Modifying a Jam2 pack

I don't have a Jam2, but the original Jam. I just removed my foam pad today, trying to cut a few more ounces off my pack weight. I don't really see where you'll need to actually replace that pad if you put your sleeping pad inside the pack. Your sleeping pad, or even a sit pad, just placed at the back should do the trick just fine IMO.

Tom

I took off the buckels on the hip belt (I rarely use it, plus if you don't cut the straps off, they are long enough to tie to give you stability if you are going to jump a stream, etc.). I took out the back pad, and replaced it with a smaller section of blue foam pad I bought and cut up at rei ($15). You don't need any foam on the back – I just put it in there because at night I take it out and roll it up in my sleeping bag stuff sack and put clothes inside of it. It makes for a very nice pillow. I took off the sternum strap and buckles.

All in all I only saved 2.7 oz, but hey – everything counts right? All my mods are non-destructive, I could put everything back. I am thinking about trimming off the straps and other buckles though and saving another few oz.

Andy Skurka got his down to 16.5 oz. Not sure how.

>Andy Skurka got his down to 16.5 oz. Not sure how.

Mine's at 18 oz right now, and I haven't trimmed anything. The only mod I've done was to remove the back pad, so I could probably get my down that far as well, if not farther, and mine is a size large.

Tom

Andy Skurka got his down to 16.5 oz. Not sure how.

In one of his podcasts (i don't know which) het tells how he modified his Jam2. As far as i remember he removed the foam back, cut out the hydration sleeve, removed the ice axe loops, removed all excess webbing and he probably did some more.

I always remove the strenum strap, never use is and is actually quite heavy.

I was thinking about trimming off the entire front pocket (not unstictching it, just cutting as close to the seam as possible). I'll be that zipper weighs a fair amount, plus you'd lose alot of that heavy fabric. I would think I could get it sub 15oz. But then I realized I'd be destroying a perfectly good pack, and losing some of it's functionality (it would be a top loader only). I decided before I do that, I'd just buy an MLD Zip. Seems pretty darn tough and I'd drop even more weight.