ULA Circuit replacement?

I like the nibus ozone. Nice frame and shoulder and waste straps. Yes the out side pockets don't work that good but it is comfortable. I think it is the same size as the conduit.

Josh

nm

Hi John,

What kind of load are you carrying? How much weight? How do you load the pack?

I have a Circuit, and find it very comfortable with 8/9 kilos. When I first bought it, like you, I played around with the padding, adding my own, a ridgerest solution like yours. Having tried all kinds of variations, I realized I was actually moving the weight further from my back with the extra padding, and making the pack more uncomfortable.

What I do now, is use the included stays and original padding, and put the ridgerest towards the outside of the pack, moving the weight closer to my back, and the pack is very comfortable.

I've also found the pack has loosened up after some use, and keeps getting better.

As you don't explain why you use so much extra support on top of the built in stays and padding, maybe your packing technique needs looking at before you think about another pack.

I hope this helps.

cheers,
fred

A.) The Catalyst mag bag compartment isn't much bigger than the Circuit so you still might give it a shot.

B.) What torso size is your Circuit?

John, as far as recommending a replacement for this backpack, I'll get to that, but I first wanted to point out that I had the same experience with a Circuit recently. From all aspects it looked like one of the shoulder straps was "tilted." This caused my right shoulder strap to pinch at my neck, exactly like you describe. However, on closer inspection, I found a sliding buckle sitting on top of the shoulder strap. I don't have the pack in front of me or else I'd take a picture, but all it took for me was sliding that buckle back on the strap a few inches and then the strap seemed perfectly even, and the pain went away. I know you said you've had it on 4 week-long trips and I'm sure you've spent enough time in it to become familiar with all the adjustments, but I wanted to throw this out there because sometimes I've found myself to be simply not very observant with these sorts of things and if it were the case that you'd missed this adjustment, it would be a shame if that's what turned you off of the pack.

Anyway, as far as 60 liter lightweight packs go, I really like my Granite Gear Vapor Trail because it's got such a comfortable frame. However, I think the Latitude Vapor would be closer to the Circuit in size. A problem with Granite Gear packs I have is that their side pockets are nearly useless, and they don't come standard with hipbelt pockets. The Osprey Atmos 50 or 65, even the Aether 60 are some other options. They are 1-2 pounds heavier (though, if you remove the floating lids, the weight increase is less dramatic), but are capable of carrying a heavier load in comfort than the ULA. Osprey packs also tend to have plenty of useful features like hipbelt pockets and side pockets that actually can be reached while you're hiking. The Golite Quest is a really appealing pack, at 3 lbs 3 ounces and 72 liter capacity. The only reservation I have is that I've never seen one up close so I don't know if it has a framesheet, light frame, or is frameless. From the product description, it sounds like it has a framesheet, so I'd wonder at its load carrying capacity.

John,

It sounds like I had a similar experience this past April in Grand Canyon. I am a eastern hiker where water is a non-issue and lightweight packs are adequate. I got educated while carrying all that water! I came to the quick conclusion that you need structure to handle that kind of load. Bottom line, the weight of the backpack isn't as important as it's weight carrying capacity.

I too suggest the Nimbus Ozone if you need that volume (3700 cu.in. by my measurement). It has a frame that doesn't have an upper limit. It weighs 3 lb., 3 oz. on my scale. I love mine with a big load. Granite Gear makes a couple variations on the theme such as panel loading Lattitude packs with the same frame.

Look at the Six Moon Designs packs – volume and weight comperable to your ULA Circuit

TRAVELER (panel loader)
http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/shop/shopexd.asp?id=59
Weight 26 oz. 31oz. with optional Stays

Main Bag 3000
Side Pockets 500
Front Pocket 300
Cubic Inches 3800
Liters 62
My wife has one of these and it's great! If I can't work out a deal to borrow it, I'll buy my own. (I bought a spare set of bigger hip belt and shoulder straps for it when I bought hers)

COMET: (top loader)
http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/shop/shopexd.asp?id=37
Weight 24 oz. 29 with optional stays
Main Bag 2600
Extension Collar 450
Side Mesh Pockets 400
Front Mesh Pocket 250
Cubic Inches 3700
Liters 60

a bit larger…………..

STARLIGHT (a top loader)
http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/shop/shopexd.asp?id=34
Weight: 25 oz. 30 oz. with optional stays
Main Bag 3000
Extension Collar 400
Side Mesh Pockets 500
Front Mesh Pocket 300
Cubic Inches 4200
Liters 67

Folks:
Thanks for the thoughtful responses.

A few more pertinent details:

Base weight on this last trip was 14 pounds. Depending on the weather, I could add or subtract a couple pounds from that. Add to that about 10 pounds of food, and 2-8 pounds of water, I'm looking at about 34 pounds, max; 24 pounds minimum, for a five day trip. Pushing the upper limit, but within the advertised range for the Circuit.

Packing style:
2 layers of cut-up ridgerest at the back, with tarptent poles sandwhiched in between if I have 'em. Sleeping bag and warm clothes stuff sack crammed into bottom. Water, food, heaviest stuff against the back, just below shoulders. Midway through the trip, I start folding up the remaining sections of ridgerest and putting it in packbag, toward front of pack, to push weight in toward me.

I thought putting a couple layers of foam against back was standard practice for semi-frameless packs… Worth thinking about though if I'm pushing weight to far back.

As far as volume in the replacement pack, the 2600 ci packbag is about right, the method of counting the mesh pockets toward volume always seemed a little suspect to me, at any rate, i don't put much other than water bottles in them. So the nimbus ozone seems a little big, but the suspension and weight rating looks right.

Keep it coming w/ the ideas, thanks!

nm

I use a Granite Gear Vapor Trail, and have done a number of Grand Canyon solo trips with it, often carrying 6-8 liters of water.

The suspension will get the job done, and well. Very cushy, just enough support.

The fabric is not as durable as I'd like. A double bottom would be particularly welcome. My pack has plenty of seam grip on it from patching small abrasions. That's the nature of the beast with this pack.

Seems like it comes down to three choices:

ULA Catalyst – I like design best. A little bigger than I need.

Granite Gear Nimbus Ozone – Seems to be quite comfy, don't like fabric, or side pocket design.

Six Moon Designs Comet – Lightest. Too light given needs?

Any thoughts on the relative merits of these three?

What really bums me out is that as I research the packs, the one that seems best is the one I have, the Circuit! Too bad I can't make it work… Could it be that the torso's too short? I got a medium, am 5 -10, will have to measure spine tonight…

nm

I also have a Circuit, but have not had the chance to really test it out yet. Just wearing it around the house I did notice that the shoulder straps don't seem to be a comfortable as my granite gear (Virga) pack.

I know that the vapor trail is offered in a slightly heavier "Alpine" version that uses more durable fabric and you can buy hipbelt pockets that add on to any of the GG packs (except the virga it seems). I'm not sure if any of the other GG packs are offered in this heavy duty version, but it's something to look into. I have found that the side pocket work just fine for water bottles and snacks, especially after the strech out a little bit, I just leave the lower side compression straps loose, you could cut them off if so inclined.

Yeah, the Alpine Vapor had caught my eye… I think it's same suspension as Vapor Trail? What are folks thoughts about the upper limit on weight w/ Vapor Trail?

Good info re: sidepockets.