Finally Ordered the GVP G4

“I finally took the plunge and ordered a GVP G4 lightweight pack for my birthday. I've been eyeing this pack for a while and finally saw one "in field" on the Ocala ECT trip a few months back. I had been wavering between Go-Lite and one these and decided on the G4.

I'll let ya'll know how it works out when I get it.”

“Congrats, Big Coop. Some of the best decisions you make can take awhile.”

“Welcome to the club...I don't think you'll regret it...Just take care of it and it'll do likewise”

“Mine is green.”

“That *does* look double deadly.

Hmmm... is there a way to use a T-Rest Ultralight with it instead of a Z-Rest?”

“A 3/4 ultra can be folded in half length wise-then to the right height.Do this when it is totally deflated ,then make sure the fill is at the top.after the pad is positioned open valve and adjust.I still carry a 1/2 ridgerest that i line the in side of the pack.its weight is little ,but it really helps the first days when your loaded with food and fuel.I find I have to adjust the ultra in the sleeve from time to time.”

“I have not used mine in awhile but I used the folded thermarest method. I put it inside of the pack and just blew off the z-rest pocket. Keep the valve to the top and to the inside so it does not poke you. When all is done , blow it up till things are firm. Is there such a word as macha? I looked like I had a real load on my back but it was just air!”

“Good info uncliff. I had been wondering the same thing about the T-rest ultralight.”

“what a coincidence Coop, I ordered one yesterday too! only it was not my birthday....heh...mothers day..thats it...yeah....
Got the basic green one....in medium.....hope it is right....but should be easy to adjust if necessary since he gives instructions on how to make your own.
So, uncliff...the ridgerest inside? what about a 3/4? still work? My ridgerest is getting very pliable and "foldable" from age, think it would work in the pocket like a Zrest?

now dont be trying to carry Delaney Rose around the house in it when it arrives....heh
Have Fun!”

“First a new baby and now a new pack.

When ya getting a new sleeping bag?”

“He won't be sleeping for awhile!! HPM”

“DOH!

Silly me. I'm next so I guess I'd better start stocking up now.”

“Taking naps is cool!!”

“Yeah but the guys at work keep waking me up.”

“GET USED TO IT!!”

“No doubt.
LOL”

“HPM, you could be like my wife and feign the inability to be woken from a deep sleep.

I'm still the one who gets up with our kids. They both got up last night. Grrrr.”

“Truth be told, I DO have that inability.”

“I have before,but will reiterate.One great advantage to these packs comes with home building. After owning the pack and using it,think of the great custom you could make after that experience.sizing and features can be really dialed in.NOTE:make your new one before you sell the old one.”

“uncliff - I hear you - but I think you would shocked at how poor my 'gear making' skills are. I think I would get some joy out of making my own stuff - but maybe I'll start with a tarp (heck HPM made one) or a walking stick before I tackle the backpack.

om - maybe Delaney could fit in one of the mesh pockets? That's funny that we both ordered ours on the same day?! Glen said he'll send mine on Saturday.

There may be a significant delay between the time I receive the pack and the time I actually get to overnight with it - little Delaney being the primary variable there.

Concerning sleep, my wife has been kind enough to defend my sleep a little in these first few weeks. A few of the feedings have happended while I was crashed.

Me - "Hey the baby slept through the night."
Wife - "No, you slept through the night."”

“Thanks for pack the info, Folks! Time is definitely ticking on that 7+ lb, 6000 ci Gregory.

(and I think Coop and HPM better be practicing to take cat naps with their eyes open, <G>)”

“"It says it's from GVP, but I don't think it's your backpack, a notebook wouldn't fit in this box much less a backpack." She Coop said to me over the phone. The folks at GVP were just showin' off. The pack is here and it fits the bill. Very light, plenty of room for the bulky bag. Platypus will fit in one side pocket, fuel, snacks, and ditty bag in the other side and the tarp in the back. Should be plenty of room left for the rest of my gear, particularly for the Summer. Have to figure out what I want to do about a sleeping pad. May take some z-rest chunks for the suspension and to sit on at rest stops, then use the therma-rest inside against my back. I'll line the inside with a garbage disposal bag and skip the pack cover.

Now I must find time to test this baby.”

“I got two!! He sent me a medium and a small so that I could try em on and decide which is best. Both came together in a "shirt size" box....I couldnt believe it!
I have not fiddled around with them yet...let us know what tricks you discover to make it work....
sigh...and i thought i was over getting new gear!!”

“I'm trying to figure out if I want to use the foam or something else for the shoulder straps and hip belt. If I use that for storing socks or some other clothes I think they could get wet if it rained, maybe I'll store them in zip-lock bags.”

“Or wet from sweat. Either way, not a very appealing situation.”

“think i am going to try bubble wrap in the shoulder straps, that foam that came with the pack seems too stiff”

“you'll have enough to worry about-cut the foam-it's really not to stiff.”

“heh...guess yer rite uncliff...heh....”

“i never worry, but...what will i be "having enough to worry about? :)”

“What I'm saying,is that many new issues seem to arise when first using a radical piece of gear like this.Methods of loading to accomplish proper balance and shape,takes a few trials.The hip belt--shoulder strap combination is(was for me)not directly obvious.
By fitting the pads and generally simplifying the system,makes it easier to concentrate on the load handling.Just a thought.cliff”

“now that is the kind of insight i like to see.....this IS a radical piece of gear....way rad!...but o so lite!
thanks uncliff”

“Looks like a very good pack. Under one pound basic and can order add-ons.”

“uncliff - I think I will take your recommendation. There's plenty to learn about this pack without making it more difficult.

I filled it with pillows and marched around the house for a while - gotta love new gear.”

“Get ready to cut the weight! I've done a couple of test packs while getting ready for my first overnight with the G4. I definitely need to be strict with what goes on the trip. With the old Kelty I could toss anything in the bag, now every piece needs to be scrutinized 'cuz of limited space and limited support. If you can't get the load below 20# without food & water then you may want to pass on this pack.

The Summer gear is down to about 15# before food & water. Adjustments include:

Esbit vs. Pocket Rocket
Coleman Inyo (4#) vs Eureka Apex 2XT (6#)
Aluminum pot vs. MSR non-stick
No bowl
Debating camp shoes
and various other little savings.

I am sticking with the full length Therma-rest for now (works well inside the pack) and will continue testing the tarp.

One thing - as mentioned this pack needs to be handled with relative care. The mesh pockets are indeed quite sensitive.”

“true Big Coop.....i have really trimmed a lot of luxuries ,mostly in the kitchen department and there will be no mangoes and avocados on my menu..but i am not giving up my fleece blankie!...heh....using lots of ziplocks and stuff sacks....we shall see how it holds up on a weeklong trip....”

“I say if you like it bring it!

8)”

“Lightweight packs rock.”

“There is that word again!

8)”

“om - I'm sad to hear your kitchen had to suffer. I'll miss the sizzle and scent of your garlic in oil on the next trip!”

“NO AVOCADOS!?!?”

“no mangoes ??? that is too bad - I remember well the mango you shared with everyone on the latest Lost Cove ECT - very tasty - thanks for sharing it om”

“You have the light pack, why are you filling it with heavy stuff? What's the point?”

“Took the new G4 out for a 4 mile test hike. I filled it with about 3 days worth of goodies which brought me closer to 30lbs than I was expecting. With food, fuel and water I was at 28 lbs.

The pack was filled to the top, I had a full length therma-rest rolled inside as my back pad and frame. That took up a lot of space. I may need to move to a 3/4 lightweight pad for longer trips. I learned to pack the pad in first so the "frame" goes all the way to the bottom, into the sleeping bag compartment on the bottom - if I don't do this then the top attachment of the hip belt to the bag takes on the whole load and the pad and sleeping bag kind of fold in a weird way while hiking. I have not tried the small z-rest slipped in the back as they recommend.

I did not miss the Kelty external at this weight. I have had to lighten my load and suspect I need to do a little more, but the bag handled great with almost 30lbs. The three mesh pockets on the outside can be packed with all the stuff you need for the day, so you don't need to open the bag until you're in camp.

Adjusting was easy, hip belt, shoulder straps - that's it. But then, the load is under 30 lbs so you wouldn't need that much adjusting.

Plenty of thumb loops for bandanas, water nozzles etc.

Thumbs up!”

“hey big coop....glad you had a positive experience with the gpv g4! i agree with you all the way on the thumbs up..

it really was a treat using this pack in the beartooths. I weighed in at 25 lbs at home (without fuel canister and H2O) for the 5 day trip. i had all my main stuff i like to bring and plenty of food, but the pack was compact, and lite , lite, lite!
As you mentioned, the outside pockets are ample and I carried my daily essentials, platypus,filter, snacks, even my stove and cooking cup, raingear,toiletries/first aid....the only things inside were tent, sleepy bag,sleep pad, food/more elaborate cookware and change of clothes.
I too found, that sliding the sleep pad(i have a 3/4 ridgerest) all the way down was better even tho the flare at the bottom for bag was slightly wasted space with this method, it made it easier to fold down the top too.
I like to bring a fleece blanket so I folded this up and used it in the pocket intended for the zrest. It had to be folded perfectly for it to stay put, and I will probably add velcro to keep that pocket closed, but it was a nice cushion for the back, and a good place for an extra piece of luxury gear. It was handy at breaks with no need to unstrap or pull out anything out of the pack.
I never carried more than a liter and a half of water since we had no shortage of places to filter water as needed, so that also helped to lighten the load.
I stuffed my fleece camp socks in the shoulder straps along with small packs of pocket tp , and in the hip belt, i had fleece gloves and wet ones travel packs....no discomforts at all and those essentials were at hand....they are very handy pockets!
and for flying....what a breeze.....all the gear fit into one small piece of wheeled luggage and the pack folded up and i put it in my purse...:) no more duffel to fit a backpack into.
i love it, i love it...and when this one tears up, i will get or make another!
good to hear you got to get out there and use it!”

“Yeah Budder - that is one of the drawbacks, the material is not thick and would not stand up to much bushwacking.

I wonder what kind of weight a thicker material might add?

This pack material is thinner than the Golite Gust.”

“I have looked at this pack and also seen one in the field. I think if I made mine, it'd be out of ripstop or possible even a lighter gauge cordura.

I think the real weight savings comes from it a) being frameless; and b) a lack of zippers and extraneous webbing, buckles, pockets, etc.”

“Not familiar with the material the GVP G4 is made of, but the GoLite Gust material is very tough.”

“spectra- grid stop?”