Breathable Back System for Backpacks

[Bryce Nerland]

I noticed the other day that Lowe Alpine has come out with a new system called “Pure Air Zone” which suspends most of the backpack a few inches away from your back to keep your back from sweating while you hike. See advertisment on page 39 of this years Backpacker Gear Guide for a picture of their system. If you dont have the magazine I will try to describe it.

There are two strips of foam protruding several inches from the frame, one that contacts your shoulders and another on the backside of the hipbelt. Between the strips of foam is an open area where the pack does not contact your back.

This feature sounds kind of hokey but I think it might make my hiking a lot more comfortable. I hate the layer of back sweat that develops on a normal internal frame backpack and I am not a big fan of external frame packs.

I am thinking of trying to add this feature to my backpacks by simply attaching strips of foam in the proper places. Is there any reason why that wouldn’t work? Has anyone has tried this technology (Its found on Lowe Alpine Beartooth Air and Cirque Air backpacks.) I would appreciate any thoughts or suggestions.

[Bill Fornshell]

Have you looked at my Thread in the “Make Your Own Gear” section here.

Ultra-Light External Frame Park

I call what I have been working on my “Moisture Wicking System”. The part you might be interested in starts about halfway down Page 1 of the Thread.

[Bob Bankhead]

Mountainsmith had it first. That’s what sold me on the Auspex originally. That huge air channel really works, keeping my back much cooler and drier than any pack system I’ve used.

Wandering Bob

[kevin davidson]

Synergy Works, in the 70’s developed an internal “x” frame pack which when tensioned by pull straps caused a mesh screen to hold the pack away from the wearer and allowed excellent ventilation.

Of course, this would change the center of gravity
and make it perform more like an external frame pack when off-trail.

In general, I’m leery of all approaches that hold the weight away from you when engaged in off-trail or mtneering pursuits–but fine for the trail and hot weather.

I still have this artifact somewhere.

[Anonymous]

This is the benefit of more rigid, dare I say slightly heavier, packs. You can loosen the top load lifters and let the whole thing sag backwards just enough to let some air thru.(Bean’s old Summit pack , for instance). It’s harder with Golites, ULA’s, etc. especially if they are stuffed full – they get rounded and so don’t sag back well. Just my 2 cents.
V8

[David Robin]

What about the Osprey Atmos 50. It suspends the pack a few inches from your back, and is pretty highly rated. Is that kind of deisgn what you had in mind, or something else?

[Anonymous]

I don’t know if anyone notices bit you sweat pretty much no matter what and get wet no matter what.

[Author]

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