pack recommendation please…

Does all that, except not sure about the weekender horizontally, certainly vertically. Matthew at EH can tell you for sure though.

Here is my review/search for a pack similar needs.

You may have to stalk and kill your own unicorn to obtain the raw materials for that one Billy. The first two are a pretty hard combo. Have you thought of having one built for you? Even then, I still think you are going to have to be pretty flexible in your definition of "comfortably" at 32 oz.

I have a Kalais, and it is my favorite pack right now, and no way would it carry 40 lbs in any stretch of my own definition for comfort. It is strictly an up to about 30 lbs in a pinch pack, IMO, as well as the makers and Will Rietveld's:

http://southwestultralight.blogspot.com/2012/03/first-impressions-elemental-horizons.html

The above said, and provided your gear is compact enough, it is perfect with a weekender vertical as mentioned. It absolutely does not do one horizontally. The pack is designed as if around a bear can from the beginning. The first pack I have ever had that felt that way to me. It always seem like you have to fit one in awkwardly somehow with just about every other pack of smallish volume. Since a very large fraction of my trip require a bear can, this is pretty major for me, especially when the can is such a huge portion of the total volume.

I think if you changed the carry line above to something like "carries 20 lbs comfortably and 30 lbs in a pinch" you might have a few existing options there.

Step out of the two pound limit and it's easy. UL packs aren't generally designed for 40 pound loads and I would say never comfortably. With the heavier pack, the other issues can be resolved too I think. The 40 pound load will shorten the life of UL packs too.

This is why people go UL, as you get into to the weight death spiral needing heavier packs and boots to manage the heavier load.

Study the UL expedition articles here and elsewhere. The 1000 mile Arctic trip comes to mind. Even then, comfort is a compromise. See http://packrafting.blogspot.com/2010/08/2006-arctic-1000-625-miles-in-24-days.html?m=1

Thanks Alex… I think I read on the EH web site that the Kalais does not fit a bear canister horizontal… but maybe they could do a custom, wider pack? I really don't like the narrow packs anyway as I am short and a narrow pack puts the weight too high to be stable on talus hopping.

Billy

Dale,
I understand. I actually want 30 – 35lb comfort, but specified 40 because I've found the pack makers specs typically push the advertised comfort range 5 or 10 lbs higher than what I find is comfortable with their packs… marketing perhaps… or just that different people mean something different by 'comfortable'.

thanks for your response,

Billy

A ULA Catalyst at 3 lbs would probably work for your whole list. It would be in no danger of shredding at 40 lbs and would be reasonably comfortable. My philosophy is once the total weight is over about 25-30 lbs I really stop carrying about the weight of the pack – a better supported heavier pack will feel like less less in those cases and that is what matters.

ULA Catalyst will do it. And I agree, once you start carrying more weight (I carry 30+ all the time) accept that a pack will be heavier if you want it to carry the weight comfortably.

The under 2 lbs plus comfortable at 40 lbs and doesn't slide off phantom hips is something that won't exist right now.

A Paradox Unaweep meets two of the three…the belt absolutely will not slip, it is comfortable at 40+ and capable to 100+, but in Cuben it's going to be in the 2.5-2.7 lb range.

Great responses… keep'em coming…
I'm getting an education on packs…

Billy

For me a pack is all about carrying weight on my hips. I slapped a GG Mariposa on a Luxury Lite frame. A weekender sits horizontal inside of the pack on the bottom lip of the frame, as if the frame were made for the can. Personally I prefer a can lower in the pack instead of up top where it unbalances everything. My set up is stable for talus if you cinch it down; otherwise you can loosen it up and actually get ventilation on your back. Super comfortable hip belt. 2.5 pounds.

Also Exped has just come out with a pack that has a light frame and a good looking hip belt; it seems comparable to the paradox pack. Don't know if it will carry a can horizontally.

I have tried the Circuit, Catalyst, Exped Lightning and HMG Porter as load carriers. Only the Porter has done the job well for me over 30 lb loads. The 2014 changes to the more aggressive belt has worked well for the line. The suspension is simply stiffer. In addition, you can have a frame sheet also added to that pack (in addition to the stays) as a custom option (the 4400 size comes standard with this).

This is, of course, apart from my Mchale.

; )

Maybe REI Flash 45?

I have not tried this one, but have done a few winter trips with the Flash 62 and it was surprisingly quite comfortable carrying about 28 lbs.

The nice thing about this one is that you can go to a store and try it on (if there is a store reasonably close to where you live).

The price is pretty good, about $130, and if you cut off some of the stuff you don't need, weight would likely be under 2 lbs.