ULA Conduit vs Six Moons Essence or others

How heavy of a load are you expecting your 2,000 ci pack to haul?

Suggest putting together your likely gear list for use with the Conduit to determine (1) volume and (2) weight.

As you probably know from ULA's website, the volume that the Conduit provides is as follows:

Main Body: 2,100
Front Mesh Pocket: 450
Side Mesh Pockets: 350
Ext. Collar: 200
Hipbelt Pockets: 100

I've used the Conduit with loads of 20-25 pounds, which included base pack weight, food, water, & fuel. Carried great — as comfortable as a Vapor Trail, which I have used with a total pack weight over 30 pounds.

This is the approximate gear list that I've used with the Conduit for a three day trip:

Conduit Pack

Pack liner (turkey)
Pack cover (silnylon)
Stuff sack (quilt)
Stuff sack (clothes)
Stuff sack (kitchen)
Stuff sack (food)
Odorproof sack (food)
Silnylon pouch (bug repellent, sun screen, misc items)
Alosak bag (small – for GPS)
Alosak bag (small – for batteries & firestarter)

BPL Cocoon UL 60 quilt
BPL TorsoLite
1/4" Ensolite pad (half length)
Equinox Bivy

Tarptent Squall w/rear pole
Titanium stakes (8) w/spare guyline
Poly groundcloth

Fleece cap
Fleece gloves
Shell gloves
Ibex Woolies (bottom & top)
Smartwool socks (extra pair)
Montbell UL Down Jacket
NF Diad Jacket
GoLite Reed Pants

Klearwater in dropper bottle
1L Platy
2L Platy

Compass
Garmin Geko 201
Map (wilderness area plus NG printout w/waypoints)
UTM Scale/Grid
Notebook w/pencil
Map case

Snow Peak Gigapower stove
Cannister of fuel (small)
Small square of ensolite pad
Titanium pot w/lid
Titanium cup w/cozy
Spork
Bic lighter
Bear line w/mini-beener

First aid kit
Toilet kit (Dr. Bonner's, toothbrush, baking soda, paper)

Bug repellent
Mosquito headnet
Sun screen
Sunglasses
Eos headlamp

Misc/Supply (sit pad, firestarter, batteries, duct tape, pipe tobacco)

Fishing gear: fly rod w/case, fly reel w/case, leaders, tippet spool, nipper, floatant, box w/flies & sinylon sack

Lanyard w/whistle, LED light & knife

I think that's it, although may have missed something. It all went into the Conduit fine. Those hipbelt pockets are very nice. Oh, I did miss something. Attached a silnylon pouch to the front of the right shoulder strap for the compass and GPS. Convenient.

JRS

My base weight is 12lbs (will decrease by the weight savings of my new pack – current Gregory G weighs 46 oz.). Everything fits inside (with room to spare)of the G with a stated volume of 2700ci. I can easily keep my rain gear, tarp, and platy in the outside mesh pockets, plus a few odds and ends in the hip belt pockets.

Jeff:

Your base gear weight and volume are very similar to mine. ULA is an excellent choice. But there are still lighter choices that are also comfy to carry. Two that I’ve tried and would recommend are Fanatic Fringe and Z Packs. I especially like the “a la carte” approach of the latter. In my case, I have an ultralight pack, plus silnylon side pockets and hip belt pockets with very little added weight. Silnylon is tough for its weight, but does require a bit more care than heavier materials. Mine is still in “like new” condition though.

Please note that Joe Valesko, the owner, is doing his AT hike so the operation is “suspended” until he comes back. Anyway, food for thought.

Actually, Joe is back from his thru-hike. I've corresponded with him by email recently, so packs should be available soon. It might not be a bad idea to shoot him an email about specifics if you decide to go that route.

Tom