GoLite Jam-Race-Dawn??

[Duncan Bell]

Hi all,

I’m concentrated at the moment on peak bagging, usually long days up and down, light and fast but for higher peaks a bivvy half way up is required. So think basic Ryan 3 day 3 season kit list.

I’m tempted by the Jam, except for the lack of top flap and relatively poor shoulder strap comfort. I’m very tempted by the dawn (400g! =) except for the draw string top closure. And I’m tempted by the race in every aspect except the lack of side compression straps (for the one day wonders) and lack of pole fixation when climbing (with hands).

Anyone have any of these and can offer me insider knowledge, or any advice on which to choose? I would be very grateful indeed. Maybe you can help me get over my “draw sting top” phobia?

Kind Regards,
Duncan

[jacob thompson]

Hi Duncan,

I too have drawstring phobia. Just doesnt seem right. I’m a huge fan of rolltop though (seriously what else is left though). Anyway I just remembered seeing this lid on the Granite Gear site. I’m not 100% sure if it is compatible but it’s worth a look. I myself would go for the dawn simply because it is light enough to carry on to other hikes. Let me know what you think.

[Glenn Roberts]

I got Granite Gear’s Lid to add to my Vapor Trail; it’s well-made, light, and convenient – and I find that I rarely take it, for no particular reason except that it somehow takes away from the “clean” profile of the lidless pack. You can’t keep much in it – it’s a flat envelope rather than a box.

It also has one minor design flaw. The “back” attaches to the load lifter tabs of your pack (would have to be sewn on if your pack doesn’t have lifters.) The front has a single loop of webbing with a buckle; the idea is that you thread this around a compression strap (again, a problem if your pack doesn’t have a compression system.) However, this means that to open the pack, you have to unthread this strap, not just unclip it. My solution was to cut it loose from the Lid, and sew a small loop in the non-buckle end. Fix the loop around the compression strap, and the Lid now comes loose when you undo the buckle – no need to unthread the whole strap.

Like I say, I like it and have used it a couple of times – it worked fine. However, mostly I don’t use it from personal preference, not from any failing of the Lid.

[Adam McFarren]

I’ve had the Jam for about 7-8 months now. I bought it as a summit pack (needed 2 ice axe loops). I used it in Ecuador and thought it was near perfect. The drawstring opening isn’t a problem with the temps are below freezing and and we didn’t have any precip on the mountains anyway. Also, really easy to get in and out of the pack.

Shoulder straps weren’t an issue either while wearing several layers.

But, I’ve also used the pack for:

crag pack while rock climbing
day pack on 10-15 mile hikes
carry-on bag when flying
5 day hostel-to-hostel walk

I’ve found it to be a very versatile pack. It doesn’t do everything perfectly however. I wish I could could compress even more volume out of it for some day hikes. And the shoulderstraps/load transfer wasn’t ideal for that 5 day walk. On wet days, I make sure to either have everything waterproofed inside the bag, use a poncho over it, or a pack cover. But I really haven’t seen much water get in through the top.

Hope that helps,
-adam

[paul johnson]

I’m not sure what the specific “phobia” is with drawstrings, so my reply may “miss the mark”.

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Drawstring closure when extension collar is NOT fully extended:

I draw the closure tight & ROLL the extension collar just like a roll top, then take whatever compression webbing the pack has (many have an over-the-top compression strap) & loop it over the top & through the haul loop or ice axe loop (whichever direction makes more sense with your pack) & then either back over or tie it off there. I think if you tried it with your pack, you would come up with an appropriate sol’n. Works fine – nothing can get in (e.g. rain), or out (like small loose gear – which should be in a stuff sack anyways). The compression strap keeps the ext. collar rolled nicely

If this isn’t clear, please reply & I’ll try to ans. any questions you have. I’m trying to keep this post shorter than some of my others, so that I don’t bore anyone.

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Drawstring closure when extension collar IS fully extended:

draw it tight & wrap the cord around the closed opening once or twice & tie it off real tight. If it’s nearly full, but not totally full, b/f I “choke” the opening with the draw cord, I twist the fabric just below the opening 1 or 2 turns & then wrap the drawcord a couple of times around the twisted collar fabric & tie the draw cord real tight around the twisted fabric

Haven’t had anything but a few drops of rain get in if I’m not using a poncho that day & the ext. collar is fully extended & cannot be twisted b/f tying off – the drops that entered were during very heavy rain. Besides, I use silnylon stuff sacks & trash bags inside (or a Gossamer Gear packliner), so even if some water entered the pack nothing would get wet.

[Note: so that i don’t confuse anyone who has read some of my other posts, this post refers to a period of time b/f i purchased a GossamerGear G5.]
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Sorry if I didn’t understand the “phobia” & wasted everyone’s time with this post. Hope this info helps someone.

[Duncan Bell]

Jacob, Glenn,

Thanks for the info on the top lid, neat design, didn’t know it existed. May indeed opne up my options. Maybe I could run with lid for a while then take it off for half a day, gradually get comfortable with the draw top feeling!

My names Duncan, and I’m a drawaphobic! ;)

Adam,

Thanks for your insight, that’S quite some diverse use out of the Jam, I’m sure if it handles all that it’ll easily manage my peak bagging attempts.
Thanks for your thoughts, much appreciated.

Paul,
You understood perfectly. Your description does help to understand the feel for such a top closure. It really is totally a pschological thing I have, it has no bearing what so ever on the facts and mechanics of a draw string topped pack. I appreciate the time you took to detail how you handle your pack.

Thanks all. Anyone with a Race of Dawn out there?

Regards
Duncan

[paul johnson]

Duncan,

b/f converting to L/UL gear, i was very skeptical of both drawstring closures & roll-top closures. i was used to a top pocket on my traditional internal frame, top-loading packs.

first L/UL pack was a Gust. i was skeptical b/f ordering – got an ’03 on sale, very, very cheap, after the ’04s were out. so i took a chance. wasn’t sure i could do w/o a top pocket, especially with all of the rain.

now, i actually greatly prefer either drawstring or rolltop to the top pocket. i could go either way, but no more top pockets. there’s just something about it. simplicity? guess it’s just a personal thing. maybe i find the simplicity elegant? i even take the top pocket off of my GoLite Trek pack, leaving only the drawcord closure.

[paul johnson]

nice pack. also bought an earlier year’s model on sale for 60% off, or else i prob. would not have bought it since i have enough packs already.

used it a while ago, a couple of times for short treks – i.e weekends. too small for long treks (although Dr. J might disagree with me. in that case, not that you need me telling you this, go with Dr. J’s advice over mine).

drawcord top, so not sure if you will like it. again, you can cinch & roll if the pack is not fully loaded with gear.

shoulder straps were identical to the Jam’s shoulder straps, as i recall. that is, they were webbing w/o padding. seemed fine to me though – remember you’ll only have a 15-20lb total pack weight.

bungee compression is fair (thin bungee generally is NOT the best mat’l to use for compression, IMHO).

mesh pockets good.

silnylon can be a bit noisy cp. to heavier nylon with a spectra/dyneema rip/grid.

if you have other questions, i’ll dig the pack out & refresh my memory b/f i answer.

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