View Full Version : golite jam2 or pinnacle??
elevenbravoMD
11-09-2007, 13:23
has anyone thru hiked the at in a golite bag? i really want the jam2 but im not sure if its gonna have enough room for all my stuff. its 3100 ci, the pinnacle is 4400 ci and their weights are 1lb 6oz, 1lb 9oz respectively. any input would help!!! thanks guys
High Altitude
11-09-2007, 13:45
What is your base weight for all gear packed minus food/fuel/water?
Do you take bulky items like a tent and water filter?
High Altitude
11-09-2007, 13:46
What is your base weight for all gear packed minus food/fuel/water?
Do you take bulky items like a tent and water filter?
What stove and pot?
elevenbravoMD
11-09-2007, 14:43
I havent decided for a stove for the AT yet, but i have a jetboil PCS. im planning on using the pack on the Florida Trail while I get everything together for the AT so for the mean time im going no cook. No water filter, aqua mira and for a tent I was looking at Henry Shires contrail tarptent
elevenbravoMD
11-09-2007, 14:45
oh yeah base pack weight 9-10lbs
High Altitude
11-09-2007, 15:18
You shouldn't have a problem getting everything in the Jam2 if you keep to low volume gear like a down bag, simple stove/pot system, min. clothes etc..... but eventually you will have to try it out. It also might not be that comfortable.
They have zero suspension to them and the hip belt is fabric only. You have to pack the backpack very tight/full. The pack itself becomes the suspension. When it is full it will resist folding over/sagging etc.... but only to a certain point. The Jam2 has a very neat compression system and along with taking up extra space with your sleeping bag when you are low on food it does work but with low weights.
Personally, for anything over 18lbs I really like to have some kind of suspension with either a frame sheet/stays/hoop and a padded hipbelt. You can find packs in the 2lb range or less with a basic suspension that will carry the weight much better.
Check these out.
Granite Gear vapor trail - 2lbs
Gossamer gear mariposa plus - 20 oz
ULA Circuit - 2lbs
Six Moon Designs Comet and Starlite with stays - Just under 2lbs
The Essense pack by www.sixmoondesigns.com (http://www.sixmoondesigns.com) is 17 ounces and 3,100 cubic inches. It has better pockets than the Jam2 and costs $120. The main compartment has 2,000 cubic inches, so there's lots of flexibility here. Mags uses this pack.
Their Comet is 3,700 cubic inches, 24 ounces and $160. It uses your pad for the frame. For another 5 oz and $10 you can have stays in that pack, too. The main compartment has 2,600 cubic inches.
Their Starlite has 4,200 cubic inches counting the nice pockets. Ignoring the pockets, the main section has 3,000 cubic inches. It weighs 25 oz without the stays or 30 with them, and costs $165 ($175 with the stays).
http://www.ula-equipment.com sells the Catalyst, Circuit and Conduit packs.
The Catalyst weighs 43 oz and has 4,600 cubic inches. 2,000 of that's in the pockets. $225.
The Circuit only has 3,750 cubic inches, weighs 32 oz, and costs $175. For this one, the main body of the pack has 2,400 cubic inches.
And the Conduit has 3,200 cubic inches. It weighs 20 oz and costs $125. Here, the main body is 2,100 cubic inches.
I haven't measured the volume of my new Jam2 pack quantitatively, but I weighed it and it's 21 oz. It has tiny side mesh pockets and a front pocket that's got a waterproof zipper. It's not mesh. It has a hydration bladder pocket inside and a foam suspension pad. The shoulder straps are padded but the waist strap isn't. The pack's well made and the body is the Dyneema or Spectra fabric, so it's rugged.
Anyone want to buy it? Brand new, not taken out of the house, $80. Please send me an email. Nice pack, but I got it on a whim from a factory sale and don't need it.
High Altitude
11-09-2007, 15:37
If a frameless pack worked for me on longer trips I most likely would go with the Jam2. The pack fabric and construction is bomber, they changed the padding in the shoulder straps for the better and the compression system is very useful.
I also went to the factory sale and came oh so close to buying one.
socalhiker
11-09-2007, 18:55
I have a Jam2 and really love the pack but I could not use it on my John Muir Trail hike because it just didn’t have enough room for my gear and 8 days (first re-supply No. bound) worth of food. I needed every bit of the food I took so it was a good decision, in my case, not to have skimped. Otherwise the Jam2 would have been adequate. If I could have resupplied sooner it would have worked. Not knowing the details of AT hiking let me just opine that if frequent resupply points allow you to keep your provisions down to 4 or 6days, go for the Jam2, it is great pack.
I just purchased a Pinnacle for winter and for long trips exceeding 7 days. I have owned a GoLite Trek for several years and the suspension is somewhat like the Pinnacle, however the P is more a bit more comfortable. The Jam2 is smaller and sans load lifters. If you do a lot of hiking, consider purchasing both packs.
Other packs were suggested above and I also considered the ULA pack but the weight and simplicity of the Jam2/Pinnacle pulled me in that direction along with prior good experience with Golite. All of them have a following on the hiking boards. Another issue I forgot to mention is fit. The Golites have been a perfect fit for me in a size large at just slightly less than 5'10" and a long torso. It may be your build could be an issue and finding a pack to accomodate your body is paramount.
elevenbravoMD
11-09-2007, 19:22
What would I consider as my base weight? I saw on another thread pack, shelter, sleeping bag & pad. If thats the case then with the jam2, henry shires contrail tarptent, mountain hardwear phantom 45, and gossamer gear thinlight pad with nightlight torso pad im at 4.5lbs.
High Altitude
11-09-2007, 19:30
Most people that count ounces/grams consider base pack weight as what your pack weighs with everything but food/water/fuel.
Most don't include their bare min. clothes (pair of socks/shoes, shorts, short sleeve shirt) that they would be wearing and their trekking poles.
Even with average, lightweight, 3 season gear, the Jam 2 should be plenty big enough for just about any thru hike. I used the Jam on the AT and the Jam2 on the PCT, and for all hikes now. GREAT pack- I've hauled up to 40 pounds in it (mostly water) and was not unhappy. I can't believe how much stuff will fit into it. 9 days of food is a bit of a stretch, but still doable.
The Compactor system is awesome because you can compress it up tightly so it carries comfortably without sagging, even if it's only half full, like the couple days before a resupply.
I cut mine down to 17 oz. by removing the hydration sleeve, the foam back panel, trimming al the webbing and removing all, or parts of other features that were unneccessary. Best pack out there IMO.
skskinner
11-13-2007, 20:46
The big difference besides more room which is compressible anyway is the straps that pull the top of the pack against you are not on the Jam 2. This really made my shoulders hurt the last time I was out with it, in fact the last time I will be out with it. I sold it. You should buy the Pennacle for the few ounces it will cost you. Mule:)
wrongway_08
11-13-2007, 21:33
I took the ice axe straps on my Jam2 and cut them in half, then added a strap that had the black coupler to the cut straps.
I use this to store my sleeping bag to the outside of my Jam2, on long hikes I have plenty of room for extra food this way.
Golite is the new north face, IMHO. ULA and Six Moons designs make much better stuff.
I just got a JAM2 but have only tested it once, 20k, dayhike.
I like the overall design, height, waterbottle pockets, back pocket.
Can't say much about volume yet. Can't say much about suspension yet.
fairweather8588
11-14-2007, 15:21
I've got a Jam2 and whether or not they are the new TNF, it's still a helluva pack. I got to meet up with Andrew Skurka on his Great Western Loop and saw that after comming 6,500+ miles, his Jam2 was in amazing condition, durablility will not be an issue with one
I know someone who worked the golite sale.
He picked up some gear to sell (Shh! :). ) One of which is a Jam 2.
I bought it off him for $30. My day pack is quite beat up, this will be its replacement. It will be perfect for ski touring!
My old and beatup day pack will be for canyoneering.
I still plan on using my SMD Essence for backpacking though.
I plan on using mine for ski touring also. If you jam a rolled up 72"x28" blue foam pad in there it stands up very nicely and still narrow enough, and there is still plenty of room for a wool blanket, food, kelly kettle, whatever. I want to do at least one multi day/night ski tours also. I think it will work for that, as long as I can bale out if the temperature really goes South, err North, err subzero I mean.
I plan on using mine for ski touring also.
Hut to hut trips is specifically what I had in mind.
I had a old piece of blue foam leftover from the one I use on my Essence. I cut it up so one single and small piece works great as a stay.
Funny..my day pack is heavier than the one I use for backpacking. :)
(My daypack has to be mulituse though and tends to take more of a beating. The backpack is just well, for backpacking!)
Passionphish
11-16-2007, 17:55
This issue is a hard one for me as well. I am looking at all three of these manufacturers. But I fear making a purchase. At 6 ft, 215 lbs and I have wide shoulders... Finding a pack that fits is hard. Especially in the ultra light or really light weight range. Most gear I have found that claims to be ultralight or light weight is just small all the way around. And I don't want to waste the cost of shipping several times in order to find out which pack I should go with. So all the opinions on this subject would be great for the original poster and myself!!!
I use this that I find much more comfy than the Jam2. OMM is avaiable from many UK sites.
http://theomm.com/archiveSite/packs_Villain45_10_RL_MSC.html
http://theomm.com/archiveSite/packs_Chest_pouch.html
http://theomm.com/archiveSite/Duomat.html
scrivner
12-27-2007, 00:16
Passionphish,
I have the same problem: 6', 210lbs, 46 jacket. I am not pear shaped. Virtually every lightweight pack I have bought/tried has straps that are waaay too short. One exception in the Saloman Raid 30. It's capacity is limited but it is comfortable for a guy my/your size.
As a comment: I wish a mfg would put their strap buckles on the pack rather than on the straps, as did almost all of the old European pack makers "back in the day" as my sons say. That way they don't poke you and you adjust by pulling against the weight of the pack.
And, make the straps LONGER. Packs are much more comfortable if worn a bit lower.
Cheers,
scrivner