What use is a big, center mesh pocket on your pack to you?

wet stuff…

Use mine for stream crossing shoes and other stuff I need to get to without opening my pack. Oh, and I have the same pack. Hate that GG quit making the Mariposa, the Mariposa + is too big most times. I did decide to get a Gorilla, since it is pretty small (but heavier). My Mariposa is starting to show a lot of wear (yeah, it is not made for bushwacking)

I use it for my shelter normally. That way when it wet it stays away from everything else plus it is easy and fast to pack up and unpack.

Bradford, how would this differ from keeping it at the bottom of your pack, outside of your pack liner which is waterproof?

It's a lot easier to pack and unpack in the rain with it outside the pack. It isn't unusual for me to set up in the rain where I like to quickly set my tarp up and unpack underneath it in the dry and/or pack up underneath my tarp in the rain then pack the tarp up last and throw it in the front pocket. It is hard to pack it up last and put it in the bottom of the pack, particularly the way I pack with a Ridgrest rolled up burrito style inside my trash compactor bag.

???

The good thing about having the shelter (wet or dry) in an outside pocket (mine is in one of the side pockets) or on top (not the bottom) of the pack is that you can set it up without having to unload your pack in the rain. It's also a lot easier to get it out to drape over a tree or rock to dry in the event of what our Pacific NW weather people call a sunbreak.

I wouldn't put anything that isn't really light in the that front pocket, though. In the past, I have carried my rain jacket and pants there, but I plan to start putting them inside on top instead unless they are wet. The front mesh pocket is still very useful for things like snacks, wet socks (to dry them), a few other small odds and ends. I wouldn't want to be without one!

1)wet things
2)rain gear
3)camp shoes
4)muddy/dirty stuff
5)extra water (not ideal since far away from back)
6)Snacks/first aid/other things that might be needed during hike
5)anything else that doesnt fit inside as long as in ziplock

Hrmm, no ridgerest for me, I use a neoair every so slighty inflated in the front mesh pockets of the Mariposa.

I don't carry camp shoes
Anything wet or muddy would go inside the pack, but outside the pack liner.

Extra is a definite consideration.

First aid has been carried on the outside side mesh pocket thus far…but never seem to need it. I only regularly access the Micropur tablets which are waterproof in and of themself. So I could stuff them in one of the side pockets with a water bottle.

I don't want one of these on the Zpack to save weight. I'll put the NeoAir in the front part of the main compartment to give the pack some shape.

I can understand about not putting the wet shelter or rain gear in the bottom for lack of access. So perhaps I'd put it on top or weidge it down the sides of the pack.

I tend to carry my camera in one side of my cargo pants, and some gorp in a ziplock bag in the other pant leg. Perhaps this contributes to swing weight, but it is convenient….maybe I'd go for shoulder pockets instead and buy lighter pants w/ no cargo feature.

I won't be buying a hip belt at this weight either (I'm at 6.82lbs for summer weight and have yet to buy the new pack), but I'll have a sterum strap as that works for me.

A guess a reason to keep a large, outside pocket would be if people seam seal their Zpack packs. If they seam seal them, then I can lose the 2+ oz pack liner. But if the mesh (or CF pocket…I see Zpacks have that option as well) weighs more than the liner, it wouldn't be worth it.

Hrmmm….

"how would this differ from keeping it at the bottom of your pack, outside of your pack liner which is waterproof?"

Difficulty getting out later has been addressed. I'd also point out that storing it here means you'll be carrying w/e water is on the tarp. Putting it in your outside pocket when wet allows for drying (hopefully) at some point during the day and then you can store it back inside. Water is heavy. I often will not even carry drinking water when sources are available and reliable so carrying water left on a tarp drives me crazy.

….my shelter has been balled up and hasn't dried out much over the course of a day. Plus my shelter is CF and doesn't absorb water afaik (I'm no expert though) Pulling the shelter out of the main compartment, stored next to my trash compactor bag, would only be a little bit more work than storing it outside my pack in a mesh pocket, right?

"What use is a big, center mesh pocket on your pack to you?"

For me? Essential. For you? I don't know. It sounds like it's not very important in your packing style and on-trail methodology. If you don't find yourself using it and you're intentions are to have Joe make you a custom Blast 26, then by all means nix the outer mesh pocket option.

Stuffing your shelter loosely along the sides of your pack and filling voids is easy and works just fine. I totally understand your thinking, it works for you, and yes, wouldn't be much more "difficult" than opening up your pack and grabbing your shelter from the top. I too have found that shelters, if fully saturated, don't dry entirely outside the pack… but who really cares if the shelter is damp, that's what they're made for, getting wet and dirty.

As far as keeping gorp, lip balm, sunscreen, water treatment, etc. handy, a shoulder pouch or hipbelt pocket on the pack is a nice addition… cargo pants are pretty silly, people still wear those?

Yeah, my cargo pants are still EMS brand @ 14.96 oz….. ouch! haha.

I guess you tend to concentrate on what's in your pack at first, but almost "done" there and on to the smaller points.

Gotta find the lightest pants and research if people seam seal their CF Zpacks. I have to "weigh" the seam sealing plus an outside pocket (since wouldn't be carrying pack liner) vs. trash compactor bag liner.

I'm still waiting for a slim fitting pant, that is lightweight, breathable, suitable for warmer temperatures, and dries quickly, complete without cargo pockets…. anyone know of a pair shoot them my way.

I love my Patagonia Traverse pants, they're the ideal slim fitting backpacking/trailrunning pant for me, for anything past late spring up higher they're a touch too warm. If Patagonia could make that same pant in a lightweight nylon ripstop I'd be pumped.

You might look at the Patagonia Sol Patrol Pants or the Rail Riders Bone Flats Pants.

I don't see belts on any of the pics for Patagonia pants…are they included? If so,are they included in the weights they list? thx.

Maps and food for the day go in the back pocket.

absolutely none … they get torn up when i climb

more useful is a cord lashing …

tent poles if you don't use hiking poles.

I almost never use it for wet stuff since I don't get rained on too often. I like it for the convenience since you don't have to open your pack to get at commonly used items. I put maps in there, my spoon, any layers that I am taking on and off frequently, etc. It's so fast to strip or add a layer that way… having to open the main pack body takes more time and hassle that adds up over the day. In the past I've had packs without mesh pockets on the back and I would always wear that warm layer or rain jacket for a little longer than I wanted just so I wouldn't have to undo the clip(s) and cinch cord to get into my pack.

Andrew

My Mariposa has full size net pocket on one side and a lower and and upper side net pocket on the other side. After years of experimentation and evolution I use the full size side net packet for my tent and poles and glasses case. The other side lower pocket is a 1L water bottle and my camera tripod (and sometimes a slim plastic bottle of scotch). The upper pocket is TP and AquaMira in ziplocs. The center full size pocket is rolled up raingear pants and raingear shirt (DriDucks) on either side and fly rod in a BPL tube in the middle. The map and compass in a ziplock end up either in the center pocket or with the tent. Various misc gear I want access to may also end up in the center pocket.

"You might look at the Patagonia Sol Patrol Pants or the Rail Riders Bone Flats Pants."

Hello Bryce,

Thank you for your email.

Unless indicated, our pants do not include belts. The 7 oz weight of the Men's Sol Patrol Pants – Irregular, are for the pants only. If you are interested in our current belt collection, please go to http://www.patagonia.com/us/search/belt.

Please let me know if you have any further questions.
All the best!
Ting
Patagonia Customer Service
http://www.Patagonia.com

BTW…their lightest belt is 2.2 oz:

http://www.patagonia.com/us/product/patagonia-friction-belt?p=59174-0-307

The #1 reason I like a big mesh pocket is to keep anything wet out of the pack. Wet clothing can get nasty if sored in an enclosed area.

On pants, the Rail-Ryder Ecomesh are much lighter and better ventilated than most long pants, including other Rail-Ryder models. Of course they are going to be less durable.

Sometimes wearing shorts is not practical, harsh plants, biting flies, bright sun, …

I've been wondering the same, I always raise my eybrow when people talk about drying out their tarp and stuff in the center pocket. Last time I came home from a hike, I hung my tarp up to dry and it still took all day before it completly was dry. So I'm planning my next myog backpack and thinking about skipping the center pocket or alternatively switching to a regular fabric with bushwacking ability. I've stored my fleece in the center pocket sometime, quick stove away, but I felt the COG shift so now I'm back to storing it under the top strap.

Good thread (sory for the late entry).