Zpacks Arc Zip users – tell me your experience

I bought mine in the fall and have only used it on one trip. I absolutely love the pack. I sleep in a hammock so it's super easy to place my backpack in the hammock to load and unload it. I put my heaviest quilt in the bottom of the pack and my lightest in the top (the expandable portion) and then everything else fits in between. I then set the pack upright and cinch down the top so it's all snug.

I didn't opt for the top opening – I wanted the pack because it didn't have that. The only modification I made was to add a strap on the side to hold my 2L Platy bladder at the correct height.

I'm still experimenting with how to load it. On my first trip I used the big zip pocket to hold all of my miscellaneous stuff (like first aid, head lamp, etc.) and my down vest and beanie so I had easy access to them (it was a trip in mid-November).

It's really comfortable and I can't wait to use it on this year's trips.

Kevin, Thanks for your input.
How do you find the lack of mesh in front of the pack?
Can you tell how comfy the pack is with weights around 20-25lb?

The mesh was really comfortable on my back and I'm looking forward to trying it in warmer weather when my backpack (and some things inside) would be soaked from sweat. The arc is adjustable (but you can only adjust it easily when the pack is empty).

From my spreadsheet I was carrying around 22 pounds when I used it and it felt great. I'm used to carrying a GG Murmur and using the hip belt to simply keep the pack from swinging around so it was nice to go back to something that actually transferred the weight to your hips.

It's a pricey investment, but ZPacks does offer a generous returns policy if you don't like it for any reason. I'm getting ready to buy another one for my daughter – I like it that much!

I don't own one but have been fascinated by how Zpacks and John Abela describe the genesis of this pack. Abela has a picture of the pack up on his HikeLighter.com site where he mentions it took three years of design and testing then states "Abela Designed, Zpacks Manufactured." ZPacks thanks/credits Abela on their website "for planting the seed and offering feedback" on the pack. Seems like there is enough room between those two statements to drive a truck through. I love Zpacks products and Abela's reviews. I hope to meet Abela at the PNW GGG and get the low down on the who and the how of this packs creation. At least from Abela's perspective.

..:)