Osprey Stratos 36. Good purchase?

[dchapa]

After going to REI and mentioning to the sales rep about my trip on the Camino, he suggested I take a pack along the 40 L capacity. I ended up choosing the Stratos 36. Now I've also seen people suggesting bigger packs, but does anyone think I'll have any problem with a 36L? I really hope to fit all the essentials there. Maybe upgrade to an Osprey Atmos 50? Thanks!

Other info: I will be doing the walk from St Jean to Santiago in June/July. Any extra advice is welcomed!

[Covey]

I have used an Osprey Atmos 50 for the last five years on the Camino, and have found it to be excellent. The best part is the weight. The Atmos weighs in at 1kg all up which is fine. When you look at a lot of other makes, you can see 50L bags weighing up to 2.5kgs EMPTY.

Your 36L will be OK but if you are carrying a sleeping bag, it will have to be on the outside.

I carry everything inside the bag because I have a thing about hanging stuff on the outside like some mobile Christmas tree. The only things I have on the outside are my two walking poles in the loops either side and two bottles of water in the external pockets.

I do not use the bladder drinking system as it takes up room in the pack, requires a lot of cleaning, and it is too easy to drink too much. I carry two half filled 1.5L plastic water bottles straight off the supermarket shelf and change them every three days. I carry two bottles to keep the weight evenly distributed between each side. A lop sided pack is very uncomfortable to carry!! Because I have to take off my pack to get at the water, it controls the amount I drink, and I can easily see how much water I have left. With the bladder system, it is easy to keep drinking and you cannot see how much is left.

[dchapa]

Thanks for the help Covey, really useful information. Think I should make the extra investment and upgrade to an Atmos 50 then? I'll see what I can do. The nearest REI is 3.5 hours away.

[Covey]

If you are thinking of just taking a sleeping bag liner, then your 36L Stratos will be fine.

Try and get a bug pre-treated liner, or if you cannot find one, get a bottle of 5% Permetherin spray and give the liner a good spray and do your pack as well.

When buying the liner, get the oblong design, not the "mummy" shape. I bought a mummy shape and found it very restrictive on moving my legs at night.

[revrenjen]

Hi--I'm planning my walk for May/June next year, but want to get equipment figured out so I can put it on my birthday/Christmas/anniversary lists. I was at REI and tried on an Osprey Atmos 50 & liked it very much. I liked the REI Ventori 40 even more, especially the fact that it was 11 oz lighter. But it is only 40 liters. I'm planning on taking a sleeping bag liner. Using the 10% rule, I should only carry about 14 or 15 pounds. So like the previous poster, I'm wondering if 40 liters is enough. Help.

By the way, I LOVE the site. It has been so helpful already!

[Covey]

Having looked at the REI web site, the Ventori 40 looks like a re-badged Osprey!! The waist belt pockets are identical. If you are just carrying a sleeping bag liner then the 40L should be OK.

The bigger the bag, the greater the risk that you will want to fill it up!!!

[revrenjen]

Thank you so much. Looking it up on the website was really going above and beyond. And no temptation to shop along the way!

[Covey]

The Camino is a good cure for retail therapy. In real life you might ask "How much does it cost?" On the Camino you ask "How much does it weigh?" When people only carry half a tube of toothpaste to save weight, window shopping is all you do for 40 days!! Very good for the soul.