BPL LW Pack 2009

[Lance Parrish]

1. Skip the hydration sleeve.
2. Keep the hip pockets, but ditch the shoulder strap pockets. Those D-rings are handy to attach smaller items, but pockets are cumbersome and superfluous.
3. Keep the pockets. The side pockets are good for Platy's and the like. The back is good to stuff a wet tarp in to dry without worrying about it slipping out of the bungees after getting snagged by a branch. Just make sure the mesh is sturdy enough and not TOO billowy. Besides, if you keep those daisy chains, anyone who wants can always add a bungee rack to the pack using them.
4. Keep the cinch closure. Personally, I like one small cinch strap for the top as well.
5. Make it a long torso. I know we're carrying relatively light loads, but transferring the weight of a fully loaded pack to the hips makes sense.
6. Ditch the load-lifters and make the various sizes.

[Rebecca Treat]

!)No hydration sleeve
2)shoulder pockets: 1-2 large enough for small camera/binos(measure 4X3X2)(since you asked)(And waterproof:)
3)My only experience w/belt pockets is that they bulge and interfere with normal arm swinging, So I sent them back. If you can figure that out,I'd like them.
4)roll top that can close way down if your pack is not full
5)load lifters and sternum strap (or I can make my own)
6)Iam female w/ shorter torso but definitely wear my pack on my hips
7) Also don't care about the daisy chain but a couple of attaching places would be good
8)3 pockets but shorted on the sides

[Bob Bankhead]

see page 5 summary

[Shane S.]

Yes, on Hydration sleeve

No, on strap pockets

Yes, on Hip belt pockets

Yes, on load lifters

I require the hip belt to ride on the hips, not around the belly.

[Ryan Jordan]

Hello Everyone,

First, thanks for your overwhelming feedback.

Second, I hope the rest of the cottage industry is listening. A lot of this stuff could be incorporated as well into their packs and I hope this forum lifts up the industry with the communications here.

Third, we have a design meeting on Wednesday where we'll be discussing this forum thread, and the issue of this particular pack's uniqueness, in the context of the new pack.

We'll keep you posted, and THANK YOU. This helps us a LOT by not allowing us to waste our time doing things we shouldn't be doing.

Best,
Ryan

[Mike Clelland]

1. No need for a hydration sleeve, but it others WILL want it.

2. Skip the shoulder strap pockets.

3. Keep all three outside mesh pockets. People love 'em.

4. Just a cord lock cinch closure is plenty. A single fastex buckle over the top fro extra scrunching is recommended by me.

Now the big questions: fit.

5. I like long torsos where the hip belt crosses your iliac crest?

6. Skip "load lifter straps" – if the pack is light, no need.

[Jim Cowdery]

1) No hydration sleeve, I put all my water outside the pack;
2)No shoulder strap pockets, try to eliminate zippers on the hip-belt pockets
3)Keep the outside pockets, all my wet stuff goes outside, tent included;
4)Cinch top is ok if there is some way to "shorten" the height of the pack, otherwise roll top closure, Add two loops above the lifter straps so something bulky can be tied to the top (like extra food for longer un-supplied trips);
5)Adjustable straps if possible, similar to Six Moons designs;
6)Keep the load lifters.

The pack looks big. Any way to roll the top down further?

[Bob Bankhead]

through Jim Cowdery

[William Puckett]

Is there any news from the BPL skunk works about the BPL LW Pack? Any new rumors?

[Sam Haraldson]

The two prototype packs are currently at the designers having the next round of tweaks made to them.

[t.darrah]

I'm likely the odd one out but I would prefer to see BPL support the existing UL cottage industry, companies such as gossamer gear, ULA, Six Moon Designs and others, without competing against them.

I feel BPL is better served in providing gear reviews and such. I believe BPL should work with these companies and not against them in an effort to strengthen the UL community including BPL.

Again this is strictly a IMHO comment.

[Bob Bankhead]

Not really, Thom.

I could not agree with you more.

[CW]

Competition breeds creativity. Or something.

[t.darrah]

Chris,
I agree that competion is good. ULA, gossamer gear, SMD, MLD and others all make UL packs, competion breeds innovation and excellance. BPL should be a forum of reviewing this gear not competing with it, again just my opinion.

If BPL does produce this pack it will be interesting to read the gear review of their own product.

[Jeffrey Davis]

I'm totally supportive of BPL developing gear, packs or otherwise. It's a natural extension of their expertise. I want experts making my gear, not just talking/writing about it (also the reason I own a lot of GG, ULA, etc). Ultimately BPL's review of their own product won't be the determinant of the product's success, but its acceptance (or lack thereof) in the marketplace that counts.

Bring it on, there's plenty of room for innovation in an industry still so young. IMHO

[D G]

I don't recall BPL ever reviewing one of their own products. I think it's their policy.

[Richard Matthews]

When BPL produces a pack they can not review their own product, but they also can not review competing products.

The question is whether you want just another of many packs or a good source of impartial credible reviews.

It is a bad business decision to compete with the established guys (Henry, Ron, Ron, etc.) I agree that competition is good, but there needs to be a neutral site where all the competitors can gather.

[Dylan Skola]

Richard,

AFAIK the policy is not to review anything sold by BPL. This made for some odd situations like a canister stove review a while back (well, years, actually) where the Vargo Jet-Ti was excluded from a canister stove roundup for this reason, though you could tell from the product descriptions and stats that it probably would have won. I understand and applaud them for being so rigorous in preventing bias, even though I personally trust the reviewers to not intentionally skew things.

I'm pretty sure the policy does not extend to excluding reviews of competing products, otherwise, given that BPL sells at least one item in almost every category of gear, they wouldn't have much to review! (shoes I suppose).

[Ken Thompson]

Don't worry about this pack. If it ever does come out, it will be out of stock… No need for BPL to produce gear, anymore.

[Tom Caldwell]

"Don't worry about this pack. If it ever does come out, it will be out of stock… No need for BPL to produce gear, anymore."

Not to mention that it will cost about twice as much as the competitors.

I haven't found any packs out there that I really like, so I hope it offers something different.

[Turley]

It's been awhile since I've heard/read any new information about this pack….anyone have any information about the feature set this pack will contain or possible release/availability date?
If they take into account and included the recommendations forum members in the final design, this pack if it ever comes to light, looks to hold great promise.

Christopher

[Sam Haraldson]

The pack is still in design and all the feedback we received from users has been taken into consideration. And contrary to a few of the negatively biased posters previous, it will be as readily available and as competitively priced as our friends in the cottage gear industry.

[Greg Mihalik]

….for the 2010 backpacking season I hope?

[David Ure]

Definitely one to wait for! Thanks for the update Sam.

Just out of curiosity, are there new bivy sacks on the horizon as well?

[Sam Haraldson]

I want to be able to comment on all these new products but can't because we are trying to balance these expensive endeavors with the waning economy. As you can imagine, doing runs of a custom product is very expensive, and with sales down in not only the outdoor industry, but most all industries as well it means we need to pick and choose which product(s) we will bring to market in 2010.

Stay tuned to these forums, our Twitter feed, our Facebook page, and our RSS feed for all the latest information.

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