Six Moon Designs Comet Pack

we’ll be testing the Comet on backpackgeartest.org over the next 6 months. i was fortunate enough to be selected as one of the testers. i haven’t received the pack yet, but if you check the BGT site in about 2 weeks you should start seeing the Initial Reports from the testers. i’m pretty excited about it, it sure looks like a sweet pack.

I finally got around to writing up my experiences with a prototype Comet. My observations are at

http://www.verber.com/mark/outdoors/gear/reviews/smd-comet.html

Hi Mark,
Thank you for your excellent review of the Comet pack. The fit worried me, but it seems we’re pretty close in sizing:
I’m 5’10.5″, 160 lbs., waist 31″ to 32″, torso approx. 19.5″ to 20″. My preferred packs are the GG G5 (medium) and the Golite Jam (medium). My base pack weight, without food and water, is 8lbs.

A few questions:

What are your thoughts on using the Comet, without the stays and hip belt, for loads 15 to 20 lbs?

What is the weight of the Comet without the hip belt?

Were the compession straps useful?

Thanks for your help.

Paul

> The fit worried me, but it seems we’re pretty close in sizing: I’m 5’10.5″, 160 lbs., waist 31″ to 32″, torso approx. 19.5″ to 20″.

I would think the pack would fit you. I am a bit more round, and a bit shorter torso, but you sounds to be within the range that would fit the Comet.

> What are your thoughts on using the Comet, without the stays and hip belt,
> for loads 15 to 20 lbs?

I am the wrong person to ask that question. I am a wimp when it comes to weight on my shoulders. I wouldn’t go over 10-12 lbs without a waist strap, and haven’t found many packs that I am comfortable with over 16 lbs without some sort of frame.

< What is the weight of the Comet without the hip belt? Never measured it. Sorry. > Were the compession straps useful?

The comet prototype didn’t have side compression straps that are found on the StarLite… which is find since I didn’t find the side straps useful. There is a cinch cord which circles the large mesh pocket on the back of the pack. I found this to be effective compress the pack down to around 2000ci. To be honest I didn’t try to go lower than that because that is the smallest load I was likely to carry in this pack.

–mark