Looking for a new pack

https://www.hyperlitemountaingear.com/ultralight-packs/3400-series-ultralight-packs.html

Nice but $310 is too much unless it has a 10 year warranty.

20# is pretty easy for *any* pack with a hipbelt.

Up until I got my HMG Porter I was convinced the Boreas Buttermilks was the One True Pack.

It still is in many ways, but the HMG Porter 4400 trumps it in my uses by being lighter, higher capacity and more modular, as I was looking for a pack that could cover both winter and summer. ANYway, back to the Buttermilks.

The Buttermilks is 3# for the 55L version and a bit less for the 40L version. It is fully loaded, but lacks all the useless features. It has one zippered pocket for small valuables. One HUGE stretch panel for jackets, gear, and other things. Two side pockets for bottles or other small stuff. No lid, because lids just get in the way. A mesh back panel to keep your sweating to a minimum. It works. If you cinch down the side compression straps, you can carry it like a day pack without looking goofy; the the main compartment can hold a hydration bladder and your outer panel can hold your layers.

Oh, and it's tough as heck- I've logged hundreds of miles with mine in all kinds of terrain: desert, alpine, woodlands bushwacking, without a single tear or scuff. It's burly enough that you don't feel you need to baby it, and I never did.

It's also on sale now for about $150, which is pretty good considering they replaced my first one no questions asked (tried carrying 60# of food and water and gear once to relieve a hiking partner, snapped the frame- oops).

I also hear ULA Equipment and Gossamer Gear make some decent stuff, but I've never really looked all that closely.

Notes on other packs I've owned:

– Granite Gear AC Blaze 60 – carries really comfortably, but the mesh pockets are a bit too fragile for me.
– Arcteryx Arrakis 55 – forget it, I use this for carrying my heavy climbing gear, which it excels at, but too heavy otherwise
– Osprey Aether 70 – great features, but too heavy. Covered my winter needs well but made redundant by HMG. I'd willingly use an Exos or even Kestrel though.
– REI Flash 50, 45 – carries comfortably, but a few minor niggles short of perfection. Didn't pack well when close to empty, and earlier generations' external pockets couldn't hold anything when the pack was full.
– Granite Gear Quetico – too big and sloppy feeling. Carried heavy weights poorly. Great for grocery runs in college.

Gossamer Gear Mariposa. They offer XL length as well as large and several sizes of hip belts. The Gorilla is a little smaller. No XL length, but large may work for you anyway.

I have nothing but positive experiences with my Granite Gear Crown VC 60. It's a 60L pack that is super comfy (@20#-30# IMO), inexpensive at $199, and quite light at ~34 oz for a regular. It has a nice hipbelt and a plastic framesheet, but I've upgraded it to the Klymit Airbeam framesheet that drops the weight under 2lbs and allows loads up to 40lbs, supposedly.

Beyond that, the pack is simple with 1 large mesh pocket and 2 mesh side pockets and no other 'features' that get in the way. It's a roll-top so you can turn it into a daypack quite convincingly. The pack materials are quite durable from what I understand, but I haven't had it long enough to test that claim.

has everything you want, maybe a few cubic inches larger. Carries up to 28-30# like it is not there.

Here are my thoughts on it and others

http://40yearsofwalking.wordpress.com/2014/03/04/the-search-for-the-perfect-pack/

Could also try Zimmerbuilt……he could probably custom build to your requirement of features for a reasonable price.

For $200 a ULA OHM 2.0 would fit the bill. And tbeir long torso model should fit you well. And ,its made in the USA.

Bret,

You have just described my Osprey EXOS 58, size Large in almost every detail.

Love that pack, and REI stocks them. Got mine with a gift certificate and a 20% off sale combined. (Drop large hints for the gift cert.)

PLUS: This pack with 30 lbs. is even more comfortable than my old Dana Designs Terraplane. I'm sure the EXOS 58 could even take 40 lbs. without a problem.