Decent Backpack for 3-5 day trips?

hey there,

well it's a pretty tall order to get a comfortable backpack for $100 or less. a good place to buy new at steep discounts is 'sierra trading post'. 50% off or better. you might also be able to score a good used backpack for the price you want...i'd say thats your best chance of getting the most bang for the buck. fitting a backpack is pretty important if you have a load on your back for any length of time. most good packs are adjustable to an extent. i've hiked with both poor and better packs and, mein gott, what a difference! three things i would absolutely not pass on...it has to have a good wide padded hip belt, it has to have a rigid frame that conforms to your body type and it needs to be able to balance over and close to your body/back without the weight pulling you backwards. lots of packs out there will do all these things but trying them first with a heavy load will save you a world of hurt. just remember...if it's a little uncomfortable at first it will most likely be agony in the long run.

no longer relatively so much in socal. you have to rise up in to the sierras. check out bridgeport discipline, june lake or identical, kern river above lake isabella, south fork kern river, possibly alongside the owens river... no longer too definite. possibly plenty of published personal estate alongside the owens.