3 Day Pack recmmendations

My baseweight is 6.7kg. I fit that and 3 days 2 nights of food into my ULA Circuit and have room to fit another 7 days of food in there (at least). It is 1.1kg (with all optional attachments), carries really well and am utmostly wrapped with it. I did a LOT of searching and wanted a framed pack that was fairly light and found barely a negative comment about the ULA packs. I would not pass up a ULA pack from my shortlist.

Daniel,

I would look at the Mountain Laurel Design Packs.

http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com/shop/index.php?cPath=25

Price wise, they are similar, so you have to decide if you want to buy a pack just for three day trips or a larger one that you can use for short and long trips.

The Exodus is big enough for 7 day plus trips….my friend, Jeremy, took it on the JMT for 15 days last year.

The Phophet is smaller….3 oz lighter and $5 cheaper.

The Burn is the smallest, but would likely require that you are solidly UL sub 10 lbs base weight to get everything you want into it.

When my old Golite Jam2 needs to be replaced, I am going with the Exodus.

I believe the Exodus has compression clips at the bottom of it that can help reduce the volume of the pack.

If you are looking for crazy light, look at Zpacks…cuben packs of all volumes and Joe will customize your pack anyway you want….so I am told.

Gossamer Gear has some good offerings too.

Hope this helps.

-Tony

-Tony

Currently I make use of a GoLite Pinnacle (~70L, yet relatively light after some removal of excess cords/webbing), and would recommend a GoLite pack of similar dimensions– very locatable, relatively cheap, and relatively durable. Right now all new GoLite stuff is on backorder, so you might be able to secure a used 50L/70L Jam from BPL's Gear Swap.

I'm planning to replace the Pinnacle this year. If you'd like to explore taking it off my hands, send me a PM; I'd be happy to e-talk with you.

Used the ULA Circuit on my 7 day Sierra High Route trip and it performed wonderfully. Only problem I noticed was some small fraying on the pack but otherwise very comfortable for the weight I carried. I'll have to look into MLD, thanks.

Small size Zero with a 3-4 inch higher collar (same size as blast 22) add a mesh front pocket and water bottle pockets, and you've got a great and light pack (4-7 oz. depending on the options) for three days, much more even. I paid something like $134 for mine and cannot say enough good things about it. Joe even added a few things on for free that I'd mentioned but planned to leave out or do later. Superb experience. super pack.

For most ultra light packing, including trips up to two weeks in length, I use a Gossamer Gear Murmur.

Many fault the "frameless" pack design, bit I think that with a closed cell foam pad, layered with a bit of duct tape, this is not a valid concern. The pad helps carrying up to 25 pounds which is about 5 pounds over the recommended load.

However, after 45 days out with it, there are a couple minor problems. The only more serious problem was the shoulder harness straps, being lighter weight nylon, tends to slip in the buckles. I sent a note to GG and expect this will be addressed shortly. I just replaced it with a heavier guage strap, but not something you can do on the trail. I had 16 pounds of food and a 9 pound base weight for 25 pounds on a couple occasions and might have damaged the buckles. Still, I would have expected them to hold…

Overall it is a nice, low volume pack. Most hikers I passed assume I am day hiking, not tripping. One comment was I was carrying a "glorified purse" on my last two week trip. I am sure you can fit everything you need in it if I can.

The other packs mentioned are nice, too. They might be more suitable, now that the weather is colder.

I also am using a Zpacks Zero in small made 3"longer, w/back, side pockets, top and bottom straps.Mine is the Cuben w/nylon reinforced hybrid weighs 8 ounces.. I used this pack w/baseweight of 9.5 lbs.including bearcan at recent CA Sierra trip, 9 days 8 nights w/a resupply. W/food n water never carried more than 18 pounds.. Over 18-20 pounds would use a framed pack, which for me is an older ULA Circuit.. For me the circuit is huge, have carried 27-28 lbs. comfortably..