News You Can Use-Pack Selection

Dear Parents and Trekkers,

​One of the most important investments to make towards an epic Philmont adventure is a good pack that can take on what Philmont can dish out. All your worldly possessions for ten days will go into your pack and then some! Philmont recommends a 70-75 Liter pack with a load rating of 50 pounds or more. The load rating is an important factor to consider. If you use a pack with a lower load rating, say 30-35 pounds, you may find the weight does not properly distribute to your hips and goes to your shoulders instead, especially if your pack weight when fully loaded, exceeds the load capacity of the pack. When full of your personal gear, everyone should have at least a basket ball-sized space at the top of your pack for our grub and crew gear for the trek. We start out with 3-4 days of food, and will replenish our food supply every three-to-four days while on the trail. These pack sizes are what Philmont recommends and this has born itself out from observation and experience on the last two treks I went on with Troop 777. Also, if you look at packs on line, you will see listings for pack sizes ranging from Extra-Small to Large and sometimes Extra Large. This does not refer to the volume of the bag but rather to torso length. Correctly measuring your torso length is very important. This is done from an line across your back to the left and right iliac crests of your hipbone and then measuring upward to your C7 vertebra, located at the top of your shoulders. A youth pack will NOT cut it at Philmont. For starters, youth packs are for youth of approximately 14 years of age or younger. the torso length of the pack frame or stay can be adjusted as your torso grows up to 14ish years, which is when your torso generally stops growing. Secondly, youth packs typically lack ample padding on the shoulder straps or hip belt to make for a comfortable ride when loaded and are often not rated to carry a Philmont-sized load. Most adult sized packs, for both men and women, have a range of adjustment of generally 4-6 inches of torso length to "fine tune" the fit. A proper fitting pack makes for a more comfortable carry for your days on the trail. Once you get your pack, regardless where, I am happy to adjust the fit properly for you. Also, when choosing your pack, take a look at its static weight or the weight of the pack itself. Load hauling packs generally weigh four to five pounds and that's without anything in it. While the lighter pack can be the better choice, buying a pack can be like buying a pair of shoes-what delivers a great carry for you ma not deliver the same comfort for someone else. That's why trying on a pack can be an important option BEFORE you buy. If you buy on line, make sure you are good with their return policy. The last piece of advice is NOT to wait until days before our first training trip in April to pull the trigger on your pack. What if REI, for example, does not have the pack you like in the correct size and it has to be ordered? Here's a suggestion-come down to the Charlotte soon and just try on packs. This will give you a good idea on pack size and which packs might be more comfortable to you. The folk in the Camping section know the drill on how to properly fit you in a great pack. They also know what is needed for Philmont. If you buy on line, please read the pack reviews! If customers generally rate the pack high, then it is most likely could work well for you. 

Now to pass on some great savings I found on packs on the Campsaver.com site! Check these out:

• Boreas Halo 75-not personally familiar with the pack, but the brand is excellent and is properly rated.
• Granite Gear Nimbus Trace Access 70 (Both Men and Women specific packs)-I l really like this pack and this is the one I will be taking to Philmont. I will have mine at the clinic if you want to check it out.
• Bergans of Norway Trollhette 75-This pack gets decent reviews. 
• Gregory Amber 70 (Womans) Not personally familiar with this specific pack, but Gregory makes excellent packs.
• Gregory Stout 75-Again, not personally familiar with this specific pack, but Gregory makes excellent packs.

Other packs to seriously consider include the REI Traverse 70, The REI Crestrail 70, the Osprey Atmos and Aura 65 AG packs, the Osprey Aether and Aerial 70 packs, and the Gregory Baltoro 75 and Diva 75 packs. These are the most popular packs in the REI wheelhouse for Philmont-bound Scouts and Scouters and are available to try on at the Charlotte REI. If you prefer one of these packs, then wait for a members-only coupon and save 20% or watch for deals on these packs or shop on-line for a deal on sites such as Sierra Trading Post!

Again, if you have any questions about how to select your pack, please respond to this email, give me a call or even better, come see me sometime at REI. Week nights when I am working are best. Pack testing and fitting can take a while, but it can be well worth it!

Yours in Scouting and All Things Philmont,
Mr. Brown