• Backpacks
  • Large backpack capacity explained
  • Large Trekking Backpack 50 liter
  • Vaude Rupal Light Daypacks/Summitpacks 28 & 18 liter
  • Chestpack
  • Hartford Gear Dyneema Packing Pods
  • HuckePacks Dyneema BeiPack Lite & Sacocche Lite
  • B&W Outdoor cases
• Dry Bags
  • aLOKSAK element-proof storage bags
  • OpSak Odor Proof bags

Backpacks

Large backpack capacity explained

Large trekking (hiking) backpacks are designed for those who take on the more demanding trails, taking plenty of gear and spending multiple nights in a tent. These are very big backpacks, with capacities that range from 50-100 liters. These framed packs also tend to be slightly heavier, offering structure, stability and a better fit.
The needed capacity of my backpack is set by the weight that I am able and choose to carry. My Solo trip multi-day targeted weight is approximately 25 kg. Generally, the weight at the start of my trip will be a little more. But, because this includes consumables, the weight decreases with circa 0,5-1 kg/day.

When Solo walking, 70+ liters will allow me to walk two weeks, divided in 50 liter (gear) plus 22 liter (consumables), at a total weight of 25 kg.
(When going solo, I use a chestpack, al-the-time and everywhere, with all the essentials like a torch, pocket knife, comms, PLB, etcetera, should something bad happen.)

Gear: 16-18 kg / using 50+ liter volume Backpack, Tent System, Sleeping System, Cooking System, Clothing, Personal Hygiene, Safety & First Aid, Photography Gear, Electronics, Fishing Gear Consumables: 0,5 kg per day / using 1,5 liter of volume per day Freeze Dried Meals, Energy & Proteine Bars, Coffee, Fresh Food, Fuel, (Water)

When Duo walking (and sharing a tent, cooking system, safety & first aid and electronics) a 50 liter pack, will allow me to take food for a week (10 liter).

My 75 liter pack at Inverarnan, the northern Loch Lomond section of the Scottish West Highland Way.	My 75 liter pack in front of the Buachaille Etive Mòr on the Glencoe section of the West Highland Way.
On my way to the Black Cuillin, Skye, Scotland.	Aqua hitchhiking in the Camas Fhionnairigh (Bay of the White Shieling), Isle of Skye, Scotland.

Large Trekking Backpack 50 liter

My Fenix Protector ‘Magnus 50’ backpack is a 50 litre backpack, originally developed for armed forces. An everlasting and reliable pack. Unintended, I did put this pack to some vigorous tests, and it came out as a winner!
At first glance, this seems to be a pretty straight forward and basic backpack. One inner compartment and all the standard features. But, this pack is a modern version of all of those features we have known for years. Yes, it is a top- and front loader, it has a ‘brain’ compartment, belt pockets and all that. But the real gems are in the designed details. Like the hooks on the shockcord making it far easier to stow jackets and raingear. Like sleeves over the full height of the pack sides, for stowing tripods, tentpoles, fishing rods, walking poles, etcetera.
It also comes with three different types of zipper pulls (for glove wearing situations, bush situations and multi purpose ones) and clever fastners to tie loose ends of webbing.
Approximately €235

These 50 liters, allow me to take all my gear for solo hikes up to a week. In winter the extra needed gear (fuel, clothing, ice axe, crampons, insulated mat, et cetera) will limit the meals I can take with approximately 3 days.

Like most army packs, it is built for personalisation by means of add-ons, using various techniques like Velcro and Molle.
My first add-on is the water bladder pouch, with a 3 liter bladder, which can be hung into the pack with existing attachments and feeding the tube through a dedicated port.
The IFAK (Individual First Aid Kit) is a very practical one. It consists out of two parts: a molle holder attached to the pack, and a detachable snap-buckle pouch.
There are several internal stuff bags as well that velcro onto anyplace inside the pack.
Fenix has hooking straps to mount things like your mat or sleeping bag on the outside of the pack, using special loops.
All in all, this is a pack with hidden modern features providing the extras that can make life easier on the trail.

See how I pack this backpack on my YouTube channel.

Fenix Protector is a European business, developing and manufacturing equipment for extreme conditions for more than 25 years. It’s owner Martin Hanuš, has an extensive knowledge and history as it comes to mountaineering and whitewater sports.

Vaude Rupal Light Daypacks/Summitpacks 28 & 18 liter

These are my two ultra lightweight Vaude Rupal Light backpacks, for alpine climbing and sporty mountain tours. I use the 18 liter Rupal Light and the 28 liter Rupal Light version. These have all the functionality I need. Made out of strong material, but yet very lightweight.
Looking for a pack to do dashes onto mountain tops, I found these awesome packs. Light enough to carry as extra load in my bigger pack and functional enough to take all the necessary gear on alpine day trips. I typically carry a hydration system, an ice axe, a ice pick, crampons, a helmet, a PLB, clothing layers, cooking gear and food. During the cold season I carry less clothing layers inside the pack, which enables me to use the smaller pack.
These packs offer superior freedom of movement, even when fully packed.

• Joint (similar) features
• Ultralight backpack designed for Alpine Climbing, Mountaineering and Via Ferrata.
• Molded padding stripes at back.
• Drawstring flap closes the pack quickly.
• Outer zip pocket.
• Side compression straps.
• Lightweight siliconized fabric.
• Reflective elements.
• Opening for hydration system.
• Back ventilation with large central ventilation channel.
• Water repellent finish Eco Finish.
• Load range: 3 – 8 kg.

Vaude is a environmentally friendly German company striving for climate-neutrality for all their products.

Chestpack

I use a chestpack, al-the-time and everywhere, with all the essentials, should something bad happen. Default, my chestpack contains the following items: – Kase Wolverine K100 filter set – Zoleo PLB & Satellite Messenger – Fenix PD32 Flashlight – Pains Wessex Compact Distress Signals – Aviator card wallet – Victorinox Trailmaster pocket knife – Cold Steel SRK camp knife – Victorinox knife sharpener – Suunto Compass – Camera Batteries & Memory Cards – Remotes for my cameras – GoPro wrenches – Mini Towl / Lens cloth – Headnet – Sharpie – iPhone 12 Pro

Hartford Gear Dyneema Packing Pods

These Hartford Gear Dyneema Packing Pods are the lightest ever. Handmade by Georgia, these packs are well made, high quality products, made to last! They have all the practical details, loops, pulls and waterproof HHH-zippers. I use the range of small, medium and large pods, weighing 24, 28 and 32 grams respectively. She offers 7 colour variations and a X-Pac version as well. Highly recommended!

HuckePacks Dyneema BeiPack Lite & Sacocche Lite

These two versatile packs are part of the HuckePacks Lite line (ofwhich the Phoenix backpack with Hipbelt+ is number one on my wishlist). Made out of wear-resistant and waterproof Dyneema Composite Fabric, they are ultralight and extremely durable. Their minimalistic, but practical design allows them to be an asset as allround add-ons. Both are feature Dyneema Composite Fabric Woven and YKK Aquaguard zippers. For those who you have the need to tweak these packs, HuckePacks has a ‘Special’ line.
Although not (yet) seam sealed, these packs protect their content well in a medium rain conditions.

The BeiPack Lite is 2 liter sack that can be attached as add-on to all backpacks in an instant, or be worn as fanny pack. I typically use this as a utility pocket carrying a camera, PLB and snacks. It has the absolute ideal practical dimensions for those aiming to go ultralight and only weighs 40 grams. It comes with a 25mm hipbelt that has an strong yet light Aero buckle.

The Sacoche Lite comes with an ultralight shoulder strap and an inner hook for key attachment. It attaches very well both inside as on the outside of backpacks and can even be worn as a utility pocket on it’s own. I use this for my phone, passport, travel documents and maps. The two outer pockets are of different sizes. On the photograph it holds my iPhone 11 for reference. The overall design is very flat, well proportioned (20x20cm) and weighs a mere 33 grams, with durable mesh and 10mm webbing with release buttons.

HuckePacks is a small shop in Germany by Mateusz Szultk. His mission is to provide Ultra Light backpacks and equipment. Or as he says:
‘A necessity became a hobby, a hobby became a passion and a passion became a calling.’
Combine that with German precision and quality and you can’t go wrong!

B&W Outdoor cases

I use these B&W outdoor type 1000 cases for my First Aid Kit and my Action Camera Kit.
I use a B&W outdoor type 2000 case, with padded dividers, for my DLSR Kit.

The exceptionally sturdy polypropylene (PP) that makes up the cases, combined with a dependable rubber seal, provides a IP67 rating waterproofness. It is stackable, dustproof, temperature-stable and airworthy (due to the automatic pressure equalization valve).

• Type 1000 specs: Inner dimensions: 250 x 175 x 95 mm, outer dimensions: 270 x 215 x 105 mm, weight: 0.7 Kg, volume: 4.1 L
• Type 2000 specs: Inner dimensions: 250 x 175 x 155 mm, outer dimensions: 270 x 215 x 165 mm, weight: 0.9 Kg, volume: 6.6 L.

Dry Bags

aLOKSAK element-proof storage bags

These aLOKSAK element-proof storage bags are the ultimate in keeping air, humidity, water, dust and sand away from your gear. They are particularly suited for smaller and flatter gear. These bags come in very many different sizes (not specified in cm, but in inches), making them usable for a host of different purposes. Some purposes and items I use them for are:

• Climbing chalk
• Maps. I find the 12″x12″ bags to be a perfect fit for my maps.
• Pegs. Yes, they are that strong!
• First aid supplies I keep different types of products seperated in small bags, which are easy to recognize in these clear bags.
• General repair kits Again, easy to see what’s in which bag. Silicon repair, sharpners, clothing repair, tape & tie wraps, et cetera.
• Sunscreen lotion and other oily stuff, which you do not want on your clothing.
• Backpack head lining. I use a larger bag as a liner for my backpack head, to keep my valuables dry.
• Sketch- and Notebooks
• Photographic gear like lavalier mics and filters
• Pyro signals
• et cetera

OpSak Odor Proof bags

These are a must have for ‘leave no trace’ campers. (Which I hope we all are.) Because these OPSAK Odor Proof barrier bags will hold any kind of waste and keep the odeurs inside the bag. A feature that’s equally usefull in not attracting unwanted wildlife (Which is pretty much all wildlife, as we leave wildlife be.) They are long lasting, resealable, washable, watertight, airtight, and odorproof, so these are an excellent solution for:

• Fresh caught fish. As an ultralight hillwalker, I allways struggled to find dedicated, light and small bags to keeping caught fish seperate from other gear while fishing. Now I have these.
• Waste (including human waste). One of the principals of ‘leave no trace’ is not leaving any waste behind. On my trips, lasting more than a week, this waste will get smelly if not stored in an Opsak.
• Food. Any food. Not just to keep it seperated and bundled in portions, but to keep it from attracting wildlife, critters and what not, as well. We do not want animals to associate people we food.