Advice Please: ULA Catalyst or Circuit for BV 500

[Lowell k]

I will be hiking for 7 days, 11 lb. base wt., carrying a BV 500, and unsure if the Circuit will hold the BV 500 and if so, will it poke into my back. The Catalyst seems like it will hold the BV 500 without problems, but otherwise, I do not need such a large pack.

Thanks,

Lowell

[Sharon M]

I carried a BV500 in a Circuit on a 10 day trip last summer.  The BV500 fit vertically in the pack, but not horizontally.  It was the most comfortable if I put the BV500 off to one side (not in the middle).  Then I balanced the pack by putting my cook kit, fuel, first aid kit, toiletry kit, etc. next to the BV500.  It was actually quite balanced and comfortable.  I also put my thin (1/8 inch) foam sit pad between the BV500 and my back.

When I tried hiking with the BV500 in the middle of the pack, it did poke into my back.

[W I S N E R !]

I’ve carried a BV500 in a Catalyst, it swallows it easily, horizontal or vertical. I’ve seen one carried in a Circuit; as Sharon says, it will only fit vertically.

[lisa r]

I carried a BV500 vertically in my Ohm for a 7 day trip last year and managed to make it comfortable. So the smaller of those two should probably be fine.

[Michael B]

I assume you don’t want to keep your food in a bag during the hike and carry an empty can under the strap up top?

[Lowell k]

Correct, I do not want to carry the BV up top.

Thanks all for the feedback. Based on your comments I decided on the Elemental Horizons Kalais

Lowell

 

 

[Sharon M]

Great choice!  When I returned from the previously mentioned 10 day trip, I set out in search of a pack that would do a better job of transmitting the weight of the pack to my hips.  I settled on the women’s version of the Elemental Horizons Kalais.  I’ve been out on a few shorter trips with it.  It carries a BV500 comfortably (vertically), and it does a great job of transmitting weight to my hips.  I can’t recommend it enough.

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