View Full Version : GoLite Jam2 Backpack
naturejunkie
01-12-2009, 16:41
Opinions from people who have used this pack? What'd ya think?
wrongway_08
01-12-2009, 17:48
Loved it, just need to pack it correct. I carried 25 pounds in it on my thru for a few months with no problems.
Can get top heavy if fully loaded. Not as durable as some other framsheetless/no stay packs. I've heard the latest version weighs more than the 08 version I have. I have had little success with GoLite customer service reps with replacing or repairing this pack(the hipbelt stitching has unraveled twice, the first time I repaired it after I got nowhere withe GoLite or the EMS store where I bought it). Lacks hipbelt pockets that other packs in this wt. class have. U have to add them seperately. If U really want an 08 Jam 2 and R willing to repair the hibelt let me know. I'll send it to U.
Great pack. I got mine at the Outfitter in Harpers Ferry. Durable for the weight. I would not want to carry more than 25 lbs with it. If you are patient you can find one for $50 on Ebay. Now that I know how to use the frameless pack, I actually want to get something lighter.
I have a Jam1 that I found too small for my thru-hike, so I moved up to a Quest. My winter pack weight was 29.5 lbs. before food & water (I'm 6'-2"). Had to have both waist belts re-sewn at various times and the zipper on the top flap started to rip-out towards the end. Customer Service was very responsive when I needed a new buckle shipped to a PO along the way.
--Jack Frost
I use it all the time for skiing, day hikes (lighter than my old day pack!), social backpacks, etc. I like it.
For longer backpacks, I still use my Esscence (I tend to beat up my general use packs, the Jam is a bit more durable than my essence)
Can get top heavy if fully loaded. Not as durable as some other framsheetless/no stay packs. I've heard the latest version weighs more than the 08 version I have. I have had little success with GoLite customer service reps with replacing or repairing this pack(the hipbelt stitching has unraveled twice, the first time I repaired it after I got nowhere withe GoLite or the EMS store where I bought it). Lacks hipbelt pockets that other packs in this wt. class have. U have to add them seperately. If U really want an 08 Jam 2 and R willing to repair the hibelt let me know. I'll send it to U.
Hello Dogwood,
I PMed you with a question.
Thanks
I have the Go-Lite Jam2 mens large. I like it. I just had the chance to buy it when driving back from Niagara Falls through New York State and I snatched it up, but I've never had the chance to compare it to any other decent sized light packs, which I've been looking to get for awhile. It suits my style, which is a simple trash can style that I can load my blue foam pad in as a tube, even my 28" wide pad, as the pack is tall enough. It is a good tall thin pack for cross-country skiing, or I suppose, hiking sticks. The side pouches are big, big enough for something the size of a large apple juice or tomato can. The back pouch is good sized, but lumpy objects won't fit well and you lose some space if the main compartment is stuffed full, as with the blue foam pad method. The pack tapers somewhat towards the top, but not enough to stop the blue foam pad tube from working. I put a light plastic rectangular bin at the top which fits just inside my blue foam pad tube and makes it rectangular at the top, which makes the pack even more rigid, yet padded. When fully extended to 30" like this you will need your own lid to keep the rain out. I wasn't sure I wanted a totally waterproof pack but so far its been way more plus than negative. It isn't quite wide enough at the top to work as a 1/2 bivysay as it gets too narrow for thighs with a sleeping bag, but it could be used in this way from just above the knees down, which isn't enough to bother, but it could be used to shorten your pad which would give more room in the pack. The pack could be modified to save a little weight and gain some functionality or fit stuff better. Maybe remove the panel between the main compartment and back pouch. Maybe remove the panel between the main compartment and the back pad, if using the tube method. Maybe slit the center seam at the back top to make the top half above the back pouch stretch top expandable for use as a half bivy. Maybe bottle holders on front straps, to carry stuff in tall tubes in the side pouches. So far nothing like that has been neccessary, but on a thru-hike I think I would think of something, not so much for more volume, just to give it a hand crafted personal touch.
It doesn't have a great place for my Kelly Kettle, for example. It's large enough that I can get by with it on short trips in winter, and summer trips with my daughter with me carrying everything. I think it would be big enough for a thru-hike. I would definitely start with it and maybe customize it along the way. It is also small enough to be not too big for day-hikes with the family. It's getting alot of use since I got it 15months ago. No regrets. Good price at $100.
I love my 2008 model Jam2! The new 2009 model looks like they added unnecessary weight and expense...
However, if I could make the purchase again, I would go with a ULA Conduit pack instead because the hip belt pockets look really nice, the mesh pocket is much more practical, and my money would be going towards directly supporting a small, thru-hiker owned business.
.....
That said, I was not aware of the Conduit before purchasing my Jam2, and thus, have made it work wonderfully by doing the following:
My size large weighs exactly 18 ounces after doing the following:
Trimming a few unnecessary inches off of all webbing. Removing the back 1/8" closed cell foam framesheet (as my rolled sleeping pad serves the same function, only much better), cut out the internal hydration bladder and foam framesheet pockets.
My sleeping pad is a 3/4 length Gossamer Gear NightLight closed cell pad trimmed down to run from just above my shoulders to just above my knees. I role it into a tube, slide the tube into a plastic garbage bag and then slide that into the pack. Everything gets packed right into the center of the tube and the result is a very stiff suspension that I find will carry up to 30lbs comfortably (the rolled tube versus the jam2's included framesheet seems add at least 6 or 7 lbs of carrying comfort).
Montana AT05
02-06-2009, 21:00
The Jam2 is a good pack. I've been using the 2008 model.
Pros:
1. Lightweight but roomy. You can get a lot of bulk in, but not weight! As others said, keep under 25 lbs if possible. At 30 pounds (I had a ton of food), it really ate into my shoulders--man was I sore.
2. Simple design. No frills, no excess straps, no clips or nick-nacks. This pack was surely not designed by someone with a Pier One fetish.
3. Highly compressible. If you take out the foam back-pad (use your sleeping pad instead) the pack, when empty, lies perfectly flat. Easy to keep in your tent, your hammock, under your tarp or under your legs if you use a shortened pad.
4. Durable. The material is tough. Stitching is well-done (as opposed to the HORRIBLE stitching on GoLite Poncho/Tarps).
5. Size Versatility. There are two hooks at the base of the pack (they are so unobtrusive you might not notice them. But when you hook them, they tighen up the bottom of the pack, making it smaller and more streamlined. This is ideal for lighter loads. The pack seems to ride even more comfortably than normal.
6. No lid. Lightweight packers ditch pack lids anyways. They are excess weight and they tends to collect heavy stuff.
7. Top, external compression strap. When your pack is filled, cinch and roll the opening, then clamp and tighten the strap over the opening. You can also put your rain gear, your tarp/small tent, or your sleeping pad under the strap.
Cons:
1. No external mesh carrying capacity (apart from side water carriers). This is a pro and a con. If you're going lightweight, you don't need the temptation of cramming in last minute stuff just because a huge back mesh pocket is staring hopefully up at you--pining for one more book or pair of thermal jammies...but it also means that frequently used gear is harder to get to as you must use the zippered back pocket.
2. Zero hip belt cushioning. Some prefer this--I do, but others like the padding and the ability to carry more weight on their hips. These are usually people new to light weight packing (like me when I first loaded my Jam2 and said, "***, ouch". But like Con #1 above--this is also a Pro. The hip belts are so thin and small that you can unhook them and forget about them, they don't get in your way. When carrying little weight, and using the hook compression system, the Jam2 is a good ruk-sack.
3. No cool name. Ya, seriously, when other manufacturers have things called VAPOR, HYPER SPACE, NUETRON, NEGATIVE-G-ZERO-WEIGHT-MUON, ANTI-MATTER CARRIER, blah blah, well, ok, I am just being sarcastic.
3. No cool name. Ya, seriously, when other manufacturers have things called VAPOR, HYPER SPACE, NUETRON, NEGATIVE-G-ZERO-WEIGHT-MUON, ANTI-MATTER CARRIER, blah blah, well, ok, I am just being sarcastic.
That's good! Anti Matter Carrier is the best! LOL
Yeah, U pt. out a lot of good pts., or at least ways to view characteristis of the Jam 2, from a different perspective. Some of my negative pts. were nitpicking w/ the pack, but still apply. It is a functional little frills usable pack. I don't know if I simply got a pack with defective stitching or not, but my experience was compounded by a bad customer service experience. Add that to several other pieces of GoLite gear that I relied on for a very short duration and then had to trash because of durability(disintegration) issues. I'm very very careful about what I will order from GoLite.
papa john
02-07-2009, 08:14
3. No cool name. Ya, seriously, when other manufacturers have things called VAPOR, HYPER SPACE, NUETRON, NEGATIVE-G-ZERO-WEIGHT-MUON, ANTI-MATTER CARRIER, blah blah, well, ok, I am just being sarcastic.
That's good! Anti Matter Carrier is the best! LOL
Yeah, U pt. out a lot of good pts., or at least ways to view characteristis of the Jam 2, from a different perspective. Some of my negative pts. were nitpicking w/ the pack, but still apply. It is a functional little frills usable pack. I don't know if I simply got a pack with defective stitching or not, but my experience was compounded by a bad customer service experience. Add that to several other pieces of GoLite gear that I relied on for a very short duration and then had to trash because of durability(disintegration) issues. I'm very very careful about what I will order from GoLite.
That's strange as I have had just the opposite experience. I bought a used Golite Breeze here on WB with the knowledge that it needed some repairs. When I got the pack, I called GL to see what it would cost for them to make the repairs. I fully described the conditions and how I came to own the pack. They said to send it in and they would evaluate the repairs and let me know. It wasn't more than 3 days and they called me to say that they not only would repair the pack, they would do so under the warranty! I again explained to the person that I wasn't the original owner. She said it didn't matter. After a few weeks, I received the repaired pack. They shipped it back to me on their nickel and no charge for the repairs.
That's what I like to hear - how it worked out for U papa john. That's the level of customer service that I would like to have recieved. Perhaps, I got a pack with rare defective hipbelt stitching(it does happen, I haven't heard of anyone else having this problem w/ this pack) and negative customer service experience.
Montana AT05
02-07-2009, 11:53
Dogwood, you aren't alone in your quality concerns, especially on the stitching. But most of the complaints stem from GoLite tarps and non-pack items. I am still pissed about their poncho tarp. I didn't even get past the trial set-up in the back yard. The stitching blew out that fast. So I am leery of GoLite stuff as well. Not to mention the color choices of the gear has been, uh, I believe the kind-yet-sneering term is, "creative".
But my Jam2? Solid.
daddytwosticks
02-07-2009, 15:07
The stitching on my Golite Poncho Tarp leaves much to be desired also.