Mountain Running/Adventure Racing Pack

I have no personal experience with the packs you mention, but here is a review of the Terra Nova Laser 20L
and as a bonus, a list of modifications to get the weight down to 279g.

Terra Nova

…

Holy Moley

Craig you got me interested in looking at these packs, and …

the Laser Elite 20L claims to weigh only 210g.

my totally stripped down Nathan HPL 20 (a 5 liter running pack), weighs 240g.

I will be checking this out.

Craig,

Good question.

Just throwing this into the mix, OMM (Original Mountain Marathon) has a line of packs for exactly what you've described. The OMM Ultra 15L and Classic 25L packs from OMM may appeal to ya, the mountain running heritage and design is all there. Getting them stateside? Might cost you.

The Inov8 and Terra Nova packs look killer, problem is trying them on before purchasing is going to be impossible in the states. The single pull compression for less than full capacity loads on all these packs is a deal sealer.

Nathan made a series of packs for extended distance mountain running, the HPL#759 was one of those packs, it has a similar harness as the very popular HPL#20, but with added hipbelts and additional storage, as well as dual side pocket bottle holders- they're discontinued but you could probably find one.

Trailite Designs is working on a trail running/multi-sport adventure based pack targeted towards runners in the volume you need, it's in the design phase but might be what you're looking for.

Here’s the Nathan HPL#759 I was referring to, last stronghold:

Nathan HPL#759

BPL member Aaron Sorenson used the HPL#759 a few years back on some ultra-distance mountain runs in the Sierras and had a lot to say about the pack.

Resurrecting that thread from the dead:

Nathan HPL#759 BPL thread

Here’s some more wrenches in the mix:

Salomon XA 20 M
Salomon XA 25 WP
Golite Vo24

have you checked out the REI stoke 19 pack? might be a decent option, too.

Yeah, the Elite looks pretty good…at about $45 it's a sweet little SUL/running pack.

Thanks for the other links guys.

Upon reading more reviews though, I'm just going to pull the trigger and go with the standard Laser 20. The pockets/configuration seem to suit my style the best. Sub 12 oz. for all the features it has is pretty darn good I'd say. Everyone claims it's really stable when running, too. Prolite has them right now in all black…with the 20% off (code: spring20) that someone just posted they're $55 shipped.

I realized the Inov8 doesn't have any bottle pockets, save for being able to attach them to the straps.

Cheers.

^ Easy skanking, that's a deal.

20L is a lot of room for a running pack, what epic do you have planned? Inquisitive minds want to know.

I have a good lineup of all sorts 40-75-100+ mile trail loops in my head that I want to start knocking off…been looking over maps and daydreaming quite a bit lately and my running is going really well. The goal is to run my first 100K this summer (providing I'm healthy), so I'm working up to those distances. I might end up doing it alone as opposed to an organized event.
I want a pack that can carry really basic SUL/emergency gear for unsupported trips like this, stuff in the 18 to 72 hour range. I honestly don't know how long it would take me to run/hike some of the loops I'm eying …so carrying an SUL basics load would add a safety margin. Trips where I'm asking myself "Is that a LONG run, or an overnight backpack?".

So anyhow, I just picked up the Montbell Tachyon Anorak and Dynamo pants, the Laser 20, and I'm looking to fill in a few other items to build an SUL running/overnight kit. Next on the list is likely sewing a sub 10oz. quilt to pair with my Tigoat bivy.

Craig,

I've also been looking at a pack for running, but a larger volume than those. I was eyeing the inov8 elite 25. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on the laser 20.

Also, I'm in the planning stages of making a SUL quilt, with a goal of 10oz or less. So I'd also like to hear about your plans for that.

Will you be bringing a sleeping pad with you?

-Will

For a pad I'm thinking a Gossamer Gear Thinlite 1/4" or 3/8", cut narrow and ~36" long. From what I understand the Laser has a sleeve inside it that can take a folded pad. If not, rolled and lashed to the outside would be fine. The BPL Diad pad would be perfect but nothing's ever in stock when I look.

I'm not looking for luxury, the the bare essentials for keeping *relatively* warm.

As for quilt, it might be a while before I can sew it. I'm thinking along the lines of 1 layer of 2.5 oz. climashield and momentum 90…something in the 40-50 degree range that could be pushed with clothes and a bivy.

Can't find what that laser 20 is made out of? anyone know? barring the price, which I hope is important ot everyone, why would you get the laser 20 over the MLD burn? I'm thinking the laser 20 is probably 70denir coated nylon… so the MLD would last longer than the laser what with running you (read I) tend to snag more than just hiking. thoughts?

The burn is over $170 dollars shipped!

No thanks.

That said, MLD gear is beautiful…

…but as this is a pretty specialized pack for me, that kind of expense doesn't make sense. I'd like only be using the laser on a few trips per year; it's hardly a necessary piece of gear for me, just filling a small hole in my pack sizes/styles.

Here's my general running pack/gear breakdown:
-15 miles or less: No packs/vests. A handheld bottle or two
-15-25 miles, unsupported: possibly no pack (2 bottles) or a Nathan HPL20 vest
-25+ miles, unsupported, need some weather protection and food but definitely not sleeping out: Nathan HPL20 or Gregory Reactor
-25+ miles, unsupported and carrying food/gear for potentially sleeping out: Terra Nova Laser 20
-Anything more than a night or two, unsupported…that's backpacking, and I'm carrying my full UL kit.

Plus the burn is getting higher in volume…close enough that I could use my Jam2- which is actually pretty stable running stable if loaded/compressed right.

Have you looked at the Osprey talon series? Maybe the talon 22 or 11?

Craig, you picked the right one IMO. I have both the elite 20 and the regular 20 and much prefer the later. The elite 20 really is just a dry sack with a harness. It's floppy, with medicore compression. Also, the hipbelt and hipbelt pockets are far too short/small on the elite 20, so you can't really access them well. The normal 20L has a larger hipbelt and pockets with some mesh backing them, whereas in the elite, its just silnylon so you feel everything you've managed to miraculously cram in there. The elite 20 also has a crap roll top closure with velcro—its a pain and never seems to stay open long enough for me to actually reach in and grab my belongings. Overall, the regular 20L is just better, & more comfortable due to more light mesh padding. It has deeper, more usable mesh backpockets, and offers better storage (including a very well placed zippered pocket for keys, FAK, etc) The teardrop shape presents a tighter package, in comparison to the rectangular elite 20 which requires a full pack for structure. Be prepared to replace the bungee cords on the waterbottle holders on the 20L–the stock ones are absolute crap. I don't do much trail running, so I can't comment on bounce. That said, it is my go-to day hiking pack.

Craig,

Did you get the Terra Nova Laser 20 and if so, how do you like it?

FYI – The OMM is available stateside from Dreamchasers in Driggs Idaho. They appear to be the only current importer of OMM products at the moment. I have one from them and love it, very flexible and comfortable when running over rough terrain.

http://www.dreamchaserevents.com/

I received the Terra Nova, checked it out for a few days around the house…loaded it up with a little gear and water, etc. I was surprised that it holds my WM Summerlite with room to spare.

I ended up returning it though.

Overall, it's a great little pack; it fits well and the load rides low and close to the body. I think it's actually very well thought out. But it's just too similar in capacity to an SUL pack I sewed myself, with the exception of a hipbelt. With further thought, I decided I'd just sew a hipbelt on and make due. I didn't realize that what I had was adequate/so similar until I had the Terra Nova in my hands.

Nothing against the pack…after receiving it I just realized that it occupies such a small niche for what I do that I'd might as well save the money and use what I already have. I really like my Nathan HPL020 or pretty old Gregory Reactor (a step up in size from the Nathan)…if I need more capacity than either of these, which is rare, I can use the SUL one I sewed myself; it's actually very similar to the Terra Nova Laser Elite.

I clicked on the link from Art at the top of the thread, and my PC was infected by 2 viruses whilst i was reading it. It wiped out my PC, even though i thought i had enough protection. I'm not a PC techie, so maybe it was a coincidence.
Luckily a techie friend was able to save my a$$.

>…and my PC was infected by 2 viruses whilst i was reading it. It wiped out my PC, even though i thought i had enough protection.

That's (partly) why I use a Mac. :)

I thought folk used a Mac so they could show folk how fashionable they were? ;)
I prefer a slide rule. :)

"I prefer a slide rule. :)"

Wait, your slide rule got a virus? Wow!

My 'ex' girlfriend used it to measure something. :)

To get a bit back onto subject,

I just got an inov-8 elite 25, which looks awesome, and I'll hopefully be able to take it for a ride soon. I'm planning on using it for the same type of trip, although hoping to squeeze a couple more days out of it. I'll hopefully be using it for a six day unsupported run of the Long Trail.

-Will

Unearthing another old thread – what are people’s opinions on these SUL packs?  I’m considering the Terra Nova Laser 20 (not Elite)

It looks like inov-8 has updated their design, with the Race Elite 24 and 16 dumping the hipbelt+pockets for a vest+pockets.  Hipbelts seem pretty rare in running packs today.

I’m not a huge fan of having my water bottle(s) on my chest, but I like to be able to grab them easily, so the Terra Nova Laser 20 with its water bottle mesh pockets on the rear part of the hipbelt looking really nice, as well as extra mesh pockets the back.