I'm going on a guided trip up Rainier in July and they recommend a 70 liter pack. That's the biggest I want to go with. I'm sure I can go with a smaller pack, but they recommend 70 liters. Can you guys recommend a mountaineeriing pack that would work for me? Anywhere in the 70 liters range would work. I don't really know a lot about mountaineering packs.

Osprey or Cilogear are your best bets in my opinion. Check this out: http://www.cilogear.com/7511.html

Mountainsmith Apex 75, great pack for rainier and it uses recycled ingredients, it is only 5lbs with 5700 cu in.

lopgok wrote:rent one from your guide

I agree. Your first mountaineering experience will teach you a huge amount about what kind of climbing you enjoy and want to do more of, as well as what type of gear you'll want to do it. Just rent gear for now, and focus on the climbing.

In my experience, people who buy gear for their first big trip end up selling it and buying something else very soon. You might feel that you're throwing money away on rented gear when you could own it, but trust me, this is the economical choice.

Autoxfil wrote:

lopgok wrote:rent one from your guide

I agree. Your first mountaineering experience will teach you a huge amount about what kind of climbing you enjoy and want to do more of, as well as what type of gear you'll want to do it. Just rent gear for now, and focus on the climbing.

In my experience, people who buy gear for their first big trip end up selling it and buying something else very soon. You might feel that you're throwing money away on rented gear when you could own it, but trust me, this is the economical choice.

+2.

ExcitableBoy wrote:

Autoxfil wrote:

lopgok wrote:rent one from your guide

I agree. Your first mountaineering experience will teach you a huge amount about what kind of climbing you enjoy and want to do more of, as well as what type of gear you'll want to do it. Just rent gear for now, and focus on the climbing.

In my experience, people who buy gear for their first big trip end up selling it and buying something else very soon. You might feel that you're throwing money away on rented gear when you could own it, but trust me, this is the economical choice.

+2.

+3

lopgok wrote:rent one from your guide

I own CiloGear. We'd definitely make and sell one to you.

And yet...

+4.

Writing that you don't know what you want, and you are sure you can use a smaller one, but you're going with 70 liters sounds like a recipe for an expensive souvenir that doesn't look as good as a photo.