Seek Outside Flight 2 vs Divide

How important is the weight , you already have a Revo so you can buy just a Divide Bag. Hip Belt pockets work better on the Flight , but there are some hip belt pockets coming to the big pack line that will function nearly as well one handed as the Flight pockets . However, if you really value the 8 -12 ounces then go Flight. The Flight should feel similar to 30 lbs

I forgot about the SO Gila.  A few ounces can be shaved with the Gila compared to the Divide. If I didn’t already have the SO Fortress 6300, the Divide would be perfect. Having it makes me want to shave off as much weight as possible.

Obviously the Flight provides the lightest option but I wonder whether the Gila, for a few ounces more, isn’t the better choice.

Has anyone had experience with the SO Gila?

Has anyone had experience with the SO Gila?

Yes. It’s an excellent pack. At 3500 cu in you need to pack efficiently, but it definitely carries like a SO (and that’s a good thing).

Packrafting and hiking the KNWR on Afognak Island

The Afognak ‘High’ Route

Hiking and Packrafting Across Afognak Island

Afognak Island is absolutely gorgeous. Thank you for sharing those amazing videos of a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.  A couple of questions if I might:

1) You chose the olive X42 vs the lighter weight X21. Any reason?

2) You didn’t use a top lid on that trip. Is that unnecessary?

3) It looks like you used straps only to fasten something to the bottom of the Gila. Would a load shelf help?

Thanks again.

The SO Gila is the best fitting pack I have ever owned and worn (out of 9 packs). I have not tried any other SO packs.

Lenny

1) I bought it used. I would have preferred the grey X21 (largely for aesthetic reasons), but the price was right.

2) I never use top lids. No particular reason, just personal preference. You could totally run one.

3) The thing strapped to the bottom is my packraft. I like to carry it outside the main pack bag because I often make numerous transitions in a day and constantly loading a wet boat into the main compartment just gets everything damp. I like using gatekeeper straps to attach the raft storage bag I sewed because they offer 4 positive locking points between the bag and the pack. There is no way the brush is going to mug me of my boat like might happen if it was just slipped inside a gear shelf.

Incidentally, I sewed my own ‘Gila’ before SO came out with theirs. I took a 3800 Unaweep and added a mesh stuff pocket. Again I carried the raft on the bottom of the pack, but used compression straps. I was constantly paranoid that the boat might slip out as I negotiated dense brush and I tied the drawstring off to my pack frame as a safety leash.

Crossing Kodiak Island- Alitak to Kodiak

I’ll take some pics of my raft carry system.

One of my packrafts strapped to my Flight. I use the same 4 gatekeeper straps to attach my pack to the bow for paddling sections. Also, packrafting with the Flight:

Shuyak Island 2020

Packrafting and Hiking from Port Lions to Kodiak

Thanks again. How would you compare your Flight with the self-made Gila?

The Flight is great up to 30#, fine at 35#, doable at 40#, but that’s my load limit with it. You hit those weights easily carrying packrafting gear, so on short trips I like the Flight but I’m not sure I’d use it going all 120 miles up Kodiak Island. The Gila/Unaweep platform just carries more, more comfortably.

I just ordered the SO Gila in gray X21.  Really looking forward to getting it out for a spin when it arrives.  Thanks for everyone’s thoughtful advice.

I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Love my Divide…

Sounds good. What’s the lead time these days? SO has been slammed with orders for a year, thanks partially to simply selling solid products, and partially due to COVID-inspired cabin fever.

Take lots of time getting the harness dialed in. It’s a strap salad and can be somewhat unintuitive in how to achieve the best carry. As you fit the pack, definitely have a decent load in it. I like using the lower grommet on the hip belt attachment. This eliminates the strapped-to-a-spinal-board feeling some load haulers convey. I let the shoulder harness yoke ride as high as possible (the center-top of the yoke just below my C7 vertebrae) for maximum shoulder strap wrap across my chest. Make sure you get both the 2” and 4” frame extensions if you are tall at all (most folks will be fine with just the 2”). SO has some good instructional videos to help get familiar with their products.

“What’s the lead time these days?”  According to a 11/20/20 message on their website it’s 4-6 weeks on stock packs and 6-8 weeks on customs.  I placed an order for a Gila on 2/8/21 and its status is still “awaiting fulfillment”.  I hope their wait times haven’t gotten longer…

Most orders about 90 percent are shipping in 4 weeks. That being said, there are some that are not. In pack world Olive X42 was out of stock, then the wrong fabric was shipped to us so that has put us a bit behind on Olive packs. Dyneema Tape, is also a couple weeks out causing a slight delay in Dyneema products. Our Brown tent fabric was also out of stock for a bit. Custom packs often take a bit longer than 4 weeks.

That being said , the bulk of order are shipping in 4 weeks. And yes, we have been very busy. There really was no down season over the winter.

When do we get to see pics of the Flight 2? I’m getting curious.

@Phillip-ak

Soonish .. release is schedule for April 5th and we are going to do a podcast before hand. It is a new model , not an update to one. The belt is updated on sizing and the bottom is doubled across both which will add a little weight.

I should also add .. when it’s really busy .. its much more difficult to get new stuff through . It is hard to make a reason when we are at capacity. However, we have done some internal structural changes to make sure design can keep moving so when we gain capacity new products are ready.

Being at or near or above capacity is the primary reason most updates are pretty small this year.

Scheduled is April 5th to 15th time frame .. on release

@kevin @philip

Just curious on your thoughts.  I currently have the exped lightning 60 and possibly looking at a new pack.

I’m currently with out food, water and pack I get as light as 7-9lbs in warm weather and up to 25, maybe 30 in winter. Probably around 23 for the bob open. Thinking of getting into pack rafting as well.

Thoughts between the flight,  gila and divide?  Thinking possibly a pack for all seasons ect…. I’ve done winter in my exped and wasn’t too bad, I could have used a little extra room or better attachments on outside

For 22 we made the following changes to the Flight 2.

1. Frame sizes 23 / 25

2. Filled out the shoulder straps with a bit wider foam (significant improvement )

3. Slight longer shoulder straps

Our cart should be accurate on lead times. I think around 4 weeks

For most folks packrafting, a 3500 cu in (57 L) bag is going to be pretty tight. I carry my boat on the bottom of my pack (see images earlier in this thread) so I don’t have to allow for that in my pack. If you are going to carry your boat inside the bag, you will definitely need something bigger than the Flight, like the Divide or Unaweep. Speaking of the latter, I’m surprised it doesn’t get more mentions here. The modular nature of the Talon is pretty handy.

Adding packrafting gear instantly adds 10 pounds to your base weight. As I mentioned, 40 pounds is the upper limit of what I find pleasant with the Flight, and you can get to that weight pretty easily if you are doing a week-long packrafting trip. So if that is in your future, you would probably be better off with the larger Divide/Unaweep or similar.

Thanks,

If I get into rafting which I’m sure I will,  the raft will stay on the outside,  don’t want to deal with any extra water inside than I have to.

I’ll be extremely lucky if I’m ever (at least till I’m older) that I could do a week trip.  Most is a weekend or long weekend thing like up to 4 days.

I’ve been using the Flight on my recent packrafting trips, and it works quite well for that. The longest are usually 5 days due to how the mail plane schedule runs to my favorite jumping-off point. When I put my full load (including food and whatever water I’m starting the trip with, trekking poles, etc) on the scale at the float plane dock I’m usually right at 38-40 pounds all in.

Thanks.  Btw are you floating an alpaca?  What do you use for poles and a vest?

Btw, watched your videos,  awesome trips and I’m jealous!  Need to make it back up to Alaska again!