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TRIED&TESTED
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REVIEW: GEAR
BEST TRAVEL PACKS
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WHATWE DID...
WHATARETHEY?
A travel pack has a front zip opening to access the main compartment, plus shoulder straps and waist belt that stow away for transit. Many also have a detachable daysack for lighter loads. It’s a more versatile and travel-friendly option than top-loading rucksacks, suitcases and wheelie bags.
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SHOWER POWER
THE REAL ROAD TEST
To assess the comfort and manoeuvrability of each pack we loaded them up with 18kg of gear and negotiated the narrowest supermarket aisles, squeezed into phone booths, wiggled through crowded streets, plodded up and down steps, and wedged ourselves onto park benches and between commuters on public transport.
Without the help of rain covers and dry liners, how well do travel packs stand up to the weather? Each pack was subjected to a miniature monsoon – a thorough drenching under a garden sprinkler for three soggy hours – to test how long it would keep your kit dry.
How does each pack deal with the rigours of the road? Or the rattle of the chicken bus?To simulate 12 months of travel abuse, we chained each pack to the back of a Land Rover and dragged it over a course of sharp gravel, wet grass, muddy ruts and clay puddles, before bouncing it down a steep incline and subjecting it to a pressure wash that would strip the skin off a rhino.
SHOP TILL YOU DROP
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THERESULTS
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BERGHAUS JALAN
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REVIEW: GEAR
This looked so promising – the first real travel pack to combine wheels with a decent back system. But it needs a few tweaks. Despite being a robust, durable pack that stands up well against the elements, this pack is much heavier than the others and the wheels aren’t much consolation – with no pull-out handle you have to stoop to drag it and it’s harder to control than a labrador puppy. So? Berghaus also makes a lighter, wheel-free version – go for that instead
EAGLE CREEK MAIDEN VOYAGE
BERGHAUS JALAN 65+
EAGLE CREEK MAIDEN VOYAGE 70
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Weight: 4.35kg Dimensions : 37 x 70 x 33cm Capacity: 80L (65L + 15L daysack) Comfort: ###$$ Weatherproofing: ###$$ Durability: ###$$ TOTAL: 9/15 £125, 0845 260 0044, www.wanderlust.co.uk/reviews
Weight: 2.63kg Dimensions: 36 x 67 x 35cm Capacity: 71L (51L + 20L daysack) Comfort: ####$ Weatherproofing: ##$$$ Durability: ##### TOTAL: 11/15 £150, 01629 580484, www.eaglecreek.com
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NOMAD SAHARA 50+
VANGO PLANETTREKKER
Weight: 3.08kg Dimensions: 31 x 53 x 41cm Capacity: 65L (50L + 15L daysack) Comfort: ###$$ Weatherproofing: ###$$ Durability: ###$$ TOTAL: 9/15 £80, 0845 260 0044, www.wanderlust.co.uk/reviews
Weight: 3.36kg Dimensions: 37 x 75 x 40cm Capacity: 75L (55L + 20L daysack) Comfort: ####$ Weatherproofing: #$$$$ Durability: ###$$ TOTAL: 8/15 £100, 01475 746000, www.vango.co.uk
The road test was a seriously tough challenge for the packs but, after a quick wash, this one emerged without a scratch – you’ll probably never need to call on the lifetime guarantee. It holds 71L, including the decent-sized daysack, yet still looks curiously compact. The buckles are finger-friendly and there is plenty of squidgy padding to mould it to your back. A men’s version – Grand Voyage – is also available. So? Indestructible and comfortable – all you need is a dry liner to keep the rain out
NOMAD SAHARA
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After a gorgeously battered (but completely impractical) leather trunk, surely the Sahara is the next best thing? The well-designed interior stayed relatively dry – the zips were the only potential weak point. Fully loaded, the pack is squat and protrudes outwards, giving you an uneasy feeling that you’re about to topple back. So, while tackling the Himalayas is out, it’s a wonderfully rugged accessory for Palin wannabes. And yes, dragging it through the mud made it look even more authentic. So? Beaten-up chic that goes on and on
VANGO PLANETTREKKER
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For a smart-looking, streamlined profile you could do a lot worse than the Planet Trekker. It’s heavily padded to give maximum comfort and has a top opening as well as a zip-open front. Unfortunately, with all that padding you get a rather sweaty back and it’s rather bulky on the hips. Although the thin fabric didn’t perform brilliantly in the road test, the pack does come with a sturdy cover to protect it from the rain and airport baggage handlers. So? Sleek but slightly sweaty 156 Wanderlust June/July 2006
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CRAGHOPPER TRAVELPAC
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Overlanders and backpackers look away now – this one’s not for you. The rucksack harness is merely a token gesture, the daysack is tiny and the corners of this pack are too pointy to withstand much pressure. What redeems the pack, however, is its versatility: the telescopic handle and wheels allow you to tackle airport corridors at speed and the cavernous interior is rigid, with an integral rain cover to keep your kit in mint condition. So? Not for globetrotters but a smart choice for concrete jungles
DEUTER TRAVELLER DEUTER TRAVELLER 60
Weight: 3.81kg Dimensions: 38 x 70 x 35cm Capacity: 70L (65L + 5L daysack) Comfort: ##$$$ Weatherproofing: $$$$$ Durability: ##$$$ TOTAL: 4/15 £100, 0870 220 6603, www.craghoppers.com
Weight: 2.45kg Dimensions: 66 x 39 x 36cm Capacity: 60L (45L x 15L daysack) Comfort: #$$$$ Weatherproofing: #$$$$ Durability: ###$$ TOTAL: 5/15 £95, 0191 296 0212, www.mountainboot.co.uk
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KARRIMOR GLOBAL
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If you are considering doing any trekking, this pack is the clear winner in the comfort stakes. It sits solidly on the back without a wobble, and moves with your body as you whizz up and down gradients. Structurally, it is a serious bit of kit: the fabric is tough and the zips are bulletproof, with elasticated covers to protect them from rain and dust. It will keep out the worst of the weather and, even after the slimiest swamp dunk, will still scrub up like new. A men’s version is also available. So? Handsome and hardworking
OSPREYWAYPOINT KARRIMOR GLOBAL 50
OSPREYWAYPOINT 60
Weight: 3.72kg Dimensions: 33 x 60 x 35cm Capacity: 70L (50L + 20L daysack) Comfort: ##### Weatherproofing: ###$$ Durability: ####$ TOTAL: 12/15 £150, 0845 260 0044, www.wanderlust.co.uk/reviews
Weight: 2.54kg Dimensions: 38 x 65 x 30cm Capacity: 70L (60L + 10L daysack) Comfort: ##$$$ Weatherproofing: $$$$$ Durability: ##$$$ TOTAL: 4/15 £130, 01202 572775, www.ospreypacks.com
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The innovations of a quick-release daysack and two strange parachutestyle tensioning straps didn’t save this pack from a less-than-glittering result. Its semi-rigid structure digs painfully into your bum, and no amount of fiddling with the straps will get it snug to your back. After the road test, the fabric on top of the pack was torn and the edges were seriously frayed. Although the manufacturer makes no claim that the pack is waterproof, it was wetter than an otter’s pocket after the roadtest. A men’s version is also available. So? Weird but not wonderful Wanderlust June/July 2006 157
REVIEW: GEAR
CRAGHOPPER TRAVELPAC
This was the lightest pack we tested but that didn’t affect its durability – the fabric stood up to the gravel without a gripe and the only visible damage was some fraying on the compression straps. That’s the positive bit over. It’s not a goodlooking bag. In fact, it’s boxy, plain and still looked grubby after a pressure wash removed the mud. Adjusting the straps doesn’t pull the pack close enough to the back to make it comfy, and too much weight hangs at the base, pinching your hips. So? Lightweight but lack lustre
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REVIEW: GEAR
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MACPAC ORIENT EXPRESS
NOMAD WORLDWIDE
Weight: 2.81kg Dimensions: 40 x 65 x 38cm Capacity: 95L (70L + 25L daysack) Comfort: ##$$$ Weatherproofing: ####$ Durability: ####$ TOTAL: 10/15 £140, 01316 531313, www.macpac.co.nz
Weight: 2.54kgg Dimensions: 32 x 60 x 36cm Capacity: 65L (50L + 15L daysack) Comfort: ####$ Weatherproofing: #$$$$ Durability: ###$$ TOTAL: 8/15 £60, 0845 260 0044, www.wanderlust.co.uk/reviews
MACPAC ORIENT EXPRESS
NOMAD WORLDWIDE
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Simple but effective is the idea here – this pack is testimony to the fact that good kit doesn’t have to cost the earth. The basic back system is still fully adjustable and the compact body of the pack pulls snugly into your back – adequate for short treks. Although the fabric didn’t keep the water out, it was tough enough to withstand the road test and scrubbed up well – all this for a fraction of the price of its competition. So? A bargain budget option
Although this pack is a bit lacking in snazzy features, it is fantastically solid. At 95L it’s too big for most mortals to lug up a mountain, and it’s certainly not the most comfortable we tested. What it does best is allow you to move copious amounts of kit from A to B, keeping it clean and dry – it’s the only pack that really kept the water out. Being basic means it is easy to operate, with no fiddly mechanisms to go wrong. And the daysack is huge. So? Watertight with serious storage
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ROADTEST
Jetboil Personal Cooking System (PCS) Where tested: New Forest, UK Rating: ####$ Tested by: Mel Batt, designer With the burner base and gas canister stowed neatly inside the cooking cup, Jetboil is only just bigger than a pint – and it’s very light, so a good option for travellers. Cooking everything in one pot saves space – I had no trouble with snacks, breakfast and the odd coffee – but three-course camp suppers? Not so nifty – head to the pub instead. 158 Wanderlust June/July 2006
Pros: Compact, lightweight and speedy Cons: Attachment of cup to base is fiddly – especially when it’s hot – and you need to keep rinsing the cup So? A neat one-pot snack system £60; 01539 625493, www.jetboil.com A larger Group Cooking System (GCS) is also available at £90 25% discount for Wanderlust subscribers – check out our reader offer in Passport!
he most important consideration for travellers is the pack’s effectiveness as a suitcase, allowing you not only to get at your kit quickly and easily, but also organise it within the pack and keep it in good condition. Userfriendly is the key word here, and this goes for the detachable daysack too. This will enhance your overall travelling experience – time spent struggling with zips or repacking your dirty laundry is time not spent exploring the destination. People are different shapes and sizes – so go to the shop and try a few packs on. You need to make sure that you fit it correctly: loosen off all the shoulder straps and secure the pack just by the waist belt, which should sit two-thirds on your hips, one-third above, and should carry most of the pack’s weight. Next, if the back system is adjustable, alter it so that your shoulder blades are in the middle of the pads. Now tighten the shoulder harness so it’s snug, and finally tension the top straps to pull the pack against your back. You need to make sure the pack is comfy – a good shop will provide weights to give you a better idea of how it will feel fully loaded. Unless you are planning an extended hike or jungle foray, or aiming to swap packs with others, having an adjustable back system is not as important as you think – especially when the fancy mechanism adds a lot to the overall weight and bulk. Instead, in addition to a zip-open core, stowable harness and detachable daysack, a good travel pack will have extra carrying options to help you get it around, ranging from holdall straps and grab handles to hidden wheels and telescopic pull bars. Expert advice provided by Paul Goodyer, managing director of Nomad Travel Stores www.nomadtravel.co.uk
Thanks to Land Rover Experience for providing vehicles, mud and puddles. To book an off-road experience call 0870 264 4465, www.landroverdriving.co.uk