Paradox Unaweep vs. Exped Lightning 60

I didn't ask on color, but assumed it only came in black (the only color I've seen online). It was $19.95, they haven't weighed it, but showed 2.5 oz (70 grams). I'll verify when I get it

I see no reason wby it would not make that weight. Its got about the same amount of material in it as a large chest pocket (ala Zpacks etc) and most of them weigh just under 3oz.
Given how accurate Exped is in their pack weights, it should be really close to spec.

Looking forward to seeing pics of one installed on a pack:)

A few people requested photos of the black version since the stock photos don't show the color accurately.

Here it is stuffed with clothes and pillows, using a couple different compression options:

glad you posted that last pic; I almost always use my Lightning w/ a "traditional" roll top connection and thought about ditching (cutting out) the lower straps that are located in the stretch pocket and never thought about connecting them together at the front of the pack- that would be very useful for snowshoes and the like in that configuration :)

thanks!

"glad you posted that last pic; I almost always use my Lightning w/ a "traditional" roll top connection and thought about ditching (cutting out) the lower straps that are located in the stretch pocket and never thought about connecting them together at the front of the pack- that would be very useful for snowshoes and the like in that configuration :)"

No problem! It helps when searching through old threads and you find some pics of what you needed; hopefully this will help someone in the future.

I don't want to thread-jack, so if someone has an issue with this I can start a new thread for the Exped L45/L60, but I am curious as to how people wear their pack. I have been fine tuning mine and it seems that it's most comfortable for me with the torso adjustment between M and S, even though I have a 19.5" torso.

Please post some pics of your pack on and adjusted, along with your torso size.

I will help you with the thread-jack! My torso is 20 inches and my pack is adjusted almost to the same point as shown in your photo, perhaps another 1/4 to 3/8 inch toward the long side. Not sure I am done with finding the sweet spot, though.

Hmmm mine is ~20.5 and set at almost dead on L, I also recently discovered that there were two attachments for the load lifters, mine was set to the lower ones which wasn't correct, much better when moved to the upper ones. I also bent the stay a little after watching their two fitting videos

My torso is also ~20.5" and I have mine adjusted as Large.

I loaded each of the packs up with 31 pounds and took them each around the neighborhood for a two mile hike. The Unaweep felt the better of the two and felt really good over the quick couple of miles. I am going to try and make some tweeks to the Lightning and try it again.

The water bottle pockets on the Unaweep were functional after all. They weren't perfect but I could get a 32oz Gatoraide bottle in and out of the pocket without issues.

I was planning on using a pair of Zimmerbuilt hipbelt pockets with it but they don't fit very well.

got the pocket today, it's under spec @ 2.5 oz :) guesstimating the volume at 5-ish liters

I added a couple of pounds (to 33) and did a couple more 2 mile walks. I am still leaning toward the Unaweep even though it is heavier, it just feels the least noticeable while wearing it. I do have a small gap in between my upper back and the pack and don't know if I should do more tweeking or if it is ok the way it is. My pack weight in Alaska looks like it will be ~31.5lbs.

I got back from Alaska with the Unaweep and in short I am very impressed. My mini review is below: Paradox Unaweep 4800 X21RC (51oz including 2- Zimmerbuilt hipbelt pockets @ 1.2oz each) I bought this pack specifically for this trip as none of my normal packs could handle the volume I needed for this trip. My starting weight including all food and water should have been about 32 pounds, but I volunteered to carry some “group” gear since my pack was lighter than everyone else’s. I carried two additional 220g Fuel Canisters, a “group” inreach, as well as the pole and the stakes for the cook tent, so I was probably pushing 40 pounds when it was all said and done. The pack carried that weight effortlessly. I didn’t use a talon to save weight so I folded the roll top down and attached to the bottom buckles to make a roll top dry bag type closure. I used the middle buckles to attach to and hold up the load shelf. The X21RC fabric held up quite well to all the dwarf birch, alder, willow, black spruce, and talus I saw on the trip. The light gray color is fairly stained up (which doesn’t bother me) and the water bottle pockets have some slight fuzzing on the fabric face, but nothing bad considering all the abuse they received. On a side note the water bottle pockets worked fine. I am a picky person when it comes to water bottle pockets and use 32oz Gatorade/Powerade bottles. The Unaweep pockets are nothing fancy and are very basic, but they worked great as I could get a bottle in or out with the pack on, something that if I can’t do-quickly eliminates packs from my gear closet. I seamsealed the pack prior to taking it to Alaska and although it might not have been 100% waterproof, it was pretty close. It was hard to tell after a HEET leak inside the pack (Note: the Stock Yellow HEET container is not water tight once opened ). I did have all my important gear in a trash compactor bag, which keep it away from the HEET. I am impressed enough that I am seriously considering ordering a 3900 pack bag to fit to the same frame for the rest of my trips.

Hi Bradford Just wanted you to know, that I appreciate your testimony. I know I'll be getting a Unaweep, but I must admit that I am a little bit nervous of ordering from their website. I just can't figure their backpack systems out by reading the info. I'll probably have to start a longer dialogue with them. I'm just warming up to the process… Cheers, Peter

Yeah, just call them directly. I bet Kevin would be happy to talk you through the options. Seekoutside also has a forum on their website where you can post questions, and they are very responsive. SO Forums

#ERROR!

Bradford, how do the two packs compare to your Mchale in terms of carry?

The Exped never really felt right to me so it was out quickly. It's more of a competition between the Unaweep and the McHale but not really an apples to apples comparison either. My McHale doesn't have the bayonets or bypass system so there are no load lifters etc. It is a smaller pack at 2900ci. I like the hipbelt better on the McHale, but I think the frame transfers weight better on the Unaweep. I eneded up starting out with close to 40 pounds with the Unaweep in Alaska and I have never tried to carry that much in the McHale so its hard to compare. I hadn't carried over 30 pounds since January 2008, so I was a little worried, but I didn't even notice it with the Unaweep. Once I got the pack on and adjusted everything, I rarely found myself re adjusting anything. It was very comfortable. I do really like my McHale, but I am seriously thinking about getting a smaller packbag (using the same frame) and trying the 3900 Unaweep for week long trips. I won't need the 4800 pack bag again unless I do a packrafting trip, go for two weeks, or am really playing Sherpa.

I'm not in the market for something like this but I think the Paradox Unaweep looks amazing. Weight is not that much, especially compared to something like the Sixmoondesigns 65 (52oz). The Divide 70L is how much, 42oz? Or am I mistaken?

There are some amazing things about these packs. I was amazed at the carrying comfort of the pack and I think the ability to easily change bag sizes and use the frame/suspension is a really nice feature. The x-pack fabric is really nice and I like it better than dyneema grid or hybrid cuben. The packs are pretty light for what they are and you can get in the 2.5 pound range for sure. What isn't perfect: I am not sure they have the perfect pack bag design (at least for me) as I hate stretchy water bottle pockets like on the Divide (though most people must not as that seems to be what most packs use nowadays) and the Unaweep works best with a Talon, which has uses, but for me it's not wanted/needed most of the time. I plan on cutting some of the straps and load shelf off to lighten the pack a bit. They also don't sell hipbelt pockets and I had to rig some Zimmerbuilt pockets to work, and while they worked fine, it would be nice to have some pockets that were made to work with the pack. I will also note that I like a wide full wrap belt so I ordered a large belt even though I wear 34 pants and I am glad I did. The belt works very well. I have said this before but I think it's a great pack and design but it's a little less refined than some of the others. I think zpacks products are often the same way. This is due to the fact that they are relatively new (it took years for McHale etc to refine their pack designs). And the fact that they were designed as hunting packs and are being adapted for hikers.

Thanks Bradford. I am impressed with these packs. Especially for the price.

Yes, one of the reasons I am holding of just buying a unaweep straight away, is that the packbags doesn't seem fully evolved from a classic light weight hikers perspective. I'd like the option of a built-in stretch pocket in place of the talon option. It looks clumsy and over built to me. Also as Brad mentioned earlier, the load shelf seem redundant on the unaweep packbags. But, of course others will see this differently. I'd just like the option of a packbag in my style. Maybe they can custom make that. I'll have to find out. But I'm very impressed with what I see though :-) I'll bet, that the line up of packbags will grow in numbers over the years. It's very convenient to be able to change pack bags. I really love that feature.

You mean like this?

Yes, I was going to see if they would make me a 3900 without a load shelf, without ice ax loops, and with removable compression straps. If they won't I will just have to trim things myself. The Divide was Seek outsides try at a lightweight backpackers bag, but it missed the mark for me. I still prefer the Unaweep sans Talon (though the talon would be useful for Packraft paddles etc).

I guess I should have specified that that Unaweep above is a stock 3900 bag that I modified myself by adding side daisy chains, removing the load shelf, and adding the back pocket.

What is the difference between the Divide and the Unaweep? I thought they were on the same suspension?