UL Pack = Wet Back ?

That's one reason I stay away from packs with unlined backs. Makes it rather unpleasant against the back and I'd rather carry a bit more weight than put up with it. Sorry, no advice on how to prevent it though!

I have a couple of ideas. The first one would add a bit of weight. Cut out the backpanel, sew in some 3D mesh fabric, and then add a thin foam pad that isn't too warm and something that would still breathe.

Another is to take a look at where the shoulder straps meet the pack. Then sew a long strip of 3D mesh down the backpanel under each shoulder strap. Play with the dimensions, but try for something like a 2.5" wide piece, but sew it so it bellows out with the edges maybe 1.7" apart. Leave the bottom open, stuff it with foam, sew the bottom closed.

Take a look at the Lowe Alpine "Air Cooled" packs or the REI Flash 30.

…bump

comments?

I'm awash here…

I've never worn a pack where my back didn't get soaked with sweat. I haven't tried a Vapor Trail but I'm betting it just absorbed the sweat where a more water resistant material doesn't. I'd just get used to it….it's part of exercise.

This was one of the reasons I ended up choosing the GG Gorilla over the ULA Ohm. I thought that the egg-crate pattern of the sitlight pad used in the wicking fabric pad holders on the Gorilla would allow for some air space and keep my back from getting as sweaty as it would with the back directly against fabric of the Ohm. I never field tested the Ohm, so I can’t compare, but I will say that hiking in 90 degree temps in Yosemite with the Gorilla, my back never got so sweaty it was noticeable/uncomfortable. No more sweat than I’d expect on a 90 degree day pack or no pack.

Perhaps you could mod the pack and add an external pad holder. A couple of straps to hold something in place would be enough and not add much weight.

I plan on following a user mod to my sitlite to create even better air circulation.

My Exos 46 is pretty good in the non-sweaty back department. I just think I'm too fat for the hip belt.

In the winter I carry a G6. I have a blue pad rolled up inside to give it some rigidity.

I wear a small Lowe Alpine fanny pack that carries my water right on my hips. Much more comfortable that in a frameless pack.

The depth of the fanny pack keeps the pack away from my back. Good circulation.

In warm weather, 'Pack => wet back'.

In cold weather, 'Pack => warm back'.

Live with it, it won't hurt.

Cheers

60°F. I was able to wring the sweat out of my hiking shorts.

I've been hot and wet before but not literally dripping wet. And actually it can become quite unpleasant about the time you develop a very severely chaffed crack. If it is a multiday effort, things get pretty grim.

There is mesh sold at Quest, but I believe it us usually backed up with foam of some sort when found in the backpanels of a pack. I assume it is a closed cell foam and non-absorbant.

So what is the magic of a mesh back?

How does it help circulation when you have tight contact with the back of a pack?

Greg, I have found the easiest thing to do is from time to time hike with the pack slung over one shoulder only (Ray Jardine style). In almost no time you can dry out your back. I use light weight ti goat poles so I can easily put both pole handles in one hand and hold the pack strap with my free arm. Here is a pic from last weekend. I used this trick regularly.

Jamie

It never would have occurred to me.
Thanks.

Now if I can just get Close to you base weight….

> 60°F. I was able to wring the sweat out of my hiking shorts.

Blimey!
I get sweaty at 100 F, but not at 60 F. Dunno.

Cheers

i am interested in seeing your solution as i have a golite ion that i use as a day pack currently and i sweat like a stuck pig with that thing on, even in moderate temps. i was thinking of sewing some straps on it for a back pad to help this. i use a granite gear pack for backpacking and, same as you, do not have this issue. maybe those of us who are extra sweaty just have to deal?

edit: it even gets so sweaty the first time i used it i thought my water bladder was leaking.

Ben,
LOL – the first thing I checked was my water. Then I started to wonder if somehow I had leaker inside my pack. Unfortunately not….

Greg, one thing you might like to try is to rig something up like on one of my old packs (which does not have a mesh back).

On this pack there are two ridges (because of the stays, actually) which run vertically down the back of the pack in parallel. So there is a channel in between for air to get in and out. Not very deep at all but it makes a big difference.

You could try running two vertical strips of foam, each maybe an inch or two across, down the back and leave a decent air channel in the middle. The idea being that your back presses only against the foam. Your back will still get sweaty, especially where it is against the foam, but you should avoid getting your pants soaked because it should end up being quite a bit cooler overall.

Jamie Shortt –
Thank you for the suggestion on the one shoulder carry.

Although that doesn't work for me, I am able to loosen my shoulder straps and place 90% of the pack weight on my hips, for short periods, to get the pack off my back. It doesn't take long to dry things out a bit.

I am used to wearing my pack tight all around, and obviously needed a different mindset. The simple solution of just loosening up for a bit worked well.

After a 70 minute, 3 mile, 1800' climb, things were tolerable.

Gratci.

What section of the Bartram is that Jamie?

If you don't want to make it by yourself, and don't mind to add some weight, you can try this product.
http://www.arai-tent.co.jp/lineup/backpack/jungfrau.html#a

This picture is from the website above.

I don't own one, but I think it may work.

My experience is that I can sweat hiking with just a tee shirt (and presumably even if hiking buck naked) — so I agree with the above that sweating simply comes with the territory. IMHO, why bother with backpacks with 'awkward-to-pack' concave backs, etc. when all they do is delay sweating a little bit? Once your back is wet (and it will be) — it's pretty much all the same — IMHO.

Greg, Your most welcome. Glad you found an approach that will work. I do think the shoulder thing is better at lower weights. I've also found its much easier on flatter trails. So after a big climb my back is sweating like crazy the best thing is to hike a ridge with my pack slung over one shoulder to dry it out. I probably hike about 25% of the time one armed. Ray Jardine's "Trail Life" book is full of interesting little hiking techniques.

Brian, I started at Nanatahala Outdoor Center (NOC) and headed north on AT (which is more like west at that section) for 9 miles. I picked up Bartram trail at Cheoah Bald and headed south then east to Wayah Bald. From Wayah I reconnected with AT back to NOC. I logged 66 miles on the GPS with a lot of elevation gain/loss. This is a great loop but a bit much for me over a 3 day weekend. If I get a chance I'll post a trip report.

Jamie

I don’t like wet backs because when you stop for a break, take the pack off, whew! Instant freeze (for cooler days). For hot days, I don’t like wet backs because the sweat will run down the legs and promote chafing. Thus, with the golite pinnacle I lay my pack towel on my back. Friction keeps it there. Incredibly, the pack towel draws the sweat off my back and my shirt is minimally wet at stops. The towel is soaked. I let it dry in the breeze at a food break.

The Mariposa and Murmer has been nice in that the pad pocket holds the corrugated GG sit pad and holds the towel in place. With these packs, my back is even dryer.

My shirts are usually very thin polly cotton blend that dries quickly. My towel is any towel that dries fast (Cascade, car buffer, etc.,)

May everyone find their sweating zen.

-Barry

My back just gets wet. Very wet some times. No tricks. I don't like carrying my jam on one shoulder.

I found the perfect solution.

A synthetic wicking T with a very long body –

By leaving the tail of the T outside my shorts in the back the wicking fabric acted as a diverter and an evaporator that keeps my shorts (and my butt) dry.

The T that works well for me is the Mountain Equipment Coop Seamless Short-Sleeved Crew (#5012-131, although I imagine any good wicking T long enough to extent below you pack would do the job.