Ultralight SAR pack?

I would think that a ULA pack, a model with the dyneema grid stop fabric like the Circuit, would be a good middle ground. ULA's dyneema grid packs may not be in the UL weight catagory but they are light and in comparison very durable. Just a thought.

golite ion

Something in 400 denier pack cloth would be plenty bomber
and you might get away with something in the 200d catagory
especially if you could find some with sil coating instead
of urethane. Golite and Cabela's have had some packs with
that fabric in the past.

Maybe take a look at their 45L Worksack.

Also check out what the base load requirements are for SAR. You may be surprised what they expect you to carry, and I'm sure they'll be surprised at what you carry. My Megamid (heavy version) is considered pretty radical.

Rod

Its a little expensive but the WildThings Icesac might fit the bill. The golite Jam or Pinnacle also seem pretty durable and are certainly light.

Black Diamond http://www.bdel.com

I agree with Rod above in terms of checking out Cilogear. His packs are absolutely bomber and very configurable for varying situations – – lending themselves well to SAR efforts by design.

Wow! Thanks for all the feedback guys. I have some research to do :)

Yah… I imagine that the SAR folks would be pretty horrified to see what I carry for a 3 day weekend on trail… LOL :P

Yeah, but they may also be impressed by how easily you can travel off-track with a lighter pack.

Another vote for Cilogear; They strip down light when the mission allows it, and have multiple configurations using the included straps and removable components. Not ULTRAlight, but a good combination of durability and lightness.
I suggest starting with the required gear list to estimate pack volume; but Im sure you already thought of that.

Just my .02 worth …. having been there and done a little of that in a related profession … look into something made for a hard-use application (military, law enforcement, etc.) … something referred to generically as a "3-Day Assault Pack" will likely serve your needs. I prefer panel loaders for this purpose, as well.

Look at brands like Blackhawk Ind., London Bridge Trading, Kifaru or Eagle Ind. Something in the 2200-3000 cube range should suffice. Prices with the brands mentioned will range from mild to wild.

Thanks again :)

BTW… here is the gear list:
http://www.hrsar.ca/gear.htm

I also should have titled the thread "Lightweight SAR Pack" since ultralight and SAR are probably mutually exclusive… LOL :P

I have a Kifaru Express, use it for traveling and car camping. Its as close to indestructible as it gets, the downside is it weighs around 4 pounds. They have other designs and sizes, all high qaulity cordura materials in the military section. Check em out. Expensive, but definately worth it if you are going to beat the crap out of the pack.

http://www.kifaru.net/MGpacks.htm

ULA Equipment

Size accordingly.

I've been thinking about this too. For after I get back from WMI mountian rescue is were I eventually want to end up, so I thought one option might be the Grtanite Gear Alpine Vapor. GG says they use thougher fabrics and at 2 lbs 10 oz its fairly light for this particular pourpose. I also second a "three day assult pack" from something Like Blackhawk, maxpedition, or something similar. Heres a link to the Alpine Vapor;

http://www.granitegear.com/products/backpacks/technical_day/alpinevapor/index.html

Thanks for the suggestions all. I think for my needs, I'm leaning towards a Golite or ULA pack. Unfortunately, ULA is out of commission until the new year. I've been getting by for now with my ultralight gear… but I need a "real" pack… and sooner than January.

What about the Six Moons packs? I think they are made from 200D cloth and they are very highly reviewed… can accept stays… have lots of outside pockets and hip belt pockets (great for batteries, first aid, etc.). Plus they are in stock. I think a panel loader would be nice for SAR as well… to make it easy and fast to get to and organize your gear.

The MLD Exodus, in the all black tougher material option, may be worth serious consideration. The lead time may not work but you can email Ron to look into the wait time for this item.

Hey-
I ran EMS a long time, ski patrol, SAR… gear and packs don't have the luxury of being really light–they'll see a lot of abuse. There's a company called Conterra that specializes in EMS-oriented packs. One of my favorites is the ALS Extreme; has great organization and accessibility, set up to carry an O2 cylinder if needed. They have other great options, too.

http://www.conterra-inc.com

Thanks Brad. Those packs look really cool… and are very well priced… and not too heavy. I'll take a closer look for sure (altho' they seem a little small). We may sometimes need to carry enough gear into the woods to be self-sufficient overnight… plus we may need to be able to shelter / clothe the lost subject overnight if they are immobile. So I think I need at least 50-60L.

Those packs seem more like alpine / first responder packs. I'm not a first responder and I'm never above the treeline. We're almost always at or slightly above sea level in my area… and mostly hasty ground searches and bushwhacking. I'm thinking a 50-60L 200 Denier pack should work fine in this area.

But yes… the title of this thread is a contradiction!!! My bad. What I meant was… I'd like a pack that is relatively durable without being your typical 5 or 6 pounder you find at the local outfitters.

Not into kicking dead horses, but… ALS Extreme is about 65 liters. Pack is definitely more for first responders/EMS, but works well for general SAR as well w/organizational capability etc…

Hello All

Gee, it's been a while since I've been in the forum.
I'm involved in SAR in Southern Arizona. I've gone through several packs. Last month I went on an over night SAR training activity with a Six Moon Designs Comet and it worked well. Because of my new job, I haven't been able to try it on a real SAR mission

Be warned: the hottest pack people in my organization are going to is the Osprey Kestrel 48. I have one too. It's a very comfortable fit. However the hang tag says the medium pack weighs 3 lbs, 9 oz. IT"S NOT. It's over 4 lbs. I hacked the heck out of it, including taking the divider out of the top pocket and replacing all the zipper pulls and the drawstring for the main compartment with EZC 2 line

My SAR pack weighs 32 lbs, with 6 liters of water. My suggestion is to modularize the gear list into "Required", "Recommended" and "Optional" depending on mission profile and assignment. Who need a huge first aid kit when your mission is to take the stokes to the hasty team who have the team first aid kit?

A lot of that comes with experience. After each callout, get home, clean up, lay all your gear on the floor of the living room/garage, pick up each item between the ear, look it straight into it's eyes and ask "Do I need you or do I want you?" If it answers back, please increase your medication dose! If you answer that it's a "want" item, put it aside in a duffel bag. If it's a "need" item, it deserves room in your pack.

Berg Heil

Walter