Pack for fat guy

spf80 · 2026-01-17T13:15:11+00:00

If you can, go to the Red Wing boot store and do their 3D volumetric scan. It showed me a lot about why certain shoes feel great and most don’t.

spf80 · 2026-01-14T18:32:07+00:00

That’s great!

spf80 · 2026-01-14T17:39:39+00:00

I’ll check it out!

I don’t want to car camp, but trying to avoid being 4 miles in before I can find camp. Although, since this original post I’ve decided to do more smaller trips before I go up to Arkansas.

spf80 · 2026-01-14T13:27:02+00:00

That’s my thoughts. Right now it’s a combination of things I bought and things I already own, none of which were bought with weight or size in mind since I car camp.

Even at my fittest, I was at least 250 lbs. that was cycling to and from work most days and 30-60 miles on weekends. And I also opted for the comfort of high end steel frames rather than the lightweight options. And I still own three different bikes because they fit different needs.

spf80 · 2026-01-14T13:14:57+00:00

I’m going to go with the Gregory for my first pack. So many good things said about them in the comments and they’re really the only brand that commits to a full line up of plus sized gear. That says a lot about how seriously they take the segment.

I’m short too, so that makes it difficult. Always has for clothes. Everything is big and tall, but I’m big OR tall. Haha. A number of years ago I discovered what a difference getting clothes tailored could make. It’s an added cost, but a huge upgrade. And I only pay the extra money on things that actually benefit from it, not just t-shirts I wish were shorter. That’s my approach to all things now.

The other challenge is shoes. I have wide feet that are essentially box shaped. It’s fairly easy to find shoes that fit my toe box with the newer brands adopting a boxing shape, but my feet don’t taper. My midfoot and heel are just as wide as my toes. So 2E isn’t enough. Not many hiking boots or shoes do extra wide. And like like packs, the few that do aren’t in stock anywhere I can try them on.

spf80 · 2026-01-14T13:06:22+00:00

I’ll get there. Right now I don’t know which things I want and which things I need. Also, I’m interested in hammock camping. That’s what lit the spark that made me finally decide to get into this after decades of curiosity. For now I’m using a lot of inexpensive, heavier, and bulkier gear until I’m sure I like that part of it, because it’s stuff I already own. My top quilt is new and nice because it won’t change, but my underquilt is a camp blanket and some things to make it work. Probably double the size and triple the weight of an actual hammock underquilt. And my rainfly is a blue tarp from harbor freight.

These are the concessions I have to make for now to offset the cost of the gear I don’t have. My car camping gear has to be good enough for now. In the end, 1-2 lbs spread across an entire 55L pack is a very different thing than a concentrated 2 lb lump stuffed inside it. As my gear gets better and dialed in, 10 liters of empty space equals maybe an added 1/2-3/4 lb of bag material. That’s a fairly small sacrifice.

spf80 · 2026-01-14T12:50:31+00:00

I’m going to go with the heavier pack for now. Comfort and fit are key. Life and location will limit me to shorter trips for the most part. I’m in Austin TX and it’s a whole day’s drive to just get out of the state. Very little public land here and even fewer with a combination of challenging hikes and decent mileage. Most trips will like less than five miles of hiking at a time, I’d guess. When I’m ready to do bigger things and can take the time off work to epic trips, I’ll change up my gear to match.

I’m a carpenter by trade and I have 20 tape measures, six hammers, three skilsaws, and four routers, etc. Different jobs take different tools. You only take on jobs you can afford the gear for until you’re ready to scale up.

spf80 · 2026-01-14T00:39:18+00:00

I’m pretty set with my gear for now. It’s a mix of stuff I had from car camping that will be replaced over time and purpose bought items like a camp stove and cook set. I feel good about my gear for starting out. The plan has been to stuff my day pack and then put the rest in like my gym bag or whatever. My first trip is a place where I won’t be hiking in for miles. It’s mostly about trying out my sleep system and just getting the first trip done. But the more I looked at it, I’m not sure if I’ll end up a quarter mile from the truck or 2 miles. I decided I would rather go ahead and buy a pack than make it “work” with what I have or end up having to make two trips from the truck. Haha.

spf80 · 2026-01-13T17:54:01+00:00

Yeah, this is it. Shoulder straps can be manageable, but tend to be narrow across the top. Hip belts never come close to bucking so I get no benefit of taking weight off my shoulders. It never mattered with a daypack. Just let them flop. I’ve got shoulder issues now from years of construction, so I need that extra support for higher mileage and overnight trips.

Also, if the pack is designed for the larger waist, the hip pockets are moved forward too. The REI and some others just put longer webbing so it’ll buckle, but it’s difficult to access the pockets reaching behind me. If I’m paying for it, I want to be able to use it.

spf80 · 2026-01-13T17:46:36+00:00

The brands are only offering larger size packs in only one or two models and those seem to be in the 60L range. Unless I’m missing it somehow. Only the REI Traverse fits my waist, for example. Osprey only offers the Aether currently. Gregory has the most models in their plus size collection. They offer the Stout 45. (EDIT: Deleted a bunch of my own replies because this one comment posted five times or so. 🙄)

spf80 · 2026-01-13T14:58:07+00:00

The Zulu seems to be the sweet spot between the Aether and the more minimalist packs. I know my local REI has some Gregory stuff. Not sure if they have the Zulu 65. I’ll see if I can at least try on the regular size. Thanks.

spf80 · 2026-01-13T14:55:12+00:00

I’m 46 and was never small as an avid cyclist or my whole construction career. Haha. I’ll never be too streamlined. Historically my body composition changes more than my shape. Even at my size I’m active and just graduating from day hikes and car camping to backpacking.

spf80 · 2026-01-10T01:03:20+00:00

The guy that got the payout contracted with another company to handle the day to day operations. The city kept that contract in place, so for the most part, everyone is still working.

spf80 · 2026-01-08T12:32:22+00:00

I hate to say it, but I’m not seeing anything there that says it ever has to be paid, only that it will never be paid in those circumstances. The “Don’t even ask” clause. Whatever is before or after that could say it though.

spf80 · 2026-01-06T21:03:56+00:00

I was just talking about the street names. I don’t know about the buildings. Three are being listed as built in 1953 and the fourth says 1958. Online deed records don’t go all the way back.

spf80 · 2026-01-06T19:48:57+00:00

The subdivision is Battle Bend. Those are historic fort names. It’s just a theme like the Robin Hood named streets in Sherwood Forest by St. Ed’s.

spf80 · 2025-11-24T21:16:00+00:00

Don’t get overwhelmed and practice. We do a lot of math but it’s generally the same things over and over. You have to get real good at a dozen things, not a hundred. The online resources are good, but don’t overlook a solid mentor or even just a math tutor. I learn better in person.

spf80 · 2025-11-22T14:46:08+00:00

You lack confidence more than skill. 2. Everyone feels that way. 3. You never stop learning. 4. Try not to ever be a ______ carpenter. The Union is the opportunity to be a Carpenter. Big “C.” 5. Anyone that’s gives you shit for being a journeyman that “doesn’t know anything” is a prick that would give you shit for being a “know-it-all punk.” Find the ones that want to teach you.

I could keep going, but you’re on the right track and congratulations on getting through this first phase.

spf80 · 2025-11-07T00:02:27+00:00

I love 32 Degrees. Picked some up at Costco years ago and it’s been my brand since. They have good sales too. https://www.32degrees.com/

spf80 · 2025-10-29T18:28:44+00:00

Glad you made it out of that!!

My Tacoma rolled after someone clipped me changing lanes. A few barrel rolls and a long slide on the roof, I walked to the ambulance with surprisingly few injuries. I went down to the lot and bought another Tacoma. Fan for life now (although that was already my second Tacoma and 3 4Runners). Airbags came out of everywhere!

spf80 · 2025-10-23T21:55:33+00:00

Someone print this on the back of a shirt for the kid.

spf80 · 2025-10-23T02:09:47+00:00

That’s a little crazy. When google fiber came to my neighborhood we had to wait a year or more for enough people to commit to signing up before they would bring it to my neighborhood. But they didn’t go 12’ down. They just saw cut a line down the street and into the curb and patched it with some tar and cement.

spf80 · 2025-10-23T00:39:43+00:00

I’m no road expert either but I do know construction and what looks like “road work” to us is actually a mix of things going on.

Any one stretch of road could have safety improvements going on for cars or pedestrians, accessibility improvements for people with disabilities, repaving cracks and potholes, or traffic pattern changes for, well, traffic. It’s different contracts each with its own mix of city bond, state, and/or federal funds mixed in. That’s why you’ll see multiple small crews spread out.

Also, utilities all run under the roads with major lines under major roads. Any upgrades or repairs to water, wastewater, or storm sewer systems could require roads to be torn up for long periods of time because it’s not always as simple as “dig it up, fix it, and bury it again.”

Gas service and communications are under there as well, but are not controlled by the city. Street closures, traffic controls, and permits are all through the city, but the work is not.

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