Topic

Suggest me a pack

  • This topic is empty.
Viewing 4 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
PostedOct 19, 2012 at 9:16 pm

I am preparing for a month long section hike next year. I carry almost all of the group gear( food, cooking, tent, hydration) so I need a 50 liter(3000 cubic inch ) pack. I have used a GG Vapor Trail and when I had 6 days of food in it, I was miserable. This year I used an Acrteryx Axios 50 and was a lot more comfortable, but my pack now weighs 3.5 lbs. I need some sort of frame to help transfer the load to my hips. Because many of the smaller manufactures are mail order it is difficult to try them on and assess their merits. What is your favorite pack that meets these criteria and why? Thanks for your help.

Brian Johns BPL Member
PostedOct 19, 2012 at 9:19 pm

It's plenty big and very comfortable. A larger version of the gorilla for the most part. Read review if the 3012 model of both. Love mine. It's 27 oz. with a very useful sit light pad. Also recommend the Zpacks arc blast. Plenty of room there too and 14 oz.

Edit: to add it replaced my vapor trail and offered more room and greater comfort.

PostedOct 19, 2012 at 9:22 pm

3.5 lbs isn't bad if it's comfortable. Sometimes that's just the way it goes.

Smaller manufactures have great customer service. ULA, Gossamer Gear, Six Moon Designs, Hyperlight Mountain Gear all have an option for you. Order up and test it out at home or on a day hike.

PostedOct 19, 2012 at 11:12 pm

Can't say enough good things about my ULA Circuit. There are already plenty of rave reviews out there (and no negative ones that I can find…) so I don't think I need to go into too much detail. I'll just say that IMO it strikes a perfect balance between weight, comfort, convenience, and load carrying ability.

Great hip belt/straps, super handy hip belt pockets that I will never be able to live without now, well-designed side pockets that are easy to reach while hiking. It has a "suspension hoop" and also an optional aluminum stay that you can add if anticipating heavier loads. All these luxuries and it still weighs in at only ~2 pounds. This is on the heavy side of the UL pack scale, but IMO it's well worth it for what you gain in comfort, etc.

It's listed at ~69 liters total but this is a bit misleading. Only 39L in the main body but tons of room in outer pockets which I use to store my tent, rain gear, cooking stuff, water.

I don't have experience with the Catalyst, but I would think if you need more than 39L in the main body or plan on carrying more than 30 pounds regularly, the catalyst might be a better choice.

Viewing 4 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
Loading...