ULA vs. Granite Gear

I purchased a GG nimbus ozone last year when I was just getting into the LW thing. I was relativly happy with the pack but after 9 months of trimming my gear down it was way too big for me. In June I purchased a used conduit on the gear swap forum and have not used my nimbus ozone since. The conduit is almost a perfect pack. I like it so much that I even use it for day hikes (but I have to put my sleeping bag in it to fill the pack). The exterior pockets work very well for my style of hiking. Typically I put the pack on in the morning and only take it off two or three times during the day. With 4 pockets accesible while I have the pack on I can get at my food, camera, water, water treatment, chapstick, sunscreen, and maps without having to stop walking. I am currently using a full length 1/8" thinlight in the pad pocket for the virtual frame. I have carried up to 25 pounds in the pack and it worked reasonably well. I definatly noticed the weight but the pack still did a good job transfering weight to the hipbelt. As long as your gear load is small enough to fit in the conduit and your pack weight never goes above 25 or 30 pounds during a trip I think that you will be happy with a conduit.

I've used the GG Nimbus Ozone and then the ULA Conduit (extensively). Hipbelt comfort is only slightly different for the two. The Conduit is a great pack with weights in the low 20's or less, above 25 pounds it becomes uncomfortable exponentially for me. I use a Nightlight Torso combined with a Sitlight for the pack support. The compartment sizes are all excellent. For most uses, I don't think that you'll be dissapointed.

Just field tested the ULA Conduit purchased from Mountain Crossings Outfitters at Neels Gap, GA on AT. Did weekend 21-22 mile trip on Georgia AT, first day 12 miles w/pack w/everything 17 pounds, using 2 sections of GG torso foam pad. Took pack off once first day at 30 minute lunch break. Very comfortable, side, belt and outside pockets are excellent, and side/outside pockets are HUGE. This pack replaced a Granite Gear Virga, which was comfortable BUT like the GG Vapor, just two small side pockets. The Vapor at about 3500 CI has larger main compartment than the ULA Circuit. YMMV!

I've used the ULA Circuit and the GG Vapor Trail. Both are good, but the ULA is a notch better all around–better suspension, organization, the fabric seems more durable. I found the Vapor Trail very difficult to use b/c lack of useful external pockets.

I can't speak for the ULA Conduit, but I expect the GG carries better than the Conduit, on account of the framesheet. The GG is a heavier pack, however, and the Conduit has none of the organization issues of the GG.

I'll second everything David just said. I, too, owned a GG VT just long enough to test it out and walk around the neighborhood. I immediately felt that the side pockets were pretty much useless and sold it. I bought the Circuit and never looked back.

The Circuit is probably slightly too big for most of my trips but perfect for winter. The Conduit probably would have been the better bet for me. The difference between the two would be the suspension in the Circuit. It's basically just a hoop (or upside-down "U") that helps the weight go to the hips and conform to your back. I've picked up a Conduit at Mt. Rogers' Outfitters in Damascus, VA and was very impressed. The outside pockets are virtually the same. And those mesh pockets are my favorite part of the pack. I take that back – the hipbelt is extremely comfortable but the mesh pockets on the front and sides come in a close second.

Buy one – you won't regret it.

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I find the pockets to be just what i need, and out of the way when I don’t. YMMV.

Ditto that.

I use a GG Virga rather than a Vapor Trail but the pockets are the same. I get two 1 liter soda bottles in the right pocket and another soda bottle, an ID silponcho, rain chaps and a pack cover in the other. In spite of being below the median in range of motion I am still able to remove and replace a water bottle without taking the pack off.

I do agree that the lower compression straps are marginally useful. Will Rietveld’s Vapor Day Pack review mentions an option to route them inside the pocket, maybe that will make its way into the rest of the product line.

The key to my successful experience with the pockets is that I don’t pack the bottom of the pack very tight. I use a stuff sack slightly larger than the bottom part of the pack for a quilt, prolite 3 pad and sleeping cloths. That fills the bottom foot of the pack with spare compressibility. That leaves room to put things in the pockets, using some of that compressibility by collapsing the pack side walls inward. If I give into the temptation to put too much into that stuff sack then the pockets are too tight to be used conveniently.

I'm pretty much set on the ULA packs. Now, I'm just trying to decide on the Conduit or Circuit. I'm not a total gram weenie yet, but I'm getting there (trying to downsize/weight to a poncho tarp). I don't totally have my gear selections dialed in yet (do we ever?), and I think that I'm some what far from where I think I can be with the gear.

That being said, would the Circuit be a better choice for me?

The decision will stem on total weight weight and bulk of your gear. If it's low to mid 20's with food and water and not too bulky the Conduit will be fine. Any heavier or significant bulk difference, you'll be better off with the lightly framed Circuit and the space it affords. BTW, my avitar shows the Conduit which I used on my recent Long Trail thru hike.

I went with the circuit because I much prefer a BA aircore (yeah, I'm a wimp like that) so I felt that I really needed the frame since my pad would be less than optimal. Completely happy with my decision, even though most of the time I have a good bit of extra room in the pack for weekend trips.

Consider closely the description of the Conduit. " ….suitable for UL 7-days"
If you break down an AT thru-hike into a series of 5 day hikes, the Conduit should do it. On a 14 day-hike of the JMT, the longest stretch without a re-supply is probably 6-7 days. Conduit again. A compact 35 degree down bag and a Gatewood Cape for your shelter, a 3/4 length pad, one pot,and your warm layer is something less bulky than fleece, Conduit should hold it. Well, okay, looks like you are going to go with a homemade, synthetic quilt, some say the Conduit is a bit too small for the JMT, the Circuit is better. " It is easier to deal with a bag that is slightly bigger than you need, than one that is slightly smaller." That is your dilemma. Personally I would go with the smaller volume. If a 10 day supply the pack bulging, it will only be so for one day. If the pack has more room even with a ten day supply, It is going to have a lot of extra room only two days later. Nevertheless, you are still leaning for the Circuit. Maybe you will need that extra volume for your warmer and bulkier fall gear. Start there, see if you do need that extra volume for your fall gear. Oh no, if you hike in fall winter will be next and you really will need a bigger bag! It is a tough decision. Go with your gut! PS I would use the GG Nimbus Ozone only in winter. Too much volume for 3 seasons.

You might want to wait a few more weeks when Brian at ULA unveils the Ohm pack. It looks very promising for its size and weight carrying ability. I have read some early comments from folks who got a sneak peak and they are very impressed with it. It does have a permanent back support – thus you don't have to use a sit pad for the back support.

It weighs 18oz and can hold 3300 ci per the Web site.

-martin

nm

I have a Conduit and love it … I just returned from a week on the AT, with temps down in the 20's at night and 40's and low 50's during the day.

I use a MOYG syth quilt as well ….. how small you can pack it without compressing the insulation is the key to UL with this pack.

The main bag is 2100 cu in … think in terms of volume for a minute.

For me, my Quilt and Bivy took up about 800 cu in. My food bag takes up about 800 cu in, My clothing and other stuff bag is about 600 cu in, That is about 2200 cu in, and I used a bit of the extension collar at the start. I use an insulmat inflatable, so it folds flat and rides in the internal pad pocket.

My Gatewood cape was carried in the Kangaroo pocket, along with my TP, my Micropuff pullover, the day's snacks, a paperback book, my Snowpeak giga stove and fuel, Snowpeak 600 ml cup, as well as a 2 L Platy.

The side pockets carried 2 1 L water bottles.

The Hip Belt pockets contained my Map, my camera, knife, lighter, compass, and my headlamp.

This system worked very well, leaving most of the extension collar unused and a third of the kangaroo pocket unstuffed.

My opinion is that if you are not a comitted ultralighter already, the conduit is not a good week long pack, but a long weekend would probably work for you.

So many jump into a pack first then work on the rest of their gear …. a smaller volume of gear will still fit in a larger pack, but it's real hard to put more volume into a pack than what it's designed for. I learned this lesson the hard way.

I would suggest getting your sleep system, clothing system, food system, cooking gear dialed in before settling on a UL pack.