New Pack !!!

[Sum_Devl]

Well, the wife surprised me today with a new pack for my birthday :ya: she got me the new Osprey Kestrel 48 !!! It is SWEET, seems like it will ride pretty good on the trails. I had been trying to decide between it or the Atmos 50, so she went ahead and made my mind up for me (women are great at that aren't they.) Any who, I think I will be set for awhile now that I have my 3rd pack. She asked me why I need 3 different packs :blahblah: , so I asked her why she needed 20 different purses? That was the end of that discussion. Here are some pic's of the new pack and few of my others.

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm295/Sum_Devl/IMG_0442.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm295/Sum_Devl/IMG_0425.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm295/Sum_Devl/IMG_0432.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm295/Sum_Devl/IMG_0428.jpg

Here is my Osprey Atmos 25, great day pack. I have used this for a few overnighters with a little over 25lb.s in it, and it rode like a dream (I highly recommend this pack to anyone!):2thumbs: I decided to use it as my own smitty gear seat cover for the summer since the summers around here are so horrible, I don't know whats worse the dam bugs or the humidity!

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm295/Sum_Devl/IMG_0443.jpg

And this is my big dog, Mountain Hardwear Maesrto 65. It rides pretty good, really stable and you do have a lot of movement with this particular frame style, but I had chance to do it all over again I would either get the Osprey Argon 70 or the Gregory Baltoro 70.

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm295/Sum_Devl/IMG_0446.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm295/Sum_Devl/IMG_0448.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm295/Sum_Devl/IMG_0449.jpg

Just to give you idea how much bigger the Maestro is, here is a side by side shot (also I am about 5'10" and 205lb.s if you refer back to the pic's with me wearing the pack).

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm295/Sum_Devl/IMG_0451.jpg

[Mark Doiron]

Looks great! So, what are your plans to do with that brand new pack?

[pearl-drum-man]

Nice! I have a High Sierra day-pack which has served me well for a few years, but I'll definitely be looking to upgrade it sooner than later.

[Sum_Devl]

Looks great! So, what are your plans to do with that brand new pack?

Unfortunately I will only be able to do a few overnighters here and there with it. With my job it is real hard to find time to do much of anything, and it kind of sucks because my wife does not share the same interest in the outdoors as I do, (so when I do have time she would rather I spent it with her and not in the woods) which in her defense this is a hobby that I picked up after we were married.

I have been on a couple of 24 mile hikes (in and out) over in Southern Illinois Shawnee National Park right outside of the Garden on the Gods on the River to River Trail. I have also done some small winter overnighters (about a 12 mile loop) in the Hoosier National Forest on the 2 Lakes Loop Trail, and I have had a chance to go down to the Mammoth Cave National Park in KY and do one of the loops down there as well, I think it is about a 15 mile loop.

These are nothing compared to allot of the things you have done, but hay this is the best I can do with what I have (I hate corn fields). I have allot of places I would love to go and see, but who knows maybe one of these days.

[Sum_Devl]

Nice! I have a High Sierra day-pack which has served me well for a few years, but I'll definitely be looking to upgrade it sooner than later.

Thanks!! Like I said if you are looking into a replacement I would highly recommend the Osprey Atmos 25 if you can still find it (I noticed they no longer offer it on their website), if not they do have the 35. Other packs I would recommend would be the Gregory Z30 or anything Granite Gear offers, I have heard a lot of good things about there packs.

[sully151]

Great packs all around!

My wife and I have a deal. 2 nights in camp then 2 nights in the lodge. If I am backpacking or there are no bathrooms in camp I am on my own.

[08JK]

Osprey makes great packs, I have 6 of them in my gear closet. :yup:

[C_Kyle]

Nice. I almost ordered an Osprey Argon a couple of weeks ago, but didn't. Instead, I picked up the new style Gregory Baltoro. It's a pretty nice pack.

[Sum_Devl]

Nice. I almost ordered an Osprey Argon a couple of weeks ago, but didn't. Instead, I picked up the new style Gregory Baltoro. It's a pretty nice pack.

Thanks, you will have to let me know how you like it. I have been considering trading in my Maestro for one of the two.

[Andrews]

My son and I have a couple of Osprey Aether packs (I have an 85 and he has a 70) as well as a couple of the Daylite packs that attach to them. Osprey definitely makes great packs - I don't think I'll every use another brand. Our big packs are large enough to carry everything we need (and then some) for our Scout trips and the Daylites attach to the outside of them for extra space. The Daylites also make great day packs or bike packs - you can fit a 2 liter water bladder in a separate compartment in them and you can fit more inside them than they look like they would hold.

Enjoy your packs!
Steve

[mcds99]

Your wife bought you a backpack, are you sure she's not trying to tell you something?:dontknow2:

[Sum_Devl]

Your wife bought you a backpack, are you sure she's not trying to tell you something?:dontknow2:

:thinking: :?: :hmm:

I could only wish!! :harhar: :rotflmao2::rotflmao2:

[Kes]

Very nice. I have the Osprey Atmos 50 and love it.

[Sum_Devl]

Very nice. I have the Osprey Atmos 50 and love it.

Ya, I will finally get to see how this one rides next weekend. :clap: We are heading down to Mammoth Cave National Park for an overnighter. As of right now it doesn't look like I will need to take to much tho, considering they are calling for mid 60's during the day and a low in the mid 40's.

I noticed you are from Southern IL, are you close to Shawnee National Forest? I've been there a few times on parts of the River to River Trail.

[tomb raider]

Great packs, In the market for a new one. Will definately check out the osprey

[Sum_Devl]

Great packs, In the market for a new one. Will definately check out the osprey

Like I said in the first post, I highly recommend Osprey or Gregory both make great packs, and they both offer a great range of pack from ultra lighters to expedition series. If you are not afraid of a big price tag I would also recommend Arcteryx, their packs are geared more towards mountaineering and things of that nature, but man they are killer!!

[DavidEllzey]

The wife and I use Atmos 60s and have hundreds of miles on them. The more we hike the more I am certain that I will never need a larger pack. I just keep carrying less and less but going further and further!

Dave

[Kes]

Yeah, the 60 seems to really be a great size pack.

[Sum_Devl]

Finally got to take the pack out for the weekend, it rode great :thumbsup: great fit, no cutting, rubbing, or anything of the sort. I only had about 25 pounds with water and food, but I couldn't imagine it being uncomfortable even with more weight, the hip belt and shoulder straps are padded very well. Here are a few pics from the hike.

Here is a pic of me with my hiking buddies. (I'm the goofy looking one in the grey shirt.)
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm295/Sum_Devl/hike1.jpg

This was almost everyone that went on the hike (our local gear shop organizes group hikes so I go when I can), I think there was actually about 25 total.
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm295/Sum_Devl/hike6.jpg

A pic of my buddy Seth in front of a rock bluff.
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm295/Sum_Devl/hike3.jpg

This was in the middle of nowhere off the trial (looks to be an old fire place).
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm295/Sum_Devl/hike9.jpg

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm295/Sum_Devl/hike7.jpg

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm295/Sum_Devl/hike8.jpg

Another of many nice rock bluffs.
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm295/Sum_Devl/hike10.jpg

Pic of me on the trail
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm295/Sum_Devl/hike2.jpg

Be hanging out by the fire.
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm295/Sum_Devl/hike4.jpg

Last but not least, Seth getting ready for bed.
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm295/Sum_Devl/hike5.jpg