Internal frame…that hold the big Bear vault HORIZONTALLY…close to 2 lbs

I am not aware of any that will hold it horizontally in the 2lb range. It takes a big pack to be able to hold it horizontally and they are normally heavier.

My Seek Outside Unaweep 4800 can hold it horizontally but it is technically an external frame like the exos is and it is close to 3lbs. Usually when I use it I am carrying a bearikade expedition vertically as I am am out for over a week.

I believe the ULA Catalyst will hold a BV500 horizontally.

The Catalyst probably will but it is 3lbs. I don’t think you will find anything in the 2lb range.

A larger pack on the zpacks arc haul frame would do it but I don’t think they do custom work anymore.

I’ve carried a BV500 in a Catalyst horizontally (although I realized I like it better vertically). It’s not 2#.

The Circuit only carries it vertically.

I agree with the OP; a horizontal carry is ideal. Even if a 2lbs pack exist that will do that, the weight of 7 days of food and gear might overwhelm most lightweight designs.

My 3+ lbs Seek Outside works so well for me, that I constantly play with the idea of giving it a lightweight make over. I shaved 3 ounces off by building my own hip belt at no loss of comfort. Duplicating the sack itself in a 3 oz/yd fabric combined with lighter webbing and hardware is likely to make at least a 2 ½ lb goal attainable.

Guess I may be out of luck.

Wish osprey (or somebody) would take a frame that is as good as an exos, reshape the base of the back to be specifically shaped for a bear canister, maybe put in a zip on one side to insert the canister.  Lose the top pack and a couple other pockets and presto, you’re at least in the 2.5 lb range.

A million packs have separate access for sleeping bags (ok, not ul packs), but no serious thought to bear canisters in 99% of packs on the market.  Do the designers hike in Kansas?

“I shaved 3 ounces off by building my own hip belt at no loss of comfort.”

Details?  My SO hipbelt weighs 10oz and I have long thought that you could lighten it some.

The MYOG hip belt I did is 7.2 oz, size L. It’s a direct copy, except lighter materials. 1″ buckle and webbing for the main closure. ½” PALS grid, shorter shoulder straps, only one grommet etc. Dual layer foam, not sure what SO does there. I did not use 3D mesh, instead the same 3.5oz fabric on the front and back.

Holding up fine, but I have only 15-20 days on it :)

Might work of you. External frame. Two pounds six ounces.

https://www.vargooutdoors.com/ti-arc-backpack.html#prod-2

a review

https://hikelighter.com/2016/08/17/vargo-ti-arc-backpack/

Might work of you. External frame. Two pounds six ounces.

https://www.vargooutdoors.com/ti-arc-backpack.html#prod-2

a review

https://hikelighter.com/2016/08/17/vargo-ti-arc-backpack/“

I was originally thinking of the same pack, but looking at the title of the thread, the author is looking for an internal frame pack.

Ok You thought of it first. I said it MIGHT work for them. :-)

Cheers

Search engine frustration should be part of a BPL FAQ.

When BPL’s search engine fails, use Google, Bing, or DuckDuckGo like this:

site:backpackinglight.com words to search for

For example:

https://www.google.com/#q=site:backpackinglight.com+words+to+search+for

— Rex

Ok You thought of it first. I said it MIGHT work for them. :-) “

Sorry, D M, poor word choice on my part.  What I was trying to convey is, “Great minds think alike.”

And I was being silly…haha, and just suggesting a solution or whatever….no sweat. Life is short, live, give, love, and hike.

I’d like to see a photo of a Seek Outside pack carrying a bear can horizontally– I’ve only been able to fit a can vertically in my Divide. I found the horizontal cross bar gets in the way of the can so I might try removing that bar on my next hike and see if I miss it.

I don’t have a picture but a BV500 or Bearikade Weekender fits horizontally all the way to the bottom on the Unaweep (fortress or whatever they call it now) 4800. It will only fit vertically in the 3900.

The Divide is narrower at the bottom (Like the HMG Porter) so it probably won’t fit vertically in it. The “fortress” bags are just straight cylinders.

The Exped Lightning 60 will hold a BV500 horizontally and weighs in at 39 oz.  This pack will carry a load up to 50 lbs. and transfers the load to the hips well.

Luxury Lite pack carries a bear canister horizontally very, very well. There’s a ‘lip’ on the bottom of the frame the it sits on perfectly, inside or outside your pack (I leave mine inside). I’ve strapped a GG Mariposa, I think, to the frame and ditched their canisters. Weighs just over two pounds. Very comfortable pack.

Thanks so much…hadn’t been able to check back for a few days and was glad to see some suggestions on something I had nearly given up on!

And Rex, thanks for the search tip.  My biggest frustration is simply that BPL’s search engine won’t search the single forum (or articles, or trip reports, whatever) that you are currently on.  Instead it searches the entire site.  I wish there was also an option to sort the search hits….newest first, relevance, etc.

Still an awesome site and awesome community!

Bryan,

Playing around with Google searches trying to get what you want. Some creativity involved.

Search BPL Forums, using the first part of a forum URL (minus the http://):

site:backpackinglight.com/forums/ “big bear vault”

https://www.google.com/#q=site:backpackinglight.com%2Fforums%2F+%22big+bear+vault%22

Search just one BPL thread, using first part of thread URL:

site:backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/sul-rogue-river-trail-summer/ “Grants Pass”

https://www.google.com/#q=site:backpackinglight.com%2Fforums%2Ftopic%2Fsul-rogue-river-trail-summer%2F+%22Grants+Pass%22

Search all gear reviews, using a string more-or-less unique to BPL gear reviews:

site:backpackinglight.com “YOU ARE HERE: HOME / GEAR REVIEWS /” bearvault

https://www.google.com/#q=site:backpackinglight.com+%22YOU+ARE+HERE:+HOME+%2F+GEAR+REVIEWS+%2F%22+bearvault

Search official BPL Trip Reports, using first part of the URL. Note that some trip reports are filed under other BPL categories, too.

site:backpackinglight.com/category/places/trip-expedition-reports/ “Muir Trail”

https://www.google.com/#q=site:backpackinglight.com%2Fcategory%2Fplaces%2Ftrip-expedition-reports%2F+%22Muir+Trail%22

I’ve found that “old” versus “new” BPL content sometimes gets tricky.

There’s probably an easier method, or a web form that could make life easier, but it’s a start.

— Rex

I found the horizontal cross bar gets in the way of the can so I might try removing that bar on my next hike and see if I miss it.

Bending the cross stay closer to straight should give you enough room to fit any bear can horizontally in the upper half of the Divide, though it’s tough to get a Garcia to sit right. The stay is 7075 so it can be bent back as many times as you like with no harm done.

Thanks, David. Do you find the cross stay makes the pack more comfortable to carry? I’m wondering if there is an opportunity to cut a few ounces.

I rarely use the stay. It can create a bit of ventilation as stock (which isn’t a big priority for me), and helps keep awkward and pokey loads under control (packing meat while hunting, carrying climbing hardware). My “normal” backpacking and packrafting loads are dialed enough that I can pack quickly and not create pressure points, which is what the stay guards against. It is a handy tool for folks with new gear and/or a less practiced packing style.