Osprey Volt 75

What exactly are you asking about? If you are asking how the Volt compares to the old Argon I'm afraid not very well. The old Argon had a nice stiff frame with a combination of an aluminium hollow wire/rod frame and aluminium stays. Overkill, yes, but damn stiff and great load transfer to a fat foam hipbelt. The new Ospreys for some reason have done away with the stays and just have a not-terribly-stiff aluminium frame now. The Volt has the least substantial frame and least padded harness of the larger Osprey packs. That's not to say the Volt doesn't carry loads fairly well, but for the weight I think there are much better alternatives.

If you want a hauler for that volume/weight I would look at the Crux AK70. I have the AK47-X and it is awesome. Super stiff frame and the 70 has an extra stay and beefier hipbelt for 1600g.

Thanks for the reply. Yeah I was just wondering which pack should I buy. I've heard compliments of the Crux AK packs, and it looks interesting but doesn't seem to have hipbelt pockets or easily accesible side pockets. Plus its more pricey. I will certainly keep it in mind though.

But waterproof and basically indestructible. But yes, not cheap and no frills. I am going to add some aftermarket (or MYOG) hip belt pockets to my AK47.

Is this a volume issue or a carrying ability issue? Does the AC60 not work? Why is that?

Volume, weight and feature issue. The winter stuff is just too much. Thermoses take space, sleeping bag takes space, food takes space and its hard to put a sleeping pad outside the pack. I'm not going to buy $400 sleeping bag just for winter either. I also doubt Crown, even with my modified aluminium stays would be as comfortable with 44 lbs load. I also would like to have easier access to stuff, and the thin strap cords are not very durable.

I'm very satisfied with Crown otherwise as a summer pack. I have used it a lot and its a great pack. Shame that GG does not make really bigger packs although I doubt it would be possible to shave much off the Volt weight and have decent padding.

My guess is Osprey hit a nice sweet spot with this new pack on the market and does not have proper competitors yet but will have next year.

I was also considering the ULA catalyst.

Jeremy, yeah waterproofing is very nice. With osprey I need extra rain cover.

That is my mistake – I saw AC60 not VC60.

That's a little bit heavy (and big) for the Blaze. I have an AC60. The foam starts to bunch at the top (where the straps meet the frame) with loads that heavy and it becomes uncomfortable on the shoulders. Just not enough stiffness in the foam panel. The hipbelt is amazing for a pack this light though. If you like pockets, this isn't really a great pack for you either. Just a bag with straps and great load distribution. That's what makes it my favorite pack though. But, if you spent the dough on a UL sleeping bag, and went a uber minimalist on a few things (down insulation layers, freeze dried gruel, etc.), you could make it work. ;-)

Alternatively, you could do what I do on my longer excursions. Take a son along and make him sherpa the lion's share of the food. Payback for when he was younger and I carried just about everything that we needed.

Noone's mentioned HMG, so I will: http://www.hyperlitemountaingear.com/packs/4400-series/4400-porter.html

4400cu in = 72L

Hip belt pockets, waterproof, dual stays. Haven't used one myself but reports are positive.

Hehe JJ, I don't think that is possible for me. Sometimes I have carry the girls' stuff. Maybe I'll have a son one day to do that for me!

The HMG porter is an option too, aswell as Black Diamond Mission 75.

I could rent you one sometime. The payback on having your own is non-existent these days. All money going out… never any coming back. In the end, if you're lucky, they come to visit you at the nursing home once a year?

Suggestion – for your winter trips, unless you're going to be constantly on off-camber steep terrain, consider using a pulk. In the winter I use a very light pack and all my bulky or heavy stuff goes in the pulk behind me. And it doubles for in-camp fun if there's a hill around.

"The HMG porter is an option too, aswell as Black Diamond Mission 75."

Actually I do have a Mission 75 as well. Not bad but it suffers from the same frame flex as the Ospreys.

Dena, actually I had a sledge last time but there are cons and pros of it compared to backpack. Sledge is easier to pull, carries more weight but is painful to go uphill (esp. with low friction skis), and generally goes in different speed than the rest of the group. Rest starts immediately though and flat ground is easy. However if there is a lot of soft snow and even a bit of elevation change, it can be painful to move forward. Last time I just jumped out of the skis and pulled the sledge with my hands while plowing in balls-deep snow (I wish I had snowshoes). It is fun to go downhill when you have shafts to push you forward. Backpack makes you fall down easier but is easier on triceps. Also, having a sledge makes you mule most of the common stuff.

Jeremy, I'm not sure if I'm UL enough to go with cuben fiber pack yet. Also I'd have to DIY some of the features I needed. However I have also heard lots of compliments of HMG packs in terms of performance-to-weight ratio.

Maybe I'll modify extra stiffness to the Osprey pack with HDPE sheet or something.

JJ, Heh, I get what you mean. p.s. Avoid nursing home at all costs, I have seen what it does to people.