I'm getting ready to do my first big wall and I'm trying to decide what size of haul bag is best? Is a 7500 in3 bag big enough for two people doing a route like "The Nose" or "The Salathe", or is a 10,000 in3 more suitable? It seems like it would be really hard to find and get at gear with the bigger bag. Metolious bag called the "El Cap" is 10,000 in3 and in the A5 catalog they say that 7500 in3 is the perfect size for an El Cap route.What do suggest????? Thanks much.

-- Kellyn Gorder (kellyn1967@aol.com), June 23, 1999

Answers

Hey Kellyn, I own an A5 grade VII and I am very pleased. As you will see as you lace up for your first wall is that you never have enough room in the haul bag. With the grade VII you usaull never have to worry about that. I also like to use a 2 haulbag method because it is easier to get to the bottom of the bags but there is one problem. On routes like the Salathe and the Nose where the rock is sometimes less that vertical (not triing to say that it is light!) the more stuff that you have to haul up a slab, the more stuff there is to get stuck on the cliff. But when you are on steeper ground (Zodiac, T. Trip etc.) the bag very rarley gets stuck on anything. So all I am tryiing to say is that if you are planning on a route with less that vertical climbing (like I said before it is in no way light!!!) I would go with the bigger bag. I like the A5 bag for its riverbag closure system but it is now being masses produced so the qualitiy really isn't there anymore. But it is still way bomber. Have fun and happy hauling

-- Burt (epiclmber@hotmail.com), June 24, 1999.

I've got a question to add.... who makes the best mini haul bag? I've looked at the FISH atom smasher deluxe, the Metolius Sentinal, and the A5 one (i forgot the name). Any info. on any of these bags would be greatly appreciated.

-- Brian (SloBRI@aol.com), June 24, 1999.

Yo Slobo, I have an atomsmasher delux (actually a second) and I think it is pretty sweet. I've used it more on shorter routes, and towers, than on actual "wall" routes. It has taken a beating, and is still in good shape (could be a result of the duck tape reaming a gave it). I suspect that the metolius ones are pretty damn beefy (the sentinal? or quarterdome?) and the A5's are probably pretty good, but like Burt said, they are mass produced now so who nows. Hell I'm sure they're all made in a third world country except for fish's. The atomsmasher will definately cost the least, and depending how much you are going to use it for just cragging (as seems to be the trend around here lately ??!?!?) then the suspension and volume are the main concerns. The metolius ones have more or less backpack suspensions. The atom smasher is alittle more budget in this department. If you do get an atom smasher, get the delux, the collar lets you over pack the "little rib" as I call it. Good luck, and happy consumer validation!

-- Tea (mtea@ptc.com), June 25, 1999.

I have a Metolius El Cap and love it, it is bomber as hell and big enough to get up most stuff, good size for most el cap routes. I also like the idea of having a mini bag also, stuff all the gear in the mini and put everything else in the big bag. I'm thinking about getting a Metolius Sentinal or A5 Astropack. Make sure to pad it!!!!!!

happy bigwalling Ben

-- Ben (Benbuilds@aol.com), October 01, 1999.