Backpack Suggestions

Are you interested in talking about ways to get some of that weight out of your pack?

Here’s my lightpack. Not fully complete. https://lighterpack.com/r/8u4bi6

Yes, 30 lbs is on the heavy side. Still, I wonder if a pack with more structure and a better hip belt might be better for you. Where did you feel the pain? You should be able to carry a load for longer than 2-3 hours without pain. If you carried weigh on your shoulders rather than transferring it to your hips, that can cause issues for many/most people. I carry less than 30 lbs and still prefer a more structured pack than the ones that you mention.

In other words, while reducing your load will help for sure, it may not solve your issues.

My HMG 3400 really bothered my trapezius muscles due to the lack of load lifters. Otherwise I actually find the HMG packs quite comfortable, even with the somewhat minimalist padding. If you’re looking for a pack in the same rough volume that is light, but still well padded, a U.L.A. Catalyst offers an excellent carry with very effective load lifters (assuming you get the correct size pack). I also really like my Seek Outside Flight packs, but I had to make some modifications to it as even the 24 inch back panel was too short for my frame, and they have almost no back panel padding if that’s what you’re looking for.

I think the problem is that the hip belt doesn’t fit me well. Like I have a big belly and the padding doesn’t really go far around me.

The pain was the shoulder straps digging into me.

I was thinking being able to buy a larger belt for the GG Miraposa would help with that. Plus the padding.

I’ll second the ULA recommendation. I carried 35# in mine back when I had it. I don’t like carrying that much weight though.

I have a belly too. I had it even when I was 20 and working as a bike messenger in NYC. Apparently it’s my body type. I now shoot for a total pack weight around 20# and prefer a padded hipbelt like what MLD put on the Burn/Prophet/Exodus. I wear the hipbelt a bit lower than what is “correct” and that works for me. There’s no way I can carry 10 days of food with this type of setup but I’m good with a bear can and 5 days of food in the Sierra. I’m not sure how I would choose to carry ten days of food at this point.

It looks like you could dump a pound+ without too much hassle from a cursory glance at your lighterpack. The chair is heavy too. If you did both of those, you’d be at 27.5# rather than 30# which is nice but not a night/day difference. Maybe start another thread if you want to go into detail about your kit.

Joey,

I have a Mariposa and find that it to be extremely comfortable up to 26 lbs. A bear vault fits into the pack quite well, too. It’s a great on trail pack.

At 30 lbs or more, other packs carry the weight better. In my experience that includes the ULA catalyst and Hanchor Marl among others.

File this under “Advice you didn’t really ask for”:

If you are actively working on reducing you pack weight, the pack should arguably be your final purchase after all other gear has been decided upon.  The road to a light pack is long and often winding as gear is tried and accepted or rejected.  Sometimes weight is not the only criteria when selecting gear…your experience with a particular piece of gear is what is most important.  Once you get your base weight down to ~12 lbs, this will allow a total pack weight nearer 20 lbs.  In my experience, most any properly fitted pack will carry that weight comfortably.

In the meantime, you may want to focus on adjusting your current pack optimally.  The HMG is a very respected pack and loved by many. Your observation that the belt padding may not be long enough is likely a significant part of your problem.  You may want to investigate options for adding more/longer padding. You may even find that the HMG works well for you once your load has been reduced. If it does not, you will be better positioned to make an informed choice on its replacement.

In summary…do not rush to replace the pack until your load has been refined.  You may find yourself replacing the pack multiple times.  Don’t ask me how I know :)

My favorite pack is the Elemental Horizons Kalais.  It weighs a bit more than a ULA Circuit but transfers weight to the hips much more effectively.  And, like the ULA packs, you can swap out the hip belt for different sizes to dial in the hip belt fit.

Here’s a link to a detailed review of the Kalais.

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

Matthew, who owns Elemental Horizons, is very good to work with.  Once I got my Elemental Horizons Kalais, I ending up selling all of my ULA packs.

I tried both the Hyperlite 3400 and the Mariposa packs. The Mariposa effectively doesn’t have load lifters that help at all. The Mariposa also has a very thick back padded panel, which all it does is push the backpack away from your body, forcing your upper body to work harder to keep it upright. The hip belt is pretty sloppy IMO and the pack relies on putting all the weight into your lower back and shoulders than out towards your hips. Some people might prefer that, but I found it terrible.

I personally think the Hyperlite packs are some of the most overrated items that are often thought of as high-end. Their shoulder straps are a complete joke. It’s not like the pack would even weigh more if they just changed the shoulder straps to be even the slightest bit ergonomic. They should be backpacks designed as dry bags, not dry bags designed as backpacks.

If the Hyperlite 3400 pack’s hip belt felt fine, which it is actually a very well built belt, then you might want to look into trying to add your own load lifters to your existing pack, or look into modifying the shoulder straps to fit you better.

I have the Kalais too and agree with Sharon’s assessment of weight transfer, especially for loads around 30lbs. I also have the older 40L version of the GG Gorilla.  I really like the comfort of that pack given the wider padding on the shoulder straps. It doesn’t have load lifters but they’re not really needed for TPW ~25Lbs and below, which is where I think the two GG packs carry best.

I keep looking at your LighterPack list and thinking I need more coffee. Do you really have no extra clothing – no rain gear, no hat and gloves, etc. and still have a base weight of 15 pounds?

I really like my Granite Gear Blaze 60. I know it’s heavier than most of the packs folks are mentioning here, but it carries weight so well, especially a bear canister, that I hardly even notice it.  I don’t get sore hips, back, shoulders as some people do, and don’t get abrasions or anything. I never go over 30 pounds, and am usually well under, even with 7 days food. So even though the pack adds weight on its own, it makes up for it, imo.

I do have rain gear and other clothes but I haven’t weighed them yet. I also don’t plan on always taking my chair, bear spray, or bear canister, so I figured that would offset the weight.

I actually think I may go with some of the suggestions here to try and fix the pack I have. I do like the HMG, it just digs into my shoulders. So I may start out with some extra padding.

Joey, everyone is different so it’s hard to make recommendations. (but when did that ever stop me? ) For me, getting the weight off my shoulders and onto my hips is essential. Your notion of putting more padding on the shoulder straps doesn’t address the underlying issue of improper fit and weight transfer.

I wonder if OP has packed his backpack correctly or not?

30 lbs = 13.6kg and I wonder if anything else has included or not. (ex: water / food/ extra cloth)

If you pack it wrong, the center of gravity will be offset your back and start pull your back from shoulder strap.

the pic is a tool i’m working to figure out the center of gravity of backpack. this the best solution I get to make sure the center of gravity close to upper back.

I have the seek outside flite series pack, I am pretty happy with it, it is light but if I have to put a bear can in the pack I can comfortably carry some more weight.  For a multi day trip this one has worked the best for me.

+1 to JCH’s comment

“File this under “Advice you didn’t really ask for”:

If you are actively working on reducing you pack weight, the pack should arguably be your final purchase after all other gear has been decided upon.  The road to a light pack is long and often winding as gear is tried and accepted or rejected.  Sometimes weight is not the only criteria when selecting gear…your experience with a particular piece of gear is what is most important.  Once you get your base weight down to ~12 lbs, this will allow a total pack weight nearer 20 lbs.”

+1 Seek Outside. Love, love, love my Divide, though it’s usually more than I need. Look also at Gila and Flight. Note that the Flight was updated a couple weeks ago; now has a 1-inch longer frame – 23″ and 25″. All are renowned for excellent weight transfer to hips, which takes virtually all weight off your shoulders.