Mountain Laurel Designs Core ready for ordering

Ian – no tracking number but it took a week to make it up North which is very quick.

just adding up the weights- sternum strap 0.3 oz, waist belt (it's a tiny one!) 0.5 oz and the shock cord setup 0.7, 1.5 oz total, my pack weighed 9.6 oz minus the accessories 8.1 oz, spec 8.0- not too shabby :)

My experience is that 17-20oz Powerade or Gatorade bottles work best. They have deep groves that let shockcord anchor the bottle. This is my favourite bottle shape:
https://bridgerridgerun.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/gatorade24oz.jpg

17-20oz is also the ideal volume. If you go with a 1L bottle it's just too much weight for normal shockcord to contain. I use 1/8" shockcord and I use a cordlock on it so I can cinch it a bit tigher if it's full, or looser if it's less full for easier access. Once the bottle is down to about 1/3 full I don't use the bottom strap for even easier access.

Dan I agree on volume, a liter x 2 would be a little heavy

If you're going with just shock cord, a bottle of that shape would definitely be the way to go, I've got Ron's bottle holder pouches so will opt for a lighter option

Those MLD bottle pouches are neat. I forgot about those.

I'm still toying over this (and other) packs. The price is just awesome on the Core. I'm literally thinking of simplifying my entire pack quiver down to my Zpacks ArcHaul and an MLD Core or whatever I choose for it, ie two packs. Not just for backpacking but pretty for everyday and work too. Even switch to a porter front rack on my bike (have a Rando rack with low trail fork so its good for it) and use the small pack on that for commuting and touring. The Dyneema is probably the best fabric of most of the options available in this case as it will handle a lot of wear, at least on the outside.

One thing I'm wondering is if anyone can give me the backpanel dimensions of the 1700 Medium?
If I could fit in my GG Nightlight there, I could use the two existing shock cord tabs to hold it in place for trips where I'm pushing the volume (otherwise it can go inside). Two tabs each side is probably the minimum, I could sew on more myself somewhere I reckon (with Nanna's help…not wrecking this pack by myself!), though I note that Sticks uses or has used two on his Zpacks Zero with stated success:

https://stick13.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/2012-03-29-16-24-34.jpg

Adam- mine is a large, it's 10" wide (top & bottom) 22" long, I'm guessing the medium is 20" which should be a perfect fit

from the pic it looks like the existing two/side loops just might be enough, you could always add two more short cords and make an "X" for additional holding

Mike

Thanks Mike!

Yes I was thinking some kind of cross cordage, or I would probably only need to put on one extra loop near the bottom to make a triangle.

>Dan, you might like some of these options available from Japan…a plethora of options!

http://www.ks-ultralightgear.com/p/tao-pack.html

Oh man, that Tao pack looks awesome!

I have to agree with Dan, I love the design of the Core but it would be nice if it were offered in slightly higher spec materials like VX21. Keep the DXG for the budget option and charge $20 more for Xpac and you're pleasing everyone.

I measured my CORE pack and found it to be 18.5 inches from the top of the shoulder straps to the bottom of the hip belt.

I'd add that I've been following forum member Dan Durston's comments on BPL since joining and any UL manufacturer worth their salt ought to take his comments/feedback as reasonable and fair. That is all.

Yours is a Medium 1700 Robert? Thanks :-)

Dan is definitely a level head :-)

Yes, sir. I'm going to refrain from commenting on the shock cord/sit pad lashing points as I haven't really understood them yet. I think I'll just roll without the padding. More to follow.

NB: I typically consider myself as a 19 or 19.5 inch torso length. My height is around 5' 10".

Yes Dan is a good fellow. I believe he should come out with his own line of Xpac versions of a 1300 and 1700 frameless pack and sell them commercially.

But this is a thread notification of the MLD Core for ordering.

The coolest bit about the Tao (IMHO) is how the roll top joins into the shoulder straps…basically combining roll top with load lifter straps! Be interesting to know how this works out in practise. It wouldn't be of much use when packed with a light low volume load as the straps would be all loose, but then you don't need their benefit then anyway. Watching some of his videos (in French) its very intuitive. He calls it the "Joker Hat".

I really like how they do 3D mesh on the lower section as optional. Its the place that I have the most issues personally with chafing, don't need the mesh higher up.

On yhe tau: Maybe I'm missing something, but I can't see any reason why you'd want the rolltop to attach to your shoulder straps.

Simpler to have the rolltop buckles to itself, or better compression to have the rolltop attach lower.

Sorry to derail thread.

Nathan – I have got to think that the post was a mistake for this thread.

Anybody have any pics of theirs loaded up? Placed a order for the 1700 size large about a week ago and just looking for some pics to keep me entertained until mine arrives.

not loaded, but I have a 50k this Saturday and hoping Sunday or Monday I’ll be heading out for a couple of days w/ the Core :)

the fabric is identical (color as well!) to my Exped Lightning- should prove very (very) tough

here’s a pic w/ two bottle pockets and two accessory pockets

Thanks Mike! I've got a Burn in wasabi already, but I always have to buy every smaller volume pack that Ron comes out with.

Hey Brian, I'd love to see some photos of that Wasabi Burn packed up.

Mike – Are those accessory pockets in your picture for the shoulder straps or for the detachable hip belt? If they're for the latter, I'd be curious to know how stable they are.

They're listed for shoulder pockets, but that's where my bottles are going. I've got them slid through the elastic band over the belt, then attached to the little loop where the belt is attached via one slikclip, it keeps them put and found no need for the other clip. The Slik clips are made for 1" webbing, the belt is smaller.

Chad, I could only find a couple pics of mine with it loaded. This isn’t the current model Burn, the newest version has a few small differences with the straps and pockets. Anyways, the pics are from a overnight winter trip with lows in the mid teens.

Loaded and ready to go:

In use:

Thanks Brian, that wasabi is really calling out to me, I like it.

End of yet another thread derail. Sorry Dave.

it was kind of funny, but I was going to call Ron to about the chances of reviving the Newt (or get a custom one built) and before I had a chance to call, Dave started this thread w/ the announcement of the Core- that's what I call good timing! :)