Finding a pack for your Kokoda Trail is likely to be at the top of your to-do list, unless you’re already a seasoned hiker. Have a look at how much room you need in a pack, depending on whether you’re carrying your own pack or hiring a porter to help you out.
Working out how much room you need
The amount of space you need in your pack depends somewhat on how long you’re trekking for, and where you’re going; this will vary depending on your chosen tour. But for a rough guide, here’s a quick guideline:
5 days of rations for the Kokoda Trail
6 days of rations for the Shaggy Ridge Expedition
Carrying these amounts of rations, plus your own equipment, equates to about 75 litres in capacity. However, this is only suitable if you’re carrying your own pack for the entire trek. If you’re hiring a porter to carry your bag, see the section below.
Secondhand-issue Australian Army packs (except for those from less than five years ago) have been found to be inadequate — unless your packing style tends towards minimalist. The other problem is that these packs don’t suit all shapes and sizes of bodies, and so the packs are often found uncomfortable by porters. Don’t bring these sorts of packs if you’re planning to use a porter to carry your equipment.
Using a porter to carry your pack
When using a porter to carry your pack on the Kokoda Trail, you need to keep in mind some key points, as follows:
Inside your pack is the best place to carry all your gear and equipment, including the carrier’s items and food (see following bullet point); exceptions are a tent and waterproof sleeping mat. With a pack adequately equipped with tie points, these items can safely ride outside the main pack.
Your waterproof pack cover needs to be sized to accommodate the outside items as well. So, if you’re using a porter, you may require an 80-litre pack. It goes without saying that your pack needs to be robust and of good quality.
In your capacity calculations, check that a zip-off day pack attached to the main pack isn’t included in the size of the bag stated on the manufacturer’s label. If you’re carrying the zip-off backpack, then that space isn’t available to carry the porter’s, or your, needs.
Most day (jockey) packs unbalance the load carrying of the main pack when full and zipped on the outside of the main pack.
The porter needs about 6–8 litres’ space in your pack for his own items.
If his additional gear poses a space problem in your pack, you can create extra internal space by securing tents or sleeping mats to the outside of the pack (if your pack has provision for tie-ons).
You need about 4–5 lites of space inside your main pack for food, and this is additional to the porter’s space requirements.
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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/choosing-your-pack-for-trekking-the-kokoda-trail.html?cid=RSS_DUMMIES2_CONTENT
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