MLD 2009 Prophet

Looks awesome for a 3 season pack. I'm jealous for sure.

Jamie-

I have been considering getting a new pack, and the new prophet looks pretty impressive. I am also coming over from a jam2, which I felt was a little large for my needs. The only worry I have is that the prophet might be too small… I looked at your gearlist, and your load and weight is pretty close to mine. Is all of that gear in your pack for the picture?
Also, what kind of range do you expect to get with this pack? Do you think you could pack a week's worth of food with the extension collar? If this pack is versatile enough I might just get one.

One can buy Golite Ion for 30 bucks. Do you guy seriously think prophet is worth it?

Where have you seen the Ion for 30 bucks? The only place I saw them this cheap sold out a week or two back.

Huzefa, Ion is ok for summer, many many though add either mesh or stretch cord for additional space. The small size and lack of pockets make organization more of a challenge than almost anyone wants to handle. It wants a 1 – 1.5 lb sleeping bag.

It IS worthwhile to spend a premium price on something if it keeps you from buying 5 other packs to try them out, and if you like it so much you use it for a long time.

Some people (not me!) are not very concerned with monetary cost and only care about performance or certain features.

So, although Ion is great for the money (nice shoulder straps for summer), and accepts modification well, it may well be worth it to spend more and get what you want. Not to mention supporting the further R&D of these niche cottage industries, where innovation really happens.

Nice Pack James — and Ron!

Roman, Altrec.

I agree. The ion is great for it's purposes but it's lacking. No compression straps, water bottle pockets, ice axe loops, etc makes me leave it at home for my wife's Jam2 or my REI Flash UL more often than not. Sometimes you need external access/storage!

Well… considering the capacity of the prophet is 2500ci and the ion is 1500ci (and without any external storage!), I would say that putting them in the same category is a bit off. I'm looking for a pack to hike the JMT this summer with around a 5 lb baseload, I don't think a minimalist pack like the ion would make it.

.

Phil, Yes everything in my gear list is in the Prophet photo. It still has a lot of room as the gear really was not up to the extension collar and gear was not packed tight…i.e. the sleeping bag was not in a stuff sack (Golite Ultra 20). I did not have any food in the pack, but would think that you could get about a week of food on top of the gear (using the extension collar). There is also the option to move some gear to the roomy outside pocket. I would normally carry at least rain gear or poncho tarp in the pocket.

Huzefa, Yes I too am a fan of Golite's ion and Jam2. I own both and have used the ion on a 3 day trip so I know what it can do. In many previous posts I have promoted both packs. In one recent post I referred to the Jam2 as the best UL bargain around. Unfortunately there is a big difference between these 2 packs (ion and Jam2). One is just too small for me and one is just too big and too feature filled for me. Ron Bell has created a pack that is in between these 2 packs saving about 50% the weight of the Jam2 and adding less than 2 ounces for all the features I need, included the extra volume for the Ion. So I agree if 1500 cubic inches with no pockets is enough space then the ion is your perfect pack.

Also as Paul points out, I do like to support the cottage industires as this is where I have seen our innovation come from. Check out Ron's site (MLD), it is absolutely full of incredible innovative gear. I think Golite has done a lot for the industry… I mean a lot, but as they grow they seem to be to be gravitating towards larger markets (less like me). If I want innovative gear then I need to support those that are innovating around my needs. So I was actually glad to pay $160 for my Prophet, it was just as much a bargain to me as was my Ion ($40) and Jam2 ($80), just in different ways.

Jamie

Thanks Jamie, you covered everything I wanted to know. I like the idea of starting the trip fully loaded with the collar extended and then being able to compress the bag as I eat through my food. With my Jam pack I never use the extension, and it just makes stuff in my pack that much harder to get at when its all cinched down.

"This is my 5th pack in just over a year…".

Poster child of a pack freak if ever there is one! :)

Ummm… OK, so I am seriously looking at the Prophet. Pray tell, how does it carry — say at 20 lbs. — as compared to the Jam2?

"Pray tell, how does it carry — as compared to the Jam2?"

Ben, I won't know for sure until I take it out for a trip…which I was hoping for last weekend. My wife strongly encouraged me to go with her and the kids to my Mother-in-laws instead. I'm sure you guys know how that conversation went. I'm now negotiating for later this week…fingers are crossed.

What I know now is….the torso length of the Jam2 is about identical to the length of the Prophet. Also the pack length from base to the roll top closure is nearly identical. The length of the extension collar is about 5" longer then the Jam2..i.e. the Prophet total length is about 5" more. This is achieved with a silnylon collar instead of a Dyneema collar in the Jam2. I grealty prefer the silnylon collar for weight savings. The pack width (across your back)is say 2" less then the Jam2 and the depth (away from your back) probably 1" less. This is where the reduced volume comes from.

I think the shoulder straps on the Prophet offer more padding then those on the Jam2. The Jam2 though has a wider waist strap/belt with wings. The Prophet only has a waist strap, but the Ark and Exodus have belts more in line with the Jam2. Both packs offer a removable sternum strap that I would say are equal except that MLD has incorporated the cool whistle into it (gray whistle at that).

The Jam2 has a light closed cell back panel in a pocket. This adds several ounces which I mainly use as insulation under my legs at night. The Prophet has no pocket and no back panel…I have a slight preference to no panel for weight savings. To frame out both packs I use a GG 3/8" thin light trimed to 38" long, rolled into a tube into which I pack my sleeping bag, down jacket, and remaining gear.

My preliminary tests indicate no observable difference between how these packs carry. I should say that I don't use a sternum strap or a waist belt (cut it off my Jam2). I will know more after my trip.

Jamie

Thanks for the quick feedback, Jamie! Very helpful initial comparisons.

Have fun at your in-laws and enjoy your hike (and don't forget to report back). :)

I had one more thought…compare the packs with a picture. On the left is the Golite Ion, middle is MLD 09 Prophet, and Golite Jam2 on right. I lined them up on the bottom, then stretched the sides so you can compare volume. Please not that I have removed the sternum straps and waist straps (only the MLD waist strap is removable).

Jamie

Thanks all for sharing your thoughts.

nm. I figured it out.

The 09 Prophet sounds mighty impressive indeed. Thanks for the pics and insights Jamie.

I assume the pack is too small for a bear can?

"I assume the pack is too small for a bear can?"

Robert, Thankfully I don't backpack where bear canisters are required, but here is what is listed under the features tab for the prophet…

* Main bag large enough for a solo bear canister vertical or horizontal depending on how you pack your sleep pad.

So I guess you can fit one in.

Jamie

What has been keeping me away from buying a new pack (MLD Prophet, GG Murmur or a ZPack) is the depth. My home-made silnylon is 20x8x12 on its main body (not counting extension collar, and the straps are attached the the seam where the pack body and extension collar meet). I like the 8" depth because it allows me to use my ridgerest (3/8?) and fit my sleeping bag in its roll-top stuff sack, a Sea to Summit model with a 6" diameter round bottom.

EDIT: I recently got a Z1 from the Gear Swap, and have begun using it without a stuff sack for my sleeping bag/quilt/etc.

Well I was able to get out. The trip was 3 days/2 nights (max stay allowed) in the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area, NC. Trip distance was 42.7 miles, high elev of 3900' and low of 1300'. The MLD 2009 Prophet performed flawlessly.

Notes:
* I did not use the waist strap or sternum strap, pack road great without them.
* My base weight was 5.4 lbs, total pack weight was 10.4 lbs (water 1 liter, fuel, & food)
* At most I carried 3.5 liters of water = 15.4 lbs.
* Pack was exposed to rough trails: briars, sticks, rocks, etc. Pack still looks perfect. Dyneema is stuff stuff.
* The pockets are perfectly sized and placed.
* I could take pack off, take out water bottle, drink, and put it away without stopping (could do same with GPS in back pocket, hat, etc).
* Rear pocket was great for wind shirt, GPS, day food, and water treatment (this way I did not have to enter main pack body at all during day).
* Packed with 2 days food and gear did not fully fill the main body to below the extension collar. I'd say I could easily fit full week in with extension collar.
* Pack was framed out using the tube method with a 38" long GG thinlite 3/8" pad, this worked extremely well.
* I like the shock cord so I took it along, pack+cord weighs 11.3 oz.

Here are some pics….

Pack fully loaded from side:

Heading down into the gorge (pack from behind):

Prophet & I in the bottom of the gorge:

Prophet & I up top on other side of gorge:

Conclusion: I think I'm done buying packs, this is the one I've been looking for.

Jamie

NM

I just received my ARK in the mail-Christmas came early at my house!!! It ways a amazing 18oz at 4200ci WOW!!
Its too rainy and cold here to hike so testing the ARK is on hold . I did pack it with all my gear and it came in at 9.76 lb. My first Sub-10!!! I will give a better review in time.

Thanks Santa,
-Jay

the 2600 CI ULA Amp might be another alternative for those on a budget as a bridge between the ION, or GG Murmur to the Prophet. Have a Circuit, Conduit, and regret selling my ULA Amp. Well made like the other ULA offerings, and $89 is very reasonable. Add the front pocket attachment( add on)and your at 2950 CI.

.