Gossamer Gear Murmur

[Bob Gross]

I have a Gossamer Gear Murmur pack, and it supposedly has a load limit of about 15 pounds or so. Since the empty weight is about 8 ounces, this is very desirable. However, for one specific six-day trip this summer, I will have a load of about 22 pounds, and I don't know how much of an overload this would represent. I don't know if it is stressful to the pack, or just uncomfortable to the wearer. I can't think of any good way to modify the load to make it more reasonable with this pack.

If I can't swing it with this Murmur pack, I have to revert back to an old GoLite Breeze pack. It's empty weight is closer to a pound, and it has a lot more room, and it can accommodate more load. Since it is heavier, that is padding in the shoulder straps to make it more comfortable.

***Has anybody tried to go with an overloaded Murmur pack with good results?

In addition to that pack load, I would have an additional 10.5 pounds of camera gear, but that is hanging around my neck and shoulder and not supported by the backpack. I'm against the idea of taking any weight out of the backpack to hang it in the camera pack.

–B.G.–

[Vince Contreras]

If you take a sheet of full-length 3/8" CCF and trim it about 2/3 of the way down, you could then take the 1/3 part, score it appropriately, and use it in the pad pocket. Take the remaining 2/3 and coil it up inside the main pack body, putting all your stuff inside the tube. I've employed this tube method with a frameless pack for short durations where water or food weight pushed me over the "recommended" weight limit, since the foam is stiff enough to effectively transfer weights up to 25lbs, depending on how long the piece of foam is that you use for the tube. I did this with a Salomon Raid Revo 30, not a Murmur.

[James Marco]

Bob,
Yeah, The Murmur is a light duty pack. I have the G5, the precursor to the Whisper. I would NOT recommend overloading it by much.
The structure of the Gosamer Gear packs are all pretty good. Where mine failed was the shoulder strap. I see they redesigned the shoulder straps to take stress off the strap/buckle mount a bit and they're using silnylon rather than spinnaker these days. I would suggest adding a full web strap down the shoulder straps to the buckle, about an ounce. Then you can overload it by about 10#. Generally the GG shoulder mounts are pretty good.
The pad keeper is quite effective for adding structure to the pack. You really don't need to go through rolling a second pad inside before loading the pack. Like most GG stuff, the pad will tend to force the pack to stand-off your back a bit. I use a modified NightLite, 5 layers at 10". It is still OK for <20#, Or a 6 day trip. It feels and carries like a fully framed pack at 12-15#.
The silnylon will not take that much abuse. Any sharp objects and corners should be covered with something…a morning/evening sweater eases any edges.
I have tried to carry camera gear outside of my pack, and find it very annoying. I could not swing it behind me mecause of the pack. I bumped it swinging my arms walking, when slung to the side. And, in front, it likes to sway with my gait, side to side. I would suggest a larger
pack, stow your gear in the pack, 'cept the camera, itself. Even the DSLR can be a pain if you are trying to make time on the trail. Most front packs don't have the capacity. A couple LARGE size belt pouches for lenses works OK. And a couple shoulder pouches for the meter and batteries.
A small, second camera(say a 10mpix Coolpix) while hiking, works well. Save the DSLR for set shots (with the tripod) and for those times you see some nice views.

[Jenn M]

I have overloaded my Murmur, but we ended up bailing from the trip early due to sickness so I'm not sure how it would've carried over a longer time frame. Why don't you load it up to 22lbs for a day hike and see how it carries/takes the stress? But I think – think – it might be okay.

[Matthew Zion]

My experience with the Murmur is pretty limited but I think the biggest concern your gonna have is an uncomfortable carry. If you're worried about various seams take the pack to a machine and give a few of them an extra double stitch. I did some seam repair on the pack and noticed that my blow out areas were typically around where the elastic from the pockets is sewed in. But these seams seemed purely cosmetic and not structural. My loads topped out around 12ish lbs for reference, 22 is quite a different story for sure.

You could also contact GG. Their customer service was very pleasant and helpful when I spoke to them, maybe they have some experience/knowledge of the limits of the pack.

[John Frederick Anderson]

I had a Murmur for a couple of years, and I think you will struggle with those loads. I suggest something else, maybe with a frame. I'd suggest and Aarn pack, and have the camera gear balance on the front in the accessible camera front pockets.

[Kevin Babione]

My pack weight in my Murmur averages around 16 pounds at the start of a weekend trip. I did add an additional 3 liters of water once for the last two miles of the day (we wanted to sleep up on top of a ridge where there wasn't water). I simply put the full 3-Liter Nalgene Canteen in the top of my pack and hiked. It wasn't ideal but it worked (although it barely fit) and I wasn't uncomfortable. Your biggest issue, in my experience, won't be weight in the pack but volume. I'm guessing you'll run out of room before you hit 22 pounds.

One of the things I've been known to do in my spreadsheets is to detail my weights by day. Something like this:
– Trailhead – 16 pounds
– Day 2 Morning – 14 pounds
– Day 3 Morning – 11 pounds
– End of trip – 9 pounds

Since a significant portion of your weight must be food you shouldn't be looking at the Murmur to carry 22 pounds for the full six days. That will make a difference. I use a GG Torsolite pad as my frame and haven't had any issues.

See if your gear and all of your food will fit in the Murmur – test it before the morning you're trying to leave.

[Nick Gatel]

Bob,

I have done around 20lbs several times with a Spinnaker Murmur. Held up. I am not so sure about the silnylon and the strap attachment to the pack. I found for long miles there was just too much weight on my shoulders, and the belt does not effectively transfer much load.

The best I found for pad frame structure is to use a GG Nightlight Sleeping Pad (torso length) in the pad holder. It folds in thirds and is designed to fit.

Inside the shoulder straps I tried the included foam pads, bubble wrap, and wool socks at different times, and over 10lbs none are effective.

If you are using Spinnaker and the straps do not tear out, you can probably do it, but you will not be comfortable… relative terms. I would be more concerned with the silnylon separating from the pack body.

To me, you need the right gear for the job, and a Murmur is not the right tool for loads much over 10lbs. An extra 8 ozs in your other pack may return an exponential degree in comfort, security, and peace of mind.

[James Marco]

"To me, you need the right gear for the job, and a Murmur is not the right tool for loads much over 10lbs. An extra 8 ozs in your other pack may return an exponential degree in comfort, security, and peace of mind."

Yeah, I agree with that. A lot will depend on how long you are staying out. But with the Murmur you are really limiting what you can carry for camp. Let alone an extra tarp for shooting in the rain, a weight bag for the tripod, extra line, and other stuff you might want to bring.

[Bob Gross]

As I had indicated, this is intended to be a six-day trip, so the food and consumable weight isn't that much, but that is what drives the 22-pound total. Yes, it is the spinnaker Murmur, not the silnylon version. Yes, I had asked Gossamer Gear. Yes, I use a sleeping pad in the expected place on the pack. Yes, the pack has very limited volume, but the big mesh pocket on the back can hold a multitude of sins.

No, I had no intention of switching over to some unknown pack that weighs even more. That is counterproductive. No, I had no intention of using a front pack, because that blocks my view of my feet, and that causes me to stumble. My camera holster rides over my right front trouser pocket, right over the belt. The decision is between the Murmur and the Breeze. One is a little too light, and one is a little too heavy. These things are not infinitely scalable.

I would sure hate to get a few days out on a trip and then have the seams pop, so I guess I am forced to test it around the block.

–B.G.–

[John S.]

That is the job of a golite breeze, not a spinnaker pack (given the two choices).

[Bob Gross]

"That is the job of a golite breeze, not a spinnaker pack (given the two choices)."

Yes, but there is a need to be constantly challenging the standards of what can be done.

–B.G.–

[Glen Van Peski]

If you can sew, I can describe to you some shoulder strap reinforcements, which could help. I don't have much experience with weights in that range, but a number of years ago I had 6 days of food and 6 liters of water going into the grand canyon. That was not a great day, and that was a G5, with a waist belt. Contact me off forum if you want more info. Glen(at)gossamergear.com

[Nick Gatel]

"Yes, but there is a need to be constantly challenging the standards of what can be done."

22 lbs can be done with a Spinnaker Murmur. I have done it. But like Glenn said, you might not be a happy hiker with 22 lbs hanging on your shoulders for 6 days. It is not the fault of the pack, it was not designed to comfortably carry that much weight.

[Cayenne Redmonk]

Seam grip it.

[Bob Gross]

"you might not be a happy hiker with 22 lbs hanging on your shoulders for 6 days."

By the end of the six days, there would be 10-11 pounds less.

–B.G.–

[Nick Gatel]

That's true, Bob.

Anyway, whichever way you go, let us know how it works out. I think your Mumur can make the trip without tearing… just don't blame me if it does. Might be a good idea to contact Glen on the sewing… but from what I remember you already have sewn stuff before.

[Bob Gross]

Glen may just be trying to promote a different pack.

Since there seems to be some risk of damaging the Murmur, I would just avoid that and use the old GoLite Breeze with the 8-ounce penalty. It's just that there may have been some simple solution that had eluded me, but there may not be thousands of Murmur owners who had it solved. I've sewn on spinnaker fabric before, and it is a bit tricky.

–B.G.–

[Glen Van Peski]

Bob, I was not particularly promoting a different pack. If it were me, I would probably go for it in the Murmur. I forget what your timing is, but if you want to pay for postage, I would be glad to do some quick mods to strengthen the shoulder strap connection points. I'm in California, contact me off forum if you want to mail it out to me.

[John Chong]

I carried around 15lbs of total weight for a quick 3 day trip I did last month, and tried the carry off one shoulder method. It was my first trip with my brand new murmur. It tore a little bit on the left strap, since I was carrying it with it off my left. Make sure you carry the pack with both straps on, otherwise, you'll risk it breaking.

It's a very delicate piece of equipment, but a beautiful one.

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