First Lightweight Pack Purchase – which to buy?

"With 3 liters of water and 5 days of food my total pack weight will be right around 30lbs."

However, you stated that you plan on some 7+ day trips, so you may need to adjust your maximum weight capacity. Also, we don't know what volume capacity you need. Sometimes those two factors are related, and sometimes they aren't.

–B.G.–

"With 3 liters of water"

Why would you ever carry 3 liters of water? Are you hiking in the desert?

You are right that my max weight by increase a little bit over 30lbs. However, that weight was for a solo trip and on any of these longer trips I will not be alone so I will be able to shed some weight there. I think my max weight would be 35lbs but usually right under 30lbs. Most of my trips will be extended weekend trips as I spend the week in a cubicle..

Here is my gear list so hopefully this helps with what volume I need. Also, I can fit everything in a Gorilla but its a tight squeeze.

WM Highlite
Neoair Xlite
SnowPeak Lite Max
Snowpeak Titaninum 1.4L
Aqua Mira (iodine)
Sawyer Squeeze Filter
Cocoon pillow
Doube Rainbow
10 Tent Stakes
Spices & Materials
Utensil
Plate
Mug
Mini Leatherman
First Aide Kit w Pills
First Aide Liquid Kit
Advair
Toilet Paper
REI Small Towel X 1
Smoking Gear
Inhaler
Head Lamp
Small Backup Flash Lite
Extra Batteries
Base Layer Bottom – Wool
Base Layer Top – Black
Windshirt
Down Jacket I Want
Marmot S Mica Rain Jacket
1 Pair Underwear
Poncho
2 Pair Socks
Beanie
North Face Apex Gloves
Bandana
Camp Shoes
Fire Kit
50 ft parachute rope
WakaWaka Power
WakaWaka WP Case
Compass

This list totals 12.26lbs approx. I made my gear list in Excel and cant figure out a good way to attach it or copy and paste it here so I just pasted in each item. Thank you !

"I am concerned the Gorilla and the Ohm may be too small. With 3 liters of water and 5 days of food my total pack weight will be right around 30lbs. But I think the Mariposa and Circuit would be overkill for capacity wise."

The curcuit is only 240 cubic inches larger than the ohm.

Which would you rather have, a backpack that is 10% too large, or one that is 10% too small?

Also, it appears that you do not operate in bear country since there is no bear canister on your list. A bear canister can be a big lump for a backpack to swallow in case you ever need to go there.

–B.G.–

Good point. I may need to use a bear canister at times when in RMNP. But I think all of these packs can fit a bear canister other than the Gorilla right? Most of my trips I will not need a bear canister but I definitely may for some trips. Most of my friends I go on trips with still use a more traditional pack so we could always work something out there too. I will be primarily hiking in the Rockies as well.

And I also think over the next year or two I will only continue to go lighter. This will of course depend on how my first lightweight trip goes this spring.

And I think I would rather have a pack that is 10% to large rather than 10% to small.

Thank you

I'm probably a bad one to respond, but since I just went through this not long ago, I'll just say that I went with the Circuit over the Ohm mostly because of the top closure systems.

Seems to me that you'd be filling up a Circuit pretty good with full food, especially if you're humping that much water. I'd go with a packliner and as your volume decreases, loose pack your bag, clothing, etc, and let them expand to fill any volume cavities from less food. It's better for the bag anyway.

Another method is to get a large cardboard box and pack ALL your gear, including maximum expected food, in it, then measure LxWxH of the space filled in the box, and calculate how many square inches you'll need.

If the Gorilla was a squeeze, then it sounds like your question is already answered. Size up. Unless you plan on leaving the "Light" world and going ULTRALight in the near future. My Circuit swallows everything I use now and looks empty, so I'm going with a Murmur for 3-4 days, but hope to get some vacation time and use my Circuit for big food loads.

Edit: In the end, you'll probably want a larger pack for longer trips, and a smaller one for shorter trips. A medium pack just seems to be good for neither in my novice opinion. Winter gear also plays into things, but sounds like you have a pretty static list.

"Gorilla was a squeeze…"

I have a GG Gorilla.
It is not suitable for the volume of the items you listed, nor is it comfortable with a load exceeding 25-26 lbs.

The other 3 packs you are considering have 20% to 30% more volume than the Gorilla.
As others already suggested, size up, and if you would often carry 30-35 lbs the Circuit would suit you best.

Nearly all normal backpacks can handle some form of a bear canister, but there are several different sizes of bear canisters. The smallest ones are about 7 inches in diameter. The biggest ones are about 9 inches in diameter. I realize that the food goes in the bear canister, and then the bear canister goes into the backpack. However, packing inefficiencies and dead air space come to play, so the bear canister ends up being kind of an awkward lump for many backpacks.

Ask your buddies what the diameter is on their bear canisters. Then, assuming that you might have one the same size, inquire to the backpack manufacturer if their particular model of backpack can handle that size. Nearly always, they will say "no problem." Note that there are several different ways of carrying a bear canister referring to the axis of the bear canister cylinder. One is inside-axis vertical. One is inside, axis left to right. One is inside, axis front to back. One is outside on top (which throws your center of gravity off). Some backpacks will handle it only one way.

–B.G.–

Have you considered thinning out your gear list a bit? You may have enough room if you pare down a few extraneous items. I mean, we're all different, and I'm no crazy-ULer, but do you need both a poncho AND a rain jacket? Or camp shoes? The WakaWaka? So much rope?

Of course, that's not going to buy an immense amount of room, but it could help.

"Smoking Gear
Inhaler"

Classic! Haha, reminds me of a couple of my friends.

Anyways, just try on packs till you find one that fits your needs. Go to a local outfitter or browse an online marketplace. All makers worth your time will have an easy return policy, so order any that intrigue you and return if needed. Yes, you'll need to invest a bit in the form of shipping, but it's money well spent. Good luck.

Glenn64 Said: Another method is to get a large cardboard box and pack ALL your gear, including maximum expected food, in it, then measure LxWxH of the space filled in the box, and calculate how many square inches you'll need.

This.

An alternate method for measuring food space (note that this is specific to freeze-dried and high-calorie RTE foods @ 3,000 calories a day; adjust up or down as needed) is to assume ~1.5 L/90 cubic inches per person per day. So, on a 7-day, no-resupply trip for one person, that works out to be ~10.5 L/630 cubic inches of food.

Also, the best pack for you is going to be the one that fits your body and gear best. Try them on! And do so with your whole loadout for your longest trip and most water carried. Stuff that irritates you a little bit after ten minutes is really going to suck after ten hours on trail.

Note that this advice may require a good return policy; remember to crank that into your pack choice.

Hope it helps!

"My base pack weight is now just under 15lbs. I could drop it a few more pounds but I like having a few luxury items and I don't plan to do a thru hike anytime soon. I do plan to do some longer 7+ day, 50+ mile trips though. "

What pack are you using now? It's a mistake to use a truly UL pack unless you are committed to a low base weight; otherwise, you will be more comfortable with a pack that has more weight capacity. You will be carrying yet more weight, which is sad, but that's how it works: you drink all the UL Kool Aid, or pay the price in compounded weight. More goodies= heavier pack, heavier shoes, walk slower, don't go as far, wheeze more.

If you are interested in getting the weight down you can post your list in the gear list forum and ask for suggestions. I see a number of items on your list that could be tweaked.

Thank you for all of the advice and suggestions–I really appreciate it.

As far as my gear list goes I know that I can lighten it even further. I bring the WakaWaka Power to recharge my Galaxy S4. It is a solar charger and also a light that I got through a kickstarter project. I use my phone for a camera, journal, reading, first aide, and most importantly GPS. I use Backcountry Navigator Pro and it worked really well for me last year. On airplane mode my phone will still have ~30% battery after a full day. The WakaWaka charges me back up to 100% (will charge a dead battery to about 75%). Does anyone have any thoughts on Backcountry Navigator Pro?

I will post my gear list in the gear list forum to get some feedback on ideas as to how I can lighten my pack a little further. I think I am leaning towards the Circuit or the Zpacks Arc Blast 60 liter.

What are your thoughts on the new zpacks bag? At 60 liters I think that should be enough space for my gear–especially if I can lighten it up a little bit. I know its a little more money but once I return my Gregory Baltoro 65 liter I will have $330.00 to spend which should cover most of the arc blast pack.

Thank you

Tony, you have two ways you can do this.

First would be to buy on the small/light size secure in your commitment to keep growing your skills and thinning your load. If this is the case, the Gorilla would be an excellent choice. If sized properly, it does 35 pounds no problem, and is structurally strong enough and tolerable for half days well above that.

On the other hand, if you think thinning the fat from your current list is unlikely, a pack with a bit more size and especially beef is a wise idea. The Circuit (or Catalyst) and the Granite Gear Blaze AC 60 would be good choices here. The Blaze can be had at REI, and is thus a good conservative choice.

?exos 58

v nice pack

but I have never used the circuit or the blast so cannot compare directly

Having owned or tried all the packs listed here – and having used an Arc Blast for a PCT thru-hike and a ULA Circuit for about 400 miles of trails, and a GG Gorilla for 173 miles of the Vermont Long Trail, I'd say unless you're going to be getting UNDER 30 lbs on a consistant basis — get the Circuit.

The Arc Blast makes a 25 lb load feel like a 15 lb load, but once it goes near or above 30 lbs I find it is just not that comfortable at all. The Gorilla is a great bag, but the ULA Circuit is still my hands-down overall top performing backpack that I've ever tried. A good solid bag and great resale value when you finally do lighten your kit more and are ready for the Arc Blast.
In order – here are photos of a Gorilla with my Long Trail gear, a ULA Circuit during a snowy finish to the Pacific Crest Trail, and my original 52L 1st generation Arc Blast – used for about 2,400 miles on the PCT.

Thank you Seth. I think I am going to just go ahead and get two packs. One for weekend trips and one for longer trips or group trips where I want to bring more luxury items. I will start with the Circuit and then once I can save up some more cash I will get something like the gorilla. Thank you very much!

Tony, before you order that Circuit make sure you check out the Elemental Horizons Kalais. Very well designed, carries 35# plus comfortably, great compression when the load gets small. A little smaller than the Circuit and a big larger than the Gorilla.

I went through this process last year and arrived at the Kalais as the best pack for me.

15 pounds I'd pretty heavy around here, I think you should be good with a frame.

Since you are asking I am a huge fan of supporting cottage companies and letting small children sleep…

Zpacks arc, mld has a few, smd is making new packs soon. I love my small zpacks zero with blue ccf as a frame, it works great. Make sure to get a long torso height, better longer than too short.

Edit: nice list, if you want huge quick weight savings a shelter swap and smaller cookpot will probably put you in the ultralight category!

Second for the Kalais. Elemental Horizons packs are most excellent. No problems at 30 + pounds and it is almost anti gravity at 15! Weighs around 27 ounces.

Something else to keep in mind, is if you're carrying a shelter for two, then share the load. No reason for you to carry the shelter weight of your buddy, unless you're just being really nice. They can carry the pole, stakes, groundcloth, while you carry the tent. It won't help you going solo, but then that's where that solo tent would come in.

Edit: guess I should've posted that in your "gear list" thread. Got the two mixed up. :)

Another vote for the Kalais. Excellent and versatile pack.

I used a Kalais last summer on the JMT. It is one of the most comfortable packs I have carried and I have used a lot of packs. Or, get the Aquilo: same great suspension, more volume and a few ounces heavier. The Kalais is OK with a full size bear can but the Aquilo is better. I have both packs and recommend both. If I had to choose only one though, it would be the Aquilo because of the extra volume.