REI UL 45 pack

[Scott Downard]

I have eyeballed the REI UL 45 pack online for a while now. Has anybody looked at it or tried it on or own one that can give me comments on it?

[paul johnson]

before you decide, if you haven’t done so already, check out two other far lighter internal frame packs to see if they will meet your requirements:

1) Gossamer Gear Mariposa, (~16oz) and…
2) Six Moon Designs StarLite (28oz).

[Mark Verber]

Only tried this pack in the store. The rail that the shoulder harness is attached to put pressure on my back. Connecting the webbing of the shoulder straps together by running them through D-rings near the hip belt was strange and resulted in the pack bouncing more than I think it should. Otherwise it held up to 35lb comfortably. There are some innovative ideas in this pack, but I don’t recommend it. There are a number of packs which are more comfortable, lighter weight, use more durable materials, and hold more volume.

[kevin davidson]

It might be a better pack in the wimmins flavor– It
has a somewhat different geometry than the manly man’s/unisex version. My partner recently got one and she likes it pretty well. Superior to the old Kelty I/F that she’s been using for years. Vapor Trails and Golite Infinitys did not impress her, this fits to a T. The internal compression system is bizarre but functional.
The price was definitely right w/ a 20% dicount .
But we are talking about sub 25 lb. loads.

[Linda Alvarez]

I can’t say I tested this out much but I did try it on in the store and found it really uncomfortable–specifically the hipbelt and shoulder straps. They are very minimally padded, for one, and the shoulder strap just “pulled” wrong on me. For comparison I tried on a few other “commercial” packs with similar size/weights (sm Greggory Z-pack, GG ozone, sm Osprey Ariel ) (each loaded with 20-25 lbs of bean-bag weight) and it paled by comparison in comfort. I went with the Z-pack which in my size was similar in weight but was decidedly more comfortable. (I practically wanted to skip around the store it felt so nice). Backpack fit is incredibly personal, though, so your experience may very.

[Scott Downard]

Thanks guys. I have since been looking at the ULA P-2 and the Gossamer Gear Mariposa pack. I’m leaning heavily toward the Mariposa pack. Any comments on the Mariposa pack???

[paul johnson]

I don’t own a Mariposa. I use a GossamerGear G5. The two packs have some similarities & some differences. Note that I’m a big fan of GossamerGear – fantastic service & products.

Mariposa/G5 Similarities:
– The shoulder straps & hip belt can accept small, soft articles (gauze, bandages, socks, gloves, etc.) to be used for padding, or use the standard closed cell foam padding provided). I use items that I don’t need to unpack each night – e.g. soft medical supplies stored in ziplock sandwich bags.

Mariposa/G5 Differences:
– Mariposa = frame vs. G5 = frameless
– Lightweight mat’l. – The Mariposa’s fabric is slightly heavier & more robust than the G5. Neither pack has mat’l as robust as the SixMoonDesigns Starlite (has a dyneema rip/grid in the frabric). However, the GossamerGear packs are significantly lighter. You should at least take a look at the Starlite pack to see if it meets your needs better than the Mariposa. A BPL review said the Starlite was more comfortable at 35lbs than the Mariposa – not sure what wt. you are carrying.

If the Mariposa’s less robust fabric ‘ok’ for your purposes, i.e., mostly on-trail use & <35lbs, then the Mariposa might be a better choice.

just some thoughts. hope they help.

[Scott Downard]

How about differences between the Mariposa and the Starlite???

[paul johnson]

Don’t own the Starlite.

Clearly, the mat’ls are diff. The Starlite is made of a more robust fabric having a dyneema rip/grid, but the Starlite weighs ~12oz more (28oz vs. ~16oz including the internal stays, depending upon features you want with the Mariposa).

According to the BPL review, the Starlite carries 35lbs better than the Mariposa. If i recall correctly, 30lbs was considered a better max pack wt. for the Mariposa. Both packs were reviewed by BPL – you can find the review on this website. Also, notice that BPL staffer & writer Carol Crooker carried a Mariposa on her Canyon Trip. I’m sure she could sing its praises as well as its limitations. You might try to raise her via the forums or email.

Both use external pad pockets, though the Starlite’s might handle more diff types of pads than the Mariposa since the Starlite’s pad pocket closes with a zipper (i think it’s a zipper). My G5 has the same type of pad pocket as the Mariposa. It works fine for certain types of pads. I use a sectioned closed cell foam pad. Pay particular attention to the descriptions of each pack (i.e. both Starlite & Mariposa) in this regard as both packs might force you to change the type of pad you use.

Having the pad pocket on the outside saves a lot of volume inside the pack that can be used instead for storing gear. This has both advantages & disadvantages. Adv: you can store more food at the start of the trip w/o having to use as much of the extension collar – this gives you more control over pack loading & the pack’s effect on your CG (center-of-gravity). DisAdv: compressing smaller loads since the pad is no longer occupying pack volume. that being said, one could always place the pad inside the pack to form a virtual frame when the pack loads are occupying a small volume and compression of the small load is more difficult.

Having an ext. pad pocket also makes it easy to have a foam pad to sit on during rest stops – you don’t need to carry a “trail seat” of sorts or unload your pack to get to your pad.

My pref. would be to lean towards the Mariposa to save some wt., esp. since I almost never carry even 30 lbs, even when loaded with food & water. Nearly all of my treks are shorter duration due to time constraints. My total pack wt with 2L of water & 5 days food, 1.5lb/day, is a tad over 19.5lbs (no bear canister req’d where i hike) – hence my use of the G5 frameless pack instead of the Mariposa. Your requirements might differ though & so the Starlite might be a better choice.

hope this info helps some.

[Scott Downard]

this does help me out. On my last trip of 4 days/3 nights, my total pack weight at the start of the trip, including food and 2L of water, was just over 32 pounds. However, my pack weighs in at 4 pounds, 13 ounces. This was not carrying a bear canister, just an Ursack.

I carry an POE Insulmat as my sleep pad. I am unable to sleep on even a Thermarest as my back gets sore from laying on these. The Insulmat is 2.5 inches thick. I would be using a Gossamer Gear 2 section sit pad or the 6 section Z-Lite from Gossamer Gear. I love the idea of having the sit pad in a convenient place. I really want to drop pack weight, but am concerned with being uncomfortable. I am reducing my pack weight a little bit at a time. I use a Montbel Down Hugger #2 (under 2 pounds) and a TarpTent Virga2. The next big item to reduce my weight is the pack.

Thanks,

Scott

[paul johnson]

not sure of wt of your insulmat pad.

would combining a lighter weight self-inflator (e.g., a new POE torso length self-inflator or a BMW/BPL TorsoLite pad w/a Z-Lite (or better yet a lighter, more robust GossamerGear NightLight pad – i use one) be lighter & still retain the req’d comfort? don’t know. you might check it out. figure ~15oz for torso length self-inflating pad AND a torso length NightLightPad. Maybe you could just go with the self-inflator? You can inflate the self-inflater after putting it in the pad pocket. Easier to do this with the Starlite than the Mariposa.

[Scott Downard]

My Insulmat Max Thermo is 23 oz. I wouldn’t be using this in the pad pocket. I’m looking at using a Z-Lite or Nightlite pad as a sit pad…

[Carol Crooker]

Scott,
I have the Mariposa and an older version of the Starlite (the Moonlite). Both are reviewed on BPL and BGT. The Moonlite was my favorite heavier base weight pack till I tried the Mariposa. Adv of Mariposa: lighter weight (a big deal to me), carries small loads very well since the pack volume can be reduced by lacing the back bungee cord through the guides at the seam with the back panel.
Adv of SMD pack: more robust fabric. If you keep your total pack weight under 30, either pack should work for you, assuming they both fit you. Which works better will depend on how careful you are with your gear and the conditions you hike in.

[Scott Downard]

Thank you Carol,

I have been emailing and talking with Glen at Gossamer Gear for a few days now. I can upgrade the Mariposa from 1.1 oz silnylon to 2.2 oz ripstop. My main concern is abrasion resistance. I can also get it in the Xpac material for only a 1 oz increase in weight because they can replace some of the oxford in the pack.

Your input, Carol, had helped make up my mind… the Mariposa, but with upgraded material.

Scott

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