Gossamer Gear Mariposa

[Shawn Manning]

I just bought a new Gossamer Gear Mariposa. The pack is ultra comfortable but the straps seem almost too wide. Is anyone having trouble with the scratchy velcro rubbing against their neck and arms (when swinging them)?

[David Lewis]

I also found that the velcro in the straps scrached my neck when I first tried it on. What I did was simply to close the velco such that the hooks were in a bit from the edge so only the softer loops would be exposed. On the trail, I didn’t notice any problems. I left the sternum strap at home by the way.

Also, I found that using socks in the straps was kind of annoying because they kept falling down and also, the straps would start to twist around a bit and not hold their shape. Next trip, I’m going to use the foam in the straps and just put socks in the hip belt. The socks as padding were very comfy tho’! Better than foam inserts. Overall, i think it’s an awesome pack.

[John Chan]

Had problems with velcro on some of my other gear (the male part would snag anything and everything). Solved it by replacing the velcro with omnitape. Softer to the touch, its probably an ideal solution for you.

Maybe you can pass it onto Glen, for product improvement input.

[paul johnson]

John,

I don’t know what “omnitape” is. Can you describe it? Do you have a URL to a place on the web that purchases it? Is it bought at a local hardware store? Can it survive 2 daily cycles (unsticking+sticking = one daily cycle)? For how many days?

Please advise. Many thanks, pj

Edit:
Thanks again, John. Looks interesting.

[John Chan]

http://www.velcro.com/industrial/omnitape.html

[Duane Hall]

How long have you been using your Mariposa, David? I currently use a ULA P2 and I’m considering a move to a lighter pack as my pack weight is generally in the 15 to 24 lb range these days, depending on the season. Both the Mariposa and Starlite 5 look very interesting, but I suppose my main concern with the Gossamer pack is durability.

Duane Hall
Mineville N.S

[Anonymous]

i’m in the market for a VERY COMFORTABLE ul pack for a 11 lb base plus food and water. the golite dawn was a HAIR tight (volume) and just not all the way to comfort (shoulder straps hit my neck, hipbelt: flimsy 1″ webbing).

preferences: approx: 2900 vol, compression possibilities, kicker hipbelt, a decent outside pocket or two would be nice. price matters.

jam-too big?
prophet 30?
mariposa?
GG virga? i keep hearing it’s comfortable…

[EndoftheTrail]

I own a Fanatic Fringe “Thompson Peak” pack and really like it. You might want to take a look.

[paul johnson]

Benjamin,

Does yours have the hip belt? How would you compare it to the GoLite Breeze, and the GossamerGear G6 Whisper Uberlite packs – both beltless? Have you seen F.Fringe’s smaller pack, the Alpine Trail pack? If so, what do you think of it cp to the larger Thompson Peak? How much/how many days gear+food would the Alpine Trial hold?

Any info would be helpful. Many thanks,pj

Edit:

Many thanks for the speedy reply & the good info.

[EndoftheTrail]

Yes, mine has the hipbelt. While it transfers some weight from shoulders to hips, this pack is designed for lightweight gear (say 15-20 lbs.). Keeping the load to this level, the pack is very comfortable… more comfortable than the Breeze (which I have tried out but returned).

I’ve not tried Gossamer packs, although I will be meeting up with a friend next week who has them, so we will be making comparisons.

I’ve not tried the Alpine Trail pack either.

[Glenn Roberts]

I’m using the Virga, and am very very pleased with it so far. Functionally, it’s the same simple bag as the Vapor Trail. The 3/4 length Z-rest pad, folded so it’s 2 sections wide, fits perfectly along the inside back of the pack to make a frame. The hipbelt is unpadded webbing – but I find it as comfortable and functional as any padded belt I’ve used, oddly enough. The shoulder straps are well padded and shaped, and they have load lifters. I believe it’s these load lifters that make it so comfortable: they pull the load in, shaping the pad/frame to your back, and also give an efficient weight transfer to your hips. I’ve carried about 23 pounds (including the pack) comfortably, though my shoulders were a little tired at day’s end (not sore, just tired.) With my normal weekend load of about 15 pounds, I’ve forgotten to take the pack off at rest breaks.

The other feature that makes this pack work so well are the 8 exterior compression straps. They let you snug the pack around any load, and let you shrink the pack’s size as a trip progresses and you use up supplies. You can always have a stable load as a result.

Things you might not like about the pack? The pack weighs about a pound and a quarter, which is heavier than most frameless packs. There’s no hydration sleeve (there are two ports out the top of the pack, though), and only two rather small outside pockets, which the compression straps run right across. Finally, the pad goes inside the pack, locked in place by the rest of your gear. This means, unlike the Mariposa with its exterior pad pocket, you can’t access the pad for use during the day without completely unpacking.

I’ve tried the Mariposa – it’s an excellent pack, but I could just never tweak it quite right so it was as comfortable and functional as the Virga.

[David Lewis]

Duane: I’ve had the pack for just about a month and have only used it once so far. I loved it tho’. I walked thru some alders on-trail and it got snagged lightly a few times… but no damage. I would not want to go bushwhacking with it tho’. It’s made from sylnylon… I’m guessing 1.1 oz. It’s the kind of thing where, if you use it a LOT (thru hikes, etc.)… you’d have to replace every few years. But Glen’s prices are really great.

Another idea, if you’re up to it, would be to make your own!!! Ray Way makes a kit… and there are plans for the G4 on the ‘net… as well as a few other bags. Check thruhiker.com. I just bought a sewing machine the other day and it’s too friggin’ cool. Never thought I would be excited about a sewing machine!!! It came with a lovely rose colored embroidered tote bag… LOL!!!!! :P I can’t wait to start making some stuff.

[Thomas Travis]

I don’t think I would buy a Mariposa with the idea of bushwacking with it, but:
In June my son and I walked 32 miles down the Wenaha River in NE Oregon. After being told by the Forest Service that the trail was well mantained, we found that it had not been touched in some time, which made for many miles of trail completley overgrown by brush. A bit nerve wracking as that’s where the rattlesnakes like to hang out. The Mariposa made it through without any noticeable wear. Looking at the pack I wouldn’t think it was that tough, but there you have it.
Also, it is, for me, a comfortable carry with 28#. My son was using a Golite Trek with about the same weight and I found I actually preferred the Mariposa. Not bad for a pack that weighs a little over half as much. Bottom line for me is , if the pack was stolen or lost I would get another.
Tom

[Anonymous]

thanks benjamin (FF thompson peak looks like a great bag and a killer deal)
thanks glenn. i’m a granite gear fan already. have an ozone for pack mule dad days and can’t BELIEVE the comfort. i’ve been mulling this one for some time. and i got a virga. everyone says it’s so damn comfortable. i have a lousy hip and went for the load lifters…and compression straps. i actually got a long, (even though i’m short) because i read in a few places that generally the load lifters ride so low they don’t function….hope that trick works out. LOL. i may add a pad sleeve on the outside re: the mariposa and starlite. would that work?

confession here: i’m going to splurge and get a G6 too. for those special SUPEREXTRA light trips. can’t wait.
best,

[Glenn Roberts]

I don’t know how adding a sleeve to the Virga would work – wouldn’t it need to go inside the pack (like a hydration sleeve) so it wouldn’t interfere with the shoulder straps?

As far as size: I also started with a long (my torso length is right at the line between medium and long.) Later, I acquired a medium, and I actually think it’s more comfortable. So, if you don’t get as comfortable a carry as you were hoping, you may need to drop down a size.

Good luck – the G6 is also a good pack, I’ve heard.

[paul johnson]

Glen,

Please, what is your torso length in inches?

Many thanks,
pj

[Glenn Roberts]

Sorry – a little weak CPA humor there.

I’ve never been really sure how to measure it. When I measured it initially, with my wife’s sewing tape, I followed all the curves of the spine and came up with 21 – 22 inches. (Thus the initial purchase of a Long size Virga.) However, a few months ago, I had an experience friend who works in an outdoor store measure my torso, just for fun; he came up with 19″. This is in the middle of the Medium range on Granite Gear’s website for sizing Vapor suspensions – thus the change to the Virga size Medium, which does seem to fit better.

So, there you have it: 19″ or 22.” Do I hear any other bids?

[David Lewis]

Glenn,

The way to measure it is to find the hip crests and follow that level around to your back… which I think usually means right around the top of the sacrum or so… then measure up to the c7 bone in your neck… that’s the one that sticks out the most.

[Glenn Roberts]

I think I left something out of the previous post. I knew the start/stop points. The problem I had was whether to lay the tape along the curves of the spine in between, or simply go point-to-point, pulling the tape tight (like my buddy did.) Following the curves gives a slightly longer reading.

Given that the Medium pack fit better, and that my buddy (who knows what he’s doing, considering his time in the business and the seminars he’s attended) is probably better at it than I am, I’m inclined to think the point-to-point is the proper way. (At least for that particular pack, on that particular day. I think the sizing of packs is perhaps subject to the same vagaries from brand to brand as sleeping bag temperature ratings.)

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