Ready for a new pack…help!

The Flex Capacitor appears to use stretch mesh on the side pockets which seems like a really bad idea to me if you use the side pockets at all.

I have found the mesh on ULA Circuit/Catalyst packs to be durable and they only use it in areas of relatively little wear on the front pocket.

I briefly had a Katabatic Knik (poor fit for me) but the mesh seemed very durable, similar to what ULA uses.

I don’t know if this will be an issue for you but I carried around 35# TPW (that was before I figured out how to carry way less gear) on the JMT and I was surprised to realize a few weeks before leaving that I couldn’t fit it all into my Circuit so I got a Catalyst for that trip. I bring this up because once you put a BV500 in a Circuit there is not a ton of room left over for other stuff. I wear a small Circuit which is a few liters smaller that the M or L you would order.

Thanks @matthewkphx, that’s the kind of info I am looking for. The BV500 fits in the Exos48 with plenty of room for my TT Notch on one side.

I think I have eliminated the HMG packs after reading more reviews of long term use.

I left out the Granite Gear Crown 2 as another potential option here. Cheap, big. Has stretch mesh that I assume would get destroyed…

My vote would be the Divide, but pack fit can be very personal.

Brad,

Can you say why, what you think makes it stand out from others?

I think the divide is overkill for me. I already have a Osprey Aether that I can use if I need to carry more stuff.

@ asolthane, here is my piece on such packs where I ended up with a Kalais.  I plan to update it with a few new packs you mentioned (Katabatic, Silverback, Marl) but I have tried on the new suspension Kalais and it is definitely an big improvement but also added about 10 oz. to the pack.  The new material on the standard pack I think should be plenty durable and you should not need to got the X-Pac unless you want.

A bear can fits vertically with some room around the sides (not much).  It is tall pack.  I have used it for 4 years and think it is a great pack and new suspension is even better.

The suspension on the Seek Outside packs is what makes the difference to me, it just carries loads better.  While the Divide is probably overkill for loads under 30# (I have carried less though) , it is better than any of the packs you mention for loads above 30#.  When I was looking for a pack for Alaska in 2015, I tried the HMG Porter 4400, Osprey Aeither 60, Exped Lightning 60, and others and it was no contest at 35 pounds to me.  I used the Seek Outside Unaweep (same suspension as the Divide) on an 11 day 100% off trail backpack-packraft trip in Brooks Range Alaska 2015, on a 6 day off trail trip in WRR in 2016 (with 24lbs), and a 14 day 100% off trail trip in the Chugatch Mountains in Alaska this year.  My base weight for Alaska was ~15 pounds with a Bearikade Expedition, Microspikes, and Bearspray, and I have carried up to 50lbs in it comfortably.  I trimmed a bit, but my Unaweep 4800 is less than 3lbs.

I am a not a big guy at 6′ 160lbs and generally find that packs give out for me at much lower weights than their manufacturers state, and the Seek Outside was very comfortable at 50# – no shoulder or hip pain whatsoever which is more than I can say when I had 26# in my frameless SMD Swift in WRR in 2012.

Seek Outside is releasing a new pack sometime called the Gilla, which utilizes the same frame as the Unaweep and the Divide, but is smaller at 3500 ci and supposedly around 2.5lbs.  Other than a couple of sneek peak pictures on FB and Instagram, I don’t know much more about it.

I had a Notch for a while but I never carried it with my bear can. You could definitely put the Notch on top under the top strap if you are willing to go that way. I think it carries nicely up there unless you are going through brush.

That is a good list of packs. I think the Divide is overkill for 30-35 lbs, since a lot of that weight is food. I tried on the Flex Capacitor and while the frame and pack bag seemed nice, the hip belt padding was very firm. Personal preference, but I didn’t like it. The mesh side pockets did seem pretty durable. I saw a couple people on the JMT with them and they seemed happy with the pack.

I really like my Katabatic Gear Artemis, but haven’t tried out the Onni. 35lbs is about the comfortable limit of the Artemis, but I’ve gone up to 44lbs before. If you really like your Osprey, maybe just keep patching the mesh and wait to see the new models next year. They are supposed to use a new fabric called NanoFly, which the details make sound reasonably durable (see Section Hiker’s coverage of Outdoor Retailer). I can’t tell from pictures though if the new packs have mesh or solid fabric side pockets.

Now that I have thought about it a little more, I really like the idea of a Circuit with the Notch carried on top. You’d likely have more than enough room inside the pack with the shelter carried outside. I think ULA really hits the sweet spot of price/durability/weight/comfort with most of their packs. They are also very nice to work with when getting the pack fit properly. Plus, their side pockets are the best I have used.

Have a look at Hanchor’s Marl pack:
https://www.hanchor.com/products/Outdoor%20Series/MARL_Hiking_Backpack?locale=en

It has some mesh pockets, but it’s pretty tough mesh. I’ve got a lot of bushwacking on mine with only minor damage. Certainly holds up much better than the stretchier mesh used by a lot of companies.

It’s about 2.5 lbs and it’s kinda like a beefier Windrider, or a waterproof ULA Circuit. You’ve got Xpac VX21 fabric (waterproof with 210D denier face fabric), 3 frame stays, super good sewing quality, load lifters etc. I wrote a review of it here:
https://intocascadia.com/2017/05/06/review-hanchor-marl-42l-pack/

nm

Alex,

Yes I had read your article and that’s what got me thinking about the Kalais. Your pack is gorgeous. The new ones in diamond ripstop are way less handsome… The Xpac version looks better but is heavier and seems overkill.

My main concern with the Kalais at this point is the size. I can’t find any photos of it packed with a BV500

@matthewkphx

I definitely don’t want anything hanging out of my pack, I need something that is tight and consolidated so I don’t have to worry about anything getting snagged or broken. This is a big part of what appeals about the flex capacitor to me. I can’t get a notch and a BV500 both vertically in a Circut? Are you sure? I could also take out the stay’s and stuff the Notch, if necessary. It’s really quick to get them in and out.

@dandydan

– The Marl looks pretty sweet! But for two things:

1. Will that pack fit a BV500 vertically with room on each side? Have you used it with a bear cannister? I may have an amateur packing strategy but getting everything packed in tightly with a big bear canister can be tricky.
2. Mesh side pockets! Why?! At least the bottom should be protected, I know when I scrape my pack across granite, scrambling a class 3 route, that mesh is going to wear away at the bottom where the water bottles sit. I wonder how involved it would be to swap those, or if Hanchor does any custom stuff.

You might be able to get the Notch in next to the can. I’m pretty sure you can if the Notch was not in its stuff sack and you made it flatter rather than round. In the stuff sack it might be tight. I’m going off memory here so take this with a large grain of salt please.

I don’t get the “logic” that if a pack can carry 30 – 35# like a champ that it is somehow overkill for carries of under 30#.  And we are talking about a pack here that is only 2.5#.  The reality is that if it can carry 35# better than most than it can also carry 20# better than most; so why go for a lighter weight bag in particular if that lighter bag can barely carry that 20# itself?  Yeah, it’s all relative to personal experience and comfort but this idea that if TPW goes down so should the weight of the pack is a bit goofy in particular since it is all about total pack-out weight.  I thought that one of the “ultralight $killzz” is to take only what you need and nothing more?  Granted, certain situations may dictate otherwise, but if you cannot meet 20 – 25# TWP in a 2.5# pack than you’re rucking too much stuff.

*off soapbox*

With that, my votes go to Exos 48 because the OP is already familiar and happy with it.  Well, with past model, anyways.  Divide, based on my rant above this should be obvious.  ULA Circuit because I dunno, personal preferences.

The Exos 48 is a large pack and it is large because because unlike UL cottage industry packs that include every pocket into the final XXL calculation when in reality the main compartment for a 50L cottage UL pack might only be 30L, the Exos is pretty near 50L in the main compartment itself.  For example, the Silverback definitely, and perhaps the Mariposa too, will feel and look tiny by comparison.  But don’t know if all packs on list are like this.   The Southwest is obnoxiously tall and for some goofy UL reason does not have load lifters.

<p class=”bbp-user-nicename”>@crucial-geek You love that pack! I meant overkill because it’s heavier than all the other packs listed here at 3lbs 1oz. I hear what you are saying, but if I can get a pack that is large enough and comfortable enough that weighs a half pound less…I would prefer that. Like I said, I already have an Aether 70 that is huge and can carry plenty of weight, so I am looking for something a little lighter. That being said, here are the weights</p>
Weight isn’t everything, but all things being equal I would prefer a lighter pack.

Seek Outside Divide 49 oz
Elemental Horizons Aquila xpac 44oz
Sierra Designs Flex Capacitor 42oz
ULA Circut 41oz
Elemental Horizons Aquila 41oz
Elemental Horizons Kalais xpac 40oz
Osprey Exos 40oz
Gossamer Gear Silverback  37.5 oz [too small??]
Elemental Horizons Kalais 37oz
Hanchor Marl 37oz
Katabatic Omni v40 65L 34oz
Gossamer Gear Mariposa 33oz [too fragile??]

I wish more folks had tried the new Katabatic Omni. Seems promising. I might have to update this post with volume, though it’s really hard to get accurate measurements, and I am more concerned with the main compartment than what goes outside. In my experience, anything hard in the outside mesh like a cookset is more likely to cause the mesh to shear off.

All things are never equal.

“Will [the Hanchor Marl] fit a BV500 vertically with room on each side? Have you used it with a bear cannister?“
The Marl is bigger than it’s 42L rating implies. It seems more like a 45-55L pack. I haven’t used a bear canister with this pack, but I’m sure it would fit vertically (perhaps not horizontally). In terms of extra space, I expect you would have about 6″ of space beside the canister, but that is very much a guess.

The size of the Marl’s pack bag is very similar to a Windrider 3400. The Marl is 35.5″ tall unrolled with a circumference of 36″ (top) and 34″ (bottom). The Windrider 3400 is 34″ tall unrolled with a circumference of 40″ (top) tapering to 33.5″ (bottom). Perhaps you can use these specs to compare with a pack you have on hand to determine how much extra room there would be.

“Mesh side pockets! Why?! I wonder how involved it would be to swap those, or if Hanchor does any custom stuff.”
Hanchor will make the side pockets from VX21 instead of mesh for an extra $16. That is what another BPL’er said after talking with Hanchor.

I have ~2100km (1500 miles) on my Marl including a lot of bushwacking, and there is only 1 small tear in the side mesh, so the mesh has surprised me with it’s durability. But still, I would prefer VX21.

I meant overkill because it’s heavier than all the other packs listed here at 3lbs 1oz.

Expeditions, packrafting, backpack hunting, and other gear intensive pursuits are a core business for us, so because of that the Divide ships with an over the top strap, six horizontal compression straps, and two bottom compression straps, plus a removable cross stay that prevents hard objects from poking you in the back.

With all that stuff the weight is 49 oz.  However, our compression straps are removable.  If you remove the over the top strap, two side compression straps, the two bottom compression straps, and the cross stay the weight is 44 oz.  This is how I normally run the Divide.

At that weight you’ve got X21 packbag fabric, 500D Cordura side water bottle pockets, very robust mesh in the face pocket (seriously robust, hard to tear or snag), and quality webbing and hardware throughout.

Nathan, how do you remove the side compression straps on the Divide?  Mine have one end sewed on.  Thanks

I have a Hanchor MARL and use it regularly with a BV450. I carry a lightweight setup tailored to 3-season high Sierra conditions (30º down bag, reg. length Neo Air, silnylon DuoMid w/ mesh insert, rain jacket, MB UL Down parka, .9 liter Ti pot w/ canister stove, etc.) and everything easily fits. The BV450 and 500 are the same diameter, 8.7 inches, but the 500 is about 4.5 inches taller at 12.7 inches. With the 450 I have at least an extra foot of extension collar to spare so I would think the 500 plus 3-season gear would fit fine.

Robert, if you’ve got the old style that shipped with Bachelor Buckles instead of the new gatekeepers then the top and bottom side compression straps will be sewn on, but the middle strap connects via a tri-glide.  This makes it removable.