Paradox/SeekOutside Unaweep Pics

Eli, thanks so much for posting this. I'm envious now, I've been thinking about getting this exact bag as my winter/heavy load pack.

A few questions….

This seems to have answered one question – the "Ranger Green" looks like a fairly light shade, right? I wasn't too sure about the lighting in the other pics I've seen, but it looks pretty clear from your photos that it's a pale green. I generally prefer lighter shades to reflect sunlight.

If it's not too much trouble, any chance of a photo with the hydration bladder ("Talon") removed? From what I understand, it can be used without ANY of the several Talon options, correct? — does the cinching all work just the same without the Talon attached?

And do you know the weight without the Talon?

I was told that they don't tape seams on this bag. Do you plan to try to tape the seams yourself? How tricky does it look to try to do that?

Ralph

Ralph;

this video seems to suggest at the end that it can be used without talon. Makes sense to me.

Yup, I'm just not too clear how the cinch straps are configured with & without the Talon there. He says "I prefer to use the base Talon when I need to comparess a big load". But I'm not sure why… I'm guessing the configuration is that the ends of the side straps are either shortened and attached to each side of the Talon, or lengthened and attached to each other?

Incidentally, for those who aren'd aware – the video is the Paradox pack, not the Unaweep. The Paradox is more modular with separate pack & frame and more configurations. The Unaweep is a lighter version with the frame & pack integrated.

Thanks very much for posting these pictures- great to see more of this pack.

If you wouldn't mind, it would be great to see some close up shots of the load lifter attachment points. I'm curious if they have moved the attachment points per Philip and Dave's recommendation, as shown in Phillips picture in this post from your other Unaweep thread: http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=92072&skip_to_post=792605#792600

Some pics showing some of the details of the talon and it's construction would be greatly appreciated as well.

Also, like Ralph, I'm interested in the weight of the pack w/o the talon.

Thanks again!

Yeah, it can be used without a Talon, though as you might see from the pics I would not really recommend it. I just weighed my Hydration Talon and it comes in at 4.7oz. I think the regular Base Talon is an ounce less.

The reason I got the Hydration Talon was not only for the bladder holder, but because it has a buckle at the top, unlike the Base Talon. This keeps the Talon from riding low on the pack. You may be able to request it for the Base Talon though.

I think the pictures make the color of the pack lighter than it really is.

Not sure about the seaming, I probably should have requested that!

I think this is how then compression is supposed to work without a Talon. As you can see, the bottom of the back isn't compressed all that well.

This is another configuration. The problem with this is that the load sling just hangs from the bottom with no way to connect it to anything.

Thanks Eli, that's really helpful.

Now, we just need you to load it up with the claimed 100lb carry capacity and hike up a volcano!

Also, the pack itself without the Talon *should* be 2 pounds 8 oz according to Kevin at Paradox Packs, but I have not weighed it yet. The Talon is 4.7 (I thought it was lighter), so all together 2lbs 12.7oz.

@ Scott: Yeah, the LL straps are connected the same as they were in the other thread unfortunately. I asked if they could attach them like the other guy suggested, but he said it would void the return, and I didn't want to risk it. He did email me his thoughts on it though, but asked me not to share :P. Nothing too important, just basically a preference of a little play vs stiffness.

"If you wouldn't mind, it would be great to see some close up shots of the load lifter attachment points. I'm curious if they have moved the attachment points per Philip and Dave's recommendation, as shown in Phillips picture"

It doesn't appear so – it's still connected to the top of the black piece, not lower on the black piece per Philip's photo.

I don't think seam taping is available, even as an option.

According to the pictures on their website the base Talon does have the top buckle, has that changed?
http://store.seekoutside.com/base-talon/

"The problem with this is that the load sling just hangs from the bottom with no way to connect it to anything. "

Or you could run the straps for the load sling around the bottom compression strap (when not using a talon) and clip them together, since one is male and the other female. It wouldn't be pretty, but it would keep it from hanging down.

"According to the pictures on their website the base Talon does have the top buckle, has that changed?"

It has not, the base talon has a top buckle.

Here is some pics of the Talon. Let me know if I missed something.

Front

Back

Bladder Sleeve

Main Pocket (It's one single pocket)

"Here is some pics of the Talon. Let me know if I missed something."

The base talon, as you might expect, is the same as this one sans the mesh pocket.

Oh, I thought I read on a forum that the base talon didn't have it. In the pic on the website of the Unaweep 3900 it doesn't show it with a buckle, but it is probably an old pic.

One more thing, I didn't know that the shoulder harness was adjustable higher and lower before I ordered it, but it is. I don't think they mention it on their website. I should have figured though, since it only comes in one size :).

Hey Eli, great pics, thanks.

Since I'm sure your parents don't read these threads, please allow me – clean up your room young man!

@ Doug: Haha, I was waiting for someone to point that out.

You've been incredibly helpful Eli, thanks.

Can I ask one other question.. I like to put my Gatorade bottles into the side pockets. On my Zpacks Arc Blast, the tops of the side pockets slant forward, and it's easy just to reach back (whilst wearing the pack) to remove or insert a bottle. On my Exped Lightning 60, the side pockets don't slant, and they sit a bit higher, so it's almost impossible to access the side pockets whilst wearing the pack. I love the Exped otherwise, just this one annoyance. How about this pack?

many thanks
Ralph

Yer gonna dig it. Easy to mod too since you can pull the packbag off the frame. I seam sealed the exterior of the seams on the main bag with aquaseal and the inside of the seams on the talon. It makes for a pretty dry packrafting pack, and the talon is easy to access from the cockpit.

I was a bit tempted to get a cuben version 3900 for light applications, but I'm still trying to decide if I like cuben or not. It just seems to break down too easily.

I have no problems getting a bottle in or out of the bottle pockets when wearing the pack.

"On my Zpacks Arc Blast, the tops of the side pockets slant forward, and it's easy just to reach back (whilst wearing the pack) to remove or insert a bottle."

Ralph, take a look at the profile pics in Eli's original post and you'll get a very good idea of the side pockets. No slant.

Yup, I can see there's no slant. But it also a function of the height of the pocket, and the amount of "bulge" in the pocket design. Looking at the way the pack sits on Eli, it looks to me that he should be able to reach back quite easily, but hard to tell without trying it.

"but hard to tell without trying it."

Also a function of arm length, I think. Philip has no trouble reaching the bottles on his, I can't reach the bottles very comfortably, if at all, on mine, but that's true of most every pack I've ever owned. I have stubby arms.

@Ralph: The side pockets slant *very* slightly. With the pack as full as it is, I am unable to fit a 32oz Gatorade bottle in them. I could probably get the smaller ones in there though. There is absolutely no stretch to the pockets, they either fit or they don't. I thought they would be bigger. They are a little difficult to reach, but I usually put my bottles in the pockets upside-down, which makes them easier for me to put in at least.

I've never had a pack with pockets that I liked so I'm not really that surprised.

Maybe I have just short arms but I find inserting bottles into the pockets while wearing the pack to be fairly difficult. Removing them is easier. The pockets seem to be on the small side so you have to force the pocket wide open while inserting bottles (1 liter aquafina in my case).

In response to some comments about using the pack without a talon- I'm using the pack without a talon and it seems fine based on my limited testing.

fwiw the small side pockets are my only complaint so far, the design is brilliant and the pack carries weight really well.

It does carry very well, the belt is a revelation.

But what the heck, no haul loop?