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Durston Wapta 30
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Home › Forums › Gear Forums › Gear (General) › Durston Wapta 30
- This topic has 57 replies, 25 voices, and was last updated 4 days, 19 hours ago by
Dan @ Durston Gear.
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Jan 31, 2025 at 9:16 am #3827467
The 2025 model is updated with a removable top strap, reshaped side pockets, improved hardware, and other refinements.
Improvements for 2025 include:
Reshaped side pockets for improve carry and aesthetics.
Updated hardware to make the pack easier to adjust,
Top strap is now removable to go even lighter.Feb 4, 2025 at 6:36 pm #3827852Still not sure about how to carry a bear canister with this pack. Maybe that isn’t what it is designed for, but boy it would be nice. The top strap needs to be about 3-4″ longer to fit around the circumference of a BearVault…
Feb 5, 2025 at 9:16 am #3827892The Wapta isn’t really designed for a bear canister – mostly because if you have a bear canister you are probably getting to pack weights where a framed pack would be better suited. It does have that V top strap that can be used to strap one on top, but the 5mm webbing is thin so it would tend to slide around more than ideal. The top strap is intended more for soft objects on top (tent, Z-Rest).
But if you did want to carry a bear canister and it’s not one of the small ones that could fit inside (e.g. BV425), then the top strap is an option. For the 2025 model you can easily swap on a longer top strap if desired. It’s still quite thin webbing (5mm x 2) so you’d want the bear canister to either have grooves to give it some more grip, or you can wrap it something that is more grippy.
If you have the 2024 model, you could snip the attachments where the top strap connects and then tie on a longer strap in the same spot we tie on the 2025 strap.
Feb 5, 2025 at 10:45 am #3827904Places where you need bear canister tend to have lots of water – JMT, SHR etc. So, weight of pack is not really bad. I have used my MLD Prophet on the JMT and SHR with the can inside.
There are couple of options – look into buying Zpacks Nero top V strap. This can be easily attached to Wapta. There are two connections on one side and one connection on the other side – just reverse it on Wapta. Empty can on top is doable.
Then there is Simple Outdoor Solutions which has a bearikade harness. You can easily attach this as well – you can even attach the empty can on top of the front pocket.
Feb 5, 2025 at 10:55 am #3827905One more thing you can do which I have done on my MLD Burn (as my bearikade wasn’t comfortable inside) was to not attach the buckles of the roll top closure – roll the roll top and then don’t buckle it. Place a sit pad and then the bear canister and then take the two ends and take it over the horizontal end sides and try to buckle it with another webbing strap with opposite male/female buckles. Am not sure if this is clear. The V strap is over the circular part of the can. The roll top buckles/extension webbing is over the side and top of the can. This is pretty stable carry. Of course, opening and closing the pack should be limited to start/end of day.
Feb 5, 2025 at 8:28 pm #3827964Hey Dan! Thanks for the reply. This is one of those instances where I would just need the bear canister to have it. I am planning on hiking the Tahoe Rim Trail and will likely carry my food in the Wapta 30 but carry the bear can empty on top. Then at night just drop my food bag into the canister.
Is there an attachment or longer 5mm webbing I can order from you? I do have the 2025 version (got on that really quick after the email came!).
Maybe this just isn’t the pack for a bear canister trip? I do have the Uinta Highline Trail also planned for this summer and that should be just fine for the Wapta.
Feb 5, 2025 at 8:32 pm #3827965Thank you for this advice Murali!
Feb 5, 2025 at 10:41 pm #3827970The cord you need is called 5mm or 1/4″ “flat drawcord”. We don’t stock it in bulk but QuestOutfitters has some:
https://www.questoutfitters.com/narrow_roll_good_products.htm#ROUND -
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