Absaroka Pack

Thats my normal single pitch 5.7 rack …. Never know when ya need those offsets to protect that super hard 5.7 crack …. Lol

i usually bring all the shiet for new climbers … They get to fondle all my toyz…

I cant see packing 40+ lbs in a 40L pack … I barely manage to do it with 15 lbs of metal gear … And thats with the rope and helmet on the outside

multi use item. if you dont have a 6 cam

"Lol"

Worked on me. :)

"I cant see packing 40+ lbs in a 40L pack …"

I guess it's theoretically possible, but +1.

"multi use item. if you dont have a 6 cam"

We used to call that PPP*

* Purely Psychological Protection

he still didn't feel safe with it in… he just thought he should kick something into the crack.

"Try to find solid information about the bivy, the quilt, or the coocoon. Mystery shopping at its best."

Unfortunately I have to agree to a certain degree with the sentiments above. There are several items that I'm interested in but the lack of information on some new items prevents me from purchasing them.

This was not always the case. I've been a member of this site from the early days and have purchased some big ticket items like the Arc-X down quilt, original Vapr bivy, etc but years ago there was very good detailed information on the products which gave me more confidence in spending money on something sight unseen.

I do see that the pack is now available. however i'm still not sold.

apparently this pack is aimed at thru hikers. hmmm
or maybe climbers? hmmmm

I would compare the pack to granite gear packs and think that granite gear offers more options.

I'd also like to compare to a ULA circuit, which is a good thru hike pack. both these packs have similar weights, price, and weight capacity. both packs have the belt pockets, roll top closure, and offer a frame. with the ULA circuit you get more outside pockets, better compression, dual ice ax loops and retention straps, load lifters, and considerably more volume. not only that but the you get to deal with a company that you can call and talk directly to the guy that's making your pack. If I had to choose between the reliability of BPL store vs ULA, i'd go with ULA every time.

maybe i'm missing something….

"he still didn't feel safe with it in…"

Uh, yeah…..

"he just thought he should kick something into the crack."

Runouts'll do that to ya sometimes. But I will say this: It beats the he!! out of leaving your nipple ring in a thin crack.

TMI Tom.

"TMI Tom."

My bad, Chris. Guess I got all fired up by the Titanium Ring thread. You know how that goes. ;)

Bad stuff can happen in the heat of the moment.

"Bad stuff can happen in the heat of the moment."

I think you're making more of it than it deserves. Why don't we just drop it at this point?

FWIW, I purchased the pack, used it, and like it. A lot. I have posted a review for those who are interested.

thanks for posting the review … looks like its not intended for the UL crowd

interesting that you strapped gear to the outside and in the pockets …

one thing i learned the hard way … if you strap it to the outside, itll come off when you dont notice it, snag at the worse time, or youll trip on it (clipped to harness)

which in the middle of a climb is not a good thing at all

I'd probably consider a pack like this for work, as I have to carry some heavy items (along w/ my camping gear). The added durability would be a plus as much of the time I'm off trail. While I dig orange packs, I need something more subdued for work (need to blend in, not stick out).

Definitely not a pack for everyone, but what pack is?

Wish I could figure out what the torso length is on this pack.

As another member alluded to previously I can see this type of pack being beneficial to the ultralighter who hikes in the desert and frequently needs to carry a significant amount of water.

I am still pretty new to the UL world, but am loving all the gear collecting and gram shaving. I picked up this pack about three weeks ago, and was able to test it out on a quick 15 mile one-nighter. It carried very comfortably. I'm 5'9" and packed sub 10 lbs with food and water. For me, the torso length was on the long side. I had to cinch it down almost all of the way, but it still fit really well. The stretch panels in the back are great, and it was a huge weight savings over my previous Gregory pack. The pack is huge. I had the top rolled all the way down, but if it was filled up, it would potentially carry a ton of gear.

Hope this helps some.

I have a heavy suspension 38ltr pack that I would like to use for weekend hikes/stealth camping. I've found some references to "ultra compact hiking" and some good info that uses the Go-lite ION as a limiting factor. I know its not the usual paradigm around here, but I can see a couple trips I would like to take with 5 days of food and at least a gallon of water. Is there a workable out fit that will pack into 20ltrs? At this level I would trade the difference of a pound to keep everything in the pack. So what would you all carry In the Absaroka, if out for 5 days of shoulder season? Please let me know if this is a valid request to make in the gear list section. Thanks, Woody

Glenn, I think you'll struggle to fit your requirements in a sub 20 litre pack. Water will take up at least two litres, even with two one litre bottles in side pockets or on shoulder straps.

Unless you use bars or powder, five days/four nights of food will take up another 4-5 litres. Now you have around 14-15lb of consumables. Even if the rest of your kit is 5lb, most 20 litre packs will likely be uncomfortable with 20+ lb. Maybe look at something 25-30 litres.

I think his question is if you have a 40 liter pack and 20 is taken up w/ food and water, is there sufficient room for the rest of your kit (if not disregard my answer :))

the answer would be yes- again just look at the Ion threads- ~ 25 liter pack that folks (including me) are getting 3-4 days on- a fair chunk of that volume is food & water, so the rest of the kit would easily fit into 20 liters

my gear lists shows what I'm carrying in my Ion

if your question can you fit a gallon of water, 5 days of food AND your kit into 20 liters- not likely

Thanks Mike. I was thinking he wanted to buy a 20L pack to fit it all.

If you're asking can you fit it into a 38L pack, then yes, no problem at all. You could do that with virtually any 20degree reasonable quality down bag, a self inflating or insulated air pad and a tarp style tent.

What I'm working with: Sorry for the lack of weights.

Pack: Kifaru Express (point and laugh all you want its my shiny thing)

Bag WM Badger (needs compression sack, and is replacing loftless cats meow)

Pad Purple Prolite plus (again go ahead and laugh, but I do fill out the Badger)

Bivy Moonstone Gortex (Has moose snot on it)

kitchen Stove+ spork, fero rod and bandanna inside Msr kettle + fuel

Hydration camleback 100 oz + nalgene Oasis + Aqua mira

Clothes: Capilene base layer

Campmore "R1" grid fleece

Micro puff vest

extra smart wool head over

2 pairs of socks + liners

paclite gortex jacket Nylon + rain pants

wind shirt

Nylon shorts

smart wool glove liners (usually goatskin over, but mia.)

Misc Ditty bag with compass, head lamp, Extra Bic, bugnet, bug dope,sunscreen,
and first aid.

I got All this stuff inside the pack except the sleeping pad and canteen this Fall, with the Cats Meow, but had to carry the food in a separate pouch outside the pack. I'm hoping that the Badger will compress smaller , but don't know how far I want to push the downs resiliency.
I would like to get a ul bivy and tarp to replace the Moonstone, and a puffy "sweater" to replace the vest and fleece.
I am also looking at the small pro-lite sleeping pad to use with a Thinlight pad, if this would help get everything in side the pack.
This is a bit of a mental exercise as I have pockets to add volume, though at a significant weight penalty (1+lb per 1000 cu inch), Or I can just throw all this uncompressed into a go-lite gust. Just to reiterate my motivation, I am trying to be able to get five days out of a small rugged pack and be comfortable in the spring and falls shoulder seasons. Thanks, Woody

we’re getting way off the Absaroka pack here, I had an Express and was able to get 3-4 days out of it- basically using the same kit as my Ion

mine was slick, but w/ some side pockets (maybe a small pod for the bottom) I’d bet you could get 5 days

Mike, Before I got distracted by my gear pile, I was trying to compare the Absaroka and Express relative to their pack volume and rated comfortable carry weight. The extra 3 pounds of nylon built in to the Express obviously skews the efficiency towards the Absoaroka. I guess my question to you is: Did you find any scenarios where it made more sense to carry your ultra light gear in the Express verses the ION?