waca

Hi,
I am planning a 10 day trip to Peru including the Inca Trail etc. I am starting to gather together some things for the trip and I have started to look at luggage. What size of ruck sack/ back pack would I need? 70 litres or more?

Any ideas?.

Thanks for your help,

Mark

anyegr

I think you need to go to a shop and actually try some different sizes of backpacks. Find a shop that will let you try the bags filled with heavy weights in different forms.

Some backpacks will feel ok if the load is distributed evenly, then they will be really uncomfortable if the load is distributed wrongly or if it's only half full.

Some backpacks will be fine for an hour, then they will feel too heavy.

Make sure all the straps feel comfortable and nothing will chafe against your skin. Any minor annoyance you notice in the shop could become a real problem after eight hours of walking.

A lot also depends on your own physical size and condition. A large man with lots of muscles can carry a lot more than a small man without any muscles.

thursdaysd

Not so many backpackers here, you might try asking on Lonely Planet's thorntree. Having said that, 70 liters sounds like a lot to me. What are you going to put in it?

Do you have an REI store nearby? They'll let you test drive their packs. You could also take a look at Eagle Creek's web site. Whichever company you're trekking with should give you some help, too.

suze

I agree, look at Lonely Planets forum called "The Thorn Tree".

As far as backpack size, what all are you planning to do? Are you actually going camping? When you hike the trail will you have all your possessions with you?

Smaller is better, obviously.

steve1218

Unless you are carrying all of your own camping gear and food, 70l is way to large. 40l or so will be much more comfortable and will easily carry your daily needs (rain gear, snacks, extra layer).

ShelliDawn

I carry a 60L pack when backpacking. That includes food, stove, fuel, pots, dishes... things you hopefully won't need for 10 days in Peru.

Feel free to bring the things you've gathered together to the store when you try on packs. See how things fit and how much room you really need.

mlgb

I don't really like to carry a big backpack on the street in Peru, it really targets you as a tourist carrying a lot of valuable backpacking & camera stuff. Unless you enclose it in a PacSafe net (which just screams steal the whole thing), it is too easy to break into in hostels. As far as traveling around Peru, after several trips I decided to switch to using a hardshell clamshell wheelie bag (the Heys type) that is carry-on sized, and a duffle bag. (BTW you can buy some nice duffles made of aguayo cloth in Peru). I also have a small daypack that fits inside the duffle that I use when hiking. When I arrive in a new place, I go straight to my hotel using a taxi if it's more than a few blocks. I drop off my luggage, then don't carry much when walking around (just toilet paper, money under my clothing, camera, maybe some pages from a guidebook or a map.) You can buy bottled water on every street corner, so I don't even carry that except for long distance busses or hiking.

As far as the trek, I'd encourage you to hire a porter and just carry the minimum amount during the trek. Read some trip reports on the Peru forum.