Help me select a backpack and tweak a gear list for trip to Glacier National Park

You may want to take a look at Moutain Laurel Design's line of packs, a model such as the "Super Prophet" would seem to meet your goals. I can not personaly speak in regerd to MLD packs but I do own other MLD items and the quality and service is great. Wait time may be an issue but give Ron a call or send him an email. Good luck.

Might look at the GoLite Quest for what you describe, at least in comparison to the Osprey Aether 60.

The Quest is almost a pound lighter than the Aether 60, and yet has about 15% greater capacity that would help with carrying bulkier gear in the winter.

The Quest had a good review ("recommended") here at BPL:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/golite_quest_backpack_review.html

The Aether 60 (2006) also reviewed well at BPL, with an issue being weight (>4lbs) as of the "2006" model:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/2006_osprey_aether_60_backpack_review.html

Price is another big difference, with the Aether retailing at $219 versus the Quest at $175.

But, if capacity of the ULA Catalyst is sufficient for your needs, I believe the quality of ULA packs is pretty hard to beat based on my experience with the Relay. With a few of ULA's accessories, the Catalyst would be about the same weight as the Quest — and more expensive than either the Quest or the Aether.

Maybe just get them all.

JRS

I have heard great things about MLD packs (and I am seriously eyeing the Zip), but I don't think I could recommend any of them for David's purposes. Maybe you have better shoulders than me, but I would not want to carry 30+ pounds with a frameless pack. That said, I have heard great things about the Catalyst.

Thanks for the comments you guys.

I have checked out the MLD packs. I think they look great, but I don't think any are particularly bear can compatible. As I do more research, I'm gradually coming to the conclusion that I'll need a bigger bag for hiking with my girlfriend, hiking in locations that require a bear can, and in the winter. That said I anticipate eventually getting a smaller bag for trips with a lighter pack weight and less volume. To that end, I'm eyeing up a MLD Zip too. But one thing at a time…plus money doesn't grow on trees. ;)

I think the Quest looks okay, but I'm pretty tall and the pack seems pretty unadjustable. I think it either fits you or it doesn't. And I know that I get an absolutely great fit with the Osprey, so I'm inclined to favor it unless I can find a place to try on the Quest.

So, do you guys think that the ULA reputation for high quality workmanship is warranted? I just noticed that the new '08 bags have some sort of volume reducing adjustors. Nice…

Bah! This is headache inducing. Maybe I will just buy them all! :)

Thanks again.

David,
Perhaps there is no pack made for your needs…sounds like someone needs to contact R2 packs! :)
Seriously though, I am designing my dream pack as I type this. The BPL article sold me on the idea. If you have the time (and the money), it may be an option to at least look into.

David,

I just recently went through the light weight conversion and settled on the ULA Catalyst for my mountain climbing / pack mule chores. It has been a great pack and I have used it to carry almost 40 lb weights with relative comfort. The features it has are features that make sense. It is quite stout in comparison to many of the other packs in its class.

Consider checking out the reader reviews here on this site if you haven't already.

After hearing and reading many good things about them, I ordered a CiloGear 60L Worksack: http://www.cilogear.com

Mine arrives next week.

What's great about them, apparently, is their modularity and load transfer.

Modularity: you can add or subtract the aluminum framesheet, hip belt, top pocket, and compression straps to take it from ~2lbs to ~4lbs. At "full strength", they supposedly have wicked load carrying capacity.

Load transfer: I'm a little less clear on why, but apparently external and internal suspension components allow them to do a really good job of controlling and transferring load. (Handy with those solo dead-of-winter loads…)

Compression: they have a modular strap system that allows them to be compressed/compacted to lots of different configurations — from small summit pack to ballooned-out trailhead pack.

Kelly Cordes swears by them, and they make several models depending on what you're after.

But like I say, I don't have mine yet so this is all second-hand!

I will tend to agree that the MLD packs are probably not what you are looking for. I just received my Super Zip and while it is def sturdy and super comfortable, if you are hauling gear for your signifigant other I would probably go with something with a larger capacity and maybe a frame of some kind depending on your level of experience packing in a frameless pack. The Golites and ULA's suggested here seem to be solid options.

Hi David. You are at the upper end of the LW range, so I would say that you definitely need a sturdy internal frame pack. Some people grunt it with a GoLite Pinnacle frameless pack, but you would need a strong back to carry it comfortably on a longer trip.

I would suggest the GoLite Odyssey or Quest, REI Cruise UL 60 (a great value), or the Granite Gear Nimbus Meridian. I'm not familiar with the ULA Catalyst, but I trust its also a high quality LW backpack. The REI and GG packs have the most adjustability for your taller height; the GoLite packs don't have much torso adjustability at all (just lengthen the load lifters). The GG pack is the most adjustable and has the most comfortable suspension system, but it weighs a half pound more (think of it as a half pound of comfort); it also costs more.

Have a great trip!

I have a MountainSmith Specter pack that has only been used twice, in perfect shape, and was in its day (2001) considered a topnotch ultralight backpack that can hold 40 pounds easily. Specs are here:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/mountainsmith_specter_gg.html

I'll sell it for $50 plus buyer pays shipping.

It also makes a great winter pack due to its ability to hold larger volume material (such as extra insulating material).

David,
I have a starlite, and it is a great pack, very comfortable, and very adjustable (I'm 6'2" and I have not maxed out its suspension adjustment) I can't speak to its bear canister compatability, but it's almost 4000ci when you take the pockets and extension collar into account, and I can't imagine that fitting one in would be a problem. You could e-mail Ron at six moons about that for confirmation.

I know one of the guys on the BPL edge of winter carried a starlite, and I can't see a problem using it as a winter pack, unless you were carrying a true expedition load. For the loads you are carrying, I would reccomend the optional stays.

When I backpack with my wife, I carry everything we need as a group (tent, stove, cookware, 1st aid) in this pack, as well as most of the food, with no problems. She carrys her sleeping bag, pad, and clothing, and water. It carrys the weight (such as it is) quite well, although I haven't taken it to its upper limit yet.

I can't say enough good things about Ron's products, and he's pretty helpful as well.

David,

I've been using an Osprey Aether 60 pack for the past three years in the Sierra and have no difficulty carrying my Bearikade "Weekender MKII" inside the pack.

Thomas

I am currently using the SMD Comet and love it. 37 pounds may be pushing its weight limit a little bit but that would maybe be only for a day. You would definitely want to use the stays. The mesh pockets are very useful and the compression straps work effectively on the front. as for the bear can if you are not carrying to much volume my bearvault 350 fits inside of the bag fine. there are a few reader reviews on it here.

Good, thoughtful responses. Thanks guys.

Steven – I think R2 is well outside of my price range. nice to think about though…those are some nice packs.

Kirt – The reader review are helpful. The Catalyst is really appealing to me. It'd make carrying a bear can in the 'Dacks so easy.

Brian – The CiloGear packs look really nice, but I'm kinda put off by the lack of any outside pockets or mesh. It'd make sense if I were a climber too. But I'm not…yet.

Will – Thanks for reminding me about the Nimbus Meridian. I'd neglected to consider it. It looks like it does everything the Osprey Aether can do, but weighs 10 oz. less.

Unfortunately, I'm right at the edge of being too tall for this pack (I am too tall for the REI pack) and I have no good way to try it out without ordering it as it isn't carried at any local gear shops. This is a little frustrating as I'm sure it takes some tweaking to get the right torso length, waist belt, and shoulder strap size dialed in. I'll have to think of some way to try it out. I may just suck up the extra weight and go with the Aether though as I know from experience that it fits me so well.

By the way Will, do you know if I could fit a full size Garcia bear can in the Nimbus Meridian? Would there be room left to pack other stuff if I could?

Roleigh – I'll keep your offer in mind. Thanks.

Joshua – God to hear that the Starlite is still in the running! Do you know how much weight you carry when you use it hiking with your wife? Is it as heavy as my 36 pounds?

Thomas – I think that the Weekender is a little shorter than my Garcia can. I don't think I'd be able to pack mine horizontally in the Aether like I could in the Catalyst as the Garcia is two inches taller than the Weekender.

Kevin – I've thought the same thing regarding the weight: it'll go down in a day or two after which I won't be pushing it quite so hard. And…it's unlikely that I'll be carrying *that* much. Probably a pound or two less. I can leave a few things and I'm sure that my girlfriend won't actually let me carry everything. Just not her style.

That said, I'm fine pushing myself, but I worry that I'll rip out the stay supports like Will did in his review of the Comet. 35 lbs is a lot for those little aluminum stays I think.

Okay, so I've added the Nimbus Meridian to the list of packs under consideration rather than whittle the list down. Thanks indeed guys. :s

David,

You may also want to consider the Deuter ACT Zero 60+10. At 3lbs. 5oz., it is definitely not ultralight but it has a large capacity and an adjustable suspension. I am a tall guy and I happily carried Deuter packs before recently switching to a ULA Conduit.

You know, I just realized something:

– my total initial pack weight for the trip is only 30.8 lbs.

– my total skin out weight is 35.9

I'm not sure how much that changes things, but it does look like I'm wearing and carrying 5.1 lbs., so…