Moonbow Gearskin -- How do you protect the sides?

[JoeHiker]

This is a question for anyone who uses a Moonbow Gearskin. From everything I've seen and read about them, I can't figure out how you protect your gear that is exposed on the sides of the pack? The review at BackpackingLight mentions this problem as well. I spent enough money for my sleeping bag that I do not want it sticking out, ready to be snagged by any passing branch. The same goes for most of the rest of my stuff (tent, clothes, etc.

What do you guys do? Do you just have to be really careful? What exactly sticks out the sides of your gearskins?

[Heater]

This is a question for anyone who uses a Moonbow Gearskin. From everything I've seen and read about them, I can't figure out how you protect your gear that is exposed on the sides of the pack? The review at BackpackingLight mentions this problem as well. I spent enough money for my sleeping bag that I do not want it sticking out, ready to be snagged by any passing branch. The same goes for most of the rest of my stuff (tent, clothes, etc.

What do you guys do? Do you just have to be really careful? What exactly sticks out the sides of your gearskins?
They make a pack cover that should do the trick. Someone also posted a thread about the "packa" which is a combination of a rain jacket/packcover that looked pretty interesting.

Sgt. Rock owns a couple of these (his son unofficially owns one of 'em though) so I am sure he will respond soon with some advice.

[Just Jeff]

I think you put everything in stuff sacks, then lay the sacks in line and fold it up, so your gear is protected by the stuff sack. You could use a heavier one for fragile gear and lighter ones for normal stuff, I guess.

[Heater]

I think you put everything in stuff sacks, then lay the sacks in line and fold it up, so your gear is protected by the stuff sack. You could use a heavier one for fragile gear and lighter ones for normal stuff, I guess.
Also, if I am getting this right.... You can just leave the sleeping bag in the tent and fold it into the pack. That way the bag is protected by the tent but the tent is exposed as part of the outside layer of the pack if you don't use a pack cover.
IOW... the bottom of the tent will be the part of outside of the pack.

I am planning on ordering one of these and if I am wrong, please correct me on this.

[JoeHiker]

For my Long Trail hike, I'll probably be bringing a Hennessey Hammock with SnakeSkins so I won't be wrapping up my bag in that. Dunno, I know that lots of people love these things, but I think I'm more a traditional pack guy. I don't like anything sticking out the side.

[Heater]

For my Long Trail hike, I'll probably be bringing a Hennessey Hammock with SnakeSkins so I won't be wrapping up my bag in that. Dunno, I know that lots of people love these things, but I think I'm more a traditional pack guy. I don't like anything sticking out the side.
I figure I'll find a way to pack it without things sticking out the sides and I also plan on using a cover of some sort.

It is around 1 pound so I will be saving about 2 pounds of weight going with the gearskin. (compared with the other packs I have been looking at) I think I will make it work. To each hids own, I guess. ;)

[Repeat]

I put all my gear in stuff sacks. I use a piece of 3/8 inch closed-cell foam, 20 inches wide by 30 inches long (4oz) as a base to lay the stuff sacks on top of. The foam wraps around the ends of the stuff sacks when I tighten my GearSkin. This protects the ends of the stuff sacks from "injury. The foam serves as a sit pad or as a stand pad while changing clothes. I also use it in my hammock in cold weather.

[Nameless]

I am a recent owner of a gearskin, and love it.

I just have everything except my sleeping pad inside stuff sacks, and that protects it all. I bought silnylon stuff sacks, seam sealed them, and am not taking a rain cover (I could always buy one if this route doesnt work)

I really recomend the combination of fabric I got on my gearskin. The inside is the lighter sil/nylon, and the outside is the heavier, but still light 1.9 oz coated ripstop.

Pink

[SGT Rock]

I've never used the PowerPack system of packing the Gearskin. I've used two strategies:

1. A pad that wraps around the entire load inside the Gearskin. I used this strategy for a few years and the pad protects everything inside. My son still packs like this.

2. I now use a trash compactor bag as a liner and put all my stuff inside that. Also, all my stuff is inside sil-nylon sacks because I have been overly paranoid about getting stuff wet for about 20 years - ever since I got my down bag wet that one time...

Anyway, I have talked to a couple of people that were going to ask about having some wings of sil-nylon added to the pack so they can fold them over the load. IMO they are unnecessary, but I am interested to see what such a system would look like.

[tlbj6142]

My brother used a Gearskin on his thru ('04) and did what what Rock mentioned in #1. His gear was in 2-3 stuff sacks and he would use a pack cover when it rained.

Its not as "bad" as it sounds. Stuff just doesn't "stick out", or "fall out", unless you have your straps too loose.

[WhiteMtns]

I'm in the process of making a GearSkinLikeThing....Side protection will not be an issue, but I am willingly sacrificing some of the versatility of accessing everything at any time.

My sleeping quilt will remain in my insulated-bottom hammock...this lot gets loosely stuffed in a 8 by 13 by 24 SilNylon stow bag. Clothes and food stuffsacks on top...either inside or outside this. My misc sack then goes outside on top where I can readily access those things I might want to...snack bars...Ben's 100...headlamp..etc.

Thus everything is protected (and waterproofed) on the sides by the silnylon. the silnylon is subsequently protected from abrasion by Mesh Water Bottle Pockets that attach to the sides via the bottom two compression straps sliding through dual daisy-chains on the pockets. I prefer water bottles to bladders (actually Lipton Brisk Big Slam bottles) but these make versitile ditty bags when using the platypus...and can be moved up and down the compression straps as needed...weight/ballance adjustment.

[SteveK]

I can definitely see the advantage of the Gearskin system, but I can't believe that they want $180 minimum for one. Do you have any drawings of your pack that you would share ?

Thanks,

Steve

[JoeHiker]

After having attempted a Long Trail hike this fall, I have to say I'm very glad I never got a gearskin. There were some very narrow sections in the northern half the would have torn the hell out of the sides. half-mile sections where pine branches pushed against me hard at every step, for example. They really put a strain on my pack as it was..

[Nameless]

my gearskin is my favorite pack that i have ever used, and will not be replaced for a long long time.

I did a day and a half of bushwaking this spring in Maine which was in some NASTY stuff. Near the end of the 100 miles (going south) is big wilson, usually a simple ford, but the water was HIGH, well past my waist, because of 26 than 4 strait days of rain, and there was no way possible for me to safely cross big wilson, so I had to bushwack out to the road.

In that bushwaking I put that pack to the test and it performed WONDERFULLY. For most of them time i had no choice but to hike in very tight trees for the first part, then wade though beaver dams for the second part (well, i tried to stay on top of them, but that didnt end sucessfully) That pack went though hell durring that time, and it has nothing to show for it. I have the lightest material on the inside, and the second lightest on the outside. I cant tell how many trees I squeezed though, or bushes i trampled through. The thing is a gearskin is about as thin as you, so anything you can fit though, the gearskin can too. My only thing is that I was carrying a tarptent (have since converted to a hammok for east coast hiking) and the tarptent bag is pretty long because of the single pole, and i did get a single pachable hole in my tarptent bag. And I am 5'1" and 105 lbs, so I am a toothpick, so the gearskin shouldnt cause anyone to have trouble fitting though tight spaces. If anything, it will fit better than most packs because you can make it half as wide if you need too, and i have for daypacking before. I would highly recomend a gearskin for anyone interested in a frameless pack (just like any other frameless pack, dont try to carry too much, my base last summer was twelve pounds, and my current base is looking to be about ten) I had a little too much weight at the beginning of the hundred miles (I did it slow, it was the beginning of my hike, and i needed lots of food) but after i ate my weight down for a day it was an amazing pack. My mom even loved it, and she is one that cant think beyond her 5 pound inner frame pack (but she is pretty light on the rest of her gear, but not to the extent i am)

In short, dont discredit a gearskin untill you try it...

And try walking into shaws covered in beaver dam mud, posin ivy sores, and 11 days of grime from Kahtadin though monson. It will get you a smile.

Pink

[JoeHiker]

It's not that I "discredit" the gearskin. I'm sure it's fine for its purpose. But my pack (Thompson Peak Pack) which actually had sides was torn up quite a bit on those sides. Enough that I needed a needle and thread in three places. Only one of them was on the sides, but there were other small tears on the sides as well. I need something tough all the way around.

[brian]

It's not that I "discredit" the gearskin. I'm sure it's fine for its purpose. But my pack (Thompson Peak Pack) which actually had sides was torn up quite a bit on those sides. Enough that I needed a needle and thread in three places. Only one of them was on the sides, but there were other small tears on the sides as well. I need something tough all the way around.

I have had a gearskin for about 2.5 years, and it is by far my favorite pack. The real benefit to the buying one is fit. Now, I had mine sized by the owner himself, but the harness and hipbelt is the most comfortable that I have ever tried on.

I think that you may be able to ask for 200D or 400D flaps on the sides of the pack, and this should be able to protect the contents of your pack which may be exposed.

Brian
OES

[SGT Rock]

I really like my Gearkin. Since I got my first, I have added a second. My oldest son now uses the original one and I use the other one since we are about the same height. I've never found the lack of sides to be an issue. Put all your stuff in a trash compactor bag like a liner (you probably would anyway) and tighten it up. If you pack it right, it will feel like a pillow strapped to your back.

[DebW]

For my homemade Gearskin look-alike, I used 4 oz Cordura fabric and made it wide enough
that the fabric overlaps on the sides. Mine came out weighing 3 pounds (I used an Osprey hip belt and commercial shoulder straps). I want to make a 2nd one to correct a few mistakes in the first and make it lighter. I find the side access really handy.

[sierraDoug]

Put all your stuff in a trash compactor bag like a liner (you probably would anyway) and tighten it up.
I'm wondering what the advantage of the gearskin is if you use a liner... and therefore can't get at anything without opening the whole thing up. That sounds worse than a plain ol' sack pack. How do you get at stuff during the day?

[SGT Rock]

Naw, what I do is have the liner open to the side, so all I have to do is loosen one strap and reach in. Since the liner is just folded over and held closed with the pack, it really isn't an issue.

[Just Jeff]

You can also vary the volume of your pack from trip to trip by changing the size of liner (or even by compressing the same liner more).

[Rambler]

From the maker of the packa:

http://www.thepacka.com/strappack/index.html

[Johnny Swank]

Reviving an old thread. I sewed up Gearskin knock-off for the both of us, and if you pack these things right it is just like wearing a big-ole pillow. We do something like Sgt. Rock, but use a big sil-nylon bag instead of the compacter bag. We just toss the sleeping bag in the that big bag, toss a couple of other bags in that we won't need during the day (clothes, misc junk) then pack the tarp and waterbottles under the straps. Works like a champ.

I'm getting paranoid about the big sil-nylon bags though, and will probably either spray them with silicon or replace with a bomber Pnemo bag from Pacific Outdoor Equipment http://www.pacoutdoor.com/2006/index.cfm?action=product&productID=30&groupID=10&familyID=2

We used those bags on the Mississippi River last year and they didn't leak a drop after being drug through all manner of crap, thrown in a canoe, and countless hours in direct sun. They come with a valve so you can bleed off the trapped air after you seal the top. Very handy, and quite light for utter protection.

[highway]

I think you put everything in stuff sacks, then lay the sacks in line and fold it up, so your gear is protected by the stuff sack. You could use a heavier one for fragile gear and lighter ones for normal stuff, I guess.

I heartily agree with your assessment.
i first tried he arrangement they advised but found it was not for me so I devised my own. First I double bagged my sleeping bag into 2 silnylon bags. Food and cooking gear into another. Clothes into another. Possibles bag into another. I have walked in day after day of pouring rain without my pack contents getting wet. This way works well, no matter what others may say:sun

[Rambler]

For those of you with gearskins, how many just mailed in an outline of your torso and how many actually went to NH to have your specs measured by Moonbow? I'm about a 2hrs 1/2 drive away. I would rather not have to drive there if the at home tracing method works well. My right shoulder is a bit lower than the left which is not unusual, but unless I'm careful my pack often slips more toward the low side.

[SGT Rock]

I mailed mine in.

[Repeat]

Good afternoon,
I mailed my outline in and the pack fits like a glove. I read Sgt. Rock's review and was sold. The Gearskin fits like a glove. It is so comfortable that I usually keep it on during "trail breaks".
Repeat

[Johnny Swank]

I sewed my own, but I heard from several others that mailed theirs in with no problems.

If you're only 2.5 hours away though, I'd drive over there, do some hiking (Packrat's in a great location and the base of the whites), then stay overnight at the hostel. Any excuse is a good excuse for hiking.

[jlb2012]

I stopped by a Gathering a few years ago when Moonbow was there and got a demo on how to pack the thing and to get measured for the pack

[Footslogger]

I like the overall concept but my main concern would be getting at my gear/clothing during the day without having to totally undo the pack.

For those who currently use the GearSkin ...is that a legitimate concern ??

'Slogger

[jlb2012]

no problem getting to stuff most of the time - just pop one buckle and reach in - only possible problem is if the item you want is inside another item - for example I usually put my down jacket in the hammock since I only use it at night - if I need to get to that it would be a problem because the hammock and pad(s) and sleeping bag are all folded together in the Gearskin.

[highway]

I mailed mine in. It fit perfectly. My wife had to eyeball in where my "navel" went though:D

as for the access question, its much easier getting to any item of gear with it since everything is not hidden inside some cavernous bag, covered by a buckled lid & then a drawstring. With the Gearskin, usually undoing one buckle is enough to drag anything out, as HOI said. Its the same for me, too

I am still using the same silnylon bags as I have for last 3 years and not a hole has been punched in any one and I have dropped and dragged the pack in the mountains of 4 States and two foreign countries. The pack itself is worn some, shows the wear I have given it, yet I am convinced I will be using it for many more years to come. Nothing has broken-even the webbed kangaroo pouch on the back.

I give it a "thumbs up"!:sun

[Footslogger]

So ...protecting the sides doesn't appear to be a serious issue !!

What does an empty GearSkin weigh on average ?? ...and talk some about the shoulder harness and hip belt.

Thanks,

'Slogger

[jlb2012]

average weight - tough to say - mine weighs 24 ounces - large hip belt, and shoulder harness, 200 denier cloth, no mesh or other pocket(s)

[Footslogger]

average weight - tough to say - mine weighs 24 ounces - large hip belt, and shoulder harness, 200 denier cloth, no mesh or other pocket(s)
============================

Thanks ...just trying get a feel for how it would compare (comparably loaded) with my Granite Gear Vapor Trail, which weighs 2 lbs empty.

'Slogger

[highway]

I knew mine would be beat to hell so I got their toughest, blue Spectre cloth and complete it only weighs 1.55 Lbs ( 24.8 oz)-with the kangaroo pouch.
Stuff it however you want it, pull all straps tight and it becomes a firm package riding on your hips. The good thing about a custom pack-as opposed to one 'off the rack' is that it is made for your dimensions. Mine rides well on top of my hip bones and hardly ever slides down so I feel much pressure upon the shoulders. But I have never carried more than about 37 pounds in it. I am convinced it will handle much more but for the life of me I cannot imagine why anyone would want to.

[Footslogger]

But I have never carried more than about 37 pounds in it. I am convinced it will handle much more but for the life of me I cannot imagine why anyone would want to.
===================================

That's good info since my current total packweight (with 4 days of food and starting supply of water) is around 26lbs.

'Slogger

[highway]

I'll start startin April w/pack weight ~25 pounds with too much water (1.5L) and 3 days food & some cold weather clothing too. You should have no problem carrying it.

[Footslogger]

I'll start startin April w/pack weight ~25 pounds with too much water (1.5L) and 3 days food & some cold weather clothing too. You should have no problem carrying it.
=============================

Guess I'll have to see one in person to feel comfortable making the leap.

Thanks again to everyone for the info ...

'Slogger

[Jan LiteShoe]

=============================

Guess I'll have to see one in person to feel comfortable making the leap.

Thanks again to everyone for the info ...

'Slogger

I've had one since 2002 and liked it. I'll sell it to you for $200, Toots. :)
Anybody else for $100. PM me.

I used it on my Long trail thru in Aug. 2002 and had no trouble at all with ripping/tearing, etc. It's easy to unclip a buckle and reach in, esp. in the rain - stuff doesn't get wet.
I've used both the methods Rock describes, try both and see what's comfortable. I prefer the stuf sack method.

It's a good, quick summer pack that allows access top to bottom.

Depending on how you load it, it can ride high (easier for me) or low (hard on my shoulders).

I bought a ULA P2 for my 2003 AT thru because I was starting late Feb/early March, and had more warm stuff to schlep. (I wanted the frame sheet and stay to support that.) I'm sure you could carry 37 pounds but for my thin girlie shoulders that wouldn't feel comfy.

After 2200 miles, I find the ULA is an old friend I reach for first now. I use the Gearskin for a quick summer weekend, or for gearing up a hiking companion without "stuff."

I don't know what it weighs - don't make me go up to the attic to see. But if someone wants it, I'll make the trip.

[Footslogger]

I've had one since 2002 and liked it. I'll sell it to you for $200, Toots. :)
Anybody else for $100. PM me.

I used it on my Long trail thru in Aug. 2002 and had no trouble at all with ripping/tearing, etc. It's easy to unclip a buckle and reach in, esp. in the rain - stuff doesn't get wet.
I've used both the methods Rock describes, try both and see what's comfortable. I prefer the stuf sack method.

It's a good, quick summer pack that allows access top to bottom.

Depending on how you load it, it can ride high (easier for me) or low (hard on my shoulders).

I bought a ULA P2 for my 2003 AT thru because I was starting late Feb/early March, and had more warm stuff to schlep. (I wanted the frame sheet and stay to support that.) I'm sure you could carry 37 pounds but for my thin girlie shoulders that wouldn't feel comfy.

After 2200 miles, I find the ULA is an old friend I reach for first now. I use the Gearskin for a quick summer weekend, or for gearing up a hiking companion without "stuff."

I don't know what it weighs - don't make me go up to the attic to see. But if someone wants it, I'll make the trip.
===============================

Oh thanks Lightshoe ...I feel special :-?

While you're at, would you give me a 10 dollar bill for these two 20's !!

So let me get this straight. You like(d) the GearSkin but reach first for the ULA ?? That makes me more inclined to stick with the Vapor Trail.

Yours probably wouldn't fit me anyway ...you know, considering your girlie shoulders and all.

'Slogger

[Jan LiteShoe]

===============================

Oh thanks Lightshoe ...I feel special :-?

While you're at, would you give me a 10 dollar bill for these two 20's !!

So let me get this straight. You like(d) the GearSkin but reach first for the ULA ?? That makes me more inclined to stick with the Vapor Trail.

Yours probably wouldn't fit me anyway ...you know, considering your girlie shoulders and all.

'Slogger

You ARE special!
That why you got "the rate."
:)

Let me ask you something - how can you use another pack other than the one you thru-ed with?
Don't you feel it becomes part of your body? Like you're married to it? :)
I have three packs to sell but not my thru-pack.

[Footslogger]

You ARE special!
That why you got "the rate."
:)

Let me ask you something - how can you use another pack other than the one you thru-ed with?
Don't you feel it becomes part of your body? Like you're married to it? :)
I have three packs to sell but not my thru-pack.
================================

You've got a point there. But that old Vapor Trail ain't gonna last forever. So ...it's either replace it with another VT or look outside the box. Based on what I'm hearing/reading this GearSkin thing has potential.

But no ...the Vapor Trail that got my skinny little butt to Katahdin (kidney stones and all) ain't on the market !!

'Slogger

[Skidsteer]

=============================

Guess I'll have to see one in person to feel comfortable making the leap.

Thanks again to everyone for the info ...

'Slogger

It does help to see it up close. I've been lusting after one ever since I saw HOI's.

I got to inspect it in two different configurations:

1) After he returned from a dayhike(using Springer as a base camp) with nothing but the usual dayhike stuff packed in it, and

2) Fully loaded for the hike down to FS 42

Sweet piece of gear.

[Jan LiteShoe]

================================

You've got a point there. But that old Vapor Trail ain't gonna last forever. So ...it's either replace it with another VT or look outside the box. Based on what I'm hearing/reading this GearSkin thing has potential.

But no ...the Vapor Trail that got my skinny little butt to Katahdin (kidney stones and all) ain't on the market !!

'Slogger

Well, my offer stands. I also have a constuction-grade Jack Wolfskin pack for women, and a Go-Lite Gust, in addition to the MoonBow Geasrskin.

If you search the web, you'll find a review I did of it several years ago.

[Footslogger]

[quote=Jan LiteShoe;278312]Well, my offer stands.

============================

Well ...OK, but I'm gonna have to disguise myself so that I can get the better price !!

'Slogger

[Jan LiteShoe]

[quote=Jan LiteShoe;278312]Well, my offer stands.

============================

Well ...OK, but I'm gonna have to disguise myself so that I can get the better price !!

'Slogger

Today, and today only, you get the 50 percent discount.
:)

[Footslogger]

[quote=Footslogger;278316]

Today, and today only, you get the 50 percent discount.
:)

===============================

Oh no ...not that. I can't stand the pressure. It takes me time to make a decision like this !!

Please be merciful !!

'Slogger