Lightweight Packs

“Hey, I am looking to replace my Gregory G pack this year with something a little lighter. Anyone have any suggestions?

I was looking at this guy at REI.

http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&productId=47880463&parent_category_rn=9986490

It weighs one ounce more, but gives me 300 cu. inches more space. The G pack is perfect for late spring and early hikes when I don't need extra stuff.

I cannot decide whether I want a larger pack that weighs about the same for early spring and late fall trips or a pack that weighs less.”

“I can tell you what I have. It's a Granite Gear Virga. It was an odd departure for me. It's a frameless pack and you roll up your sleeping mat (Ridgerest in my case)into a tube and slide this into the backpack. Then you pack inside the tube. It's a little tricky at first but it works well. The belt is not very comfortable but it's a setup I wouldn't carry more than 20 lbs in. I'll be at about 13 for the Gorge hike. I'll prolly be close to 20 for the Canyon with all the water and food for a week and may have to move up to my Granite Gear Vapor Trail (another excellent pack).”

“A couple of the NE crew have those packs, ENS and someone else. They really like em. I have the Zpack and love it. It holds alot and fits great.”

“Take a look at the Osprey Aether 45. Dirt cheap and a really cool simple lightweight bag. not ultralight but just a hair over 2lbs and the roll top is by far the coolest closure system I've used in a pack. my only complaint is the mesh pockets, I don't like the way they are contoured. I can fit my winder ~20 degree setup in it just fine... and it rolls down to a smaller summer setup and works great then too. Very comfy pack.”

“This is the one I would get. I would buy the stays ($10) also to see if I liked them.

http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/shop/shopexd.asp?id=37”

“A "pad pocket" sounds like a features on a womans backpack.”

“Get bandanna
Put stuff in bandanna
Tie closed
Tie bandanna to stick
Put stick over shoulder
Hike.”

“Ha Ha HPM!

Actually, the pack is going to have to be bought at REI. (Sorry, failed to mention that)

I have like $200 to spend and I just bought a new bag, I I will not need one of those. I figured a pack is the best bet.

Cool suggestions!”

“I bought an Osprey Aether 90 in the late summer, and I love it. The Osprey Aether series is designed for those who are not carrying very heavy loads, and don't want a heavy pack. Their carrying capacity per pound of pack is excellent. The Aether 75 and 90 are designed optimally for loads up to about 45 pounds, but they will handle more OK. All Osprey packs are very well though out. In general Osprey are my favorite packs.

One caution about the Aether 75 and 90. The harness system uses a center back stay that is intended to be, and needs to be, removed and bent to conform to your body in order for the pack to feel and fit right with a load. Chances are the center stay of the pack you would try on at the store would not have been adjusted for anyone, and thus might not be adjusted to feel good on you when you test the pack with a load.

45 pounds in my Aether 90 transfers a large portion of the weight to the center (back) of my hip belt, less to the sides of the belt. This works very well on me because I have skinny hips. My hips don't stick out far enough for any hip belt to grab onto well. I imagine the pack would also work well on someone with wide hips, but I just don't know.

The Aether seems to transfer weight better to my hips than any pack I have used, yet my hips feel less constrained, more free to move, than with any other pack I have used, including the various fancy designs that North Face has come up with over the years.

http://www.ospreypacks.com/”

“Thanks for the info Old Growth!

I, like you, have skinny, boney hips. I was unaware of the center back stay though. Thanks for calling that to my attention. Is it hard to do the adjusting on your own, or should I have someone at REI do it?”

“You know what I hate? I am on a similar quest for an internal frame pack but I don't want it to weigh too much. I went to the weekend packs for women and the packs are SO HEAVY!! It totally sucks!!!

I like that pack Wounded Knee!”

“Tango - Have you looked at the Chimera by Mountainsmith?

WK - I used the identical pack on most of my thru hike. It's not recommended for above 30lbs. I found it worked best below 25...actually even better when empty. The combination of webbing and struts allow excellent air circulation around the back. No problems with durability. Osprey is really great with their warranty. I'd recommend getting a red pack, they're just a little more durable than gray.”

“You talking about the Osprey Tango?

Everyone that has one raves about it. I have been a loyal Gregory man so far, but I may have to do a little cheatin.”

“I got the Atmos this year, and I can say by far that its my favorite piece of gear. I would recomend it. This comming from a guy with 5 other packs in his inventory!”

“one of these days i'll join yall in the 21st century and get an internal frame pack and maybe some trailrunners instead of boots...hell, i'm already one step closer, got a digital camera for christmas!!!...what's next, maybe one of those "tent" things everyone's been talking about”

“Yes, WK.

Thanks for the suggestion Nimblefoot. I will check that one out.

I have to move from my beloved Golite Trek pack (3950 in2 and <2 lbs) to an internal girl pack. I need to move all the weight from my back to my hips because of my herniated discs. I can't have ANY weight on my shoulders.
last edited: 1/03/06 4:16:58 PM”

“I'll look into it Nimble! Thanks!

If I get a new one thrifty, you can have an old internal Peak One pack of mine. The thing is awesome. No bells or whistles on it, but very comfortable.”

“i upgraded to the osprey aetherlast week, the main selling point was the bioform custom molded hip belt. it was an extra couple of bucks, but WELL worth it, iloaded up ALL of my gear weighed it on the bath room scale 63 lbs, and then went for a walk around the block, felt great, hugged my spine well, and didn't shift at all. granted my smartass neighbor asked if i was running away from home, but i love that pack.”

“LOL at your neighbor Odin!”

“My neighbor always jokes "going sking in the summer again, huh?" when he sees me load my trekking poles into the car.”

“I got "stopped" by a cop while walking down the street last year. It was around 8PM or so on a cold winter night. I had the pooch with me (on a leash) with my big Gregory pack on.

He pulled up behing me and said, "Hey, you lost or something?" I said, no sir, I live about 2 miles from here. He said, sorry. Just making sure you were on the level.”

“WK, check this pack out. I think DX has it. I used it once and didn't like it but that was before I got my weight down. It only weighs 22 ozs and is 3350 cubic inch





http://www.backpackingdeals.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=W&Product_Code=TK&Category_Code=UP”

“The Granite Gear Virga and Vapor Trail packs will both weigh less, cost less and give you more volume.”

“Birch and I love our ULA p2s. There's a few threads on them here already.”

“Check out the new ULA curcuit (2lbs) and made in the USA. I think I might pick one up too? Hooped suspension and duel hipbelt pockets standard. Although, I'll probably sell my P-l first?
last edited: 1/04/06 11:08:11 AM”

“Don't ask Me, I have a 25 year old kelty tioga external that ways to much but to many memories,Need a smaller hipbelt now, could barely keep it on My hips on My big Isle Royale trip last year,I will join the new world order someday”

“That Circiut looks like a P2 with no top lid. I love my P2 to death. All the nice mesh pockets on the outside, the hip pockets, the fact it's wide enough to lay a 12 pack down inside it...”

“12 pack I can carry a case and a fifth in My Tioga”

“The shoulder straps and hip belt on these don't look very padded. Am I right here Nigal? I have very boney shoulders and a boney waist. You think this will bug me?”

“You don't really need more than 1/2 inch of high quality Evazote foam on a properly fitted hipbelt or shoulder straps for comfort or support. Bulky dual density hipbelts just increase the chance that the belt will slip under a load.”

“Cool! Good info here!”

“I'm going to go try this on for size:



There is some question whether I need a small or medium and whether my gear will fit in the small.

Model: Ariel 60 (2005)
Designer: Osprey
Volume: Lar - 3900
Med - 3700
Small - 3500
Weight: Lar - 3 lb. 8 oz.
Med - 3 lb. 6 oz.
Small - 3 lb. 4 oz.
Pockets: 3”

“The only bad part with ULA is not being able to try one on, but, If you buy a standard pack with no options, I don't see why you couldn't return it un-used for a different size? I recently bought a GG Mariposa (17oz) and like it so far, but only in basement testing, I haven't used it on a trip yet, but plan to in May on a week long trip to Isle Royale.”

“Lt may be thinking of me. i'm a NE'er and i have a virga. i pretty much agree with JS. once i got used it i've been happy with it. I use for 90% of my trips, even in winter.
It really forces you to go ultra light, which has improved my overall enjoyment. your results may vary.”

“I have that pack Ewker showed and personally I love it. I use a ridgerest wrapped about 75% around the perimeter and have a large silnylon liner bag I made that goes on the inside. It's a tossup between the Aether and the Equinox on which one I like better. The Osprey will carry more weight. The Equinox has great side mesh pockets.”

“I have a Golite Trek that I love but I have to shift the weight to all on my hips. The belt on the Trek is not able to handle it.”

“I am happy with the Virga but the minimal belt is, I think, the reason it doesn't feel so good over 20 lbs. It's a dream under 15.”

“That's exactly what I mean Jimmy San. My stuff doesn't weigh much, but it's bulky so I need a bigger pack, 3900ish. But I sure don't want to have a 5lb pack. My Trek weighs 2 lbs so adding a 1lb 6 oz or 1lb 4 oz. is okay with me.”

“I have the Mountainsmith Chimera. The pack fits great, but it's not designed for loads heavier than 30 pounds, as Nimblefoot mentioned. There no bells and whistles (fancy pockets, dividers, etc.) so the bag is realtively light weight - around 3.5 pounds or so. I think it's around 3200 cu, so it might be a little smaller than you need.

I think Campmor sells it now.
last edited: 1/04/06 2:41:39 PM”

““The shoulder straps and hip belt on these don't look very padded. Am I right here Nigal? I have very boney shoulders and a boney waist. You think this will bug me?”

This was one of my fears too. But the straps are fine. They don't slide around like the big fat ones.”

“I checked the Chimera out I think it's too small. I wondering if my stuff will fit in a 3500. I found the Osprey for $139.00”

“Thanks Nigal!

Looks like I have a lot to choose from.”

“I first started out with the gregory g-pack and loved it's features, but had a hard time hiking a 4 day loop around Lyman glacier/PCT/Buck creek pass,Wa. Actually, I too have a tall, thin, boney body and found the g-pack poked and pulled in those areas with no skin to protect me. So I moved on to a Gregory Advent Pro,large, 2700 cubic in, 2lbs. 13oz. and absolutly loved it! I took it up to Three Fingers lookout for a quick 3 day-er and a maxed out 30lbs and it ripped! maybe I incorrectly loaded or had to much weight, but it ripped at the seams above the shoulders. So, that too I returned(thankfully REI has a killer return policy) and found the pack I now love and enjoy. It might be a little bit small, but as sacco put it, it forces you to go ultralight, which has improved my enjoyment of hiking altogether. I bought the REI Lookout. At around $80, 2700 cubic in. and 2lbs. 13oz. it works great for me. The other thing I really think is cool is the front zipper panel opening. It allows me to see everything right there. It also has a left and right exit ports for drinking tubes, good sized side mesh pockets, and a divider in the lower quarter for a sleeping bag, and good strong all-weather material. I think it's great and worth checking into. Look in technical daypacks on REI.com
last edited: 1/04/06 11:41:43 PM”

“The 2005 GG Virga is on sale at backcountry.com for 70 bucks...”

“Wounded Knee,

Sorry for the late reply on the center stay in the Aether packs.

I had no problem bending the center stay myself. In fact I think you can probably do a better job on your own once you have the pack home because you can load it with your gear to what will be its normal weight and balance. This is much better than using sand bags that they might have in the store. At home you can take your time and get the location and amount of curve just right. I spent about 30 minutes fiddling with it, bending and rebending. It took me about a six tries to get it to where it felt best. I was surprised how just a little adjustment made a big difference in the feel of the pack. The stay comes pre-bent to some sort of generic shape. In my case, I think I ended up moving the lower curve up a bit and straightening the lower part of the stay just a tad. In my case, the generic shape would have pressed a lot of weight onto one small area of my lower back, in fact I think it would have caused a blister. But once adjusted to my body, it fit so well I was grinning.”

“Wow, lots of great info here. I think I am going to buy a new pack, like today, without trying it on, because I am leaving next Friday for NH. Need to replace my 6 lb EMS pack. If I can drop 4 or more pounds that sounds like a great way to spend 100 or 150 bucks.

Anyone have anything to add to the discussion above?

Anyone have a lightweight pack to sell?”

“I have a Gregory G pack that I could part with.”

“I'm pretty dang happy with my 2 pound G G Vapor Trail.”

“That is why I can part with the G Pack. Love the Vapor Trail!”

“A sub-2pounder? Dam, who makes that?
I think you may need to just got get a mesh laundry bag.”