Long torso pack choice

If 30 lbs will only be occasional, and sub 25 the norm, the Unaweep will be on the excessive side. It will address the straight back/waist issue extremely well. Seek Outside is coming out with a Unaweep Divide, a ~4000 cubic inch bag with backpacker specific features (eg stretch mesh side pockets and back pocket, multiple ways to carry large bear cans). It will be 2lb 11oz (I think) in VX21 with a VX42 bottom.

For the rest of the packs, throw out the Crown. It's tall enough in large but has a significantly worse suspension system. The Mariposa is tall enough and carries 30 pounds well, but is fairly deep and (IMO) does not have a good way to cinch that room down for small loads.

I've never used a Circuit or Aquilo, so can't comment there.

Long torso here too. The Circuit will work. Only costs shipping to find out. People I know with an Elemental Horizons pack seem real happy with theirs. I had a v1 Circuit, much has changed.

Oddly enough I have only ever seen one Mariposa in the wild.

I don't exactly live where where backpackers abound so I've never seen any of these packs in person. You can only glean so much info from pictures and videos so I really appreciate input on these packs. Thanks.

Hi Rich,

Another option worth investigating for your torso size is going custom. Check out Zimmerbuilt (Chris Zimmer) and Cascade Craftworks (BPL member Nathan Meyerson). Often, the packs are similarly priced, or even cheaper than many of the off-the-shelf options and similar cottage packs made to order.

Zimmerbuilt Packs

Cascade Craftworks

After many years of experimenting with packs and never finding the “one”, I finally went the custom route for both my main packs and will never look back. Of course, for this to be successful you need to understand exactly what you want from a pack, which generally requires more experience.

Good luck with you search.