Not sure which pack to buy?

There are a lot of good options out there.

I went with a SMD swift, mainly for the size. It's HUGE compared to most 15oz packs (weight doesn't include stays or hip belt). I like it a lot, but find it too big for my fully converted UL kit. It turns out I can pack for a 2 weeks trip, and fit 2 days food, in a 19L flash from REI. I don't say this to brag, I say this to warn you that if you plan to convert to UL entirely then you're going to need a lot less space than you think (I did!). The main bit on the swift is 37.7L, which to be honest feels like a bucket of space. It's very nice to have the space for when you aren't doing the UL thing (my girlfriend likes my 5 pound tent more than my bivy/tarp. Also sometimes I carry gear for others). I plan to keep it, but I still want a gram counter pack for when I get to stick to being super light. If you're in the transition phase though, it's a sweet pack. I'd recommend it to all my friends, me being the only of us who has a spreedsheet of gear and two scales.

What I was looking into when I wanted space was the Six Moon Designs – Swift, the Gossamer Gear – Gorilla, The ULA – Ohm. They're all awesome packs and come in between 18-25 ounces when all is said and done (you'll want a webbing hip belt, something to transfer the load foam pad or alum stay).

edit to say, honestly, you should get a box, figure out to cubic inches/ liters it holds, put all your stuff in it, and go from there.

Thanks for the insight… I wonder if there are any good REI options?

I was looking at Osprey or REI brand… but again I am not married to REI so I will take a look at SMD.

Any other options for packs I can buy at REI?

Some REIs stock the GoLite Jam.

I went from an Osprey Atmos 65 I bought at rei (59 ounces) to a SMD swift (23 ounces with aluminum stays, wider bag pockets, I use neither keeping it to 15 ounces). It's a significant weight savings! What you can get is SO MUCH different than what REI offers that I just can't recommend REI packs. About the closest you'll come is the GoLite Jam pack at 31 ounces. I feel your pain, I LOVE REI's staff, warranty, and ease of use.

if you are really set with the warranty/return requirement:

http://sectionhiker.com/osprey-hornet-46-backpack-review/

that thing is pretty light, for an osprey. when i transitioned to ultralight the first thing i did was remove the framing from my gregory pack and cut off all the extra straps (got it down to about 32oz). now that pack is WAY too much capacity for me and i've only just barely gotten below 12lb base weight. i long ago transitioned to a much lighter/smaller frameless pack.

the cottage brands like SMD, z-packs, GG, etc have wonderful customer service and really help us all out, often. sure, you can't return a pack after using it in most cases, but they are super easy to sell on here as well.
i'm at the point where any new pack for solo trips has to be under 10oz. probably never be done in the mainstream market.

oh, i didn't know some REI's stock the go-lite stuff. i got my Jam (2010) down to 22oz including the framesheet…
i'd go with that when starting out. plenty of room for some heavier/bulkier gear when transitioning to ultralight…

good luck!

hornet +1

and many others will also vouch. Hendrik has done a review, someone else has and their name escapes me. I've got the 24 and love it as an all around pack that's transformable into a weekend backpacking pack.

go to yr local rei, try on every pack with your equipment for hours … and buy the one that fits best and weights what you want

if you do decide to buy before you try, be aware that you may return or resell it

buy what fits YOU …. not what fits other people here

So they have a number of sizes of the Hornet at REI the largest being 46L

They also have the full line of GoLite packs.

Tough choice here as it seems I will get a lighter pack at the cottage brands, but I get the REI warranty with the GoLite or Hornet.

So if I went with the Hornet what size should I get?

Thanks so much! Or talk me out of the Hornet and why I should go SMD?

By going cottage you support the little guy. You can also get a pack that's lighter than what you will find at REI.

I may get chastised for saying this but…

While having a 1 lb pack might give you some kind of bragging rights, you won't notice much difference between it and a 2 lb pack assuming the rest of your gear is light as well. Arguably, the 2 lb pack (assuming it has better load transfer) will carry better.

For what REI has, I'd take the Jam over the Hornet any day. The Hornet has way too much going on in regards to adjustments, straps, etc. I also remember reading that the torso sizing is way off.

Jam +1!

I have a previous model jam (2010, I think) and while it isn't the lightest pack for what it does, it feels simple, straightforward, and it's very flexible: I feel like I could get a couple winter nights out of it, or a week+ in the summer. it compresses down really well, but I think at 50l it has enough room for your stated requirement of a week's worth of food.

I don't like the compactor(tm) system very much, as it makes the pack fit poorly on my lower back, but the vertical flexibility is great, and the side compression straps do pretty well as well.

Thing is, while you CAN get one at REI, you can get one from anywhere else for gobs cheaper. at golite.com right now they still have a 40% off code and jams in stock, so you could get it for $90 (code is DEN40S11).

As some folks are saying, though, this thing might be pretty big for a real UL kit, but what makes me think this'd work for you (and why I keep mine) is that it has room for lots of food.

Anyway, that's my 2 cents. :)

Unless you have a torso size less than 18", I would steer clear of the Hornet. There are several people on this site, myself included, that have tried out the Hornet and most liked the features of the pack, but anyone with a longer torso found it too short for them. I wrote to Osprey explaining that I loved the pack, but they need to address the torso size issue. I'm not sure if it is out of your weight specs or not, but Osprey makes two packs that I find very comfortable, and I am having a hard time decided which one to take on my JMT hike this summer; the Exos 46, and the Talon 44. Both have much more room in them than their stated capacity. I have trimmed enough straps and such off of my Talon that it weighs in at 33 ozs. with a top lid. Both are sold at REI and returnable BEFORE you decide to trim straps! I have heard good things about the Jam as well, but do not have any personal experience with it. I also really liked the SMD Swift, but with a bear can inside, it pulled away from my shoulders a bit. Without the bear can, it rode perfect on me.

Thank you everyone so far with your comments.

I am very tempted to get a Jam for $90 with the coupon code.

@Robert, I like the Talon and Exos; my current 5 yr old Gregory pack is pretty heavy so I am sure the Talon or Exos will cut some weight there but not a ton. Is it worth the $150 to $180 to spend on a Talon or Exos knowing they may be more comfortable a little lighter weight.

Or snag the GoLite and hold onto the Gregory for less intense trips?

go to rei and try their yummy jam to death

dont be blinded by the price …

if it works buy the golite el cheapo ..

if it doesnt … the search continues

I'm totally biased since I own the pack but really, this thing is huge. It does have adjustments on the sides to pull in the excess but the extra room allows me to not have to compress my sleeping bag. SMD is great to work with plus the Swift has a lot of great features like all the mesh pockets to hold wet gear and other stuff. And I'll add that the backpanel on the Swift does a good job of not making me sweat so much since it's a mesh'ish style fabric.

a question on the swift, if I may – I just read another review of the pack and the only criticism of it was that the straps were too close together where they joined the pack, which resulted in neck strain for the user/reviewer. What are your views on this please?

Craig

I went through several packs before settling on a Aarn Marathon Magic 33. It is a bit heavy at over 2 pounds but has quality construction with good fabric. It carries very comfortably which is most important to me. I like a 20" torso length. I had a large Osprey Exos 34 which was pretty good and other soft packs. My base weight is about 10lbs and skin out for 4 days is about 25lbs. I suggest you find out the return policy of companies that make packs of interest to you and try them out if possible. IMHO REI has some good products but most are a bit heavy, still they have a great return policy. Check out reviews to find possible packs of interest and test the fit on your body.

This advice is great; thanks so much to everyone who has responded so far.

I'm a big fan of the Talon 33. You get the Osprey warranty, it's under 2lbs, and has an adjustable torso to dial in the torso fit perfectly. It's a tall/skinny pack which makes it extremely stable on your back (great for climbing/biking). The brain is nice for lunch, maps, first aid, and other misc gear and the snack pouches on the shoulder straps frees up hip belts for camera, sunscreen, chapstick, etc. It's got just enough space for UL backpacking with technical gear (canyoneering, climbing, etc.), and has all the features you'd want on a technical pack, except for skiing (no ski carry, avy gear pocket and stays). Unless your base weight is really low, I'd probably consider sizing up to the Talon 44 for a bear canister.

Light weight, carry as well (or better) than a Gregory, great workmanship, good people!

Besides all that, they look really cool!!!

Sorry for not seeing your question earlier about the Swift's shoulder strap fit. FWIW I am 6' and 145lbs and a skinny build and have not complaints about the width between the straps. But, I am not thick chested so of course it may ride differently on someone with thick shoulders.

thanks very much for taking the time to respond. sounds about right. I'm not as thick as some either (despite what my partner says).

Craig