2000-ish c.i. pack for my wife?

It isn't UL, but it is light, it is cut for a woman, has a built in pack cover, has hydration, pockets and is well made….for under $60. And comes in a choice of colors.

What pack is it? The LLBean Celia. I used it on a 5 day trip last summer, though it is normally my full winter pack. It has handled being dragged thru mud, trees, snow and water.

Seriously, take a look at it online. It has a full suspension.
Does your wife get uncomfortable with packs over say, 15 lbs?

Three lbs isn't overkill if she can't take pack weight. Why? If the pack rides better, with a good suspension, that is what she will need. Going very UL for someone who cannot carry weight isn't good. The lack of suspension or a decent hipbelt will come back to haunt you. 3 lbs is ok. Really!

I'll take a look at the Celia. I'm hoping to cut another few pounds from her packweight just to lighten her packweight for 2 season gear loads simply so that she can hike further with less effort. Her current pack (Mountainsmith Muse, from the discontinued Mountainlight series), while a great pack, usually ends up half-empty during late spring-early fall. There's too much volume (unless her bag is unstuffed) and the suspension is overkill for the light loads shes carrying. She's no more uncomfortable than anyone most with carrying over 15lbs and has carried upwards of 30lbs on trips. She's worn my ULA Conduit so I know she'll be comfortable with a frameless pack, and when comparing both of our mainstay packs empty, I can see the glint of envy in her eyes when she picks up the Conduit : )

Edit: Sarah, I checked out the Celia. Price sure is nice, though its over a pound heavier than I'm shooting for. Does it have a hydration bladder sleeve and hose port?

How about a women's Golite Jam? It's 2800 but if you leave the bag uncompressed, it should fill nicely.

My wife used a Pinnacle when we're hauling my son and she absolutely loves it. The bonus is that it cinches down to nada.

The Gossamer Gear Miniposa is silnylon but I've had my Mariposa for 3 years now and it's still going strong. I have done some moderate (but careful) bushwacking with it and have also falled while wearing it several times. :-)

The ULA Amp is a good choice too- and not silnylon. http://www.ula-equipment.com/amp.htm

I love your approach by the way. On a couple of trips my wife carried only a Camelbak (a light Golite version) and I had the rest. She loved it!

Best of luck!

Yes it does have both a sleeve and port.

But I am going out on a limb here guys……unless she has physical limitations, why can't she carry her fair share? This really makes me want to pull my hair. Look, I know you guys all mean well, but here is the deal: Just because you lower her pack weight maybe 1-10 lbs, it isn't going to mean you are going to get 5-10 miles more a day out of your partner. I am not being mean, but realistic. You won't get that unless they want to hike farther. The truth is, be happy with what you have-that she goes with you. There are many people who can't get their wife or husband to even hike a mile with them!

I can hike the same distance be that I have 35 lbs or 15 lbs on my shoulders. The only difference is I hurt less with lower weights. Lighter packs are not always comfortable on a womans body-she needs to try them on, fully loaded.

Has she said that a lighter pack would help her? She needs to be involved as much as she can for this pack to work :-)

Please don't take what I said to be mean, but more as my thoughts. My hiking group is 2/3rds women, and not one of us has a pack donkey…and it bugs us to see women with pack donkeys as they lithely zip down the trail wearing a 5 lb pack. Maybe jealousy I suppose that they got one ;-)

Doug,

Now why didn't I think of the Jam2? That's going on the list. I am considering the Miniposa as well. Thanks for the suggestions.

As for the approach- that's exactly it. The lighter her pack, the more fun we have…and for us that's the whole point of backpacking with your partner. I've found this to be a great additional benefit of lightweight packing and camping. My gear is all so light at this point that my base weight isn't much different whether I'm going solo or she's accompanying me. I certainly don't sweat another 10 pounds (taking consumables into account) at the pace we hike when we're together.

Sarah,

First, thanks for the pack suggestion. And, I will certainly make sure whatever pack we choose is plenty comfortable for her. But as you know, trying on a Gossamer Gear or ULA pack, fully loaded, just isn't an option for most which is why I'm soliciting advice.

To address your other points, which are certainly valid, my wife certainly doesn't mind carrying next to nothing. I'm not just looking to get another few miles out of our hikes. I'm looking to make the overall experience more enjoyable for her. The same reason that this forum exisits- to lower weight of gear and increase performance and enjoyment on the trail- is the same reason I'm looking to carry a few extra pounds for her. We like to hike together, and the additional weight will slow me down a bit and give her a little more spring in her step at he end of the day. She certainly doesn't mind splitting the weight 50/50, and this is what we've done in most of our trips in the past but we're into trying a different approach. Actually, the idea came about on a recent trip, when she tweaked her ankle and we still had 5 miles or so to hike. I looked at her pack and thought, "I should have no problem carrying that thing if her ankle worsens." From there, the gears started turning and we discussed it further.

You sound like a competitive, tough woman…and I mean that as a compliment. I don't mean for my intentions to be an insult or slight to any woman or her capabilities. I'm merely trying to increase my wife's enjoyment and allow us to get more out of our hikes, together as a couple. And, if I qualify as a 'pack donkey' when I'm still carrying less than a 20 pound pack, then I guess I don't really mind that designation. I'd still be carrying a heckuva lot less than almost every other person we see on the trail : )

Thanks again for your input, its much appreciated. She will undoubtedly read this and if she agrees with your points, don't worry…she'll make sure I know it!

Hey Sarah, I am glad you piped up here, because my wife has let it be known she wants to get back out on the trail. She has always enjoyed backpacking and her doctor got all over her for sidelining herself due to arthritis pain. Your post is an attitude adjustment for me as well.

One of the best reasons for going light indeed. I have to agree with you on that one-I look at my son's gear and know that I could also carry it if needed (he'd have to have a broken leg for that to happen though!). I'd have to say that with going light, it does free you up to help out.

Ok, and I'll laugh over the 20 lb pack donkey. Most pack donkeys are lumbering under 40-70 lbs ;-)

John,
As for arthritis? Tell her exercise will help her :-) It is one of the best things you can do! I threw my back out very violently 3 years ago. (One reason why I pack light) and while yes, it does hurt in camp, when I walk I feel so good.
Well, that and I do carry prescription pain killers. But those are UL ;-)
I have been getting my MIL to hike more, and go to the gym. It has helped her a lot.

GoLite is the best thing you can do. I would suggest even a smaller pack for that weight as long as you are using your sleeping mat as a frame.

GoLite Dawn pack
41 litre capacity (medium)
Carry up to 20lbs
Weighs just 425g / 15 oz (medium)
(No Hydration bladder (use the mesh pocket?)

I bought this for my son for Scouts (day trips) and our UL weekend trips. GoLite discontinued it but it is still out there on clearance at a few spots. We paid a little under $60 for it. If you can find one of these it is worth it. It has two mesh water bottle pockets and one large mesh pocket in the back. My son can't usually find anything and hates packs. This one has changed his mind. Not bad for an 11 year old.

As far as how long it will last… I am not sure, he is pretty gentle on his stuff and takes his time with his gear. We will see…

"As far as how long it will last… I am not sure, he is pretty gentle on his stuff and takes his time with his gear. We will see…".

That's pretty darn good for a 11 year old!!! Must be due to excellent parenting. :)

I totally hear where you're coming from Sarah. And I've surely been a pack donkey for my wife Amy (albeit with a 25 pound pack). When she and I hike together, she doesn't mind it and neither do I- simply because it makes it more enjoyable for her and it makes our pace closer on the trail. She smiles more, can tackle my longer distances more easily, and the matched pace means more conversation. She's certainly a tough lady, having carried HUGE packs in Denali- we just find that it works out nicely for us if I carry a bit more. And she always decides…like I could force her to do ANYTHING! :-)

When she's cruising with friends, she always carries her own UL gear and with no problem.

When mountaineering (especially guiding), I often do the same thing- carry extra team gear (tent, rope, stove, etc.) to balance the team and to make the climb a bit faster. Whatever works and is cool between partners seems fine by me.

But very good advice- always have the partner involved in decision making. Self reliance for all!

Doug