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Decided to not hit the trail this weekend, stars just didn't aline right. But I did pick up an older Jansport external frame pack (huge!) and a Lowe Alpine Contour III pack for $20 at a garage sale. Acually, my mom found them. Both packs are in pretty good shape, the Lowe Alpine looks like it's missing a smaller, removeable bag and the hip buckles are missing. Nothing that can't be taken care of.

Those Jansports used to be the workhorses of all packs. There is nothing wrong with using them, either, as long as they fit and are comfortable. (That is, unless you are a fashion victim, then you would never be caught dead sportin' one of those old dinosaurs!) One thing, too, is that some of those old aluminum frame packs are extremely light. I still have about 4 of them.

Nice finds! The Jansport could be a distant cousin of the one I sold at a garage sale a few years ago, though it was 2500 miles east of here. I would have sold my old Kelty external frame pack too (from the early 70's) but in the spirit of Harvey Buchart, it was confiscated by one of my sons before it made it to the "for sale" table.

We still have one of those Kelty packs. My son bought it at a yard sale in Tucson when he was about 10, and it was way too big for him then, but he grew into it and used it on many a Scout backpacking trip. Good old packs. I have an old A-16 hiphugger pack I used up until recently. It is very comfortable.

I'm bringing my Kelty frame pack on the Hermit trip next week. Its logged hundreds of miles with me.

Good old Kelty. My old A-16 was comfy but on steep, ledgey, dicey trails such as Tanner and South Canyon, it was so top heavy it almost tipped me over a few times. So, I have a low profile, narrow new-fangled one.

good place to find replacement buckles is Mesa Sales. I got a buckle for my tool pouches for .75 and i buy cordlocks and other small hardwear items there all the time.

te-wa wrote:good place to find replacement buckles is Mesa Sales.

Thanks for the info. Will have to check out Mesa Sales.

azbackpackr wrote:Those Jansports used to be the workhorses of all packs.

Don't think I will be using the Jansport unless I plan on a 7 day trip.

And another score! Picked up a Serria Designs half dome tent in good condition for $25. Weight is 4.5 pounds, alittle heavy, but not too bad.

I remember when that was one of the lightest ones available!