BPL Absaroka Pack

James if you thought "freaks" sounded bad please don't take it as an insult. Note that I included myself under that heading as well. I said that because thats what I get called when people see my little Ion pack. They think I'm weird not cool. I try and explain I have a system that works but no one seems to get it. I've tried 10 pound packs and love them too. The point was that 20-25 pounds was "Good enough" for me. If my sole concern was avoiding a sore back at the end of the day I could have stopped there.
I went lighter mostly as a challenge and discovered in the process I could cover a lot more ground that way. I love going SUL or close to it but if I'm going to spend a lot of time in camp with a buddy I bring a few luxery items because I can.
I would totally agree with your point that a lot of people are carrying a lot of weight because they don't know any better. Many of these people could achieve the same comfort level for a lot less weight just by shopping around more carefully.
It really depends on what your goals are. I like hiking all day with a really light pack. My friend hikes for 8 to 10 miles max and stops well before dinner and enjoys the scenery. He doesn't need a SUL pack and probably is better off with a few extra items.

Luke,

No worries, I knew it was all in good fun and took no offense. I say let those silnylon freak flags fly! For fear of instigating too much thread drift here, I'll add that the Absaroka looks very nifty, and I'll be eager to hear about people's field experiences with it.

James

Yep just wanted to make sure we were okay James. The silnylon freak flag was a pain to raise (31 grams)so I am replacing it with Cuban:)

Back to the pack it does look interesting. The advantage I see of this pack for a thru-hiker is the flexability. Its barely heavier than a lot of frameless packs but I suspect it would be well worth it if you had to go a long distance between resupplies. Stories of hauling water on the southern PCT come to mind for example.

As I stated early on in this thread, this new pack is probably not for me.

However, we cannot judge a pack based only on its weight. What we need to do is wait until those who buy it give us their feedback.

I do find it ironic that I have seen many, many recommendations here on BPL for the ULA Catalyst & Circuit (47 oz & 36 oz), GoLite Pinnacle (33 oz), Granite Gear Vapor Trail (37 oz), and others in the 2 lb range. And now this Absaroka is blasphemy?

Who determines what is an acceptable weight for a pack, shelter, or sleep system? Ultimately the user. Not the pundits here on BPL.

Regarding the notion that many of us have overshot the UL paradigm, and are moving back to an equilibrium of heavier weight. Not necessarily.

I am one of those who carried the “heavy” external frames in the 60’s & 70’s, moved to internal frames, then back to external, and now have embraced the UL packs. I still have and like my old Kelty external pack. Even in my early years, I practiced lightweight, given the available gear of the time. I have always used a tarp as my main shelter. I sill have two Gaz Globetrotter stoves and some of the long obsolete Gaz cartridges. Weight-wise, they were revolutionary for the time. The mindset was there; technology had just not caught up.

This year I will turn 60. I am not as strong or as quick as I once was. Today UL equipment allows me to enjoy the same kind of hiking I did 40+ plus years ago. I can hike with my 23 year old son and he does not have to slow down for me, and I do not have to push to keep up with him. We can just hike and enjoy the trip. The UL equipment expands my limits, and does not put me in harms way. It is technology. Lighter equipment, made from newer materials. None of the equipment of the past 40 years is revolutionary. It has been evolutionary, slowly improving each year.

UL equipment allows me to continue to hike a lot. And since I hike a lot, I can still sleep well with a NightLight or TorsoLite pad. And these pads lighten the load. I have tried tarp tents, and just don’t like them. A tarp works better. I used my first tarp in 1969. A tarp lightens the load. My Nunatek quilt and WM bag are both lighter and warmer than the 600 fill down bag I carried for decades. And they lighten the load. So, I don’t need a “heavy” pack, whatever that is.

There are some luxuries I will continue to use, as my experiences with the alternatives are not viable for me. I shall always carry toilet paper of some sort. Leaves don’t cut it, and there aren’t any in the desert. Finger toothbrushes do not hack it either. And Dr Bronners for toothpaste sucks. Just my opinion and what works for me.

So let us wait until the Absaroka comes out, and then judge it on its merits. And let’s continue to seek lighter alternatives, based on individual needs, and not hold our minds and bodys hostage based on what the UL community declares as gospel. However I shall continue to weigh (pun intended) the opinions of the many folks here who's knowledge and experience I value.

That is my two ounces… or is it cents?

That was really well said Nick. Thank You. :)

@ Nick

Good post. Like you, going lighter helps me keep up with my sons. And, when solo, I obtain self-satisfaction from going further and faster than I did when I had stronger legs and less attention seeking back.

Most likely, I will take the risk of getting the new pack before the reviews. Hey – somebody's gotta or we'd have no reviews. : )

Hey, the Absaroka is probably not for me, but only because I already have packs that suit my needs perfectly. Both packs are heavier than the Absaroka (Exos 58 and LuxuryLite), but have been essential in helping me transition to lighter loads. My loads are generally comfortable at 9-12kg (total), and that is all that matters to me. I used to carry 20-25kg!! To choose a lighter pack just for the sake of it, or for a challenge, just does not appeal. I also tried the frameless packs, tarps etc…and didn't like them. End of story. If I'm not comfortable, I'm not enjoying my outdoor experience.

Are there any estimates of what the pack will cost?

None as of Friday.

Any news on the BPL Absaroka Pack?

Release date? Pre-order? Cost?

Clicking on the original posters link it states the BPL Absaroka has a target date of June 2010….

Anyone – BPL Staff Member with new information?

At this time the pack is still scheduled for a summer release but we have are not yet ready to release a date or pricing information.

"At this time the pack is still scheduled for a summer release but we have are not yet ready to release a date or pricing information."

Ballpark? $200? $400? Under $300? Something!

be careful, the more interest you show the higher the price could be..

There are already an unbelievable assortment of packs (and quilts) on the market. Why can't BPL concentrate on making more of some of the popular items from the past that are no longer available or always out of stock?

I entered the backpacking world with no preconceived notions… and thankfully started my outdoors education here on BPL rather than with a trip to the local store. Although I like to be lightweight, I decided in my first couple hikes that comfort was as important as weight carried.

I chose the Osprey Exos 46 for it's relative light weight and many features. I chose a BA clearview pad for it's comfort over a foam pad, despite the small weight gain.

The beauty of a community like this is being able to see the decisions others make in their gear selection and maybe think about seeing if you can more finely tune your methods and gear choices. Others think of innovations that I don't, and I appreciate being able to take from their experience to increase my enjoyment of the outdoors.

I don't think anyone should be quick to label ANY individual piece of gear as being "not lightweight" just because they wouldn't consider using it based on how many ounces it weighs. Others may find that it suits their needs and gear system perfectly, while still maintaining very low base weight.

If I didn't own my Exos 46 and where considering purchasing a pack, this one would definitely be in my top considerations. I would love to see a hiking pole strap like the one on the Exos.

Since Ken brought this thread back to life, I'll toss in my tuppence…

A pack which is very adjustable and modular for under a kilo is something worthwhile, IMHO.

I'm more of a utilitarian/minimalist than a gram counter, especially when it comes to packs. I'd rather have a pack which is comfortable and can be used in a variety scenarios than a dozen packs for each kind of hike, trek and trip I may go on.

The Absaroka is in the weight class of the Jam2 and Vapor Trail, but carries the loads of much heavier packs like ULA Catalyst and GG Nimbus Meridian. With the exception of the SMD Starlite and SMD Traveler I can't think of any other packs which offer that, along with the same level of flexibility.

This being Backpacking *Light* not Backpacking Ultralight or Backpacking Super Ultralight, I feel that this pack is pretty appropriate.

It looks awfully hard to fit 40lbs of stuff into a pack this small to take advantage of it's rated carrying capacity. With a 'total volume' of ~45L, it appears the main bag is ~30-35L.

So it finally has a price – Not sure if that's a good one or not. Are there any videos? I have hard time trying to visualize volume . . . I'd like to know exactly how big this thing is.

Patrick the packs aren't done being manufactured yet. We expect to have them by the middle of October.

Hmm….$220 is the price or $209 for members. That's about what I expected.

Great for a first effort. But… the tiny loops at each side are for?? They are too small to use with even 1/2" webbing straps to support side pockets.

Since I use a hydration system, not bottles, I'd ENTIRELY cut off the side pockets and attatch removable side pockets that zipped shut. I'd mount them on captive side compression straps.

Also a detachable zippered top lid/pocket is needed in addition to the roll-top setup. That way the detatchable top lid/pocket could double as a fanny pack for side trips if it had 2 webbing belt lops sewn on the underside or you could leave it at home.

Just sayin'…

> the tiny loops at each side are for?? … too small to use with even 1/2" webbing straps

Bungee cord?

Cheers

Eric…are you serious? Those are some pretty odd suggestions imo…You're suggestions will prob add a pound to the overall weight. You've more or less described features that you can find on any most major manufactured pack available at REI. My old 7lb gregory palisade 80 had a top lid with the gimmicky waist belt/fanny pack conversion. There's no point to a fanny pack lid when your pack is light enough to take on side excursions. I do this with my Jam2 all the time.

My old palisade also had zippered side pockets that were useless in my opinion. Zippered waistbelt pockets are sufficient for things that need to be kept close. I understand that you don't use water bottles, but don't you ever keep yor snacks, tent poles, fishing rods etc in open side pockets?

And about the lil loops…I think you're missing the point of those entirely. They are meant for bungee cord that you configure to your own needs. You could set up bungee cord for compression, for lashing across the front to dry tarps, jackets, etc, or use bungees to set up axe loops. They were never intended for heavy duty webbing. Otherwise BPL would be making a pack similar to offerings by Kelty, Gregory and all those brands that BPL'ers dont really care for.

Gotta agree with Konrad. If you want a zippered pocket, buy a zippered pouch and stick it in the side pocket. A removable lid that becomes a lumbar belt seems like overkill on a 45 L pack that weighs 32 oz. Day trip? Take out your pack liner/dry bag with most of your gear, leave it in the tent, and go on your merry way.

Don't get me wrong, I like detachable lumbar pack lids and I don't think they're always gimmicks. That said, I don't really use them on the trail myself- I use a removable lumbar pack a lot more when I'm traveling and leave the main pack (Granite Gear) in the car or where I'm staying.