ULA Catalyst v. GoLite Quest

I owned a ULA P-2, which was the predecessor of the Catalyst and similar in design, and have tried several GoLite packs (though not the Quest). Regardless of the published load ratings, 40 lbs is more than I would recommend for either pack.

Most ULA owners report that they love their packs; I am probably a minority of one. My main complaint with the P2 — and it was a deal breaker for me — was the design of the shoulder straps, what ULA used to advertise as the "cradle suspension." The straps connect to the bottom of the pack rather than the conventional attachment point at the inside corner near the waist belt. The effect for me was two-fold: it tended to pull the straps back into a sensitive area of my armpits and transferred a greater fraction of the load to the shoulders than I wanted. You cannot fully unload the shoulders and transfer as much weight to the hips. At 25 lbs it was a very nice pack. At 40 lbs I found it very uncomfortable. A second criticism of the new designs is that they no longer offer a top pocket, an option which I happen to like. Other than these two complaints, I think the packs are very good.

I like some of the GoLite products, but based on my experiences with older GoLite packs, I think there are probably better choices in that load range. I wouldn't choose one for heavier loads and longer trips.

Some people report that both the ULA and GoLite torso lengths are overstated and find that a size larger than they normally use is more comfortable.

I switched to a McHale last year. If you've got the money, in my opinion there's simply no comparison; I wouldn't even consider the other two for that load range. For less money, I'd consider the Osprey Aether 60. I have found it very comfortable at 35-40 lbs.

Let me emphasize that I think both ULA and GoLite are great companies with innovative products. Just didn't work for me.

I have one of the McHale custom made Critical Mass Frame, Bypass Harness, 5000 cu in main compartment panel loading pack weighing about 5.5 pounds. I use it for carrying my photo equiment and backpacking equipment together. Expensive yes, but Dan makes a great product that carries well and will be comfortable with a lot of weight (40 to 60 or more pounds) when needed.

Rich

Thanks Ken, the advice is well received. McHale may ultimately be the route I go. I have an odd body shape which was great for football and rugby in my younger years. Broad throughout the shoulders (which gives cause for concern on the shoulder straps) and short. So McHale may be the best option out there.

I'd have to agree with the posts above. Only McHale makes the pack for YOU and you alone. You give a chest measurement, a neck measurement, and a waist size, in addition to the torso length. I own two McHales, and while I keep trying lighter packs, I end up using one of my Macs if I'm carrying more than a minimum load. Dan's great to work with, as well. He sometimes comes off a little strong on net posts, but he's a very nice guy to talk to, and provides an incredible wealth of pack construction knowledge.
I had a different experience with an Osprey 60 than the above poster. Admittedly, mine was an earlier model, so I don't know if there have been changes, but the hipbelt on mine began to distort at 35 lbs.
As always YMMV.
roosterk

Compared to the P-2 the Catalyst is a different pack, so I am not sure how relevant some previous comments were when asking for a comparison between a Catalyst and a Quest. While the Catalyst did replace the P-2, comparatively, they are different packs and should be judged so.

The Catalyst is shaped differently, has a MUCH more supportive hipbelt, and with the addition of the dual stay framesheet is a much more supportive pack than the 'ol P-2.

The packs I produce are not designed to transfer 100% of the load onto your hips…the idea is that the majority of the load is on your hips, but additional load support and control is distributed throughout your body…that does mean shoulders and the entire surface area of your back. The focus is on mobility.

Anyway, as for McHale…if you got the $$$, go for it! You won't find a better pack in terms of load control and stability.

Further comments:

I upgraded my P-2 with the dual stay framesheet that was offered as an option in the last couple years. I didn't find that it made a lot of difference in the P-2. Might be different with the Catalyst.

Brian's points regarding the design of his packs are valid, and I'll say again that he offers good, well-made products. His packs effectively maintain a certain fraction of the load on the shoulders, which I believe is exactly what he designed them to do. You just need to realize that this is the case. Personally, I want to be able to decide for myself how much of the load goes where, particularly with 40+ lb loads and my preferences may change depending on whether I'm walking on a flat trail or climbing. At 40 lbs I could only hike about 45 min. before I needed a break. But I probably just have wimpy shoulders. As I said, a minority of one. I haven't heard of anybody else disappointed in any way with ULA packs.

I also agree with Randall regarding the Aether 60. Mine was also an older model, not the latest design. It was definitely more comfortable at 35 lbs, but I found it ok at 40 for a couple days when full of food and water at the beginning of a long trip. But 40 was definitely the max for me.

And yes, Dan will work with you to modify the fit until it's right for you. You just have to be able to communicate what you need and want.