aarn packs

Isaac,
Aarn's web site has scientific studies showing that bodypacks are more efficient than back packs . He thinks anything more than about 10 lbs load makes his slightly heavier packs worthwhile. My experience agrees.

I only have a Peak Aspiration, and so can only comment on that specific model.

Like Mchale and Dana Gleason, Aarn packs appears to believe that a slightly heavier pack that carries well equates to greater comfort and lower energy output. Given that I would rather carry 30 pounds in my Dana Alpine (well over 5 pounds) than my Serratus Icefall (around 3 pounds), I agree.
However, it's been my experience that this really depends on how tolerant you are to carrying weight, especially on the shoulders. I can not tolerate any weight on my shoulders, and so frameless packs simply do not work- and neither does my Aarn pack for anything more than 20 pounds. It distributes weight very well over the entire torso, and moves with the body much better than any other pack I've tried (GREAT for climbing), but I need a longer and stiffer frame to load my hips more (the front pack thingys do not help much in my experience and are a nuisance for me).
So, although Aarn may be correct that for the majority of people their packs equate to less energy use, I would argue that if you have very specific body issues that might not hold true for you. However, I agree with their basic premise that carry comfort trumps weight.

Since I don't have any problems with my back and it is pretty much a standard M size , the Aarn Featherlite Freedom becomes more useful to me at over 20 lbs or so, but it makes sense ,to me, that if it is more comfortable than a standard pack at that weight it should be more comfortable below that as well if you normally "feel" your back. The Effortless Rhythm is in my arsenal as well but so far the "long" trip I planned with that hasn't happened, however I know that I could start a walk with 50 lbs in it ( tested that around the neighborhood) but can hardly go around the block with the same load on an Osprey , admittently not one designed for that load but nevertheless even with a beefier bag I would still need to lean forward at a pronounced angle .
Virtually all of the weight of my Featherlite Freedom is on the hips as I can usually put a finger under the shoulder strap without feeling any or much pressure at all.
Try splitting the weight that you would need to carry between your standard backpack and a light "daypack" worn at the front ( like you may have seen hostel to hostel backpackers do) and you will get some idea of what it feels like. Add to that a frame that moves with you and being able to see your feet and you get closer still to the Aarn concept.
Franco

Michael Febbo said
"I only have a Peak Aspiration, and so can only comment on that specific model.

Like Mchale and Dana Gleason, Aarn packs appears to believe that a slightly heavier pack that carries well equates to greater comfort and lower energy output. Given that I would rather carry 30 pounds in my Dana Alpine (well over 5 pounds) than my Serratus Icefall (around 3 pounds), I agree.
However, it's been my experience that this really depends on how tolerant you are to carrying weight, especially on the shoulders. I can not tolerate any weight on my shoulders, and so frameless packs simply do not work- and neither does my Aarn pack for anything more than 20 pounds. It distributes weight very well over the entire torso, and moves with the body much better than any other pack I've tried (GREAT for climbing), but I need a longer and stiffer frame to load my hips more (the front pack thingys do not help much in my experience and are a nuisance for me).
So, although Aarn may be correct that for the majority of people their packs equate to less energy use, I would argue that if you have very specific body issues that might not hold true for you. However, I agree with their basic premise that carry comfort trumps weight."

Michael,
The peak aspiration has the front pockets as an optional extra. Did you decide not to buy them?

I have started using Aarn packs this year. I would like to add a few advantages that are not mentioned below.

• With a more upright posture while walking you are more likely to recover from tripping over a rock. If you are already leaning forward a stumble is difficult to recover from.
• With the two pockets and space between you can see where your feet are going.
• The pockets can be detached and clipped together for a day pack while leaving your main pack in a hut.
• The pockets are positioned away from your body. There is plenty of room for air flow between the pocket and you body.

Cheers,