Zimmerbuilt Owners – How Does it Ride??

At the weights you are talking about, the zimmerbuilt with a hoop frame will be perfect (it's more like the gossamer gear frame rather than ULA's). At the max on my JMT resupply I was carrying 33 pounds in mine. Frankly, I've gotten to be such a lightweight that my legs don't really want to haul 33 pounds wherever it sits on my body. But as far as the PACK goes, it was great. The hip belt wasn't the best at that weight, but it still carried just fine.

Frankly, after carrying that pack for 25 days, I was VERY impressed. I did have him taper the bottom like ULA does to keep the lower part closer to my body. I had an earlier version of the pack I have now, but the bottom was square – I found that it pulled me backwards and hung on my shoulders more than I liked. But with this version, the one with the tapered bottom, even at 33 pounds it carried quite nicely.

I had Chris make me a ZB2 style pack that included the wire upside down “U” frame w/sleeve for a removable half bivy pad. I only used it on three short weekend overnight trips before I decided that I wanted something different. For me, everything was perfect except the hip belt.

On my first trip with the pack I noticed that the relatively small width (1 inch) of the hip belt webbing was able to dig into my stomach a bit, which caused some discomfort. I was carrying about 20 lbs. Before my next trip with the pack, I sourced some wider webbing and buckle (1.5″) and had Chris swap them out. It felt much better on my second trip and eliminated the aforementioned problem, but the hip belt still wasn’t doing it for me. It seemed like it needed to be “stiffer.” After my third trip with the pack, which included a bit more weight (pack raft, real food), I decided that I was selling the pack.

I’m actually considering having Chris make me another pack essentially the same as this one except with a removable belt setup so I can swap in the hip belt from a HMG Ice Pack.

Here is a link to my for sale thread, which has pictures and additional details about the pack: FS: Zimmerbuilt pack.

I got my large capacity pack (5,000 ci+) with Xpac material about a year ago now. Never been rained or snowed on yet with it. Like other packs, comfort seems to matter on I believe a properly loaded pack. Not sure after all these years how I can consistantly do that. :) I used it last week in Colorados Maroon Bells Wilderness, it felt great, a load in the mid 20's at least. In the 5 hour hike? the first day, had the pack off once for lunch, briefly a few other times as I tend to keep moving. Very happy with it.
Duane

Very interesting, thank you. Usually, there's some consistency around hipbelt comfort, but not in this case. Alex, I saw your pack on the Zimmerbuilt website…one of my favorites.

I put the Gregory 3d hipbelt pads over my Zimmerbelt (misspelling, but it works) and it is away more comfortable. I had 28 lbs in it starting a 4 nighter in Glacier without the Gregory part and the bottom of the frames wore a hole in me. My skin was raw. Since then I have put the Gregory pads on it and it is way better. Overkill a lot of the time, but wtf?

/

,,

I should add: They weigh 8oz. 8 very luxurious ounces IMHO

I would say about like any other frameless or U-shaped aluminum pack. Hadn't noticed any issues with the hipbelt as long as I keep the load reasonable (then again with a long back, my shoulders and traps may bear any excess weight).

I've carried 35lbs in my Zimmerbuilt and it was ok. http://www.zimmerbuilt.com/zb2—smead.html

At < 30lbs it's ideal. Fits like a dream. ~40% weight on hips, ~60 on shoulders.
At 35lbs it puts a little more strain on the shoulders. Maybe 30% on hips and 70% on the shoulders. (non-scientific guesses)
In either case it still felt strong and comfortable to me. Definitively my favorite piece of gear right now.
-Chris