I saw a mention of a Zimmerbuilt Pika Pack a while back and after some googling found this description. I wrote Chris and inquired about the pack. Apparently it’s popular in Asia. I ordered one with some small modifications (I increased the torso length and requested a removable, forward-pull waistbelt setup).
The pack arrived a few weeks ago but I wasn’t allowed to open it until today. My initial impression is that I’m thrilled with how it carries.
I loaded it up with my usual kit (20° quilt, Duomid, bivy, Neoair, puffy, shell, FAK/repair, etc.) plus my Bareboxer with ~3 pounds of food and a liter of water. Interior size is comparable to a Kumo although the outer pocket allows quite a bit of overflow space if needed. I also tried it with my son’s BV450 full of food which worked well although the body of the pack was near maximum capacity with the Duomid. Maybe it would be a better fit with a smaller tarp, perhaps packed in the front pocket.
I’ll get a few dayhikes with it this week and report back soon.
I’m not particularly concerned with the weight of my pack but this weighs out at 13.5 ounces with the hipbelt, sternum strap and shock cord.
