Mountain Laurel Designs Core ready for ordering

Thanks for the feedback, Mike. From what I can tell, the shoulder strap accessory pockets are smaller in volume than Ron's hip belt pockets. But that will probably work on your favour with the minimalist hip belt on the Core.

Let us know how everything goes after you get back next week.

headed out to the Pintlers tomorrow

I got to take the Core out for a spin in the Pintlers, this was my first official SUL trip- I’ve flirted w/ sub 5#’s before, this time I was under :)

the volume is very nice; with this kit I had plenty of room for 5 days of food- wether that pushes the weight for the pack I can’t say

w/ food & water the pack was probably right at 10#’s; the pack carried very nicely- the wide, padded straps felt really good- the hip belt just kept the pack from swinging

the water bottle holders worked really well, easy to remove/replace and the weight in the front might just be advantageous

the small pockets worked well too- one side I had snacks/electrolytes- the other map/compass, sunscreen and anti-chafe; easy to access and roomier than their small size belies

I used a GG sit pad against my back; I believe this helped in the comfort department and I use the sit pad frequently at stops and camp, at night the pack w/ pad goes under my feet as I was using a short pad

got rained on in the evening and while everything that needed to be was in a dry bag, all contents were bone dry at camp

I don’t think I’d want to push the pack much past 15#, not that it wouldn’t hold together, I think it would- it would be pushing the limits of what is comfortable me thinks

Congrats on the trip Mike!

Was that two days/one night?

Also, what's the black thing under the shock cord on the front…I can't quite tell.

Cheers!

yup quick one :)

my Helium II rain jacket, which I needed as it opened up pretty good on my way to Warren Lake

Got mine in the mail today! Just thought I’d post a pic of what all would fit in it. Still not to the top seam where the straps are sewn in. I could probably fit five days of food in on the top with the gear I’ve got listed.

Enlightened Equipment 30deg Rev quilt
Neoair Xlite reg
MLD Cricket tarp
Polycro floor
Exped UL pillow
6 MSR mini groundhog stakes
Granite Gear event stuff sack
Sawyer Squeeze with Evernew 900 bag
Montbell Ex light
OR versaliner gloves
Marmot Essence
Golite rain pants
Mountain Hardwear fleece beanie
Thermarest inflator
Bear bag cord (50ft) and mini biner
Zelph Fosters pot esbit cook kit
Zebralight H51
Small first aid kit

nice :)

agree fully- it's definitely all of 28 liters and with the right gear selection more than enough room for 4-5 days

Just received mine in the mail. It was shipped two weeks after ordering which is as advertised.

My size large 1700ci pack weighs 7.9oz which is .1oz under advertised weight. Shock cord adds another .8oz.

Water Bottle holders weren't mailed with the pack so I'll post the weights when I receive them.

No initial out of the box surprises. Quality of construction typical MLD (read very good). Wasabi color is dead sexy. Looking forward to taking it on its maiden voyage next week.

Edit: Couldn't wait and threw my MBULSS#3 (not completely compressed either), Prolite 3/4, poncho, ground sheet, Fat Cat Gear 900ml dry baking kit and baking ban which adds quite a bit of bulk, and a day's worth of food and still have plenty of room to add the few missing doodads. I'll post pictures later after I get my complete kit packed in it.

Damn

I wish my kit could be that small. With those clothes and quilt I'd be good only to about 40-45F while sleeping. I would only be able to sit around at camp to 50F with all those clothes on. (I notice there are no leg layers except the GoLites. Makes me shiver to think about.

The other day I wore:

2 pair socks
lt. merino legs
shorts
OR Revel WPB pants

t shirt
mntbell UL vest
Marmot Driclime
OR Helium 2

it was 50 and I was almost chilly

Thats a height of the summer kit for me. Prolly even be a little chilly.

Jealous

Question for the people that received their Core Packs. Mine came with bungie but none of the plastic toggles. Were the plastic toggles attached to the bungie or were they in a separate package? Thanks,

Jeffs,

Well I'm overweight therefore naturally insulated so that helps. But, I'd rather be skinny and pack a puffy so there's that. Diet moves slowly along…

Only clothing I'll add for three season hiking when temperatures are expected to stay above freezing are a squamish, buff, Kat hat, possum down gloves, and extra pair of socks for my wash one wear one routine.

Dave,

I'll look again when I get home but at first glance, I thought I was supposed to thread it through the daisy chain or something. It doesn't have any of the plastic compression hooks like what came with my prophet.

Edit: fat thumb typos

mine came already attached and has two small "connectors" in the center and a cord lock (as pictured on Ron's site)- I did however replace the shock w/ smaller dia stuff (and a smaller cord lock) and saved a couple of tenths :) the "connectors" still work, but probably better w/ the thicker shock cord

my "kit" includes a few warm bits-puffy layer (MH Ghost), down beanie, 100 wt fleece mittens, Buf, dry socks- I can (and often do) layer my both my windshirt and rain jacket into the mix as well. I don't normally carry much for lower body insulation as my legs seldom get cold (even winter????).

I've got an Arc Haul on order, but I just couldn't resist getting one of these also for summer and fall when I carry SUL-ish loads. I hope Ron's got some in stock. I have a small Zpacks tarp already, and an EE Rev 50 on order, so my SUL kit will be pretty much "there" with this very reasonably priced addition. Dog's gotta carry his own food, though! :^)

Thanks Ian, Mike. Looks like some of them ship with it and some don't. I was just going by the MLD pictures. Not a huge deal, of course.

Bob, thanks for supporting the economy…; )

Kind of like Dairy Queen: sometimes you get the sprinkles, sometimes you don't. Depends who's staffing the counter when your order comes up. That is my only beef with MLD.

Jeff, I can take that kit down into the 20's. I'm hot natured so I guess that helps a lot. I don't usually hang around in camp too long after dark either, I'm usually on the move or in bed.

Dave, my cord came coiled up with two of the connectors and a cord lock on it. I'm sure Ron will send you some if you e-mail him. I've had packs arrive that were missing the sternum strap before, and had one in the mail two days later after e-mailing Ron.

Thanks Brian, just emailed MLD.

I forgot to mention that I purchased an extra sternum strap as Ron mentioned it in the pack description. I didn't purchase this pack as a running pack (nor is it designed as a running pack), but…. with two sternum straps and a light loadout, I found it pretty decent for some running. I often find it easier to run longer down hill stretches, than walk them- I'm not talking flat out running here, more of an old guy jog :)

Anywho, nice to have that option if one wants to add a wee bit of running (jogging) in

Cool… I ordered the extra strap with this is mind.

I do end up naturally trotting or jogging downhill sometimes, which definitely seems more efficient/less stressful on legs than trying to fight gravity too much.

"old guy jog"… well put. It has crossed my mind that perhaps this is the most efficient way to travel since this is where we're all going to end up anyway — if we're lucky! ;^)

"I forgot to mention that I purchased an extra sternum strap as Ron mentioned it in the pack description."

I did exactly the same thing. LOL

I've heard you can buy and apply your own 3M seam tape; would it be worth the trouble to do so on this fabric, or would you be getting seepage through, such that taping the seams wouldn't make a difference overall. It rained 1 inch in an afternoon here a few days ago.

Thinking about picking one of these up but a couple questions to you who have one already. 1. Did you use a foam and/or inflatable pad in the back as padding? Would that cut into too much space? I've been using a cut up foam sit pad in the back of my burn/exodus this way. 2. What are your thoughts with not having a front pocket? On the burn/exodus I love the front mesh pocket on and I use it store most of my little items. Typically that means polycro groundsheet, stakes, rain gear, bandanna/rag, bear bag kit, headlamp maybe, sawyer mini and "dirty" bag, plus maybe more but that's what I came up with off the top of my head. Personally, not sure why, but I like keeping all of those small miscallaneaous items grouped together and not thrown in with the rest of my gear.

Jameson, maybe you could wrap up all those items in the polycryo ground sheet, except for the rain gear and other items you'll definitely need during the day? I've been musing about this as well and doing some test-packing because I'll be doing my first SUL-ish trip with this pack in a couple of days. I got a couple of the belt pockets, one for day food/snacks and the other for map, compass, sunscreen, AM water treatment, etc. As per Mike M above, I'll just tuck the FrogTogg rain jacket under the shock cord web on the outside if rain seems likely. The shoulder strap water bottle pockets are perfectly sized for my 20oz Gatorade bottles and seem to provide a nice counterbalance. My plan is for the Neoair Trekker torso length to provide the back padding. With a tiny bit of air in it and folded over, it covers the back and bottom of the pack. I don't normally use a stuff sack for my quilt, but for this pack I will because it turns it into a small package that lets the frameless pack conform better to my back and not stick out like a stuffed sausage. Definitely doing a day hike with the full kit to tweak it if necessary.

"1. Did you use a foam and/or inflatable pad in the back as padding? Would that cut into too much space? I've been using a cut up foam sit pad in the back of my burn/exodus this way. 2. What are your thoughts with not having a front pocket? On the burn/exodus I love the front mesh pocket on and I use it store most of my little items. Typically that means polycro groundsheet, stakes, rain gear, bandanna/rag, bear bag kit, headlamp maybe, sawyer mini and "dirty" bag, plus maybe more but that's what I came up with off the top of my head. Personally, not sure why, but I like keeping all of those small miscallaneaous items grouped together and not thrown in with the rest of my gear." 1. I haven't yet. I simply pack all of the soft items close to my back and anything that I think could poke me either wrapped by the softer goods or at the back of the pack. Then I compress the pack tight as necessary. 2. I hear you, but this pack is a really lean pack for a reason. For a more fully featured version, the Burn would be your choice as the main pack is similarly sized. The bungie system will hold larger items securely on the Core if employed..

Can't comment on the weather proofness of the Dyneema, but I use a cuben bag for my quilt and clothing. I used a small foam pad against my back, I think it helps- it also helps when using a torso length pad, the pack goes under my feet