I was on the Antigravitygear website and noticed they have a 10.5 oz full size pack called the Fanatic Fringe Thompson Peak backpack. Has anyone tried this one out?

Not yet.

It will be tested by the BackpackGearTest group. I have applied for the test and hope to earn the right to be one of the testers. I have used another 10 oz pack of my own design for several section hikes. My pack is fragile enough to require common sense care. I am looking forward to seeing how the reviews turn out.

Hey Flyfisher. I notice you live down around my way in Ohio. Maybe we'll run into each other some time! There are a few long-distance hikers in the area as well - so if you wanna hook-up just get in touch.

About this pack - I'm trying to replace my Gregory Reality-X (at 4 lbs) with a lighter pack. I have a short torso (14 in) and need good suspension and padding. Do you or anyone else here on the forum have any ideas for me?

And FF - I hope you get to test the pack!

Peep, you might take a look at the Granite Gear Vapor Trail (2 lbs) or Nimbus Ozone (3 lbs). While not ultralight packs, they ride well for up to 25-pound and 35-pound loads respectively. I did a review (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=3235) of the highly adjustable Nimbus Ozone that I used for 118 miles last October. I'm about 2.5 hours north of you in Wolverine country.

I don't see the Fanatic Fringe in the Gear Test site....:confused: Any clues????

Ratfunk

I don't see the Fanatic Fringe in the Gear Test site....:confused: Any clues?They are too new yet. BGT has their gear (at least the pack), it is out for review. BGT is usually 6m-1yr behind. Though that mostly depends on the manufacture. If they donate preproduction gear it will get reviewed.

I'll hopefully be getting a Thompson Peak (with hip belt) to try out for my 07 AT thru hike, it could replace my granite gear virga I've been planning on using, we'll see. A friend used it on his PCT thru hike and liked it enough to probably use it on his upcoming CDT hike. Will post again once Ive actually used it.

As you might guess from my name, I own the 10.5oz Thompson Peak pak with hip belt. It's held up really nicely since I bought it last year.

Sinse this post has been brought back to life from 2004--here's the BGT link:

http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/Packs/Frameless%20Backpacks%20and%20Day%20Packs/Fanatic%20Fringe%20Thompson%20Peak%20Pack/

GlazeDog

Sinse this post has been brought back to life from 2004--here's the BGT link:

http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/Packs/Frameless%20Backpacks%20and%20Day%20Packs/Fanatic%20Fringe%20Thompson%20Peak%20Pack/

GlazeDog

The following was taken off of the FanaticFringe web site regarding the changes they made to the pack:

We'd like to thank Rick for doing such a thorough review. We appreciate the effort he put into the testing process.
We'd like to thank Jim for doing an equally thorough review. It sounds like he put his Thompson Peak Pack to the test!
Lastly, we would like to thank Christine for her review. It's not easy jumping into a 10.4 oz pack for your first Ultralight experience.
Soon after the first reports came out, we addressed the issue the testers had with the Grommet. We now apply an adhesive during the Grommet install process, and have not had any further issues. We have also redesigned the pockets so they are easier to access.

FF---
Thanks for the response and changes!!

GlazeDog

The only thing with the ultralite packs is you have to use your sleeping pad for back padding. This can get uncomfortable and it is harder to pack. Now if you are going with about 25 pounds you can get away with it, but 35-40 loads the smaller shoulder pads will wear on you as well.

The whole idea of the frameless packs is to go lighter. I have a ULA P-2 that will carry up to 35-40 Lbs easily as it has a frame. With it, my weight for an AT hike is around 28 Lbs with food and water ( 18 without ). I also carry a Nice Big Agnes inflateable pad for sleeping ( 22 Oz )

I also have a GVP G4. With it I use the Gossemer Nightlite Torso pad in the back pocket. I dont carry the Big Agnus. I use an Alcohol stove and Kitchen. My weight is around 22 Lbs with food and water ( 12 without ) with this setup. Max weight carried comfortable is about 25 LBs

For the Fanatic Fringe, you need to go even lighter. Use a Lightweight tarp, lightweight alcohol stove and kitchen, Lighter Sleeping bag,cut the weight Everywhere you can to get down below 19-20 Lbs MAX with food and water.

So as you see a Frame pack allows More weight comfortably, Frameless, you must make a few exceptions.

UL ( Ultralight ) and SUL (Super Ultra Light ) are not easy to achieve for the normal thruhiker. My biggest problems to acheive lighter weight are as follows:

Weight of the sleeping bag ( 20 Deg Vs 35 Deg ) 2.5 Lbs Vs 1.0 Lbs
Nice Inflateable Pad VS Light sleeping Pad ( 22 Oz Vs 7 Oz )
Shelter ( 1.5 Lbs max with UL, 10 Oz Max with SUL )
Lighter pack ( 48 Oz Vs 8 Oz )

Where do you wish to make the weight cuts, decide this and off you go. Durablity also plays a big part of the equation as far as a Thruhiker is concerned. This is what I have to decide before April 5th when I start out. Either way, I'm sure Ill be happy as I have carried both for many miles.

Remember that you can be happy while Hiking or Camping but not both :)

The only thing with the ultralite packs is you have to use your sleeping pad for back padding. This can get uncomfortable and it is harder to pack. Now if you are going with about 25 pounds you can get away with it, but 35-40 loads the smaller shoulder pads will wear on you as well.

What's this about UltraLighters using sleeping pads???? :confused: I'm confused???

GlazeDog;)

What's this about UltraLighters using sleeping pads???? :confused: I'm confused???

GlazeDog;)

After a few months and dropping all the weight i could, I contemplated getting a blow up heavier pad instead of my lightweight foam pad. When you get more and more achy over time, sleep rules!

And try sleeping in the baseball bat shelters without a pad :P Those shelters suck even with a pad :)

After a few months and dropping all the weight i could, I contemplated getting a blow up heavier pad instead of my lightweight foam pad. When you get more and more achy over time, sleep rules!

And try sleeping in the baseball bat shelters without a pad :P Those shelters suck even with a pad :)

Yeah--I couldn't agree more. My pad is my luxury item. It's an extra few ounces, but the sleep I get more than compensates by helping me re-energize.

GlazeDog

Yeah--I couldn't agree more. My pad is my luxury item. It's an extra few ounces, but the sleep I get more than compensates by helping me re-energize.

GlazeDog

Man, I know what you mean. I found a self-inflating Everest pad at Sam's that I love. It weighs 3 lbs, but it is comfotable. My pad and pillow are my luxury items.

I know this is an old thread but people like reading old stuff too for good information. I have the updated Fanatic Fringe Thompson Peak pack without hip belt and I love it. It has helped me get my pack weight way down and with my current 3 season base pack weight of 8.5 lbs it is very comfortable with 3-4 days of food and water. my pack has held up well and shows no signs of wear after about 3-4 section hikes. I would definately buy another if this one ever wears out.

I know this is an old thread but people like reading old stuff too for good information. I have the updated Fanatic Fringe Thompson Peak pack without hip belt and I love it. It has helped me get my pack weight way down and with my current 3 season base pack weight of 8.5 lbs it is very comfortable with 3-4 days of food and water. my pack has held up well and shows no signs of wear after about 3-4 section hikes. I would definately buy another if this one ever wears out.This is the sort of pack I am looking at buying or building. I am not super UL in terms of clothing because I like a wool sweater and stuff, but I don't have too much to pack. Also I don't mind sleeping on a blue foam pad, because I like the warmth, and I'm basically a cheap b******. But I like a full length sleeping pad. So I would look at wrapping it all the way around on the inside. So how much room is there vertically for the width of my pad? In summer I like 20" wide, so I would need 20" height. In winter I like 28" wide, so I would need 28" height. What is the inside circumference and height of your pack? Was the the small, medium, large, or XL? Do you think my idea would work with this pack? If I did this, how much strength would be left in the bottom of the pack if a heavy food bag was loaded inside the pad at the bottom of the pack? Also, would there be room on the backside mesh for a Kelly Kettle?

I guess I am asking if torso height is also the room there would be for the width of a blue foam pad if you wrapped it around the inside, or if the extension collar would give you some more inches on top of that?

I found this review particularly useful and applicable for the way I intend to load my closed cell foam pad wrapped around the inside:
http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/Packs/Frameless%20Backpacks%20and%20Day%20Packs/Fanatic%20Fringe%20Thompson%20Peak%20Pack/Rick%20Allnutt%20III/Field%20Report/

Are there any other UL packs that are as suitable or more suitable for loading with a full length closed cell foam pad wrapped around the inside in this way? What does it do to comfort and stability in the back area? Is it too cylindrical? What's the best way of fixing the cylindricity without adding too much weight? What about a hip belt? How much comfort and weight and strength would it add for a 20# load and does it help mitigate the cylindricity problem? I'm thinking I would like the hip belt.

The small, medium, and large sizes only measure the length from the top of the shoulder straps to the bottom where they attach. All of the sizes have the same cubic inch rating they just attach the top of the straps at different heights. I have not measured but the inside of the pack circumfrence(due to the round pad inside) would probably be 18-22 inches. i use a statdard full lenght blue foam pad that is about as wide, when laid out flat, as they come and it works great. The only problem I could forsee with a short/smaller width pad is that any gear that gets packed above the top of it may flop around in the extension collar. I do not find that my gear packs in a cylinder though once loaded. I put my sleeping bag in the bottom and it is longer than it is wide when packed so it kind of forms the base shape of the pack when loaded making it more rectangular. The mesh pockets on the back and sides are quite large and shoud easily fit a cooking kit. If you have more questions let'em fly, I check the forums periodically during the day while I am at work.

Oops! forgot one. My pack does not have the belt and I have not had an issue with that. With loads of less than 20lbs I find a belt is not necessary but that is my personal preference I guess. I don't think it would help with the pack looking round though.