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ZPacks to discontinue the Zero
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Home › Forums › Gear Forums › Gear (General) › ZPacks to discontinue the Zero
- This topic has 45 replies, 17 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 11 months ago by Michael.
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Feb 22, 2017 at 11:11 am #3452010
I was reading on facebook (Sub 2268 Hiking) that “Zpacks Discontinues ‘Zero’ and ‘XS Zero’ Backpacks”. Can anyone confirm this?
Feb 22, 2017 at 11:56 am #3452020There’s a note on the ZPacks site that the Zero is being “redesigned” and ins’t currently available. The new version is apparently being released later this month.
Feb 22, 2017 at 12:18 pm #3452030My interpretation of the Sub 2268 hiking group post is that John Abela has “inside” word that it will be discontinued.
Feb 22, 2017 at 12:49 pm #3452035+1 to what John said. The ZPacks website is pretty clear….
Zero Backpacks
The Zero backpack is undergoing a design update and will be unavailable until late February.Feb 22, 2017 at 12:58 pm #3452039To be honest, it wouldn’t totally blow my mind to see it get discontinued, since it doesn’t seem all that popular and is probably a pain to make in light of the ordering process (and million different options).
That said, I don’t know why they would word the website like that if they were discontinuing.
Feb 22, 2017 at 1:36 pm #3452046I think if he limited it to the grocery bag with drink pockets on both sides and a sturnum strap and webbing hip belt it could be successful.
there are lots of 1-2lb versions of that type of pack and not much competition in the up space space
Feb 22, 2017 at 3:00 pm #3452067Yeah, I thought it was a good pack for overnights, weekends and day hikes. Sad to see it go and then see it replaced with a heavy-duty version. Too bad…
Feb 22, 2017 at 3:16 pm #3452074I have a Zero and use it from time to time, but it is the hybrid Cuben version with the mesh front panel and side water bottle pockets, so it really isn’t a Zero in the original sense, which is a plain Cuben stuff sack with shoulder straps and nothing else.
In the meantime, those pining for the good old days of custom Cuben stuff should check out Appalachian Ultralight.
Feb 22, 2017 at 3:28 pm #3452076John Abela did say that he can “confirm” that they will be discontinuing the packs. I know he has worked with Zpacks for a long time on multiple projects so I would sort of trust his comment and would assume that he has some information that is not yet up on the Z packs website.
Sad to see them go if that’s the reality
Feb 22, 2017 at 5:14 pm #3452095Re: Bob Moulder and Appalachian Ultralight. Kind of wished you had kept that to yourself. Arrgghhh!
Feb 22, 2017 at 5:58 pm #3452104Re: Bob Moulder and Appalachian Ultralight. Kind of wished you had kept that to yourself. Arrgghhh!
Uh-ohhh… somebody’s tempted! :^D
Gotta say, the last thing I need is another pack but the ethereal translucence of pure, unadulterated Cuben is quite a draw.
Oh gosh, am I making it worse? LOL
Feb 22, 2017 at 6:02 pm #3452106Sorry, Bob!
Bob, yes, you are making it worse.Feb 22, 2017 at 6:09 pm #3452109It’s times like these I’m glad I’m immune to the charms of packs without padded belts.
Feb 22, 2017 at 7:05 pm #3452117Huh-did anybody think of sending an email to Zpacks?
I did. They are just making a model of Zero with the most common options. Not a build-a-pack custom job anymore. Sounds fine with me, and I freaking love my Zero.
Feb 22, 2017 at 7:17 pm #3452119Cool. Which options?
I’d guess just like the one I have — hybrid, mesh front, water bottle pockets. I have the webbing hip belt which is easily removable, but I like hip belts on everything so it stays.
Per that spec, and including a hip belt pouch and shoulder pouch mine weighs in at 12 oz exactly.
Feb 22, 2017 at 7:23 pm #3452121From Joe Valesko:
We are trying to streamline so that we can stock inventory.
The new frame-less pack will have the popular options by default and there won’t be choices. It will include:
Center pocket
Side pockets
Roll top side straps
1″ detachable webbing belt
Adjustable torso height
Hybrid Cuben material onlyFeb 22, 2017 at 7:33 pm #3452125Adjustable torso height is interesting… Must be that sliding loop arrangement from the updated Blast/Haul. I guess the main bag remains 36 liter. I prefer the roll top center buckle but no biggie.
Feb 22, 2017 at 9:39 pm #3452175Maybe he meant:
roll top closure
side compression straps
That’s my take, at least.
Feb 23, 2017 at 7:29 am #3452202Ok, that’s great.
I forgot, mine also has some side compression straps, 2 per side, although they are very light grosgrain using small ladderlock hardware, not the zig-zag cord style. I bought it second-hand and that’s the way it came, and I forgot to mention them because I never use them.
However, I use the zig-zag side compression cords on my Arc Haul all the time and they work brilliantly… one quick yank and the whole side compresses down surprisingly evenly, sort of self-regulating.
Feb 25, 2017 at 1:05 am #3452762This is all making me very nervous…I was literally saving to buy a Zero when this happened :(
I really don’t want a roll-top closure. I like how quick the Zero’s regular closure seemed. I really, really liked how customizable things were.
Feb 26, 2017 at 10:41 am #3452942Timeline now March.
Feb 28, 2017 at 8:07 pm #3453573This is all making me very nervous…I was literally saving to buy a Zero when this happened :(
I really don’t want a roll-top closure. I like how quick the Zero’s regular closure seemed. I really, really liked how customizable things were.
There are so many cottage manufacturers who will happily make you the precise pack you want…
Mar 1, 2017 at 11:11 am #3453659“There are so many cottage manufacturers who will happily make you the precise pack you want…”
Absolutely. Zimmerbuilt for one. Will probably be a little more expensive, but you’re only limited by your imagination and the fit/finish is much, much better.
Mar 1, 2017 at 10:58 pm #3453824Thanks Ryan. I’d be interested to hear folks’ testimony of other cottage manufacturers who would do quality custom packs. I liked ZPacks a lot because of the quality for the price (<$200 for a semi-custom cuben pack) and weight. I looked into Appalachian Ultralight as mentioned above and that caught my attention…KS Ultralight takes some thought and navigation because the website isn’t intuitive. And, no xenophobia here, but it’s always nice to order a US-sewn bag.
Cheers!
Mar 1, 2017 at 11:11 pm #3453826Still pretty new and not custom but very simple designs that might check all your boxes, Pa’lante.
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