View Full Version : Front Packs
Passionphish
12-08-2007, 14:44
Just wondering what you guys have tried and liked. Have you added hip belt pockets? Shoulder pockets? An actual front pack hung between the shoulder straps? A front waist belt? What backpack were you using? Are you still using it?
I have tried the Simblissity Unslack pack (http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/simblissity_unslack_pack.html) from BPL and a modified travel pack from REI. I'm not fond of either. I do need to make something. I am going to be using the Pinnacle from Golite.:D
4eyedbuzzard
12-08-2007, 15:25
I like the idea of some front weight distribution, but haven't ever used anything. I've been checking into Aarn Bodypacks or considering some homemade knockoff of the accessory pockets. http://www.aarnpacks.com/
dessertrat
12-08-2007, 17:13
It seems to me that for a lightweighter, a front pack could be useful for getting heavy items out of the backpack, and therefore allowing one to use a smaller and lighter backpack, perhaps even dispensing with a hip belt. Anyone tried that?
I used one this past Oct during a five day section hike. I was concerned at the lack of water so took an old fanny pack and turned it around and wore it in front with two bottles of water. Was able to put snacks/camera/knife/etc in the front pack. Was a good move since water was scarce on the section I walked. Really didn't notice the weight in front at all...my backpack weighed about 35lbs with food and water...was carrying 5 liters total.
take-a-knee
12-08-2007, 18:40
I have a pair of these on my GG Vapor Trail.
http://www.granitegear.com/products/accessories/beltpocket/index.html
That was my first experience with front packs also, a large fanny pack worn in front sharing straps with small backpack. Worked amazingly well. Loose straps. Erect posture. Access to stuff in front. Allows backpack to be simpler. Good way to make up for less volume in backpack. I am surprised there are no good commercial frontpacks on the market. Might be because of potential liability issues.
The downside is that you might have more weight on the spine and more grinding action on the spine, so I wouldn't recommend it for total pack weights much over 20 pounds unless you can still get much of the weight on the hips. For really heavy packs like over 40# I think it is best to carry it all in a backpack with a slight forward lean to get most weight on the hips. Without a slight forward lean, because of a front pack or being overweight, this is harder to do.
Jak you have accurately described why the front pockets in the Aarn packs work
1) the weight is transferred fully to the hips
2) because there is a gap in the middle you can see your feet
3) putting the heavy stuff (water) inside the pockets allows an erect posture
4) you don't need extra pockets on you backpack, because you can access the front pockets (rain jacket and munchies)
I may add that it is not a particularly easy design to replicate.
Franco
Franco,
That split system is a nice idea, for seeing feet.
On not so rugged terrain that is still important on down slopes.
15 litres for 450g is not too bad either. My JAM2 is 50litres for 500g.
This would bring it to 65 litres for 950g which gives some versatility.
http://aarnpacks.com/products/balance_pockets.html
What do you mean by not a particularly easy design to replicate? I can see getting the shape to conform comfortably might be tricky. I understand it helps if the front pack or front packs has some stiffness built in with padding, not so much for padding but for shape, but it would need to fit right also. Is that what you mean? Of course if you did do it yourself it could be cheaper and lighter and a more custom fit.
Not easy to copy..
A bit difficult for me to explain, but the weight transfer to the hips only works if used with the Aarn's backpacks. It is just the way the suspension and the rest point works. Those pockets have a built in stay that rests on the hipbelt, hence the relatively heavy weight. Yes my ULA Amp is lighter than those pockets, and that is why I use it for day walks and overnighters, but if I have to carry extra weight ( over 25 lbs) I switch from the Amp or the Circuit to the Aarns.
Yes , if you had one and you had some DYI skills you could make your own version. BTW, those packs have a particularly good suspension, but again not one that I could replicate.
Franco
They look pretty difficult to get in and out of, lots of straps and such. The concept is very interesting, I didn't realize there was a company that made these. Looks comfortable :)
There are indeed a lot of straps and since I like simple lines it was a bit of a conflict for me to try them out. I thought about them and played with them ( in a shop) for about two years before I eventually bought one, now I have two.
To put them on it takes the same as any other pack, then you clip the various straps in , you can do that as you walk. Once the system is locked in it does not feel like an ordinary pack but more like clothing, it moves with you and feels part of you.
Aarn Tate,BTW, is a very nice and down to earth guy, I met him early this year. He has also designed some tents using slightly unconventional ideas, but they make sense to me.
I am convinced that anyone that tries them out for loads over the 20 lbs mark will love them. Aarn does have small packs for the trail runners as well , same concept just smaller.
Franco
hopefulhiker
12-09-2007, 09:05
I used the Luxury Lite pack with the front pack the whole way in 05.. It was an external frame system that used a front pack.. I really liked it. With back problems it helped because it put all the weight on the hips. Also the front pack made it easy to access stuff.. Check it out at luxurylite.com
4eyedbuzzard
12-09-2007, 09:22
Franco and Hopeful,
I am very interested in a balanced pack setup that tranfers as much weight as possible directly to the hips, and front packs make a lot of sense from a load balance standpoint. I had a L3-L4 disk herniation in 2003 and a re-injury in 2006, and now have a new L4-L5 herniation[sigh] as of last month. All were lifting/twisting injuries and I'll probably be left with some pretty severe lifting restrictions this time around(< 30 to 40 lbs max, probably 20 frequent -- Damn, I might well become a "gram weenie" out of medical necessity:eek: :rolleyes: ;) ). So with problems at two levels in the lumbar region getting as much of the weight tranfered below those disks and maintaining as upright a posture as possible is pretty critical for me.
Any further info you could provide on how these packs affected your lower back, how much of the load is effectively tranfered to the hips vs. the shoulders, and how they affected your hiking posture would be greatly appreciated.
I have tried "front packs" by just having a small daypack at the front and also have added weight to the front straps (water bottles) but nothing that comes close to the Aarns.
There is a lot of specific information on their web site
http://aarnpacks.com/ (http://aarnpacks.com/), so take some time to have a look at it because I really do think that those packs will work for you. All I can tell you is that I see some negative comments from people that have never tried them but I have yet to see one from a user. Keep in mind that I prefer a light and simple pack. Ideally I would like to have just a cylinder with two straps, but having tried that and many other "simple" designs, nothing has given me the same comfort level when I need to carry heavier loads. For lighter loads I use the ULA packs.
Addressing specifically the weight on the hips issue, with one of my packs ( The Featherlite Freedom) the shoulder strap does not even touch my shoulder most of the time, obviously because I have not adjusted the suspension correctly. However it shows you how ALL of the weight (including the front pockets) is on my hips. I use this one for loads between 24 and 35 lbs.
The balance issue is very simple. Pick up a gallon container and walk with it holding it with the right hand. What happens ? You lean to the left .
Now pick up the same ( or similar) weight and you will straighten up. Note how it is almost as easy carrying one gallon on each hand as it is one gallon on one only.
The same thing happens with a weight at the back or front only. Yes I know that I sound a bit paternalistic but I fail to see how such a simple concept is not adopted by others.
Franco