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Gossamer Gear Miniposa Backpack REVIEW
Removable carbon fiber stays make it the lightest and most versatile internal frame backpack in its size class, but curved stays would markedly improve its fit and comfort.
By Will Rietveld
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The Gossamer Gear Mariposa pack, introduced in 2004, has become very popular with ultralight backpackers because of the versatility offered by its removable carbon fiber stays. However, many hikers gave feedback that the Mariposa has too much volume (4200 cubic inches) for the average ultralight backpacking trip. In response, Gossamer Gear introduced the Miniposa in spring 2007, a smaller version at 3300 cubic inches. Is it right on target for ultralight backpacking?
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Will Rietveld Ph.D, Senior Editor for Gear and Apparel, joined the BPL staff in April 2004. In his former career, Will was a research scientist, project manager, and R&D program administrator. Now retired, he lives in southern Colorado where he takes up a new career of backpacking year-round in the mountains and canyon country of the Southwest. During the summer months Will and his wife Janet are volunteer wilderness rangers in the Weminuche Wilderness. He has been a lightweight backpacker for 52 years and an ultralight backpacker for 13 years.
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Aluminum stays that are 1/2 inch wide and 1/8 inch thick will fit in the sleeves and weigh around 5 oz. This aluminum bar stock was available at my local hardware store, and easy to cut with a hacksaw. Alluminum Arrow Shafts will only weigh around 2 oz., are bendable, and will fit as well. I wonder if I drilled a hole in the arrow shaft near the top of the pack, and inserted a large cotter pin parrallel with the back of the pack, would it keep the shaft from twisting? It might need a piece of plastic to protect the pack fabric and firm the pin up. Of course, GG has a suggestion on thier website of taking a coat hanger and bending it between the two shafts with notches in the ends of the shafts to keep them from twisting. That might be the easiest and lightest solution after all. I just got the pack and it seems great!-Scott
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