Lighter Than a McHale

“What pack is as good as a McHale”…will depend a lot on what you want to do, your body, and your expectations. I’m sure most users of McHale packs will say nothing is as good as a McHale (a custom made pack, fitted to your body by a true expert). But for your requirements, I would consider a Seek Outside Divide or SWD Big Wild 70 as the likely best alternatives.

The cost of a item is not about what you spend on it, but how much it does or does not reward you in ten years and McHale has a standards for the performance of the machine he make and what sets the packs apart. I believe the “One to One” fitting adjustments and communications that occur during the initial and lengthy McHale fitting process will be missed by 99% of the pack dealers that is a large part in the McHale packs. McHale can manipulate the construction of any of his packs to bring it to your desired specification. All this adds to the costs, and you will end up with a pack that fits your needs and desires and will probably last a life time.

The follow are some suggestion to think about outside the McHale Box…

Ken hits the nail on the head. Lighter than 2 lbs 10oz becomes a matter of diminished returns if your load is heavier. Once I accepted this reality I had a better pack for packrafting and longer trips.

If you’re looking for a custom well made pack with the possibility of being lighter than a Mchale and on par, look into Alpine Luddites. <I’ve included the link. Weight will largely depend on how you decide to build it.

I got my McHale in late 2018 and it took about a year—used one of his Demos in the meantime.  My only advice is—esp if you’re young—is to get a McHale now and save yourself a lifetime of pack confusion.