there's one thing I learned on my first backpacking trip, it's that a quality pack is worth every penny. That being said, you also shouldn't have to spend hundreds of dollars to find one. When you're living out of one bag, it needs to travel well, and hold up under a lot of weight and harsh treatment. After 4.5 months, my bag suffered one small tear that will be easily patched.
To give you context, we traveled regularly via bus and train, and our packs were thrown in dirty, crowded compartments usually filled with other things being transported. We watched 40 lb bags of rice and other various goods tossed on top of our bags many times. They were usually thrown in and out with little regard for cleanliness and fragility. Also, we walked to and from our hostels to bus/train stations, sometimes for a few miles at a time, to save money on cabs and tuk-tuks. Having packs that were comfortable and distributed the weight well made this possible and so much more enjoyable.
When I was purchasing my pack, I looked to my favorite website for active gear: The Clymb. The Clymb has some of the best discounted prices on name brand, high quality gear and equipment for outdoor and active lifestyles. Their merchandise changes all the time, so the selection is always a bit different, but if you're flexible you can find things for great prices. (Another great site for discounted gear is Sierra Trading Post.)
Most sites have my pack, the High Sierra Explorer 55, listed at $110 and above. I got mine from The Clymb for $60 plus $8 for shipping.
Here are some of my favorite features I used during my trip:
-The top lid compartment: Many times we found ourselves repeatedly needing tickets, passports, other paperwork after presenting it numerous times. The convenience of the top compartment was great. The zipper for the compartment also sits right next to the back of your head which makes it safe from pick-pocketers. The only downside is that it's very floppy if your pack is not full. It just doesn't sit on top quite right.
-The fit and positioning: The fit is wonderful. The softness in the straps really helps keep it comfortable even when the pack is full. This was my first experience with waist/hip straps as well, and that made for a much easier experience. The straps are all adjustable so if Brandon needed to carry it for awhile, he could make it comfortable for himself as well.
-The space to fill: The size of all of the compartments ended up being perfect. It allows you to take what you need, but doesn't allow for too much excess. I had approximately two weeks worth of clothing and footwear at any given time.
-The rain cover: Didn't use it often, but when we needed it, it was a God send. Many packs have rain covers sold separately; this is built right into the Explorer.
-The fact that it passed as a carry-on: Despite it's size, I was able to take this pack, fully packed, as a carry-on for every one of our flights. The only conditions I think this wouldn't work is when you are flying a short, regional flight in a small plane.
Here are some of my favorite features I'll use in the future:
-The sleeping bag compartment: The bottom has a designated space for a roll up sleeping bag. Since we were mostly staying in hostels, we didn't need a sleeping bag. For camping trips, this will be great!
-The hydration pack compatibility: For a weekend trek, having a hydration pack compartment will be a great addition to the bag. The pack even has holes for the tubes.
In comparison to my purchase of what turned out to be a great pack, Brandon switched packs a few times on our trip and didn't particularly like any of them. He took chances on cheap packs we found at tourist shops along the way. Zippers broke, fabrics ripped, and he generally never felt like the weight was distributed correctly. The experience broke our assumption that any bag will do!
If you're considering backpacking, spend some time finding a bag that fits the requirements of your trip. If you're staying in hostels most of the time like we were, you don't need to account for too much camping gear. We ended up buying military grade hammocks with bug nets for the few occasions we camped, which saved us a ton of room. We were able to just clip the hammocks on to the outside of our packs when we traveled.
The High Sierra Explorer is a great overall backpack. In addition, you may only want one small day pack or bag for day trips, and also a fanny pack, which I got so much use out of (functionality trumps fashion when you're backpacking). It may not be perfect for every scenario, but its comfort and durability make it adaptable to many kinds of backpacking adventures. It is still available for purchase on a few sites, but I haven't found it for the price I got it for.
Happy Trails!
P.S. Visit www.wemustdash.com to see where I traveled with my pack!