Ultralight packs

“I really want an ultralight pack to make the final plunge to ultralight backpacking. What does everyone use? How do you like it? I backpack in the NE on rough trails so it has to be somewhat durable.
I would like it to be under 2lbs.”

“Good luck............Chuck!”

“Ultra Light Adventures P-2 pack. Awesome carrying capacity and feather light at 47 oz. It's being discontinued so they are on sale for $210. i have yet to hear anything bad about this pack and the service is unbeatable.

http://www.ula-equipment.com/p2.htm”

“I did like my Golite Race, but as you saw last weekend, I replaced it with a Granite Gear Vapor Trail. I wanted something with a little more padding and the VT looks to be made of a little more durable material (time will only tell). My Golite pack came home with some extra ventilation holes after a few backpacking trips on Adirondack herd paths.”

“Do you miss having outside pockets with the Granit Gear pack? I was ready to buy one but I have to have at aleast a few pockets.”

“... the VT has outside pockets... two of them on the side.”

“Ultralite backpacks should not be used unless all of your other stuff is ultralite as well.

That said, I used three different packs as needed.

GoLite Day Pack, GoLite Breeze, and Granite Gear Vapor Trail.

I use the GG Vapor Trail if I might be carrying over or near 20 #.
last edited: 7/13/06 11:12:46 AM”

“I agree that to have the whole system work to it's potentuel the things in your pack need to be as light as possible. Having said that what I like about the P-2 is that it can handle the heavy loads also. I've packed with hammock, book, tent, 12-pack, ect. Like 35 pounds with no problem.”

““Do you miss having outside pockets with the Granit Gear pack? I was ready to buy one but I have to have at aleast a few pockets.”
Nigal
12:02:15 PM
7/13/06
The VT does have side pockets and they are bigger than the side pockets on the Race. The side pockets don’t work well for water bottles (you can’t get the bottle back in), but I use a water bladder anyway. The thing I miss the most is not having a floating lid pocket. I ended up buying a pair of EMS Pack side Pockets. http://www.ems.com/catalog/product_detail_square.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442577929&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302876334&bmUID=1152810344280 I strapped one to the center of the pack to hold things like my pack cover and rain jacket. The other one I’m using as a crampon bag.
last edited: 7/13/06 11:14:30 AM”

“i used to strap a fanny pack to the front of my pack for holding small stuff and then this gave me something for day hikes. Of course it also adds weight.”

“47 oz. is not under two pounds. ;-)

47/16 = 2.94 pounds”

“But it has all the features of a 8 pound pack. Detachable hip belt and a lid that attaches to the hip belt for a fanny day pack. It's the perfect blend of light weight and features. Plus it doesn't feel like a sack with straps on it. I'll eat the extra pound gladly. Plus, if you take off the lid and belt it is 2 pounds.”

“The GG Vapor Trail gives you that same stuff for two pounds, Nigal. ;-)”

“Lt, you might want to also look at the GG Virga. http://www.granitegear.com/products/backpacks/ultralight/virga/index.html
3200 ci
1lb 3oz”

“The GG Vapor Trail outside pockets could be designed better, but they are still useable.”

“My Atmos 60 is 2-11 (also over 2), but it fits extremely well, the design results in airflow between my back and the pack, and it carries 3100 ci. I used it on my thru hike and the manufacturer, Osprey, is extremely good with warranty issues. I found it much more comfy and durable than anything made by Granite Gear...this from observation and reports of other thruhikers.
last edited: 7/13/06 11:37:50 AM”

“Are you through hikin'?”

“Osprey Aether 45.

Just a C.H. over 2lbs but is a WONDERFUL pack. Can be had for about $50-60 too which makes it even better.”

“Can be had for about $50-60 too which makes it even better.” -DDX


Hear! Hear!”

“MarkO - Am I through hikin, or thru hikin? Either ways it's been a slow year, thus far. I've had to stay close to my new house for a variety of reasons, but hope to do 2 weeks on the Superior Trail in the next month and September should find me on Isle Royale. Also, lately I've been getting ready for a triathlon that I have no real intention of doing (it just gives me a goal and gets me out doing stuff. You know, it's about the journey). I may hit the AT next year for another shot.”

“Once I thought I would never find a better pack than my Osprey, but I was wrong!!!

the ULA P2. I LOVE that pack so much.

One issue I do have though: If you are tough on your gear on the trail... you got to watch it. I already have a couple of cuts in it. But you know...i crawl, I fall, I climb.”

“Gettin' back on a bar stool can be pretty rough.
last edited: 7/13/06 1:27:38 PM”

“thanks for the feedback. ULA has redisigned all of their packs for 2006, I am looking at the Conduit but can't find any info on it.
I'm afraid that a sil nylon pack would shred in the conditions that I hike in.

This pack will be for summer hiking so I only need about 2500ci”

“I bought a new pack. I'm trying to move down from my 6000 ci. pack to a 3800 ci. pack. It is not an ultralight pack but it hold less stuff thus less weight. But just like Stovie said you need ultralight gear to stuff it with. Well my normal load for a week didn't fit. I was carrying food for me and my kids for 4 days, so my last trip I went with the old pack even though I had summer gear. I've got to take less and lighter stuff or my new pack will useless except for warm weather weekend use.

For starters I need to buy a down jacket and drop the goretex one that has served me for over 15 years. I also need a 0 degree down sleeping bag for winter use and drop my SD Paul Bunyan polarguard. I love that big ole bag but it weighs over 4 pounds and rolls up to 10X20 inches. I have a 35 degree down bag that packs small and light for warmer weather. I just hate paying the big bill to drop maybe 2 or 3 pounds. I'm talking $100-$200 for each pound lost. I can probably skip a cheese burger or two before the hike and come out ahead on weight.”

“Hey lumberzac. I went from the Race to the Vapor Trail as well. It's a fab pack.

LOL! at Nimblefoot.”

“Golite Team for me - only after dropping weight from my sleeping bag & pad, tent, rain gear, etc. Even then I push 22-23 pounds total for a summer weekend and that is almost the comfortable limit for the pack.

Like someone else said, the Golites leave something to be desired when it comes to hip and shoulder strap padding. I had to add some to mine.”

“Gearskin from Moonbow Gear - 1.5 lbs - works well for me but its a custom "pack" and you need to be measured correctly for it to work well for you”

“Of course, there's nothing more ridiculous and self defeating than a FAT ultralighter. Anyone resemble that? What i'm saying, I guess, is that talking about lowering our pack weight can be just another way to avoid dealing with the largest potential weight loss...our big fat butts and lopin' over guts.”

“Gossamer Gear now offers the Mariposa Plus Pack model in 2.2oz coated rip-stop nylon. Weight is btwn.17oz-20oz.

But the size large pack/ 20"+ torsos are only, whats currently available.

GG is also currently in the process of making some nice design changes, So, It might be better to wait until the new redesigned pack comes out (6 months?)

ULA is currently closed, but will still take orders, they will not be processed until the owners return (November), I believe each pack is made per-order?

I have the new ULA Circuit, and love it. The P-2 pack is no longer made and was replaced with the new Catalyst pack.
last edited: 7/13/06 3:23:42 PM”

“yeah, ULA don't offer the top anymore either. That sucks. If I need a new pack I can't get my top cover.”

“You can't get your top covered? Probly don't want to.”

“I second the Osprey Aether 45. It's a great pack. It compacts well for smaller loads and fits like a glove.”

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“I wish more packs had the roll top like the Aether 45... that's my favorite part of the pack.”

“I too have the Osprey Aether 45, two in fact, one cannabalized for caving. They don't make it anymore, so better get 'em while you can. It's a great pack for two-three days, longer is you can go light on water or clothing.
To me it fits better than the Atmos 60 I have, although smaller. And it's a fairly tough pack, taken it off trail and it has held up with no rips.”

“Jam pack by golite... It's about a pound and it cost's 90 bucks. I live right in the White Mountains of NH and i've been using it for a while. Very durable.”

“I have a GG VT & also missed usable outside pockets, so I went to REI & picked up attachable pockets that weigh zilch, they were packaged two/package so I have one on each side, they attach perfectly to my VT! This has turned the GGVT from an "OK" pack to a "GREAT" pack, at least IMHO.

I think this is them..
http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&productId=47779453&parent_category_rn=4500602&vcat=searchrefine”

“rob, one thing to keep in mind when considering how much volume you need-

most of the ultra lite packs use your sleep pad for the frame, which takes up a fair amount of room. keep that in mind if you're used to strapping your pad to the outside.”

“I like my Granite Gear Nimbus Ozone very much. It's a top stuffer but you get used to it, just plan how you pack it. You can also buy a lid to go on top with a zipper pocket. Bear canister w/aweeks worth of food, 2 liters of water, tent,bag, and all the comforts come to just less than 40 pounds. Not ultralite, but I'm very comfortable. Gave that up when a bear crawled into my tarp one night.”