So I just gave my pack away. I was unhappy with the fit after I lost a lot of weight. So it's better for my friend. Boy was it hard to let go! I think I'm still grieving.
Now, I'm in the market for a new pack. I want something light yet I don't want to lose a good, comfortable, supportive suspension system. Am I asking too much?
Size: Around 3000 cubic inches, give or take
A lot of packs I'm looking at seem to weigh 4 lbs 7 ounces. For some reason that seems heavy to me. I'm going for a women's specific pack since I am rather small.
Use will mostly be for weekend trips 1-3 days. I do longer ones not that often so when the time comes for those I can problem solve then.
I'm 5'4" and 105 pounds (yeah some of you could carry me in your pack with the loads you bear!) so I really don't want or like to carry more than 30 pounds. My husband will carry a heavier pack. We're kinda minimalists.
There is just so much damn research and stuff to check out that I figured this was a good place to start and get some advice.
So suggestions?
Thanks!
Now, I'm in the market for a new pack. I want something light yet I don't want to lose a good, comfortable, supportive suspension system. Am I asking too much?
Size: Around 3000 cubic inches, give or take
A lot of packs I'm looking at seem to weigh 4 lbs 7 ounces. For some reason that seems heavy to me. I'm going for a women's specific pack since I am rather small.
Use will mostly be for weekend trips 1-3 days. I do longer ones not that often so when the time comes for those I can problem solve then.
I'm 5'4" and 105 pounds (yeah some of you could carry me in your pack with the loads you bear!) so I really don't want or like to carry more than 30 pounds. My husband will carry a heavier pack. We're kinda minimalists.
There is just so much damn research and stuff to check out that I figured this was a good place to start and get some advice.
So suggestions?
Thanks!
posted by:
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SF Bay Area
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Re: Shedding the Weight w/o Losing Suspension Support
Mon, February 11, 2008 - 8:41 PMAwesome job on the weightloss - I'm following in your footsteps. At least I hope I'm following in your footsteps.
Whatever gear you get to replace your pack, make absolutely sure it is cut for a woman. The shoulder straps need clearance in different places and the hip belts have to be structured differently. Accept no substitutes!
Take a look at Backpacker magazine. They used to have an annual edition that was focused on gear. If you can get that issue, you could save a lot of time and trouble, because they'll have done much of your research for you.
Q
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Re: Shedding the Weight w/o Losing Suspension Support
Mon, February 11, 2008 - 10:24 PMI had an enormous amount of success designing and making my own pack...
from the book...
"Beyond Backpacking "- Ray Jardine
If you really are not into that remember he helped start the Go-Lite company. -
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Re: Shedding the Weight w/o Losing Suspension Support
Mon, February 11, 2008 - 11:41 PMHey Mango,
I love my Granite Gear "Vapor Trail" I used it for my PCT hike and it held up really, really well. In fact, it's still my go-to pack. They have a women's version called the "Vapor Ki" it weighs in at 2lbs 2 oz. The support on this thing is unreal, can't say enough good things about it. I really only have 2 complaints
1. The two external pockets are virtually useless, they're made with a neoprene type "stretchy" material, but when the pack is stuffed full, you can't put anything in them (except maybe trash). I cut mine off to save weight.
2. It's a tight fit for a bear cannister, so I suggest trying it out with your cannister before you commit to a purchase.
www.granitegear.com/products...ndex.html
For a REAL ultralight pack I suggest checking out ULA's "Conduit" weighing in at only 20oz this design uses your own sleep pad for back support (a really cool idea, although I often just sleep on top of my Vapor Trail for the same effect).
www.ula-equipment.com/conduit.htm -
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Re: Shedding the Weight w/o Losing Suspension Support
Tue, February 12, 2008 - 9:33 AMcheck out what these brands have in that range:
Gregory G & Z and other models. I just got a Z 55, fairly light (3.5lbs) and good for a few days.
GoLite has good minimalist gear.
REI makes a few lightweight packs of varying quality.
Osprey has some good smaller packs. They tend to be a little more built up but they're comfy.
There's a lot of other brands out there, you're just gonna have to hang out at your local REI and investigate them all! -
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Gregory
Thu, February 14, 2008 - 3:11 AMGregory also has the Jade pack made just for women.
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Re: Shedding the Weight w/o Losing Suspension Support
Tue, February 12, 2008 - 6:06 PMIf you want to shop around for other women specific packs, start trolling eBay. I've seen women's packs by major manufacturers (listed in previous responses) go for far less than retail. One that I've noted is the "Sirocco" by Lowe Alpine, which is fully adjustable for different torso lengths. Also the Mountainsmith "Chimera" may be a good choice as it weighs in under 3 lbs, but has good suspension. Just look for woman specific "short torso" or "ST" packs of any maker. I'll come up with a few other suggestions soon. -
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Re: Shedding the Weight w/o Losing Suspension Support
Tue, February 12, 2008 - 10:05 PMThanks all! Widget, let me know what else you find out. Meanwhile, more typing and researching websites. Arg! SOmetimes I feel spend more time trying to get my good ("perfect") gear than I actually do using it! (rant!)
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Re: Shedding the Weight w/o Losing Suspension Support
Wed, February 13, 2008 - 5:46 AMPar for the course. I spent a year and a half getting ready for my long trip, and that was only five months in the back country.
It's WORTH IT! -
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Re: Shedding the Weight w/o Losing Suspension Support
Wed, February 13, 2008 - 3:45 PMTrue, I also found that 100 hours of research on the net wasn't worth 1 hour of my experience in the field. If you can try before you buy, that's the way to go.
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Re: Shedding the Weight w/o Losing Suspension Support
Wed, February 13, 2008 - 5:30 PMMango - Too true! It seems that I spend more time either researching or dreaming about perfect gear than using it too. I'm still thinking of some other pack recommendations and will try to find the last four or five years of the Backpacker Magazine Gear Guide editions.
If while I'm trolling eBay I see anything that may be of interest I'll send you a tribe message with links.
Anyway, if you can borrow packs from gal pals and try them out you should do so. If you make it to our Memorial Weekend Backpacking trip this year I'll be happy to bring the female specific packs I have in my back bedroom closet for you to try out. -
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Re: Shedding the Weight w/o Losing Suspension Support
Thu, February 14, 2008 - 3:49 PMYou Peeps rock!!!! So glad I am not the only one who gets got up in the mtns of research instead of the real ones. bleh! gearheads we are!!!
Seriously, I was thinking it was me who researches forever. -
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Re: Shedding the Weight w/o Losing Suspension Support
Thu, February 14, 2008 - 5:33 PMebay is a great place to get gear, I do some buying and selling myself there. BUT, you gotta know what you're looking for because it's either people selling their used stuff or folks who have a "store" who somehow have managed to get a bunch of closeout or overstock gear, and there might not be a return policy, and if there is you still have to cover shipping both ways. Try out a buncha stuff in the store first so you know exactly what you're looking for. Talk to people about specific backpacks and see what they think - there are lots of ideas that seem great until people actually use them, and there are many designs that just don't stand the test of time and experience.
So much of the gear, especially backpacks, is so specialized nowadays that you really gotta know what you're after or you'll just get bogged down in all kinds of numbers and factoids that don't mean anything to you because you haven't seen them in action!
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Re: Shedding the Weight w/o Losing Suspension Support
Sat, February 16, 2008 - 2:01 PMAfter following the other posts in this thread, there's one other item of info that I can suggest.
Ask around at your local outfitters to see if they will let you rent any appropriate packs. If they will rent to you, you could possibly try different packs without the committment of actually buying them.
Also, my last backpacking partner was able to buy his pack at the end of the season. It was the very same pack he'd rented earlier in the year, and he was convinced that he was the only person that had ever rented it. Probably an odd coincidence, but it saved him a good bit of cash. -
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Re: Shedding the Weight w/o Losing Suspension Support
Sun, February 17, 2008 - 5:20 PMbackpacks are like jackets, you keep buying them as they wear out until you find the right one then you rush back and buy 3 more so you have enough to last some years. -
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Re: Shedding the Weight w/o Losing Suspension Support
Tue, February 19, 2008 - 5:30 PM" then you rush back and buy 3 more so you have enough to last some years. "
Which explains why I have two Lowe Alpine Mountain Attack 30 backpacks and two Lowe Alpine Mountain Attack 50 backpacks in my closet.... at least they're different colors.
Perhaps Mango might try a Lowe Alpine Mountain Attack 50 on for size. It's 50 liter capacity that utilizes a removable closed cell bivy pad for back support and structure with padded belt and shoulder straps and sternum strap. So it does have a full suspension and it's very lightweight (about 3 lbs). I've gone on ultralight overnighters and slept on the bivy pad under my back with the pack under my legs and been reasonably comfortable. -
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Re: Shedding the Weight w/o Losing Suspension Support
Sun, February 24, 2008 - 9:45 PMi'll poke around lowe's site a bit. you think i need to go to a 50 or can i stay at 32-35? -
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Re: Shedding the Weight w/o Losing Suspension Support
Sun, February 24, 2008 - 9:47 PMconfused about the cubic inches vs. liters...help on conversion and all that. -
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Re: Shedding the Weight w/o Losing Suspension Support
Sun, February 24, 2008 - 10:19 PM1 liter - 61.0237 cubic inches
3.785 liters = 1 gallon
1 gallon = 231 cubic inches
50 liters = 3381.4 tablespoons
1 cubic light-year = 5.16 x 10^52 cubic inches
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