Zpacks Multi-Pack Review

I have been using one for a while now, and i am very satisfied with it.
Since i only used it as a frontpack while hiking and as a shoulder bag when taking my plane or going to the pub i cut all the attachments but the 2 on top.

At first i thought it was a little bigger than i needed, but when i started using it with my photo gear : EP2 + EVF +12mm+20mm+45mm it was a perfect fit.

It stayed completely dry even with 10 days of almost continuous rain/sleet/snow on the TGO 2013 in Scotland.

But for added waterproofness i used a plastic bag, i cut 2 slits into it to get the straps through and i ductaped the 2 slits against the straps.
When its raining i just pull down the plastic bag over the zpacks.
It may seems overkill,but ill do it again next time i hike in Scotland :p

The green on the photo is a foam insert weighting less than an ounce , giving some rigidity and separating one side for the 12mm and 45mm and one for the EP2 +20 mm ( that i used on most photos ).

Before this pack i was using the OMM trio map pouch wich had a lot of features i didnt need ( and that i removed ) but i prefer the Zpacks, one of the advantage being the way you fix it to your backpack, it is way easier to switch between packs, the other being the shape that fits better my photo gear.

http://www.zpacks.com/accessories/backpack_lid.shtml

"Basic information like that should be included in the review. Just saying."

Indeed. In fact, it should be the first thing presented, along with weight. http://www.backpackgeartest.org does it well.

Says a lot: "Manufacturer Specified: 2.8 oz (80 g) BPL Measured: 2.8 oz (80 g)"

Thanks for the review Chris. I wasn't aware of this pack, and it looks like what I've been searching for.

Wore this recently on a 7 night trip as a front pack attached at two upper and two lower points. It felt very secure–no flopping away from the body. (Yep, need to trim that sternum strap.)

Next time I will try it with the waist belt, not attached to the pack.

Yeah I saw this ages ago and originally disregarded it but now I can see some benefits.
Does anyone have any photos of this in black?

Used this pack attached to my HMG Porter for 11 days in Lapland. In it was my EP2 and lenses as well as a GPS and some snacks. It was ideally suited to the task. I expect I will use it as my camera pouch for a long time to come.

>I like it in black.

Photo please! :)

A belated followup:

The Multipack is a good design. I only used it as a front pack for a larger pack, and it worked well. The supplied straps and cordlocks are a pretty flexible system, though if your shoulder straps are totally bereft of daisy chains or the like you might need to do some sewing. Tension can be adjusted easily via the side straps: tight for a more secure fit, loose for better air circulation. If anything, I found the size a bit much. My ideal load flopped around a bit, and the pack is big enough that it got in the way during more technical scrambling. Not a big deal, and it is big enough to hold a larger camera kit. The zipper requires two hands or quite a bit of fiddling to open and shut, which I found off putting.

A hole did appear near one of the upper corners after a month of use. The seam allowance was a bit small and eventually the threads pulled out. This was quickly and cheerfully replaced by Zpacks. I sold the replacement as I decided it didn't fit my needs.

I've been using a wearable (and much heavier, the HPG Runner's Kit bag) chest pack this winter, which has a wrap around zipper and several pockets. I like the organization, though making the Multipack like this would add weight and expense. I do think a different zipper orientation would make the Multipack easier to open and provide more flexibility for accessing contents from either the top or side. I'd also like to see Zpacks offer a wearable harness as an option, though it is pretty easy to make one yourself.

Overall, the Multipack is a solid iteration of a very good concept.