hiking backpacks?

Glaucus · 18 Jul 2015 at 17:33

After doing the West Highland Way the other week. I need a new backpack, the one I had destroyed my shoulders and back as do most of them.
I find backpacks the shoulder straps are to close together and thus turn in in their sides, then obviously dig in.

Anyone know any good back packs for broad shoulders and even better decent fitting guide, or a UK company that can do customer or semi custom packs. Found several in America, including ones that do Osprey packs but can put the packs together from a range of parts. But can't see any uk shops doing these semi custom osprey packs.

Or even a better hiking forum. Tried outdoorsmagic and LDWA before, neither of which been to impressed with. Think I've been spoilt by this forum, sheer number of users and knowledge, except not to much in hiking.

Wish zimmerbuilt was in the uk, they look excellent.

Glaucus · 20 Jul 2015 at 14:57

Thanks, will go post on bushcraft forum, any idea of any shops that stock the sabre?

Glaucus · 20 Jul 2015 at 15:12

Not worried about cost. If it's worth it.
Spent a fortune on my boots, but worth every penny.

Glaucus · 21 Jul 2015 at 20:40

Yeah I know, but I'm having great trouble finding any decent stores for rucksacks.

Last pack that killed me was gossamer g4, ultra light weight, before that was an osprey.
Base weight is around 8kilos. But with 7 days worth of food and a few kilos of water, in the 16-20kilo range.

Several new makes suggested on other forum, but again all US brands.

Glaucus · 2 Aug 2015 at 19:34

Amp34 said:
I'm pretty sure Ellis Brigham do custom fitting of Osprey bags (although possibly not swapping parts).

Also 8-12kg of food and water for a week? I'd look at what you're taking. That's over a kg of food a day. Perhaps look into more dried and rehydrating food to reduce the weight of that. You're also in the UK so no need to lug huge volumes of water around with you. Get some purification tablets/liquid and just full up your 2 litre hydration pack when needed.

All their stores? This is what I'm really looking for. A store that has some expertise. Cotsworld and the other stores are all the equivalent of pc world. also if it's a giid store, I dont care where it is in the country it'd be Wirth the travel.

And no not I don't need to carry that much in the UK, but I did and 2 will again to test it out for American. Where it's proper wildness, John Muir trail has a 7 day section with no resupply points at all. Unfortunately food weighs a lot, even freeze dried, when your burning the calories.
Although I am hoping to streamline the kit a bit.

Thanks fir the offer but I would be useless at reviews.
Moneywise I dint care, as long as it actually fits properly.