Unaweep 4800

My wife and I both got Unaweep 4800’s late this past summer. Thumbs up all around!

It carries winter overnight gear without a problem. The hip belt is comfortable and doesn’t slide down as badly as some other packs we’ve had.

Very adjustable pack, and lots of ways to lash stuff to the outside of the pack. We use Nalgene bottles, so we really like the side pockets for that. The hip belt pockets are also good, big enough to be very useful. I’ve had Dana packs (Terraplane) Osprey (Aether 85) and Granite Gear Blaze: this pack, the Unaweep, is better (for me) than them all. Carries well, is fairly lightweight…thumbs up!

P.S. I do miss having a pack lid, a little bit, but the “talon” functions like a lid of sorts.

I ordered one today. I’ll be interested to give it a workout this summer.

Also ordered an SWD Wendigo. Looking forward to comparing the two against my old standby ULA Catalyst.

Thanks Gents !🙂

Also ordered an SWD Wendigo. Looking forward to comparing the two against my old standby ULA Catalyst.

bradmacmt, I look forward to your findings on those two packs!

I love my Unaweep 4800.  Normally, my loads are too light for it (20-25lbs), but I used the Unaweep 4800 on two trips to Alaska, an 11 day unsupported backpacking/packrafting trip and a 14 day unsupported backpacking trip, both with loads of 40lbs.   Before my first trip to Alaska, I tried most of the lightweight load haulers on the market at the time including Osprey, HMG, Exped, and even had a McHale (though it was a smaller LBP – not one of his bigger packs) and the Unaweep was the clear winner.   I have no doubt it can carry more weight than my legs can carry comfortably!

Thanks Brad..Excellent feedback 🙂

I love this pack. Simple and robust, as well as modular. Strip it down, it’s quite light. Add a talon, straps, and load panel, and you’re hauling all sorts of stuff.

Overnighter, multiday, water hauler, hunting, winter….I’ve packed deer, done XC Sierra scrambles, carried winter gear, even a Costco pizza strapped to the top and a bundle of firewood strapped to the bottom….It’s suitable for everything.

Seek Outside really has developed a great platform. It is highly versatile and modular, as Wisner said. My first SO packs (back when they were still called ‘Paradox’) were 4800 Unaweeps. While the Talons offered a lot of possible gear-hauling configurations, ultimately I thought I’d prefer a fixed mesh pocket on the front of the pack, so I sewed one on to my Unaweep. I like to think this is what led to the Gila, haha. We use the same platform in the Evolution/Revolution breakaway configuration to pack serious loads like Roosevelt elk, Sitka blacktail deer, and mountain goats here in Alaska. Or use the integrated bag setup for packrafting trips. The initial setup can be fiddly with the frame extensions, hip belt grommet options and overall strap salad, but once you get it dialed it’s a great carrying experience.

Two examples…

My original Paradox Unaweep 9 years ago packrafting a lap around Shuyak Island:

My ‘Gila’ where I converted a Unaweep by sewing a mesh pocket on and packrafted the length of Kodiak Island:

A few years ago I switched to the Flight packs for packrafting, but for hunting loads it’s still the  Revolution platform all the way.

I’ve done basically all my trips with a 6300 Unaweep. Not the lightest but with a weekend load its very comfortable and it handles my bigger loads fine. In my opinion its a good investment as a “do all” pack.

bradmacmt, I look forward to your findings on those two packs!

Alex, I’ll definitely report back. I ordered a Unaweep 6 years ago, but unannounced they had changed the belt pull from forward pull to side pull, so I sent it back. Now that they’ve corrected that mistake and have added Ultra fabric, I’m ready to give it another try. I started backpacking in 1975, and of course used external frames. In 1978 I switched to internals, and that’s all I’ve used since then, including for packing out elk. It’s also been since the early 80’s that I’ve used a pack with a full wrap-around hipbelt, as both the Unaweep and Wendigo have. Full circle!

What’s old is new again…

Nice input from everyone on this thread. Very helpful.

Is the new hip belt better ?

thanks thom

Is the new hip belt better ?

I think you’re asking me Thom? Dunno, I haven’t received the pack yet, but I’m guessing it is.