View Full Version : Calling all ultra-light hikers
HarleyHogPit
11-14-2005, 19:14
I'm going to start looking for a backpack this weekend and I have no idea what kind to get. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I want something light weight but really sturdy. I am not looking for something super expensive but I don't want to sacrifice comfort. I need something for a small frame. Please help!
hikerjohnd
11-14-2005, 19:19
Just my .02 ... A backpack should be near the end of the shopping list. Once you have all your other gear, you will know what size you need. Take all your stuff to your local outfitter and load up various packs and see what works for you!
Just Jeff
11-14-2005, 19:19
Haha - the HOLY GRAIL!! Let me know when you find it!
I'm happy with the GoLite Speed.
http://www.golitestore.com/store/NS_proddetail.asp?number=PA5211
I've used the GoLite Race and Dawn, liked 'em both, though the Dawn is only good for about 15 pounds or so.
Last backpack (Northville Placid Trail) I used a Mariposa from Gossamer Gear. Loved it, especially the extra large mesh outside pockets. It has stays (arrow shafts, I understand) so it holds a shape and doesn't sit like a sack of potatoes on my back. I think it was 17 or 18 ounces. Holds more weight comfortably than most lightweight packs, which I needed as I carried a lot of food that trip.
http://www.gossamergear.com/cgi-bin/gossamergear/Mariposa-Standard.html
peter_pan
11-14-2005, 19:21
What size? How many cubic inches of gear ? Or do you have a list of what you are going to put in it?
It is often stated, get the pack last when you can see how your gear and packing style will fit. Also, be sure to get your torso measured by someone who knows what they are doing before settling on the speficic size of any selected model.
Pan
i us a fanatic fringe thompson peak pack it wieghs 9.2 oz:cool: neo
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=8074&original=1&c=member&imageuser=3462
SGT Rock
11-14-2005, 20:21
I'm going to start looking for a backpack this weekend and I have no idea what kind to get. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I want something light weight but really sturdy. I am not looking for something super expensive but I don't want to sacrifice comfort. I need something for a small frame. Please help!
I second the idea to get everything else and then get a pack that will meet those needs. If you do it now, you run the chance of getting something too big for what you need later or getting something that won't carry the weight you have properly.
jackiebolen
11-14-2005, 22:47
I like the Go-Lite Gust. Other people seem to love Granite Gear packs...they've got some good ones in the 2 pound range.
Just remember you can't stuff 10lbs of **** into a 5lb bag!
Bassline
11-14-2005, 23:15
It has been said, but I would make sure top get most everything else beore you choose your pack. If nothing else, get your sleeping bag picked out. It sounds to me like you arent looking for ultra-light, just a standard light weight hiker. I use the Osprey Atmos 50 pack. I have put over 1,000 miles on it since I received it, and it is still very comfortable. One good lighter brand of packs is ULA. I have heard very good things about them. One more piece of advice, all packs are bound to blow out at some point. If you get your pack from a reputable dealer, or from a solid brand, durability will become less of a problem.
UCONNMike
11-14-2005, 23:37
How about a Granite Gear Vapor Trail...it's what I used on my sobo hike this year, and its about 2 lbs and wicked comfortable
vipahman
11-15-2005, 00:21
I just went through this process and was recommended the GoLite Jam (1 lb 5 oz) by this forum. I used it over 35 miles with 18lbs for 16 hours over 2 days and had absolutely no complaints. In fact I even did some trail running and it stayed planted, no swing at all.
Prior to that I tried the Vapor Trail (heavier at 2 lbs). It has an internal frame , 2L hydration sleeve and 2 external water bottle pockets. The side compression straps go over the water bottles so putting a bottle back in is a little annoying. It doesn't have any pockets. It is a very comfortable pack good for 30 lbs.
I also tried it's little brother, the Virga (1 lbs 5 oz). The only difference is that it is frameless, has no hydration and is good for 20 lbs. I didn't like it much.
If you have your other gear sized up, I strongly recommend checking out the Jam. It's claimed good for 30 lbs, the max I've done is 20 lbs. Some forum users have cut the extra straps and have reduced it's weight from 21 oz to 16 oz. Arguably, it's the lightest 30 lbs pack out there.
HikeLite
11-15-2005, 10:49
The golite race is about the same weight as the jam and is rated for 30 lbs. The GG vapor trail is on sale at REI and don't forget to use the coupon code for another discount putting it under 100 bucks.
As many have mentioned, fit your pack around the rest of your gear.
That being said, I have the best pack ever made sitting in my closet, but you can't buy it anywhere. You can get reasonable approximations from ULA. See http://www.ula-equipment.com
If I was looking for a pack and didn't have the rest of my gear, I'd get the largest capacity pack ULA makes and call it good.
However, given what I know now, I would either buy one of the smaller capacity packs or the Comet from Six Moon Designs:
http://www.sixmoondesigns.com
some already mentioned, some not...-first, get everything else. then buy a pack for it.-remember to consider the weight/volume of your food bag... if nothing else, bring your food bag along, and stuff in other gear until it's close to what you think you'll be carrying volume and weight wise.-durability, light weight, and cost are not necessarily at opposite corners of a triangle, but neither are they all equal... there are lots of heavy, very durable, expensive packs... there are lots of light, not so durable, expensive packs... and there are others in between... you see my point. IMHO, and i must say i'm very gentle with my gear, durability is in some measure up to you... abuse it and lose it... take care of it, and it will last longer... but even with the best care, it will all, good gear and bad, wear out eventually... i use a golite gust. their vapor trail also has a good reputation. so do ula and osprey...
Like a number of people have already said... xhoicing a backpack should only be done once you have figure out everything else (or at least have a good estimate). The volume and weight of the gear, food, and water you carry with have a significant impact on what pack will be right for you. I wrote up a page on packs which can be found at http://www.verber.com/mark/outdoors/gear/pack.html
If you can't wait to buy a pack I would suggest two approaches. The wiser course unless you are fairly experienced would be to buy one of the "transition" packs which are reasonably light, and are good at carrying a variable load. I think the Osprey Aether 60 is one such pack. I would also consider the Six Moon Designs Comet and maybe the Granite Gear Vapor Trail. The second approach could be to purchase a pack which will fold the weight and volume of gear you plan to trim down to and use it to force yourself to trim back.
--mark
JoeHiker
11-15-2005, 15:49
i us a fanatic fringe thompson peak pack it wieghs 9.2 oz:cool: neo
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=8074&original=1&c=member&imageuser=3462
While that's a nice pack, it is not what I would call, "really sturdy" (which was one of HarleyHogPit's requirements).
Harley, be sure you are at or under the recommended weight limit (20 pounds) before considering this pack. I was dumb and did not pay attention to this on a recent 2 week hike. My pack weight varied from 3 to 10 pounds over the limit and it really started falling apart on me.
HarleyHogPit
11-15-2005, 18:58
Thanks you guys! You just saved me from making a very big mistake. I am not going to get my pack yet but I am going to start looking for a sleeping bag this weekend. I will wait until I have all of my other equipment before I get the pack. I will keep all of the information about backpacks on reserve until that time. What do you suggest that I get first? My next series of questions is going to be about my sleeping gear. Sleeping bag, ground pad, and (maybe) a tent. I have not yet decided on a tent or a hammock. I think I want to use a hammock instead. Last year when I was on the trail I came across a hiker that was using a hammock. I tried it out and really liked it. Anyway, I am rambling on here. What should I get first? I do really want to stay as light as possible but be as warm as possible.
... there are lots of heavy, very durable, expensive packs... there are lots of light, not so durable, expensive packs... and there are others in between...This may have been mentioned here already, but there is an aerospace engineering maxim that goes: Light-Durable-Cheap, pick any two. It seems to apply to hiking gear as well.
I would concentrate either on the sleeping bag or the shelter. If money isn't much of an issue, buy a Western Mountaineering sleeping bag. For the AT (with a late April start), I'd go with a Highlight (40 degrees). For an early start (March), I'd go with an Ultralight (20 degrees) and switch to the Highlight when it got warm.
For the shelter, I would either go with a hammock or a tarp. I'd bypass the tent thing directly, knowing that if the weather was rough, I had trail shelters as an option if I wanted to take it.
One easy way to get an idea of what to bring is to take a look at the various packlist articles. I've got a tarp one and I think there is a hammock one as well.
After shelter and sleeping bag, consider clothes and footwear. Then, cooking. Then, everything else (not much is left).
ULA. I have the old P-2, best pack I have ever had. Have the Circuit on my Xmas list...
Footslogger
11-18-2005, 13:23
[quote=vipahman]Prior to that I tried the Vapor Trail (heavier at 2 lbs). It has an internal frame , 2L hydration sleeve and 2 external water bottle pockets. The side compression straps go over the water bottles so putting a bottle back in is a little annoying. It doesn't have any pockets. It is a very comfortable pack good for 30 lbs.
=========================================
When did they start putting a frame in the Vapor Trail? I've got one from my thru in 2003 and just bought a 2005 version for my wife this past May. Neither of them have a frame. They do have a thin HDPU frame sheet built into the padding on the back of the pack but otherwise it's just a bag with a couple side pockets and compression straps ...and that's why I like it !!
'Slogger
This may have been mentioned here already, but there is an aerospace engineering maxim that goes: Light-Durable-Cheap, pick any two. It seems to apply to hiking gear as well.
this probably applies to almost any field... i saw it in a logistics warrent officer's office once... he called it the triangle of supply... fast, good, and cheap were his three points...
vipahman
11-18-2005, 18:39
When did they start putting a frame in the Vapor Trail? .....They do have a thin HDPU frame sheet built into the padding on the back of the pack ..... From Granite Gear's website:
"The Vapor Trail uses a high-density polyethylene frame that helps distribute the load evenly over your back and onto your hips."
That makes it a frame. If it were frameless you should be able to fold it any way you can as with the Virga. Try it on yours.
Footslogger
11-18-2005, 20:43
From Granite Gear's website:
"The Vapor Trail uses a high-density polyethylene frame that helps distribute the load evenly over your back and onto your hips."
That makes it a frame. If it were frameless you should be able to fold it any way you can as with the Virga. Try it on yours.
=======================================
Funny ...I never considered that a "frame" but I see your point.
'Slogger
MedicineMan
11-19-2005, 00:49
and now 5 kids and many years on the trail I'd prioritize this way:
1. footware....number one because over the years i've seen hundreds of
hikers sidelined or hikes ended with foot issues.
2. rain gear---i know a proper fitting comfortable light durable pack is
a necessity (but also a glory thing with much image at stake) but over
the same number of years (on the AT mind you) i've seen too many
hikers in trouble with hypothermia
3. shelter---remember you're still out in the woods where anything
unexpected can still happen and you'd be surprised at the number of
people who still believe that procurring food is the number one thing
to do when something bad forces them to stay in one spot....just
make sure you've always got some kind of shelter besides the shelters
on the trail
4. hiking poles.....you'll get a pack and everyone will say 'ooooh and aaaah'
but if someone had told me years ago that hiking poles might prolong my
knee life i might not be dealing with issues today, go ahead and get them
and use them
5. Now the backpack....cant add anything here, all said in previous posts,
well maybe i can add something, look at adding something like the Dana
Ribpack, it can be added to any pack with shoulder straps...or something
like it,,,,it will allow you to have a water bottle,camera,snacks, sunscreen,
etc or whatever you might frequently grap for, up close to you so you dont
have to stop to get at it.
6. Shelter: dont go hog wild over a hammock until you've actually slept in one.
believe it or not i've had a few folks get in one and not like it--rare but
still happens...remember Grandma Gatewood (supposedly) slept under a
a shower curtain (our version of a sil-nylon tarp) and its hard to go any
lighter than a tarp....if you want a floor look at a tube tent, Moonbow Gear
can make you a tube tent out of sil-nylon in the 14oz range, they can add
bug net inserts if you want
I also reccomend the Vapor Trail. It sounds like you are just starting to create your "kit" as they say. You will probably change your gear around a few times until you find the system that works for you. You cannot lose with the Vapor Trail. It comfortably carries up to 30 lbs but also works with light loads. You can cram lots of stuff in there if you need to. AND it fits small frames well. Most of us transistion to the smaller lightweight packs after we have tweaked our gear. What type of sleeping pad you use makes a big difference in a smaller pack...it has to fit in there and may also do double duty as a framesheet. You may want mesh pockets...a hydration pocket..or just a sack with straps. My Vapor Trail is now my backup pack..I take it if my load is large with food or winter clothing or just extra toys for those mini trips I sometimes go on when I bring the kitchen sink. I have never regretted buying this backpack..its once of my favorite pieces of gear.
I'm a huge fan of osprey packs! They are durable and comfortable. I like the aether 45. Its $100, 2800 cubic inches, rated to 30 pounds, and a great design. Its the only pack that I have ever carried that hasn't bruised my hips.
little_daddy979
12-31-2005, 12:28
I have a Eureka Getaway 3500 ci pack from wal-mart for $47. It is made of 900 and 450 denier polyester which is really rugged. It weighs 2#4 oz, swallows gear, has a single aluminum stay and about 1/8" padding on the back and 1/4" on the hip belt and shoulder straps. I use it for winter trips and for school trips where you have a tent and too much clothes. - David with no trailname