So, how many "gear" posts can I write? Apparently, a lot.
This post discusses field backpack requirements. I agree with most of them (padded back, separate water holder, clips and loops for holding awkward stuff like hammers, wallet/key compartment), but I should be honest here.
I do not have a fancy backpack. I have a backpack that I got around 10 years ago to replace the pack I got in high school. It does have a couple of separate compartments, but it doesn't have all of the modern amenities. Also, the straps have been closed in car doors a few too many times and the weight-distributing belt clips are broken.
The main compartment of my backpack collects most of the miscellaneous stuff, so the bottom is sort of... dangerous at this point. It's a mess of crumbs from lunches that leaked, semi-pulverized asprin from a big bottle that opened at some point, loose change, feminine products that are too grungy to be used except in case of dire emergency, a dead stopwatch, a mostly dead calculator, and who knows what else.
As with a lot of field gear, a new backpack would be nice, but it's also the sort of thing that I don't really think about until I'm out in the field and I have to deal with it. I don't think, "oh, I'll go backpack shopping this weekend!" and so it never gets done. I would put backpack replacement higher on my to-do list if it stopped working for me, i.e. a strap or a zipper broke. But I got it from LLBean and the damn thing's invincible.
I do, however, have a certain present-giving holiday coming up... anybody have particular brands/models of backpacks they'd recommend?
I don't use a pack for hauling field gear around, but I do use one for hauling laptop and personal gear out to the field. I recently got a Swiss Gear pack, and I really like it. It's got a padded laptop sleeve, media pocket, water bottle pockets and side pockets for sliding things like a rain jacket in. They've got lots of different styles and they seem pretty well made.
ReplyDeleteFor my field work I like to have a small bag for all the things I get to often (field book, camera, SCT meter, ect.) so I don't need to take it off to reach these items. Then I keep a pack on my back for less common items such as lunch, water, computer. But most of my sites are less than a mile from my car so the small pack is usually enough when I don't need the computer. Although I'm still working with different arrangements. The small pack is from REI advertised as a boarding bag, for traveling. I've been happy with all different types of backpacks so no recommendations. I've had Jansports forever because they always fix them for free, but if I were to buy one again I'd skip Jansport because around the zippers always seem to fray and need fixing.
ReplyDeleteI love my Osprey. The right amount of pockets and loops for all my activities. Field work, day hiking, skiing, back country skiing, etc. (and it comes in a small!) It has also held up for several years of heavy use and abuse.
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