New Aarn lighter packs

Hi,

I have the featherlite freedom version and it is great.

It really does seem to be 100% waterproof and is nice to wear. The front pockets get you some strange looks but, again, they seem to work as advertised.

BTW there appears to be a different version out (at least in Australia, it has different fabric) than the model shown on the Aarn web site.

Cheers,

Guy

The new Featherlite is available in Melbourne now…
Franco

I have been drooling over the Featherlite Freedom for several months now, but I'm having a hard time justifying the cost (given the exchange rate and shipping from NZ, they quoted me about $350 USD) to myself, not to mention my "other half". The other thing I wonder about is the weight. In my mind there is no reason to get one if I'm not going to use the Balance Pockets, and with them it weighs 1.8kg (4 lbs)! The theory behind them sounds solid, but I have a hard time believing that the Balance Pockets, at only 10L, would hold enough mass to counter the 55L on my back. If they do completely change the ergonomics of hiking under load as they claim I would not mind the extra weight. My Pacerpoles are definitely not UL but I would not trade them for 3 oz poles if you paid me because they do what they claim. Oh well, mabe I'll wait until the other half buys herself another Louis Vuitton purse- then she can't say no!

The cost is something I cannot help with but I have the Aarn Natural balance 65 litres plus. It has 10litre balance pockets plus pockets for water on the front. If you have dense things to fill them with, as well as things you need that day, they work. Can you imagine no backward pull on your shoulders with 30 lb in the bodypack? All the weight if you want it on your hips and the hip belt is comfortable. I have lent my pack to 2 people who wanted to try before they got a pack and both were converted by the experience.
There is a review by me on this site.
I think it is only ultra light people who have no dense things to put in the front pockets who would not find improved carrying.

Just wondering out loud here…

If what you are after are the balance pockets, can you either buy them separately or configure them yourself — and add them to your current, lighter backpack?

Franco:

You're the resident Aarn pack zlut. Can you post some close up pics of those front packs — esp. how they connect to the main pack when worn?

Zlut ?
I have a few Jewish friends that use a smattering of Yiddish words but am not familiar with that one .

Strange that Tim talks about his Pacer Poles, Aarn Tate is the NZ agent for Pacer. Maybe he had something to do with the design, I'll ask.
WEALTH WARNING : Tim don't read this bit.
The new Carbon Fiber 3 section Pacer poles are just over 500g for the pair.

I'll pop into town today to take some pics of the new packs and pockets . But no, the pockets don't work with a non-Aarn pack . I'll try to show that with my pics.
Franco

Zlut — software won't let me start that word with an "s". Thanks, and looking forward to seeing your pics. :)

Thanks Ben, now I zee what you mean.
Well, how embarrassing. The new Featherlites are still down at the wharf , I spoke with the importer about them last week and had a look at the new Peak Aspiration and somehow in my mind I overimposed the pictures of the others (Featherlite and Effortless Freedom) from the Net.
(That was mostly because I was busy playing with the Terra Nova tents and did not pay much attention to the Aarns…)
Anyway since they have a dummy (coincidentally called Franco) with the Featherlite 05/06 on display I took a few shots of that, except that my camera started to malfunction….so the close ups are missing.
The pocket work better on the Aarns because they are suspended on the hip belt, so the top and side attachments are there just to stop it from wobbling but the weight is fully transferred to the hip belt. They have a stay in them to keep the shape. I suppose you could adapt them to another pack but it requires a bit of work. The new version have an x type crossover at the front rather than the top and bottom clips. This is the version I have.
Franco
(Note the new Pacer Poles)

Great design, esp. for hikers carrying real weight. Probably an overkill for my pack weight. Thanks for the pics!!