I need a new backpack! any suggestions?!?!

[azncookiecutter]

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Originally Posted by Rednamalas1 /img/forum/go_quote.gif what??

I'm lost too.

 

[Rednamalas1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by azncookiecutter /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm lost too.

:S who goes "don't buy a backpack" on a backpack recommendation thread?!? lol
I'm not sure if he was joking haha

 

[roastpuff]

Quote:

Originally Posted by azncookiecutter /img/forum/go_quote.gif Check out MEC.ca. Great Canadian retailer, and their backpacks are tough as nails.

Another vote for Mountain Equipment Co-op. Rednamalas, they're on Broadway in Vancouver.

Check out the Deluxe Bookbag for $39. Easily one of the best backpacks for that price, my older version is 8 years old and still going strong.

EDIT: And you can fit so much stuff in it. Really. I'm not kidding.

 

[majid]

Quote:

Originally Posted by roastpuff /img/forum/go_quote.gif Another vote for Mountain Equipment Co-op. Rednamalas, they're on Broadway in Vancouver.

A true backpacker's Mecca that is (pun intended). I have a membership (technically, it's a shareholding), even though I don't live in Canada...

 

[Rednamalas1]

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Originally Posted by majid /img/forum/go_quote.gif A true backpacker's Mecca that is (pun intended). I have a membership (technically, it's a shareholding), even though I don't live in Canada...

you should really come and visit! and come trailing with me and bunch of buddies in the summer!
West coast trail (75km in length) west coast trail Vancouver Island British Columbia
and Nootka (35km) are two of my favorite trailing destinations. Simply amazing!
ClubTread.com - Nootka Island Trail - A Pictorial Adventure

Nice 3-7 day hike/trailing will be a great change of scene

 

[majid]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rednamalas1 /img/forum/go_quote.gif you should really come and visit! and come trailing with me and bunch of buddies in the summer! West coast trail (75km in length) west coast trail Vancouver Island British Columbia and Nootka (35km) are two of my favorite trailing destinations. Simply amazing! ClubTread.com - Nootka Island Trail - A Pictorial Adventure Nice 3-7 day hike/trailing will be a great change of scene

My physical fitness is somewhere around the level of Jabba the Hutt, so I will have to decline. Now, if you were to talk about Vancouver's excellent pastry shops (far better than anything we have here in San Francisco)...

 

[Rednamalas1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by majid /img/forum/go_quote.gif My physical fitness is somewhere around the level of Jabba the Hutt, so I will have to decline. Now, if you were to talk about Vancouver's excellent pastry shops (far better than anything we have here in San Francisco)...

no pastry shops I can recall...but extensive choice of internation food! (japanese, chinese, Portuguese, Italian, cuban, among others...)
I usually come back from west coast trail losing about 5-7 pounds...

 

[majid]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rednamalas1 /img/forum/go_quote.gif no pastry shops I can recall...but extensive choice of internation food! (japanese, chinese, Portuguese, Italian, cuban, among others...)

You have the best sushi, and Vancouver is the only place I know of where Toro is cheaper than Hamachi. The prices are just as expensive as San Francisco, unfortunately (my last visit was in August-October 2006, and it must be even worse since the US Dollar is collapsing).

Quote:

I usually come back from west coast trail losing about 5-7 pounds...

Well, that I can take care of:

1. Senses bakery in the Crowne Plaza hotel across from the Vancouver Art Gallery on W. Georgia and Howe.
2. Ganache at 1262 Homer near Yaletown
3. La Petite France at 2655 Arbutus near Kitsilano
4. La Baguette et L'Echalote in Granville Island
5. There is a French-Japanese pastry in Yaletown, the name escapes me

The first two are equal to the finest in Paris, trust me, I know what I am talking about.

 

[Rednamalas1]

I thought you were kidding about pastries! I'll take my girlfriend there soon

(she once nearly finished a full cake in one sitting - I couldn't believe it)
I knew about la petite France and senses, but not the other three.
Unfortunately my taste buds despise sweets and I can't stand most cakes, desserts etc.

Sushi in Vancouver is CHEAP! I'm not talking about those expensive places where it's going to be 120$ per person. But there are several places well-hidden away from downtown. Nishiki sushi in west Van is great for their price, and there's another 2 places in Vancouver and burnaby but I have forgotten the name.
If you're into non-sushi japanse food, Guu, Gyoza king, Yuji's, and Zakushii are great places for tapas and japanese bistro-ish food.
Yes, our toro is pretty darn cheap for some very odd reason.
There is one place where they served live uni (sea urchin) cracked open in front of you, as well as real ootoro (35$ per piece though), but the name escapes me.

You should really come more often, as we have great hiking courses and fantastic food for reasonable price!

Edit: do you think it's okay for me to jack my own thread?? this is getting further and further from backpacks..

 

[majid]

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Originally Posted by Rednamalas1 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Sushi in Vancouver is CHEAP!

Yes, sorry for my confusing formulation. Sushi is cheap, but sit-down kind of restaurants like those in Yaletown are excellent but also pretty expensive even by San Francisco standards, which means they are outrageously expensive by the standards of anyone in the US not in SF or NYC.

I also found it amusing that chocolate fondue seems the be the default dessert in Vancouver restaurants. Certainly beats crème brûlée.

 

[Rednamalas1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by majid /img/forum/go_quote.gif Yes, sorry for my confusing formulation. Sushi is cheap, but sit-down kind of restaurants like those in Yaletown are excellent but also pretty expensive even by San Francisco standards, which means they are outrageously expensive by the standards of anyone in the US not in SF or NYC. I also found it amusing that chocolate fondue seems the be the default dessert in Vancouver restaurants. Certainly beats crème brûlée.

oh yeah, there are few places like that I don't bother with..few places I know have 98% of their taste while being 1/3 of cost

, being a student makes you look for bargains

 

[roastpuff]

Hmm, anybody know of Shota Sushi in Kerrisdale? It's pretty good sushi and Japanese food while not being TOO expensive. And Asa Sushi, right next to Shota, is good for cheap filling sushi!

 

[Rednamalas1]

I know there's shota sushi in Richmond...all you can eat place...not in hkerrisdale

 

[roastpuff]

The Kerrisdale one is a bit higher-class, has really great food.

Shota Sushi

 

[Rednamalas1]

now I remember! My gf works right across from there!