Backpack suggestion under $300 & 3lbs; over 55L; 35-40lb load

My wife has a crown 60 ki and I don't think it would carry the weight you want. The hipbelt and shoulder straps are pretty substantial but the frame sheet is very flimsy. You might could fabricate some sort of stay for it.

I carried 38 pounds in my Catalyst last year comfortably. I will agree with the poster about the fact that it does get hot and sweaty on your back since it sits directly against it with that foam pad, after enough miles it will sweat all the way through but I had a pack liner inside.

I was happy with the way it performed but unless you are absolutely certain you will need a pack that can carry 40, I would get the Circuit, I wish I did now that I am down to 25 pounds total for 7 days.

Definitely take a look at Granite Gears line of AC packs. I've read good things about them. The Leopard AC, I think, fits your criteria, along with the Blaze AC. Plus there's a couple more. Just some options for research.

Edit: just reread your post and realized I recommended something you already looked at and didn't like. Sorry about that. But I think you could find a Kelty or something similar that fits that criteria. A little modding can bring the weight way down. But invest in something good. It's worth it.

AK,

Given your preferrence for a frame sheet, full back panel pack like the Granite Gear designs, I strongly suggest you take a serious look at the Katabatic gear line of packs,specifically,the Helios and Artemis 55 packs made in the VX42 Xpac.

http://katabaticgear.com/shop/category/backpacks/

They tick off all your specs-

UP to 40lb load capacity.

Top pack weight is 40 oz

$285 to $295

Handmade in Colorado by a company with a rep for quality.

Goodlooking and sophistcated designs

Full ventilated back panel with corregated foam, frame sheet and single stay.

Contoured hipbelt WITH side pockets included.

Tough waterproof xpac construction.

Sweet backpacks. They weighs 10 oz less than the Leopard yet has hip pockets that GG is missing.

Does anyone know how the padding of the hipbelt and shoulder pads compare to the Granite Gear Blaze/Leopard? I find the AC padding/suspension really comfortable for just about 3 lbs. I took it out for a few miles at 31 lbs and it felt like it could easily handle 5-10 more pounds comfortably. While I'll generally be at 27-32 lbs I want something that can be still be reasonably comfortable at 35-40 lbs if needed.

Also, is the difference between the Helios Artemis simply the zipper access to the main compartment vs the large stretch pocket?

A,

Yes, the only real design difference between the Helios and the Artemis are the back pockets. Origionally, the other difference was materials. The Helios was cuben hybrid only at 32 oz and a few of us asked Aaron if he would build the Helios in the heavier xpac VX42 as well . He agreed..

Folks seem to really like the volume and cinvenience of the Artemis' zipper pocket for jackets, shelters etc.. The Helios stretch pocket is a bit snug. I like to avoid zippers when I can and the shovel pocket on the Helios seems well designed. The weight diff in the 55L packs made in xpac comes down to the zipper.. The Arty is about 1 ounce heavier.

I have no idea how the hip bet shoulder padding would compare to the Granite Gear packs

but..

Several other folks here like Sergio and Jen Mitol had compared them to many of the sub 3 pound packs fron other cottage makers and are pretty impressed with the suspension. Ms Mitol is leaving her custommade Zimmerbuilts and taking her Cuben Helios 40 to the CT this month.. Pack fit is an indidual thing ,of course but the Katabatics look to be as close to a Granite gear type suspension at 2.5 pounds or less. The belts look well contoured and designed and back panel looks to be a great combo of rigidity and ventilation.

Aaron at Katabatic is a great young man to visit with in the phone and answered all technical questions promptly. He knows his stuff and is obviously a talented designer/ craftsman..

Do a search here for the Katabatic pack threads going back the last six months.. You will learn quite a bit about their progression..

Hate to go all BG on this thread but it is

"Katabatic"

I got the Aquilo a couple of months ago and love it. I think that it fits all of your requirements. Hand made in the USA as well. It carries well, fits close to the back and has a simple design. Comes in right around 2 pounds for a size large.

http://www.elementalhorizons.com/aquilo-pack/

Alex.

I miss getting "Grossed out" by ol' Bob..

I will go back and correct that ,sorry.:)

This post covers the pack in some depth though from the pictures it looks like the hip belt is a thin perforated foam.

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=95814

Unless I missed something in the prior post, the only post I saw addressing load comfort was this one saying its good for 20-25 lbs.

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=102164

Being that I am hoping to retire/sell my Aether 70 I need a pack that can legitimately carry 35-40lbs especially as I become the family mule when my kids get big enough to start coming.

Thats why I went with the HMG 4400. It has remivable stays and a framesheet. The belt is decent without adding weight. While it doesn't have a sculptured back panel, I use it in the low desert and find it quite comfortable. I have degeneration in my 4th & 5th disk. The doctor has told me not to carry weight. A good fitting backpack supports my back as well as the weight. My Gregory was good for that, but all so heavy. GG and ULA were two contenders.
Mike will put the framesheet in a smaller pack. He was going to charge me $30. For the money, I opted for the larger pack. I find the collar a little tall on the 4400, otherwise it compacts down quite well.
Hopefully I'll get squared away with Nathan from Cascade next week. He should be back in town and so should I. I asked him to wait until I got home. I'll definatly throw some pictures up with some sort of review. He is just starting out with his pack production and as such, he is very easy to work with. While some of the options that I asked for have driven the price up, it is still very reasonable. As much as I like my HMG, this promises to be my go to pack. Small, strong and with a lot of attachment possibilities.

A,

I doubt the hipbelt fosmthe Katabotics is thinner than amy of the.lightet range Granite Gear packs.The packd ate rayed for up to 40 lbs and nobody who has owned one has ever daud the hipbelts seemed too thin or flimsy..

Here is one of Sergios posts comparing the duspendion of the HMGs to the Katabatics-
Note the hipbelt comment.

"I've owned an hmg ice pack (same suspension as windrider) for the last few years and now I'm using a katabatic artemis (same suspension as helios). I prefer the katabatic in almost all respects. I still haven't had the artemis out in sustained rain, but the taped seems and simpler construction of the hmg likely makes it more weatherproof. That said, I probably won't pack any differently with the katabatic. The katabatic carries a load better, and sits more comfortably on the hips because of the shaped hipbelt. The HMG begins to sag at the belt under heavier loads because of the lack of contouring. The load transfer on the katabatic is coming both from a semi stiff foam back as well as the shaped (removable) center stay. The only down side I can see with the center stay on the katabatic is that it doesn't move laterally with you quite as well as the two stay system of the hmg. So far I'm very happy with the katabatic. I'll also mention, its definitely worth the time to bend the stay to the shape of your back. Helps a lot with comfort."

Al ,
You ought to give Aaron at Katabstic a call ..Ask him the questions directly. If he is not there, leave a message with your question and he will return your call..

Jimmer – thanks for the suggestion on the Katabatic. I ordered the Helios in small and medium and the medium fits perfect. 2lbs 6 oz and rugged. Last night I loaded up to total pack weight of 36 lbs and took it out for a mile yesterday. Initial impressions are very favorable and I will likely keep this pack and use it for an upcoming 61 mile JMT section hike. I'll write up an informal review after the trip.

Thank Aaron,

He makes a nice pack.. How do you like the hip belt,is it stiff enough for you ?

I’ll be able to say conclusively after my trip. But my initial impression is that I like thinner hipbelts. It seems to mold to your hips better given its suppleness as compared to thicker ones which might put more stress on certain points of the hip given that it does not want to bend as easily. However, still padded adequately – probably between 1/3 to 1/2 the thickness of the GG AC Blaze, Exped Lighting, or Osprey Aether which are on the thick side. But more padded as compared to the Exos which if I recall correctly had no foam in the hipbelt. Could be under 35-40 lbs a super thick hipbelt is overkill.

@Al K, How’d the Helios treat you on your JMT trip? Any insight is greatly appreciated.

It is over $300 but I carried a Seek Outside Unaweep on an 11 day trip in Brooks Range Alaska this year and it carried fantastic. I started out with only 31 pounds but ended up carrying some gear for others in the group and was probably between 35-40 pounds and I was blown away by how well it did.  I was worried as I hadn’t carried over 30 pounds since 2008 for any trip.

I bought the pack because I didn’t have a pack that had enough volume to hold the Bearikade expedition along with my other stuff but it did great.  I am even going to but a 3900 pack bag for week long trips now.

If it helps, everyone who has a SMD pack has loved the way it carries.  It’s more a weight issue that is not exactly devoted to the UL crowd.

However for the weight of the pack you want and to carry the weight you want, the SMD seems like it would suit your needs?

Alex – I ended up returning the Helios after taking it for a stroll in my neighborhood with 35lbs. It was a tight fit putting my Bearvault 450 inside. I feel that made the pack very stiff which bothered me. Also it’s a single stay which did not work for me on the Exped Lightning either. I think I do best with two stays on the outside (or flexible sheet) and a flexible inner back. Since it was all last minute before my hike I did not have time to make other adjustments to make it work. That being said, it was an amazing looking, light, and well-constructed pack that I was sad to not have worked out. On the flip side the GG Leopard worked out for me very well as it was comfy on the hips and flexible; albeit heavier than the Helios.

OSPREY EXOS 58

I have this pack and have carried up to 45 lbs. in relative comfort. I say relative because “There are no comfortable packs, only packs that are less uncomfortable than others.” (I love to quote myself ;o)

It is the most comfortable light pack I’ve ever used and Osprey has built their reputation on comfortable packs. And yes, this pack is durable.

Read the first post in this thread Eric.