Granite Gear Vapor Flash, STP

[Joe S]

STP has this pack at $99. Seems like a value, but it's also 3 lbs, which is about a pound heavier than other full price packs I'm looking at. It looks pretty bullet-proof, though. I may waiver and get one to take a look at it. I have a 22" torso, so I like that fact that the L would deal well with the length.

[Steven Paris]

Joe,

I've held on to my old Vapor Trail, just to have for friends or if I really need to carry more weight. This looks a lot like the VT with a really-overbuilt lid. However, that lid looks to be removable. Take that off and trim some of the excess webbing around the pack and you should wind up with a classic close-to-UL hauler. The VT's belt and frame sheet were excellent, so maybe this is the same.

Three issues with the VT/Granite Gear: (1) too much fabric on top to roll down, (2) no front mesh/stretch pocket (if that's something you like) and (3) seems like some people are between the sizes offered.

[Mike W]

The Vapor Flash is a much tougher pack than the Vapor Trail. I have a Vapor Trail and both my sons purchased the Flash and I much prefer the Flash as it's not made of silnylon. The Vapor Flash also fit me better than the Vapor Trail and has a few more features.

There was a YouTube video around a year or two ago that showed a guy dragging a bunch of backpacks behind his vehicle to see if they would survive. The only pack to survive was the Flash. That video encouraged my sons to pick up the Vapor Flash packs because at the time they were both starving university students and wanted a pack that would last. They are still using their Vapor Flash packs and they have held up beautifully. If you can accept the weight, they are really nice packs.

[Author]

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