Newb here, advice on a pack. Blimbing pack maybe??

[themontashu]

Hey ya'll. I'm a long time mountain biker/ shop monkey. I also do a bit of backpacking, and figured I would combine the 2 this summer. I'm starting to do my research so I can get gear together well in advance.

Starting to do some research on packs, and was thinking a climbing pack could do well. They make some that are pretty large and they are in theory meant to use rock climbing with a helmet. Thinking about one of these 2. What do you guys think as far as size/ amount of weight I'll want to carry/ what I can put on the bike.

http://www.rei.com/product/816105/rei-pinnacle-35-pack

http://www.rei.com/product/816103/rei-pinnacle-50-pack

[JReeves]

I'll chime in...
Those packs are awesome looking, especially the simple roll top closure.  However, there are better options for bikepacking.  They would work, but I'd be weary of the comfort after a few 10+ hour days.  Remember how "different" your cycling position is compared to hiking/walking vertically.  The weight of those packs is another drawback, over 3 1/2 pounds.  Volume; focus on getting your kit down in size(volume and weight both).  Those are both really large packs in the world of bikepacking.  The standard go to for many people(myself included) is the Osprey Talon 22.  Packing for my first trip I thought that there was no way I was going to get enough stuff into it.  Since that first trip, my gear has been cut in half.  You can truly get by with way less than you "think" you need, so I'd start there.  If you give yourself the ability to carry 50L of stuff, you're going to find worthless weight to put in it, and that translates to a less enjoyable time and less miles covered at the end of the day.  If you're worried that 22L isn't doable, maybe because you don't yet have a frame bag or seat bag, try the Talon 33L.  The extra 11L would mean that I could get all my gear into it for 3 days without anything mounted on the bike.  Weight wise, I'd shoot for a max of 25 pounds on your back, including water if you have a hydration reservoir in your bag...  So figuring dry, under 20 pounds(2L water is 4.4lbs).  A seat bag and/or frame bag really help with space and weight carrying, as you can put the heavy stuff off your back and let your bike do the work.
Regardless of what pack you start with, you'll have a blast!  Don't get too caught up in the gear, I'm often guilty of that myself...
-Jesse

[chrisx]

I have this one.  It is comfortable.
http://www.rei.com/product/780219/osprey-exos-46-pack
I also have a REI brand Mars 85. It is NOT comfortable for hiking or biking.
I got the Osprey at the REI garage sale, (it was on sale), I did not choose that size, I took the one they had.
It is comfortable on the bike for long hours.  It is made to hold 25 pounds, but I have never had that much in there.   

[Done]

I'm a big fan of my Wingnut Enduro for bikepacking, but it's probably too small for backpacking. But Wingnut also make the MPS, which can carry up to 40 litres--and it's modular, which means that you can optimize it for biking or hiking.

http://wingnutgear.com/product_details.cfm?product_id=162

[chrisx]

I should have mentioned; I need a bigger pack because I frequently stash my bike and walk into the hills for a few days.  For a bike trip only, a smaller pack would work fine. 

[Slim]

Those REI packs look to tall in the top.

For biking you need something that goes down from the shoulder straps, so it doesn't hit you in the head when you hit the brakes on a downhill. Think water drop shape from the side-view.

Bike packs should also have a flexible backpanel, since your spine is curved out on the bike, rather than the normal S curve of a standing person.

Take your helmet to the store, try filling the pack up with some volume and bending over in the bike position and have someone push the bottom of the pack up to see it it hits your helmet.

Volumes from different brands can not be compared, one 25l might be bigger than another 40l. That being said, 20l-40l would seem the most common size for  most people.

Packs should be light. 3lbs is really the upper limit, considering you can get plenty of packs under that weight.

I love my Wingnut.