GoLite packs??

“Anyone have expierence with their Gust or Land and Earth packs? I had been eyeballing the Earth and Land packs, but I see that GoLite had to recall them and are redesigning them, so they aren't for sale. So, that has me looking at the Gust, but I have some questions about it and hope anyone here can help. Is there anyway to use a water bladder system with the pack? I have a gregory bladder, and would love to be able to switch it over. Is it hard to get your sleeping pad stuffed into the pack? And lastly, how comfortable is it with a 30 pound load? Thanks ahead of time.”

“I have a GoLite Gust and it's great. You can put your water bladder inside the pack on top your other stuff, or tie it onto the top. The pad, I tie onto the outside just like with any other pack.

I use the Gust regularly with loads in the mid-20 pound range and it's very comfortable. Last winter I used it with well over 30 pounds and didn't like the weight, but the pack itself held up well and was comfortable. However you may feel the weight more over 30 lbs. than with other packs.”

“There are tricks to loading the gust for optimal performance. The pad need to become part of the pack. So I put my pad inside and stuff my gear into the pack. The pad also gives the pack some shape and form. Heavy items on the bottom! Works for me!”

“I just bought the Golite Speed. It come with a hydration system.”

“Yo Bear!!!”

“Geils... when you try out the speed, tell us about wouldya? It looks great and I'm sorely tempted to buy one.

Yo Bear! I'm glad you are still liking your Golite.”

“If the Land & Earth aren't available I think I may just go with the GVP G4. I was eyeing the lighter McHale packs but don't know if they are worth the $ and the extra pound of weight.”

“will do ped.”

“How much does that one cost?
I have been selling the Equinox lite pack...very nice response so far. only weighs 20oz and has nice hip belt and shoulder harness.

Retail is $129.00”

“thanks jg”

“My Speed was $139 I believe.”

“Just orderd my Gust from NorthernMountainSupply for $99 plus $1 for shipping. Can't wait to get it and try it out. Really looking forward to the 5 pounds savings over my old pack. Is the fabric that the pack is made of water proof? Or do you need a pack cover?”

“/\”

“I just bought one a few weeks ago. Haven't hiked with it yet. I don't think it's waterproof. Manufacturer reccomends buying one of their lightweight, waterproof bags to put your stuff in during rainy weather.”

“I find that if I keep my gear in individualized waterproof sacks, that it works much better than a waterproof pack cover...A lot less hassle and it saves weight.....”

“A 5 lb. savings over your old pack? What in God's name were you carrying before?”

“I met an overweight (fat) backpacker last year in Olympic National Park who was using a GoLite pack. He looked completely happy while his more fit companions looked beat. The pack was full and looked uncomfortable without the hip belt but he assured me that it was much more comfortable than a conventional pack. I watched him happily stride off with his two friends dragging along behind. It got me thinking that I should look into a lighter pack. I'm trying to decide between a Golite and a GVP G4 pack.”

“I've seen the GVP G4 in action and was impressed. I ordered one last week and it should be here soon. I'll post a review after I give it a whirl.

I got interested in lightening my load after reading Ray's book. I had been looking at Go-Lite stuff for 2 years and ended up with the G4 becuase I felt it would fit me better and that it suited my needs a little better.”

“Father Goose, my old pack is a Gregory Palisade, which is around 7 pounds. Great pack, but I'm on this light-weight kick so that has to go. Next on my list is either a WM Ultralite down bag or some light trail-runners to replace my heavy hiking boots. I was also looking at the G4 but decided against it since I don't use the Z-Rest, I use a wider, more bulky foam pad to go with my Hennessey Hammock.”

“Big Coop: Does stuffing clothes into the straps and pads for padding work well with the G4? How is that working out for you?

I've got no problem with using the Z-rest for padding/framing on the main bag, but I'm wondering about the shoulder pads and other things.”

“I'm hopelessly in love with my TNF Renegage. 7lbs(give or take 1/2lb), 6200ci of "bring the kitchen sink." Maybe I'll move to a lighter pack in 15-20 years, but I love my baby. She'll be shouldering loads for my childrens' children.”

“ped - I haven't received the pack yet (thus no testing) but the person I met who was using it had a fairly light load and kept her spare socks in the shoulder straps and she seemed pleased with the performance. I have heard from more than one person that uses a therma-rest ultralite instead of the z-rest (example). Which is what I will end up doing.”

“Coop--that is what I did--I use the thermarest inside. It is a minor pain to load the thing just right but when you do it rides nice. I went ahead and put some cut pieces of old foam in the shoulder pockets so they hit on those bones that stick out--wishbones?. The whole pack was light enough that I did not need any padding for the hip belt.”

“Coop,that G4,if new, should come with some foam to be cut for pads.I would advise using them until you get used to the pack and load balancing.”

“Thanks - will do. My first few trips will probably be 1 or 2 nights so the weight won't be bad at all - maybe I'll pack in some fancy food to weigh 'er down a little.”

“Like little frozen filets? They thaw out just in time for dinner. Maybe use frozen asparagus to keep them and the boiled potatoes chilly? Reheat those potatoes in a bit of butter... garlic toast?”

“You're makin' me hungry just reading about it. Who says ultralite isn't comfortable? (at least the first night). It's actually interesting to see the great meals some folks make on the trail. in Ocala - om had a little saute pan with some olive oil and garlic for her veggies. It smelled a lot tastier than the tuna helper that I brought.”

“My husband has a Golite Gust and I carry a Golite Breeze. My husband thinks that backpacking is much more enjoyable with the Gust. I have been using the Breeze for 3 months and have had no negative experiences with it. We both use our thermorest pads as a frame placing them inside the bags. We hiked 3 hours in pouring rain yesterday with ponchos and our bags did not get wet. When we hike on moderate terrain, I wear Montrail Vitesse trailrunners which are comfortable and lightweight. We are much happier hikers using lighter gear and enjoy our adventures more since we no longer are worn out from pack weight at the end of the day.”

“I currently use an external frame pack that weighs 5.5 pounds and would like to shave off 2.5 - 3 pounds with a lighter pack.

Would one of the Go Lite pack models carry a Thermarest LE pad, Inyo 2 tent, bear cannister and a small down sleeping bag?

If the sleeping bag could go inside along with the bear cannister, then could the tent and thermarest pad be strapped to the outside? I also use a platypus hydration system that could be strapped to the outside if necessary.”

“You probably could fit all that into the Golite Gust. It has about 4500 cu. cm. of room. I would use the thermorest for the internal frame and then stuff the rest of the gear inside the bag. I don't think you would have to strap anything on the pack.”

“Gust is rated at 30 lbs max for optimum comfort.”

“Phil: On another board, I saw that someone had done something very similar to what you propose. (The post seems to have fallen out of the archives @ thru-hiker.com). The poster reported great success using the thermarest as an inner wall for his Gust and placing the bear cannister inside that. Once everything was packed, he turned the nozzle of the thermarest to let in air.”

“Thanks! Something to look into.

I have a conversion kit on my Thermarest that I dearly love. I like to have access to it when I stop for long breaks. However, I could just leave it in until I set up camp and be happy with the lower weight.”

“I know several people have this pack.

I used mine for the first time last weekend. Do you find that the hip belt doesn't want to sit right and digs into your hips? I am thinking of buying something to sew to the hip belt for more padding. I have bruised hips. Otherwise it was wonderful!”

“Need advice please.”

“I haven't had that problem with mine. I do tend to get a little bit of pain on the fronts of my shoulders, due to lack of padding, when I use the pack.”

“I have no issues with mine. I'll get back to you after loading it up with 8 days of food in Sept.

Luckily everything else is super light.”

“I have the Team, which is a sister to the Race. I had a bad problem with the shoulder strap buckles digging in under my arms. Had to add padding under the buckles and a few inches down the bare strap to fix it. No problem with the hip belt.”

“Maybe it's a specific to my body problem.

Well, I don't mind adding a little something to enhance the comfort. It seems like the hip belt lacks structure. It's just fabric afterall. I think a little padding will not only make it lie flat, but also cushion my hip bones.

Thanks for the feedback!”

“Angie has a problem with the material chafing her shoulders and arms. She wraps the shoulder straps with bandanas now.”

“I meant to add that her loads aren't heavy enough for the hip belt to make an impact.”

“Be careful of what you wear between the hipbelt and your skin, especially if you are skinny. Anything that doesn't have smooth lines will cause abrasions and chafing with the best fitting hipbelt. Choose clothing that doesn't have thick elastic, belt loops, thick cords or anything that can dig in.”

“My packweight was at 22 pounds last weekend. Ahh, lightweight rules...

I think what the hip belt is doing:
Because this fabric is so slippery, the pack wants to slide past my lumbar region. Then the hip belt straps are sort of hanging down in the back. This causes the fabric of the hip belt to bunch/roll a little. I have all the weight supported over my hips where it is rolled/bunched and this digs into my hips. I kept hiking up my pack and tightening the hip belt straps, but the pack would slide back down.”

“Try putting your sleeping bag in the very bottom. Something soft and springy seems to help the hip belt conform better to my body and stay in place.”

“Sounds like clothing is the problem. Try not wearing any and see if that helps, pixie. Be sure and post pics, too.”

“tdale: I did have it in the bottom, but in its stuff sack.

bit: bp-ing nude sounds dangerous. I think I'll wear clothes. But thanks for the advice. ; p”

“Hell, people backpack nude on the AT every year. It's not so dangerous. I'm only trying to help!”

“think of the bug bites and the sunburns!”

“I've seen where Golite suggests putting everything heavy in the very bottom. I get better results with mu Gust with my blanket in the bottom. As long as your sleeping bag in it's stuff sack isn't too hard. it should work. Just stuff the bottom of the pack full enough to get a firm cross-section where the hip belts attach.

I see on the Race that it's got little pockets on the hip belt. Try stuffing them full of socks to get some rigidity and padding there.”

“Good idea TDale! That is awesome. No sewing either! I just need room for my lip balm and my asthma inhaler anyhow!”