2017 ZPacks Backpacks

i have a late-2016 (same as 2017) arc haul. i like it but don’t love it. it’s great at low weights (…as is most any pack!), but i was hoping it could carry 30-35 pounds more comfortably than it did the one hike i did in that vicinity. i withhold judgement until i can really spend more time with it.

the adjustments points work fine except that both of my torso length adjusters slide down when i put the pack on. joe said he’s heard of this problem one time before and that after it “gets some dirt and rain into” the straps/etc, it will hold better. in the meantime i’m using a safety pin to hold them in place. he may be right that it’ll get better, but i’m sure you’d understand why my review isn’t glowing as of yet.

That was my biggest concern. Probably go with a Zimmerbuilt instead.

I just got my 2017 Arc Blast a couple of days ago. I have yet to get it on the trail but was impressed with the craftsmanship.

I will be taking it for a quick overnight in the Superstitions early next week and will report back.

I will say this; My trip was just inside their 10 day order window when I pulled the trigger. I emailed them to see if they could expedite the order and I had it in my hands 3 days later – kudos ZPacks!

I’m surprised to here that the torso adjustment can sometimes slip. We have two packs and the problem is getting it to adjust when change packs between us. Once set, they have never slipped or appeared as if they may be susceptible to slipping.

I have two older-style Arc Blasts and still prefer them to my Arc Haul, but the Arc Haul is getting better as I use it and fiddle with it more. However I just don’t use it nearly as much because I don’t need the volume most of the time.

I haven’t had the slippage with the torso length adjusters, perhaps because I’ve got them maxed out and they have nowhere to go. I’m only 5’9″ but I wear the hip belt a little lower than most and prefer that the shoulder straps exit pretty high, so even though it’s a Medium it is ‘pushed to the stops’.

The bottom cross bar was the only real sticking point for me… caused significant discomfort without the optional lumbar pad. Well doG help me, I just can’t resist trying to tweak stuff and recently I added a thin strip of Evazote CCF to that little lumbar area of the waist belt where the channel is sewn for the crossbar, in order to add a bit more cushion. It actually wasn’t bad at all with the optional lumbar pad and I haven’t used it enough to know if my additional strip of CCF is going to make a difference. Even though it’s my ‘heavy hauler’ I don’t think I’ve ever had more than 20 lbs in it… maybe 22 or 23 lb for a short water carry.

Got an Arc Haul Zip Dyneema about 6 months ago.  I’ve worn it on two 6 day trips and a few dozen 3 hour training hikes with 30-40 lbs.  No slippage in any adjusters except the cords that provide the bow.  They need a bit of tightening after a few days of use.  (I haven’t yet tied an extra knot as is described on the web site to prevent that problem.)

Overall, the pack is very comfortable for me and it was easy to get it to fit well.  I’m using the extra lumbar pad but I don’t really need it.  I have the extra pockets, belt pouches, and shoulder pouches.  All work well except a couple of the zipper pull strings needed to be retied.