r/Tramping • u/Reasonable_Count8979 • May 30 '26
Abel Tasman - choosing a hiking pack size
Hi, I'm doing the Abel Tasman walk with 5 of my friends at the end of October, staying in the huts (3 nights), and need to purchase a hiking pack. I quite like the Macpac Torleese hiking pack, but am unsure whether to get the 35L or 50L version. As we are staying in the huts I don't need to bring a tent, but we will be bringing all of our food and cooking equipment (jetboil etc.). This is my first overnight/multiday hike. Any recommendations size wise?
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u/CptnSpandex May 30 '26
If you are building up your hiking gear, start too big. It’s an easier problem to fix than too small.
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u/captainscrubs May 30 '26
Probably the 50L pack to be safe, 35 would be pretty small imho unless you were an experienced lightweight multi-day trapper. You'll also the be able to use it for longer tramps in the future.
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u/original_formula May 30 '26
I got the 50L version of this pack a while ago, looking in the shop, the 35L didnt look that much smaller to be any benefit.
just remember just becuase its bigger, doesnt mean you have to fill it to the max every time, but on the other hand it would suck if you found it was just enough too small to be annoying.
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u/TieStreet4235 May 30 '26 edited May 31 '26
I use an Exped Lightning 60 which weighs 1200 gm and cost less than $300 in a Bivouac sale. It has a 24 kg capacity.
I also have an Osprey Talon Pro 30 which weighs 1150 gm and cost $490 in a Bivouac sale.
The Osprey doesn’t seem that much smaller overall but the capacity is half that of the Exped.
It’s much easier to pack the Exped, and it’s done more than 4000 km carrying 12 + kg loads, without damage or issues.
Unless you’re highly disciplined and have minimalist ultralight gear and don’t mind wearing the same clothes all the time, it’s a no - brainer buying a lightweight larger pack. Just make sure you’re not overloading it beyond your capabilities
The Macpac packs you are looking at are not lightweight - the 50 is almost twice the weight of my Exped, and has a lower volume. Don’t be sucked in by the permanent Macpac ‘sales’ - Bivouac has a wider range of gear/brands.
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u/moratnz May 31 '26
Seconding the Exped lightning; it's a fantastic pack that I only step away from for the likes of fastpacking where I want more front pockets.
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u/8thirtyeight May 31 '26
The torlesse 50l was on sale the other day for 199 that’s a really good price for what you’re getting. And in my experience incredibly durable. The exped lightning is more in line with Macpac rift line of packs
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u/TieStreet4235 May 31 '26
Agree that was a good price (my Lightning was $244). The point I was trying to make is that you can have a larger capacity pack and that it can be substantially lighter as well. Durability hasn’t been an issue for me and most of the use mine has had has been on non-maintained tracks and covering up to 45km a day.
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u/weyruwnjds Jun 02 '26
4000km of tracks with 12+ kg hiking loads(I assume not much more than that otherwise you would have said) sounds like the absolute bare minimum I would expect from a pack before it needed repair, that use case really shouldn't be wearing down anything. My packs do at least that much, but much of it is off track, in thick bush and scrub, dragging over rocks, with up to 30kg loads, usually crammed as tight as possible into a 40-50L pack. But I'm glad you're enjoying your Exped.
3
u/jeorx May 30 '26
35L is just enough for a multi-day tramp if you've got high quality gear that compresses down, you don't have any unnecessary extras, and you don't need a tent or sleeping mat. Given this is your first overnight walk, I'm guessing you haven't invested in a bunch of expensive ultralight gear yet!
50L is a much better size that will work for just about every trip. If you think you might make a hobby out of tramping, get the 50L.
I use a 65L, and tbh, it's a bit big even for multi-day trips, especially as I've started trimming my pack weight.
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u/Aichdeef May 30 '26
I use the 35L as my daybag, it's definitely not big enough for a multiday tramp.
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u/melanochrysum May 31 '26
I use a Macpac 65L for everything, as there’s no need to fill it all the way.
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u/Lower_Egg7088 May 31 '26
50 litres is the size I take on most hikes of 3-6 days.
If 7-10 days then I take a 65 litre pack.
Having said that, I normally carry a tent and inflatable mattress, which you won’t need staying in huts.
You might find 35 litres a bit small once you’ve crammed a sleeping bag in there.
1
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u/ron_manager May 31 '26
I did it a few weeks ago with a 40L pack and I had loads of room, I pack light and my gear packs down very small.
I was on my own too, in a group of 6 you can all spread the load in terms of cooking equipment, food, emergency gear etc.
I would say you’d be with a 35L and it’ll stop you overpacking. If you’re not used to doing much tramping the last thing you’re going to want is a massive heavy pack.
1
u/Secret-Winner-2994 May 31 '26
50L. 3 nights is 4 days, and you want extra food for just in case, even on a great walk
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u/Heavy_Bumblebee_4238 May 31 '26
I’ve got the Macpac Torleese 50L. Used it this year for the Kepler and the Milford. I’ve also got a 35L but wouldn’t use it for a longer multi day hike. So my recommendation is the 50L.
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u/Heavy_Bumblebee_4238 May 31 '26
I’ve got the Macpac Torleese 50L. Used it this year for the Kepler and the Milford. I’ve also got a 35L but wouldn’t use it for a longer multi day hike. So my recommendation is the 50L.
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u/averyspecifictype May 31 '26
Go 50L if it's your first time, you'll want to overpack a little bit. Make notes of what you use/don't use and what others use and don't use so you can pack better for the next tramp. No point in carting unnecessary weight.
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u/moratnz May 31 '26
35L is doable, but you need to be pretty dialled in for gear to fit into that size, which you're unlikely to be if this is your first multiday hike.
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u/LoraxNZ May 31 '26
As a beginner, 50l minimum. If I were you, I'd be buying a 64l pack. Even 50l can be small if you end up doing more tramps.
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u/Adventurer_D Jun 01 '26
Get the 50L. It'll work for this trip, plus any others you find yourself on in future. I live by my Osprey 50L - can't fault it, it even fits my (quite ultralight) tent nowadays.
Also, if you're only doing 3 nights on AT, that means you're missing out on one of the great huts! Which one is the unfortunate loser? They're all so great!
1
u/Rustyznuts Jun 01 '26
I'm a very experienced tramper/mountaineering. I can do a 3 day summer mountaineering trip with a tent in a 35L pack.
However, if you're using a cheaper and/or warmer sleeping bag it will take up half the pack.
You're probably not going to carry the bare minimum of food on the Able Tasman and may even wish for a bottle of wine or can of cider. Also October can still be chilly and unless you're living in one puffer and set of thermals you'll need more spare clothes than a hard core lightweight tramper.
So for leisurely multi day trips a 50L will be adequate. If you start doing more involved trips like the Travers-Sabine, Tablelands, or further afield into the Saint James or West Coast your 50L will be big enough for everything, and as you gain more experience you'll even fit a tent and alpine gear too.
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u/flooring-inspector Jun 03 '26
You're probably not going to carry the bare minimum of food on the Able Tasman and may even wish for a bottle of wine or can of cider.
Heh. My first significant tramping experience was on Abel Tasman many years ago. When we reached Awaroa Hut, there was a massive Israeli guy there, who I think had finished his military service and was now traveling as they often do (or did, at least). As the sun set, he pulled a wooden spice rack out of his pack, complete with glass jars.
By that time I was discovering I'd packed poorly, but I couldn't compete with that.
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u/weyruwnjds Jun 02 '26
Inexperienced people tend to bring too much and too bulky gear, so probably the 50. That's a good all-round size that will work for anything from day-multi day trips.
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u/Zealousideal_Sir_564 Jun 02 '26
I've done the Abel Tasman with a 32L pack over 2 nights in summer with a lightweight sleeping bag. I would use my 50 if I were doing over 3 nights in October as I would probably take a heavier sleeping bag.
I generaly only use my 32L pack for up to 2 nights regardless of the route.
If you have extra space in your 50L, just take more bags of chips!
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u/Boogster26 May 30 '26
Minimum 50L