Expedition Rucksacks
From the high Himalayas and Greenland’s frozen ice cap to Scotland`s West Highland Way, our expedition rucksacks have been used on numerous expeditions around the world offering unrivalled performance and reliability when carrying seriously heavy loads.
What will your expedition entail?
If your expedition comprises of a long distance trek or mountaineering in a continuous push, without setting up camps or depositing gear, it is easier to find the right sack. Simply get all the kit you are going to carry and get it in the smallest sack you can comfortably get away with.
After your expedition
It is worth bearing in mind what you are going to do with the sack after the expedition. You might be planning more expeditions where you are going to use the sack or you might be buying a rucksack specifically for this one expedition. If so, you might want to consider getting a slightly smaller rucksack and overloading it as it will be more usable afterwards than a cavernous expedition sack which is HUGE!
Managing kit for duel-activity trips
Our rucksacks have purposely long compression straps to allow you to put tents etc., underneath them. You could also use rucksack side pockets which at 17L a pair can dramatically increase the size of your pack yet upon removal leave a smaller, more practical sack. This allows you to get the right size rucksack for most of the trip whilst allowing you to cope with the wrong size for small sections. For instance, if you are hiking in to a base camp to then go climbing or mountaineering, you might consider taking a smaller sack for the climbing and having it massively overloaded during the walk in and out. Or you might use a huge 90L+20L Expedition sack, which would be great for the walk in and out but could be difficult on the climb with smaller loads and whilst wearing a harness. The best option would be to have two sacks but that is obviously impractical, expensive and increases your already huge load. You therefore have to come to a compromise and find the sack that best suits your principal use of the sack.
Adjustability
Whatever size rucksack you choose, you are presumably going to be carrying heavy loads for long distances, and this calls for optimised comfort and support around the hips and back. Our expedition sack back systems are built around twin alloy back stays for strength and stability, also giving adjustability. It is worth noting here that this refers to adjustability within a margin. No rucksack can be made to fit everyone.
A 5ft female cannot fit the same rucksack as a 6ft 4 male. You still need the right size back length, the adjustability allows you to make small scale adjustments to maximise comfort depending on factors such as the load or the amount of clothing you are wearing. The position of the shoulder straps is easily adjusted to provide a custom fit. Comfort and security is assured with the use of large bi-laminate hip belts and lumbar pad. Top and side tension straps combine to stabilise heavy loads.
Wherever your expedition is and whatever the aim, it is likely to be in a remote environment. In such environments simplicity, reliability and durability of your equipment are paramount. We firmly believe you will not find a more durable and easy to maintain expedition rucksack system which will cope with long days and heavy loads.