By his own account, Ray Jardine made the first RayWay packs in 1992, for a 1993 Appalachian Trail thruhike1. Photos of Ray and Jenny Jardine's 1993 packs look remarkably like a traditional alpine rucksack: the drawcord top, dual side compression straps, and generally streamlined exterior could be anything from a (shrunken) Chouinard Baltoro to a Hyperlite Mountain Gear Ice Pack. These packs even had a hipbelt and dual stays, though these were both quickly jettisoned, never to return. By the next year the Jardine pack had sprouted a rear mesh pocket, and by 1999, when Beyond Backpacking was published as an independent work, the Jardine pack had the permanent rear mesh pocket, dual lower side mesh pockets, and no hipbelt, all of which exist today in the RayWay kit pack. In four short years, Backpacker was reviewing2 half a dozen 3000 in3 packs under 2 lbs, including the ULA P-1, the Golite Gust, and the GVP G4. All three very directly inspired by the work of Ray Jardine.
In many respects, the contemporary ultralight movement has been defined by Jardine and his pack. Figures such as Ron Moak3 and Glen Van Peski4 specifically cite Jardine as having inspired their own work. This is the simplest explanation for the strong similarity most ultralight packs from the last decade have born to one another.
ARTICLE OUTLINE
- Introduction
- Ultralight movement
- Ultralight packs evolution
- Notes
# WORDS: 3120
# PHOTOS: 5
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A few suggestions on UL suspension systems:
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/paradox-evolution-review-chenault.html#.U266VC_eO98
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/hyperlite_mountain_gear_porter_pack_review.html#.U266ti_eO98
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/how_packs_work.html#.U2661C_eO98
Those three have links to older BPL articles going back over a decade which all together should provide a reasonably complete treatment of the subject.
Seems most of the Cuben haters have never picked the stuff up and used it. Yes it is $$. I have never bought a pack and expected it to last 10 years or even 5. Its laughable that most on this forum are not thru hikers and will never put to the test as what Joe from Z Packs says. "Good enough for one thru hike, but most people don't so it should be good for many years of usage."
Do you throw your pack on the ground at a rest?
Use it as a sled to down scree?
Most of us carry a mini roll of duct tape. Use it if you get a hole and stop crying.
Arc Blast in tow. No holes. Do I take care of it. Yes. Am I a weekend warrior NNSFS? No
We all have bias in life. Some times it is so easy to spot in a review, then claim it does not fit into my hiking style, or claim you are free climbing granite all day with your pack on.
^ Wow. OK, feel better?
What is amazing is that when ANY Zpack gear is FS in the Gear Swap forum it is snapped up literally within minutes.
So, there are plenty of Zpack aficionados out here.
Order wait times are another indicator.
Nm
'Lots' relative to what? Also plenty of WTB for Zpacks gear… Why is that? People are selling all kinds of other nice gear… why is that?
However, it appears that recently some people are simply upgrading, say from a Hex Twin to a Hex Duplex. There were a couple of people who wanted to trade or upgrade simply for the new camo material that just became available.
But, getting back to facts, which of my statements was incorrect?
NM
You know, Dave, I've been on BPL a few years now, and have learned a thing or two from your comments. But more often than not, your attitude kills it. I've looked around on Backpacker.com, and your M.O. there seems pretty much the same.
What is it with you? Are you this aggressive and rude in real life? Or do you only feel comfortable behaving like this online?
Sold a Duplex to buy a Duplex. Wanted camo. Sold at full price. Threw in a ground sheet for good karma.
Gear turnover is gigantic in this business. If it wasn't you would not see this website, and about 3/4 of companies you depend on to craft your outdoor wares. If one thinks all people care about is the lovely outdoors, then I start laughing. Gear junkies unite.
Doesn't mean it is all bad or good gear being sold. I also don't think you will ever see in Gear Swap. I hated it, piece of junk now buy it from me.
Again I say how many have really put on a Cuben pack or slept in the tent, that tend to poo poo it all the time?
Really on the feelings part. I feel like I am talking to my second grade son. Lets keep it to a higher level than that.
"Have I hurt your feelings? LOL."
Pretty sad, Dave.
"You know, Dave, I've been on BPL a few years now, and have learned a thing or two from your comments. But more often than not, your attitude kills it. I've looked around on Backpacker.com, and your M.O. there seems pretty much the same.
What is it with you? Are you this aggressive and rude in real life? Or do you only feel comfortable behaving like this online?"
No problem Dave. Glad you have learned a thing or two.
Deleted previous posts because challenging the status quo is no longer permitted. That is what is really sad.
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