rucksack for teenage hiker/camper..... calling those in the know about these things!

[lilolilmanchester]

DS (16) is planning a walking holiday with friends after GCSEs (if it happens, discussions re wisdom/pitfalls etc will be another thread!!) DS has birthday coming up and am planning on buying rucksack for this trip (let's assume it's happening...)
Walking for a week, will need to carry sleeping bag/foam mat and take his turns in carrying tent/cooking gear etc. Not expecting any extreme conditions nor the need to carry excessive weight. Seem to be some potentials in the Argos catalogue so please consider these too and tell me why not if they are no good, and suggest alternatives. Thanks in advance

bump

I'd say take him to Milelts or somewhere like that and let him try a load on.

DD1 doing D of E walk soon and I suspect she is going to really struggle with her backpack.

Millets even.

good idea janeite. Was hoping to get a rucksack as a surprise present for him but maybe as you say it is best he chooses his own. Would still welcome any suggestions as a starting point.....

DD is hiring one from school, so not seen it yet. Sorry - no help whatsoever.

you were a help - if we can't get some advice on one to buy as a surprise, will take him to Millets or Blacks or similar - i hadn't thought of that (unbelievably!) so you did give me an idea

another bump

Grrrr. Dd is currently sulking in her room, having given up on packing her rucksack, because her idea of a warm fleece does not match mine and dp's idea of a warm fleece.

Bumping for you!

DD1 is off this week on a silver DofE expedition with this rucksack which is plenty big enough for her. They also do a larger one for about a tenner more.

grrrr indeed Janeite!Thanks for bumping and thanks for the link ShrinkingViolet, looks ideal.

something good which DD1 discovered about her Tesco rucksack this weekend, is that it comes complete with a rain cover - a lot of the more expensive ones don't, so you need to buy one seperately.

raincover an added bonus Violet! Aldi had a similar rucksack for £19.99... undecided whether it's a bargain or inferior quality - anyone got an informed P.O.V. on this please?

Buy cheap - pay twice.

Get thee off to Blacks on Deansgate and get proper advice Lilo.

That is my informed opinion.

I am the Queen of wishing I'd bought decent rather than cheap tat. I've been caught out on Kinder Scout with inferior gear too many times!

would normally agree with you doodle except have been caught out with more expensive but actually crap goods from Blacks in the past. good idea to go anyway, at least to look and compare quality. Price not really an issue, very happy to pay more for quality, but hate being ripped off if quality no better. Good advice tho, will go look

There's a Go Outdoors in Cheadle - they're good too if you don't fancy Blacks.

we must live fairly close to each other Doodle!!! Drove past Go Outdoors only yesterday!!

I'm in Hazel Grove Lilo.

If you want to try out go to Millets etc, then try looking online at any Scouts or Guides suppliers, they can be cheaper. I have to agree that the more expensive seem better as they can be more comfortable, and the last thing you need is your undies falling into a puddle from the bottom of your bag whilst you are walking, make sure you give any stitching a good hard yank!

Steady on Silverfox, you don't want to be giving anything a good hard yank round these parts unless you know the owner very well indeed.

Stitching on your bag, not your undies! Although sensible underwear whilst camping and hiking is a must! I have had to hand out cream to sooth thong burn before now!

LOL: 16 year old boys and good hard yanks go together in so many different contexts!!!
Am in Sale Doodle, so not so far from you at all.

take a nosey at these people they have a shop on the A49 in warrington (not far from Ikea etc) and the warehouse is nearby. Prices are fantastic. Agree with the others who said go somewhere with a good range and try a few on, you get the feel for the make which will suit him best. I use 55litre one - still packed up the camping gear in it last weekend! (but now along with several more bags and a couple of kids - lol!) There are some fab ones where you get a washbag or daysac attached to the main body of the rucksack, which looks handy if they are planning to go on sites rather than middle-of-nowhere type territory. My main suggestion is get one with as many adjustable bits as poss, padded waist strap and a stretchy shoulder-level front clasp (basically a strap across the chest) and a good, shaped, frame inside it.

thanks gigglewitch. Tho what a blow to HAVE to go visit somewhere near IKEA.....

btw, best plan is to put a waterproof liner inside it, and you can get all sorts of things to go over them to make sure that the contents stay in and stay dry this sort of thing and tbh the £1.99 variety do the job perfectly!

go on, force yourself