Good Rucksack for Backpacking?(plus sleeping bag)

[SuperLoudPoppingAction]

I'm not sure how cheap I can get away with.
I'm 5'4, and high-waisted, if that matters.
I'd like something fairly light and comfy.

I was looking in 'the great outdoors' and mourning how quiet it was when I remembered this topic.

Also, sleeping bags - light for backpacking. Snugpak softies are appealing to me - are they ok?

[RaisingSteam]

Is it for the trek of a lifetime or something? I think like boots, rucksacks you really need to try on. Osprey/Lowe Alpine maybe?

Since reading "Wild" by Cheryl Strayed on my Kindle I'd spare no expense on lightweight kit!

[antimatter]

When you say backpacking - what kind of journey are you planning?

I bought this rucksack last year and what I like about it is the pockets it has - yo ucan separate your clothes and is very comfy. My dd just came back from interrailing and she also found it veery comfy and practical:
www.decathlon.co.uk/forclaz-70l-hiking-rucksack-dark-grey-id_8300839.html

I know you can spend more but this would be my choice for budget kit.

Sleeping bag choice depends on where you are going and how long for.

[antimatter]

I am 5'2'' my dd is 5' tall

[SuperLoudPoppingAction]

Sorry to disappear.
Thank you both.

When I say backpacking, I mean being able to carry everything I need for camping on my back for 2-3 days (would be able to top up water).
I've done it before but not for a while and I feel too creaky to use a sub-par bag and deal with back ache etc.

I was thinking about 65l size but I think some folk manage with smaller as everything seems to have shrunk since I last bought things.

I probably do need to try on bags, don't I?

Sleeping bag would be for Scotland-type summer temperatures and for 2-3 days at the most.

That scene in the film of 'Wild' where she packs her huge mountain of things from REI makes me wince.

[cyclecamper]

You probably do need to try on bags if you can, and a rucksack designed for women might be helpful for the shorter back. Alternatively, an ultra light one from somewhere like //backpackinglight.co.uk might work and the lighter weight is valuable (and their service is second to none!)

[antimatter]

You need to borrow 65l and try to fit everything in.
You can walk with much smaller rucksacks. You just have to pack light.

[CatherineDeB]

You do need to try on bags really, it would be a pain if you got it wrong. I have got a nice osprey bag and recently bought a new bag and mat from alpkit, they weigh nothing, like a kilo for the pair of them from memory, plus a silk liner.

Trouble is though that light and cheap don't really come together imo so if you want cheap you have to carry more weight, or light and spend more money!

[Artandco]

I would get a smaller bag. 65l is huge really. I'm 5'4 and can't carry a full 65l rucksack

[CatherineDeB]

Just checked, my pack is 66l and weighs 1.75kg. It is a good size for carrying gear incl tent, cooking, cold/wet weather gear and everything else. DH's is bigger than mine and Dd just carries a daypack.

We have enough room for all eventualities carrying everything between us.

[CatherineDeB]

OP, last August we had two weeks of lows between 7 and 9 degrees up the west coast and islands .

[CatherineDeB]

Just thinking about 65l being loads .... Not here it isn't, we are cycling coast in a couple of weeks and each have two 40l and two 25l panniers, an 80l rack bag and 7 or 9l bar bag. So more than 430l. Same people, same tent, bags, pads, trangia, plates and cups.

Twice the backpacking volume if we need it just because we have wheels.

[Sadik]

I'm 5' 1" / 7 stone, so a bit smaller than you, but I have a 50l rucksack and won't go any bigger - the advantage I find is that it forces me to pack light. I'd agree with the advice to try them on - I'm still using my 25 yr old one because I've yet to find anything that fits me better, I find so many are too long to be comfortable. (I really need to go to a good outdoors store and find a new one though because it really is getting to the point of being un-patchable .)

[Abzs]

I have a deuter 35+10 and can manage 5 days in the cold (including axe/crampons/harness) if sharing a tent. I'm 5'1 and a size 10, so my kit is smaller. For the same trip dh would use a 50+ litre bag.

As a former outdoor shop employee I have to second the advice to go and try rucksacks on. The different brands and back systems will all fit differently and some will feel much better than others. Also ask if they shop staff have a weight to put in, so you can try a bag loaded (we usually used a climbing rope as they were on the next bit of wall).

[NotCitrus]

I got one from Amazon which was approved for Duke of Edinburgh participants, which I thought would be good as I hAve dodgy joints, and it's very adjustable and practical and hard wearing.