SMD Flight 40 torso size & experiences?

Guess not that many.
When I was looking at them I had the feeling that the 30 is styled more like a race pack – with the belt hugging you slightly below your rib cage to keep everything nice and close and compact to prevent bouncing.

I had the feeling the 40 to be sized more like a normal pack, with the belt resting and providing support on your hips.

I have no way of really knowing this, which is why I didn't reply before – but thought this was so because of the comments on the 30's sizing being so big that almost everyone could get by with a small/medium.

If I were you I would just try and mail John and the people at Six Moon Designs and ask them (and then post your findings here) :).

I did just that! I emailed SMD a few days ago and Ron got back to me with this:

"The 30 is a bit unique as it's used for both hiking and running. Runners generally want the pack to ride much higher on their back so as to not interfere with waist movement. Hikers don't have that problem. So runners will often use the smaller pack even if they have longer torsos.

If you're hiking, the normal pack sizing measurements apply."

I ordered a flight 30 and 40 to try out so will be able to share my thoughts on the 40 when it arrives. I ordered a small / medium of the 30 and a medium / large of the 40. This was partially due to John's review of the 30 as well as SMD's advice towards sizing for running. Hopefully it works out.

Very nice. Reply makes sense.
Will be great to see the differences in size and carry side by side.

Yeah I'm really looking forward to trying these packs out. I've been eyeing them since initial release as I'm a bit fond of vest type harnesses. I went ahead and ordered both as like you said, it will be good to be able to compare carry side by side. I hope they work out as I'd love to be settled on my search for a decent carrying low and mid volume pack.

Edit:

In case you haven't read it yet, SMD posted a nice review of the flight 40 on their website.

https://www.sixmoondesigns.com/smdnews/168-trip-report-andrew-stevens-far-packs-the-john-muir-trai.html

Over on SUL forums Mike M recently got a different vest harness. It's a lighter smaller pack, more set up for running, but if you are ever interested check out the Montane Dragon 20. I was curious about the Flight 30 and 40 but right now I can't get them here, and they come too close to my regular daypack. I wanted something smaller. I'm sure they are a great light general pack/bigger running pack.

(see bottom of thread: http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=92950&disable_pagination=1)

Funny you mention the Dragon as I have that on the way as well. It will be a pack testing festival at my house! Hopefully they arrive by the end of the week so I can take the winner out to the mountains for the 3 day weekend.

Haha, nice. Guess we're looking for similar things then..
You should definitely take some quicks photos comparing the three side by side.
Apart from official info and photos there is very little info on, well, each of them.

(if you have time/interest of course).

Sorry, just saw this post.

I love how the Flight 40 carries a load on your hips and fits on your shoulders.
This packs carrying ability is great, in fact almost perfect for up to 25 pounds.

So on with the good.

Amazing hipbelt
Love the hipbelt pockets
Love the way the vest disperses weight around your chest.
Very easy to dial in just right, (especially with 15-20 pounds).
Vest pockets/ stowage is good enough
Vest fit is better than almost every running vest I have tried.
Pack spine woks well.
Harness again works very well especially with 15-20 pound loads

Then there are just some other fetchers that I hate

The side bottle pockets are completely worthless
The pack is just a sack.
While the worthless bottle pockets take up too much room, it leaves no room for any external pockets (other than the vest and hipbelt.
I DO NOT LIKE THIS…
Even the internal stash pocket has a hard time fitting a cell phone in it.
That's just a crapy thing as far as pack design goes.

So the dislikes take nothing away from how the pack works, it's still a dang fine pack.
Even the design of the pack is great.
It just "big time" lacks in the separate fetchers department.

I do find that after the pack is loaded up too heavy, the spine kinks in the center and will sag a little.
I also have the Med/Large and think that if I was 6'2" it wouldn't fit length wise. It barley fits me at 5'11".
It will seem to fit a larger person better than it does me.
If I was 190 pounds it would fit even better.

Overall you have to separate this pack into 2 scoring sets.
Carrying – 9.5 / 10
Separate fetchers – 2 / 10

Doesn't make the pack 5.75 but it needs a 2.0 version with better exterior storage on the back, sides and inside for this to be a perfect vest style pack.

Thanks – awesome to see some user feedback. The good and the not so good.

One of the things I like so much about my Ohm 2.0 is how nice it is living out of that pack. Really hardly have to open your pack during the day because of the superb hip belt pockets and side pockets and mesh pocket together.

Still – looks like the Fusion 40s ride is very nice and stable.
Again, thanks.

Currently I am using the Flight 40 M/L hiking the PCT. Holds all I need and fits me so well I often forget to put the waist belt on. With food and water it's carrying 25 lbs comfortably. I really like the front vest pockets, left holds my InReach and maps, right holds my camera and wipes. The hip bags are just right for snacks and small items like my head lamp and bug net and Steripen. The back stretch side pockets combined with the zigzag compression straps hold my BA Fly Creek UL 1 , on one side and my zlite pad and umbrella on the other side. My jacket goes under the bungie on the back in the middle or if my rain fly is wet that goes there for quick drying over a bush during breaks. The pack is not taped or sealed on the seams (my only nit pick), and I'm using the biggest zPacks dry bag as a pack liner as it fits perfectly. I am by no means a fast packer or runner, and am in fact a slow hiker but I like how this pack rides and self adjusts once you get going. It's easy to loosen up or tighten while on with all the straps and the load lifters when tightened make the pack hug your back nicely for tricky going like stream crossings or traversing scree. I'm five foot ten and 175 pounds.

I guess if you're a fan of a hydration bladder and only store stuff in the side pockets, then this vest would be the perfect vest.

If any one is looking for more info on the Flight 40, Will Rietveld has posted a preliminary review of it:

http://southwestultralight.blogspot.com/2014/09/first-look-six-moon-designs-flight-40.html

Iv'e posted 2 different reviews on the SmD website and they won't post them.

I guess when you own the company you can be bias toward what is and is not posted as far as reviews go.
I think they are "only" looking for nondescript goody tushu reviews?

Sure it is not a tech mistake, something that wrong. That is quite sad to hear.
Share the review here?

Don't forget about the Reader Review section here at BPL. Always the place to post your biased or unbiased opinion.

I tried the Flight 40 but ended up returning it. It does have a great hip belt and corresponding great load transfer. Part of the reason I returned it is I decided that not having access to H2O and fuel on the go makes this style pack not live up to its purpose for my needs. For me, a bladder hose doesn't count as on the go access. That is something that just about any pack can provide. If a pack incorporates a vest style harness, I want to be able to place water / fuel bottles there. It also makes sense to be able to access the side pockets on the move if a pack is geared towards a fastpacking style.