Thompson Peak Pack

The Thompson Peak is a great pack; it is very simple, but is my pack of choice for medium capacity loads between 12-18 pounds. I use a MLD Revelation for smaller loads and a GG Miniposa for heavier loads, but this pack is my most commonly used one. I agree with Ben; the pack is between silnylon and Dyneema in terms of durability. I have had mine for almost three years and hiked several hundred of miles with it, and it looks totally fine. Mine has the hipbelt (which transfers the weight to my hips effectively), and I would say seventeen or eighteen pounds is the limit for me. While I would like a little wider and more padded shoulder straps, they get the job done well for the loads I described. Like I said, it is pretty cheap, weighs 10.5 oz. with the hipbelt, has 3600 cu. in. of space, and carries a sub-20 pound load with few problems. Great light pack with plenty of durability for most users. I really like mine.:)

This is what I plan on doing. I haven't decided if I will use the mat as a tube liner for the inside or just to fold it up and place it against the straps with my clothes and other items pushing against it to hold it in place.

Will you be staying in huts, or tenting? I guess if you're carrying a sleeping pad that means tenting? I haven't used the Thompson Peak, but I have used a GoLite Gust (Dyneema) extensively throughout the South Island. I found it fine for overnight tenting trips, or 3-4 days non-tenting trips, but otherwise it was not "fun" to carry with over 10kg total weight (base + food + water). The biggest difference between the Gust and the Thompson Peak that I can see is the large amount of outside mesh on the T.P. If you go anywhere off well groomed tracks in NZ these will cause you grief, if you stay on the main tourist tracks you will be fine. YMMV