Best backpack for possible WW3?
Posted by Striking_Teaching804@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 61 comments
Looking for the best backpack with around 65 liters volume to evacuate in a case of WW3
Posted by Striking_Teaching804@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 61 comments
Looking for the best backpack with around 65 liters volume to evacuate in a case of WW3
TheSensiblePrepper@reddit
I am giving my opinion and personal experience.
Have you ever walked a mile with a full 65L pack? It's a LOT of weight and will be a problem for about 95% of people. Take that into consideration.
With that said, I highly recommend products from Varusteleka.com which is a company based in Finland. They have amazing products that are worth every penny.
Check out their 55L, I personally wouldn't go larger then this one, or the 80L+.
Striking_Teaching804@reddit (OP)
Thanks, I already thought that 65 could be a little too much. Can quality backpacks make up for the weight though? Like the osprey ag65 with their „antigravity“ system? I’m not sure wether that’s just marketing or actually taking a little bit of the weight off of you?
thiccboihiker@reddit
If you live in the continental United States, the likelihood that you will need to evacuate because of WW3 is zero. The possibility you will need to evacuate due to nuclear or some other threat is also minimal. Unless you live close to a target city or military installation you don't need to worry about it. If you do, and hiking out is your plan, packing guns like a soldier of fortune isn't going to help you. We will not be invaded and you won't be getting into firefights.
The higher probability scenario is that you must get out for some weather-related or climate-related issue: Storm, Fire, or potentially social unrest. So a simple go bag + bugout location might be all you need.
With that in mind, you should focus on being light and moving quickly to a congregation point or a gear stash / safe site you and your family have established outside of the city. If your safe spot is a long distance away, you plan stash locations and pick up necessary restocks on the way to your safe area. Ideally, you would like to drive, but be ready to ditch the car anytime. (which means you should also have some supplies in your vehicle.)
If you absolutely want to haul a shitload of gear for whatever reason then look at packs made for expeditions. They will have 80-100l. They are similar to hiking packs but made for covering serious distances with heavy loads in extreme environments. Buy from a reputable expedition pack maker. Exped, Osprey, Gregory, Granite, Mountain Hardware, Arcteryx, Deuter, etc. Go somewhere like REI and try them on, fully loaded. Fit matters above all. If a large pack fits like shit or hurts, don't buy it. Size down or switch manufacturers. The fit on YOU is the most crucial aspect of a high-capacity pack. They are made with lightweight, strong internal frames, and load balancers and will keep your gear tight and centered for long trekking and climbing sessions. The drawback is that they are not made for soldiering. They will, however, let you haul a shitload of gear somewhat comfortably for as long as your body can endure. No amount of engineering in the pack will compensate for a poor fit or lack of physical conditioning.
What they won't be good at is carrying weapons and ammunition or being near open fires, carrying animal carcasses, turning into sleds. Stuff like that. That's where the more hunting-focused packs like stuff from Mystery Ranch, Maxpedition, Kuiu, and Eberlestock come in. They typically have more intense frames, can be broken down to haul animal parts, and weapon systems, and are made of materials that will withstand more primitive camping and rugged use. The trade-off is weight and comfort. You only want one of these if you think you will be chasing game to survive. You would be better off having something like an expedition or hunting pack stashed at your safe spot (bug-out location) to support actual game harvesting or supply runs - not WW3 commando ops.
No matter what pack you choose break yourself into hauling gear with it. Even if it's just 25 lbs, but especially if it's 35+ lbs. It requires conditioning of your body, especially your feet. This means you must also ensure you have good boots that are broken in and up to the task. I've done multi-week adventures with high loads (60+lbs), and along with having the fitness and experience, there is a unique art to managing your pack, taking care of your feet, orienteering, managing your water and caloric intake on top of everything else. Heavy backpacks and long distances can also blow your boots out unexpectedly. So footwear becomes another essential element in high-load rucking. Everything gets more complicated, and it's often not worth it.
TLDR- The Evac pack (go bag) should be light and fast with only the essentials needed to get you to a safer location where you either stay or restock to get to your ultimate location. A heavy bag will slow you down and potentially injure you if you are not fully prepared.
Easy_Grapefruit5936@reddit
What’s a good one for a 5’2 woman?
TheSensiblePrepper@reddit
Most of the stuff out there with packs targeted towards Hikers is just marketing. Osprey is for Hikers while companies like Varusteleka are targeting "Soldiers" and Preppers.
Think about this.
A pack for a Hiker is designed for someone that will be carrying the pack for a few miles for a few hours a day during a long weekend. If you're uncomfortable with it, you can simply tell yourself "just another mile and then it's off until Sunday." and push through it. A bag that is designed for a soldier needs to be better designed because they are going to have this on their back at all times outside of camp and moving several miles each day. I would go with the product aimed for the Soldier, personally.
Hurricaneshand@reddit
No way. Backpacking packs are designed to be light and comfortable. People hike thousands of miles with them. They are absolutely built to be comfortable and usable. They aren't necessarily built to carry loads as heavy as maybe the military inspired stuff, but if the military inspired stuff was actually better you'd see them on the Appalachian trail.
XgonBringitToYa@reddit
BUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRNNNNNNNNNN
TheSensiblePrepper@reddit
I respect your opinion and experience while I disagree.
Soft_Zookeepergame44@reddit
Best comment I've ever read in this subreddit.
less_butter@reddit
Absolutely not. Backpackers routinely hike 15-20 miles a day and wear the packs for many hours on end. Osprey's packs are designed for this and they have a lifetime warranty - meaning they are very durable.
There's a reason you don't see anyone wearing military style packs hiking the Appalachian Trail or Pacific Crest Trail. Because they are not comfortable or durable.
Striking_Teaching804@reddit (OP)
Worth thinking about. But aren’t hiking backpacks also meant to be worn longer and being comfortable? My cousin went to the military and he hated the backpacks there and said they were highly uncomfortable. Would you rather go with a Varusteleka than with an Osprey? Have you worn both?
djfolo@reddit
This may go without saying? Which ever brand you choose, I'd be sure to get a rucksack not a backpack. A backpack typically only has shoulder straps whereas a rucksack normally has a spine and lower chest/waste strap. This takes the vast majority of the weight off your shoulders and uses your back which makes them far better for long term / long distances.
For obvious reasons they're not as flexible, but definitely far better for longer distances and long term expeditions on your feet.
TheSensiblePrepper@reddit
The bags issued in the Military, today, are complete shit that I am ashamed that my Tax Payer dollars are issuing to our Soldiers. Soldiers, please accept my apologies.
The bags by Varusteleka are NOT standard issued bags. These are "upgraded" versions and what we should be giving to all soldiers. It's completely different. Give your Cousin this bag and he will likely start crying at how much better it is.
I have worn both. When I was in my early 20s I traveled all around Southeast Asia living out of a backpack alone for a few years. I went through more bags than I wished to count, Osprey included. Now in my mid-30s, it has been awhile since I have tried any bags not from Varusteleka, but to be honest...I have no need or desire to. Take that as you will.
Helfort@reddit
You're missing the mark on your assessment. A bag for a hiker is built for miles of carry and comfort, especially one from a reputable company. Bags designed for military use are for carrying capacity and ruggedness. My Osprey may only hold 45L, but it weighs 3 pounds. My ruck can hold the kitchen sink, but it weighs 9 pounds out the gate. I'd rather be using the Osprey.
TheBluestBerries@reddit
The rule of thumb is that your emergency pack shouldn't weigh more than a quarter of your body weight.
Any more than that and you also run into the same problem NASA has with rockets. The more weight you add, the more energy it costs you to haul around, so the more food you need to add to the pack and so on.
teemo03@reddit
Well eh I don't think it matters just as long as you don't overpack like I forgot but I thought an ula ohm 2.0 was like 2lbs or get like an osprey atmos 65l
aveman67@reddit
I have the osprey ag65 and it’s a great pack. You can find ones that are lighter but I don’t think their durability would match up over time. The “anti-gravity” just makes hiking easier on the knees. More shock absorption.
TheBluestBerries@reddit
That depends entirely on what you fill it with.
NoContext5149@reddit
I would say get any cheap 30-50L pack that looks reasonable sturdy and has a padded hip belt.
Spending a lot of money on a backpack is a false sense of security… a $40 bag and $400 one will feel the same at mile 5 to someone with no physical conditioning. If OP is really concerned they should start walking with a weighted pack 3 times a week, and literally any pack suits this purpose.
But also, no one is walking any reasonable distance on foot anyways. Untrained you’re moving at most 10 miles a day… which gets you almost nowhere. You would only need a bag as a refugee scrambling for transportation and having the best bag is far less important at that point.
euthanasiaguy69@reddit
Imagine being downvoted on a post about WW3 in a subreddit about PREPPING. Lmao, this subreddit is a joke. Everyone here is just a larper.
Good post, my friend. I don't have any recommendations but I hope you found the backpack you were looking for.
Striking_Teaching804@reddit (OP)
Thanks man I appreciate that! That was actually very reassuring. I didn‘t really get what was wrong with exactly that either.
Narbonar@reddit
I don’t think there is a best pack, each one is going to fit differently. Some outdoor stores will let you rent or borrow them. Try some different packs and go on a hike with them fully loaded, and pick the one that is most comfortable at the price point that you’re looking at.
NiceHelicopter8967@reddit
I'm sure there's already a lot of great information brought up below to your question by others, so I'll keep it succinct from me.
You have a great question, but I'd revise it and ask this. What capabilities should I train and prepare for now for a possible world war?
Your training and physical capability will be one thing. You needs for what you need it for and what you'll use it for will be a second thing. Your time to live and operate out of it will be a third thing. Your operating environments and seasons will be a fourth thing. Your restocking ability, the ability to resupply and reconstitute resources, will be a fifth thing. Your additional gear will be your sixth thing. Your interactions with and operations with other people will be a seventh thing. Your endurance ability and longevity will be an eighth thing. Your ability to add to, improve, and stream line your system will be a ninth thing. And your ability to effectively manage your body and your system as a whole will be a tenth thing.
It's a very open-ended question so it's hard to narrow down an answer to a specific backpack because needs are so varied for each person and all the X-factors we won't know of until shots are fired and the hot war begins. However, what I would recommend is to first train and figure out what you can handle. Then figure out what you'd specifically use it for and the equipment you'd use. Three, I'd consider in the short and long-term how I'd be using it because your needs will change in between the first five minutes, the first two days, the first two weeks, the first two months, and the first two years.
This is why this is a difficult question to answer.
I'll try to boil this down into a specific answer for you to give you a better direction to start.
I'd recommend a larger pack than a 65 liter or one that can expand it's capacity if you plan to use this for more than two days to two weeks to complement the equipment you should have. I've built multiple ruck packs out which I've actively used in most environment and biome types.
From deserts to jungles to arctic deserts, it wasn't necessarily the bag, but more importantly the gear that was necessary.
The bag was merely the transport mechanism from one place to the next. It's good to think of it like this and put more emphasis on your skillsets, physical training, experience, and the equipment being used. In this regard, the first three areas are limitless and you can bring as much as your mind and muscles can hold.
If you're looking for my opinions, my favorite, and the ones that I've used the most, have been, in no particular order:
- Exo Mountain Gear K4 7200 ruck pack.
- Mystery Ranch mountain ruck, overload, and blackjack 100 packs. I'd love to get my hands on a ATM CWF, but sadly that one is out of my reach... Hoping for in the future...
- Jääkäri patrol pack line up offered via Varusteleka. Their S through their XL with added CP-10, Hatka day pack, and Keikka duffel. Highly recommend their FDF sleeping pad even if it's bulky.
- Eberlestock custom built G1, Warhammer, Spike duffel system.
- 5.11 Tactical AMP 24 pack.
- Triple Aught Design (TAD) Azimuth pack.
- Nixieworks LFR and patrol pack.
- Matador GlobeRider45 pack.
- Viktos Kadre pack.
Depending on the mission set, I'll rotate chest rigs/PC's, ACH, and kit bag and other necessary equipment with my line ups.
Each serves a different mission set and need for me. And at times the same bags will serve up to 15 different missions because I change around the gear. It isn't about the bag. It's about the mission and what I need to accomplish it. The system is what you need to be considering and not the backpack.
The goal is the outlast the outcome. Not the equipment you use.
I would recommend putting heavy thought first into your system, your skills, your physical training, and what you'll carry before ever considering a specific ruck pack. You should have left over space at the end because you didn't stuff it chalk full. I use multiple packs that I've built out and built in a way that I can scale up and down based on the need. I tier these up to higher levels of size and gear and down in levels for the needs of the mission. Sometimes I'll be carrying a 20 liter or just a kit bag, whereas others will require a 100 liter multi-mission ruck.
What system do you want to build for yourself?
If you want to construct your system for a world war, that will be a whole other ball and require a different line of thinking than you have right now. Not saying your mindset isn't wrong, but it is incomplete. Think of what you'll need to build a system to outlast a hot war for the first 96-hour critical period, the first two weeks, and then the first two years. Know that there is no way for you to live out of that system fully so you'll need to restock and to repair. As with all of us, we'll still be reliant on the systems and services which will still be in place to reconstitute. More than likely most won't need these because most won't survive the first two weeks and by the first winter most will be mission ineffective should normal society not be functioning.
So my encouragement to you is to not build a ruck pack or a back pack, but build a system and to seek answers to the question of what system you want to build to successfully give yourself the best chances to outlast a hot world war.
A bit longer of a response than I had planned, but there was a lot of perspective to share. You had a really good question. I hope this helps.
Seinispro@reddit
For me ( a 14 yo ) a 65 liter is too large and too heavy, and you do not want that in a bug-out bag(BOB), I should stick with a 30-55 liter ruck in there you can fit most of the things you could with 65 liters, but anyhow depending on your size, you could carry a 65, for that I will recommend the TETON Sports Scout Internal Frame Backpack, its cheap the reviews are great and it's a gray man type so you will not get much attention from other people. link:https://www.amazon.com/TETONSportsInternaFramBlack/dp/B09DR65BN7/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?
RandomlyJim@reddit
Don’t worry about it. In world war 3, your government will assign you a proper backpack upon conscription.
If you live in Russia, you might have to provide your own. I’d recommend this one for most NATO nations.
https://armynavyoutdoors.com/u-s-army-issue-acu-assault-3-day-backpack-used/?sku=122001&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIj62rjIycggMVwUt_AB2HGwSQEAQYAiABEgLkM_D_BwE
LarrBearLV@reddit
Word on the street is OP isn't fit for conscription.
Saegifu@reddit
Don’t forget to buy a portable wheelbarrow for your 65l+ pack. You’ll need it
RonJohnJr@reddit
Honestly: does "evacuate in case of WW3" require some special quality that bog standard "sturdy 65 liter backpack" doesn't have? Maybe "lined with lead", but I'm dubious as to whether any company makes those.
r/backpacking and r/CampingGear surely can give you recommendations on brands and models.
Timlugia@reddit
Lining backpack with lead makes zero sense, unless you are hauling old school developed films, why would you need to protect backpack from radiation?
Radiation itself doesn't damage supplies, radioactive fallout does, but you only need close top lid for that. Also the amount of lead you can reasonably add onto a backpack would make almost no impact, but with lots weight penalty.
I think OP fell into same fallacy as "gray men", like "what's best clothes to buy for gray man" question.
RonJohnJr@reddit
I was being sarcastic.
(On a serious note, lead backing -- not that there could be much of it -- would protect your body from any radiation that would have otherwise entered your body from that direction, similar to a bullet-resistant plate in a bookbag.)
slappy_mcslapenstein@reddit
Maybe it's just me, but if it's WW3 and I'm having to flee my home I'm not too concerned with what kind of backpack I have. As long as it holds my essentials I'm ok with it. I'd probably just use my Jansport anyway.
Correct_You_Are@reddit
How's the ADHD going?
Striking_Teaching804@reddit (OP)
Why are you so toxic? If you don’t have a recommendation then just don’t answer?
ThatGirl0903@reddit
Block that dude OP. Better for everyone.
XyiorgyX036@reddit
I like Ospreys bags btw. Still have the one i bought 11 years ago.
Striking_Teaching804@reddit (OP)
I read that the atmos ag 65 is really good. Do you own that model?
prepnguns@reddit
I had it. It’s a good bag with good suspension.
I got the Atmos 55 now because the 65 was too big for my backpacking. The more you can fit, the more you’ll carry, often just unnecessary things. Personally, the 55 is all I’ll ever want to limit carry base weight (about 25lbs).
XyiorgyX036@reddit
Atmos ag 50. Awesome bag.
XyiorgyX036@reddit
No is lied i have the Ariel 65 extended fit. My bad
Correct_You_Are@reddit
The OP is a friend of mine. And they do have ADHD!
XyiorgyX036@reddit
Redditors are known for struggling with their social skills.
harbourhunter@reddit
65l filled to 45l
Mystery ranch with a Jansport patch glued on
Stewart_Duck@reddit
Smart with the Jansport patch. Problem with tactical or camping backpacks in a SHTF scenario, they're instantly recognizable. Who's going to have better shit, 5.11 tactical pack, $500 ultra light baking pack or the backpack your kids wear to school. That said, not sure if they still make it, 5.11 used to make an "urban" style tactical pack. It looked just like an old Jansport, navy and khaki, but when you opened it, it had all the molle, mag pouches, etc. you'd expect.
Very-Confused-Walrus@reddit
Mystery ranch terraframe, or osprey atmos. Both good bags with amazing quality. I use osprey bags for edc and mystery ranch for more rugged stuff personally.
slogive1@reddit
Keep an eye out for the WW4 product! Coming to your zone soon!
apola@reddit
Go look on r/backpacking (serious answer)
blindside1@reddit
My 30 year old Arcteryx Bora 65..... because it is the one I have and use regularly. If not that one then the Gregory or Camp Trails of similar sizes that are the loaners I have in my garage. Just get a decent pack that fits you and then go backpacking 4 times at a moderate distance to figure out your load management.
LimitNo6587@reddit
Anyone know of any lead lined backpacks while we're on the subject. I imagine the lead in the backpack would protect my back from radiation as I walked away from ground zero.
LowerNihil@reddit
You ask a simple question so of course you're not gonna get a simple answer. I would use what hardcore hikers use, not soldiers. Truthfully, you should spend a few minutes on the hiking sub. There are endless backpack recommendations there. There isn't anything wrong with 65L . It gives you the option to carry more clothes. If you don't need the full 65, the extra material just rolls up into a tidy bundle (or at least it does on mine).
flower-power-123@reddit
Let's take this one piece at a time:
1) If you have even a strong suspicion that a nuclear bomb might fall somewhere in your vicinity you should get yourself and your family to safety. There is no reasonable way to survive a nuclear attack.
2) A backpack will not be sufficient even if you have the best one possible. For survival you will need a giant truck full of gear to survive after a bomb even if you are many many kilometers from the blast zone.
This is something I think about a lot. We live near a nuclear power plant and a military base. This area would be in the line of fire but I don't think it will come to that. If I did think that nuclear Armageddon was in the cards I would move to New Zealand. New Zealand is a nuclear free zone. They are far enough away that they are unlikely to be attacked. The barrier to entry is high. It is difficult to get travel papers to New Zealand and it is expensive to move. Once you are there you will need to get a job. The job you will get will more than likely pay less that what you are getting now. The opportunity cost of moving to a new country is huge. I wouldn't do it unless It was an extreme emergency.
If you can't or won't move but you still want to make plans for evacuation in an emergency than an off-road touring bike would cover the most ground in the least amount of time. Look into an MTB with fulls racks and panniers. A setup like that can hold more than 100 liters of goods and can easily cover 200km/day with good roads. This is Juliet Elliott attempting 400 km in 24 hrs on mixed terrain:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omQLy-lPAB0
Elliott is a former pro cyclist with terrific fitness. This is a roughly what you will be doing if you need to get away from a nuclear blast in a hurry. Some things to note. She is in more or less continuous agony. She is weeping in one scene. She has a suspension fork that altered her position on the bike, hurting her back. You will be going slower than her because you need to carry as much as 50 kilos of food and supplies.
WhynotZoidberg9@reddit
What's your budget? Eberlestock FAC that has been through hell and back, and is my go to for work or hiking. You can live put of it for weeks if you had to and it is insanely durable. But not cheap, and not lightweight.
Choice_Mission_5634@reddit
The one that fits you.
Zarantas4@reddit
The best back pack is the one you have packed and ready at home. If you need to evacuate (quickly), you'll have more to think about than a comfortable back.
Outrageous_Laugh5532@reddit
. A good or bad ruck can destroy your back and knees. Investing in a quality pack is important. This person is asking for input on buying a quality one and you’ve provided no insight into that.
Striking_Teaching804@reddit (OP)
That’s what I was about. Even a recommendation of a quality brand could be useful, but I guess people are rather mad at me because I don’t have a shop nearby and ask Reddit instead.
Zarantas4@reddit
I'm not mad. Just not native English speaker, so I'm sorry if I sounded like that.
Others commented and I go with it: get a used military backpack. They can get you a long way.
Outrageous_Laugh5532@reddit
I am a fan of the old military Alice pack if you’re on a budget. It not mystery ranch version of the Alice pack is pretty awesome.
Striking_Teaching804@reddit (OP)
Thanks I will look into that! :)
Striking_Teaching804@reddit (OP)
I don‘t have one yet so I thought I might ask if someone has a recommendation. I sadly don‘t have any survival or camping shops near me and I‘m overwhelmed with what’s on the market
silasmoeckel@reddit
You need to go try them on and take them on at least a day of hiking preferably a weekend.
This is something thats specific to your body there is no universally best.
Correct_You_Are@reddit
Go to a camping store ask and try on packs.