HELP NEED PACK NOW !!!

I've heard such great things about some of the Granite Gear packs that I want to try one myself sometime. Does anyone near you have the GG Vapor Trail or similar in stock?

Size?

If you are in LA, plenty of REIs around – may want to use their websites new "find in a local store" function (button on lower right of gear's webpage) and/or call them up to confirm if stocked. Also Patagonia has a store in Santa Monica if you are interested in their lightweight travel daypacks. Don't remember if Adventure 16 had any UL packs but could have sworn I saw a Marmot Kompressor with extras.

One of my good hiking buddies uses a modified REI Flash 30 in the summer that comes in at about 19oz. He seems to like it alright, and has several other packs from Golite and MLD.

According to REI's website, GoLite Peak packs are available in sizes M and L in Black at their Tustin, CA store. At that same store, they also have TNF Verto 26.

Just use the "find in store" tool: http://www.rei.com/product/793634/golite-peak-pack

John, Thanks for going to so much trouble to locate a Peak. However, given my current experience with Golite – see other thread- I'm not inclined to buy anymore of their products.

To all: Thanks for your suggestions. I do know about REI, A16 and the Pata store in SM. If nothing else turns up I'll make a selection for their stock. But at first glance all these seem to be lacking in certain areas.

It's just that I hoped to get some additional insight from some of you folks, many of whom have much more experience with this gear than I, before I made a final choice.

Any more suggestions?

Here are some packs from http://www.basegear.com, where the Peak is on sale in size L. I have no connection to this store, except that I know about it b/c it isn't that far from where I live in OR. If they have something you want, shipping shouldn't be a problem down to CA.

PACKS:
TNF Verto 26: $68.25
Patagonia Lightweight Travel Pack: $78.95
Granite Gear Adventure Daypack 32L: $129.95

PACKS ON SALE:
Osprey Stratos 36: $109.99
Osprey Exos 46: $144.99
Marmot Ultra Kompressor 20L: $55.99
GoLite Peak: $99.99 (only size L, in blue or green)

Edit: by the way, are you touring around or doing hiking trips? That would definitely shape my ideas about what pack I took.

Stephen,

Thanks for your suggestions.

I'll be doing both. We'll be staying with various friends in Germany, France and Italy. And also spending some time walking trails in France, Germany and maybe Sicily, maybe also Turkey. We'll be there about six months all in all.

We use a lightweight duffle as a base camp, and leave it with friends or ship ahead as we go.

Thanks,

Jim

James,

"We use a lightweight duffle as a base camp, and leave it with friends or ship ahead as we go."

FWIW In the military there is a saying. Keep all your stuff in one bag. That is not the original saying. ;-)

"…France, Germany and maybe Sicily, maybe also Turkey."

I see no problem with the friends. It's the shipping ahead part that would make me a tad uncomfortable.

Enjoy your trip!

Party On,

Newton

I use a flash 30 I have to say it's a well thought out little pack and I like it a whole lot. With the lid it's pretty darn water resistant since all cinched up none can get in through the top. The side pockets are good size. the hipbelts pockets are a nice feature I miss on some of my other packs. All said and done mine trimed down a bit tips the scale at 18 ounces. I use a neoair so the built in foam sheet on the back panel is nice. Also the 3D mesh orientation makes it carry like a much better then most packs of slightly lower and the same weight. All in all I love the pack add rei's guaranty I'm one happy ul backpacker

Thanks all. I'm headed for A16 and REI. Will probably find something.

John,

Sounds like you have time in the military. So, you'll understand when I say this trip is more of a 'change of station' than a mission. We're staying for six months, also doing some business, and don't want to hump everything everyplace – suit, tie, dress shoes etc.

Cheers,

Jim

"FWIW In the military there is a saying. Keep all your stuff in one bag. That is not the original saying. ;-)"

The full saying is more like this (edited for family content):
Remember, everything is dress right dress and cover down. Quit all of your shucking and jiving and grabassing in the ranks. Keep all of your _stuff_ in one bag.

Those were words to live by back when uniforms were green.

–B.G.–

Bob,

Uniforms green? All sounds distantly familiar.

You must have been in the "Green Machine" back when I was, which was shortly after the invention of repeating firearms :-) 1961 to 1964 in uniform

Jim

Hi James, I had posted about modifying REI 30 back when I still owned it. I know you had problems with the lumbar pad…as did I. Don't be afraid to take a seam ripper to it. Just remove the seams on all 3 sides of the pad, and for the 4th seam thats hidden in between the seams that form the pack bottom…just cut it as close to that seam as possible with a pair of scissors, (this way you don't actually have to take the pack apart)

I would leave the back pads (that connect to the shoulder straps) in place, but I've seen people remove that as well.

I got mine down to 19 ounces before I moved onto a different pack. I actually miss it, and might pick up another.

If i recall correctly, I removed the hydration pocket, trimmed all the straps/webbing, took out all labels/care instructions, removed the lumbar pad, removed 1 ice axe loop and corresponding ice axe retainer.

If you wanted to get it lighter, you could remove the other ice axe loop, and carefully remove the backpads. Some people removed the load lifters..but I actually liked them for the purpose of bringing the load closer to my back (not for actual load lifting purposes)

It's a much better pack than the golite peak in my opinion. The Flash 30 has one of the stiffest close cell foam pads available, and actually helps to transfer weight to the hips. A lot better than the foam pads I see being used in Golite and ULA packs

James,

"…this trip is more of a 'change of station' than a mission."

MRAU.

"…time in the military."

No sir I did not have the honor.

I do however have two godchildren, one nephew and one grandson of some very close friends who have served, are serving and just graduated after basic.

My only concern was depending on the forwarding of your basecamp through the mail or some other delivery service. In this country we take the performance of UPS, USPS, FedEx and others for granted. I mail ahead resupply boxes for my hikes without giving it a second thought. What are your options for "mailing ahead" your basecamp?

Have a wonderful trip!

Party On,

Newton

The Talon 33 is a good option. Fits and carries better than the Hornet for a little more weight. REI should carry it. Lots to trim on that pack too, if you want. However, I love it for a technical pack for UL'ers. Great for 3-4 day trips where you need to bring technical gear.

Hi John,

Thanks for your concern, but no worries. The mail service in all the western European countries, is at least as good, if not superior to, the USPS in every way. I've been working, and living off and on, in Europe since 1968 and have shipped dozens of personal packages over the years. Never a problem.

If you like hiking you might want to give Europe a try – great walking, resupply with GOOD food in every village, friendly people, camp almost anyplace and centuries of history all round.

Best regards,

Jim

Konrad,

Thanks so much for your info on modifying a Flash 30. I really liked the looks of that pack, and like you you, thought it was in many ways superior to the Peak. However, I had no idea about how to get rid of that lumbar pad – it rubbed my back in the wrong place. I was afraid that taking it off would cause the seams to give way, or something.

So I got another pack this evening at A16.

Jim

Brian, Thanks for your suggestion on the Talon 33. It is a nice pack.

Thanks to all for suggestions. This evening I looked at:

Talon 33
Hornet 32
NF Verto 26
Mountain Hardware 30
and some others.

I like simple packs, although pockets are good. For me the Ospreys had too many straps, buckles etc. I know that makes them a better fit, in theory. But too fiddly for me. Fred suggested the NF Verto and it came down to a choice between it and the MH 30. It was close, but I settled on the Mountain Hardware 30. It's heavier than the Verto, but the fabric is higher quality and I intend to lighten it up, and I decided I wanted the extra capacity.

One thing I learned when comparing all these, and more, packs side by side – the mfg's listed capacity seems to be a wild guess. The Verto held about the same as the Hornet, the MH more than either.

The extra capacity will be useful because, although we travel VERY light, I will be carrying all the camping gear, such as it is, for both my wife and I. Neither of us are kids anymore. Her shoulder problems are worse than my back problems.

Counting down now.