ULA Rocks!!

[CarlZ993]

I used the ULA Circuit pack on my 2013 AT hike. Held up great. In fact, I think it was the most common pack I saw on the AT.

This year, I took my ULA pack on an attempted Colorado Trail Thru-hike. Early in the hike, an unknown critter chewed off my right shoulder strap, sternum strap, & one of the elastic straps on my shoulder strap. Due to this & a lingering back injury that wasn't healing on the trail, I decided to abort my hike.

After much procrastination on my part, I finally contacted Chris @ ULA about the pack. He said to mail it back to them to see if they could repair it. I did. And this morning, the pack returned by FedEx. It was repaired. He didn't charge me for the repair. I was prepared to pay for any and all repairs if necessary. In fact, I was prepared to buy a new one if it wasn't repairable.

What a company! If any of you are in the market for a new backpack, I strongly recommend ULA.

[Tramp]

yep! All pack decisions are easy....ULA .

[bpowell1014]

I too have had nothing but excellent experiences with ULA. When I first got the pack, I wasn't sure that it fit right. I emailed them and Chris later called me, suggested that I have a picture taken of me wearing the pack so he could evaluate. I did and he confirmed I had the correct pack that fit correctly. That was great service.

Recently, the pack cover I had for the ULA Circuit became defective and he exchanged it with no questions asked after I explained the problem I was having. Received the replacement in less than a week.

I cannot possibly overstate how much I think this is an excellent company with excellent products. Highly recommend and I share your sentiments.

[Tramp]

I read threads all over this site about what pack should I get what size pack should I get ,,,asking for recommendations. if thay only knew how easy it is . 1-go to the ULA web site 2- pick out the pack 3-place order !! 4- jump for joy !!! got a problem ?? call or send an email...problem solved !

[swjohnsey]

I don't think you can beat the customer service at ULA. I tore a hole in one of the pockets of my Ohm 2.0 sqeezing through a tight spot on the way up Katahdin. Sent it to Chris for a patch and got a new pack back, unbelievable!

[Woof Shaven]

I just ordered a ULA Catalyst. It's still in the mail. I did a lot of research on packs. I wasn't sure I would have the range (daily forward progress in miles) to safely justify getting the Circuit. I wanted something light, but traditional in size so that I could make a few mistakes in gear choices, clothing, and most of all I'll probably pack 3 more days food that most people due to range anxiety. I worry my daily average will be 8 miles or less.

The pack is the first item ordered of the Big Three: Pack, sleep system, and tent. I think I'll go tent instead of hammock. I'll feel like I accomplished something if my big three comes in under 10 pounds. I'm also looking at the Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol sleeping pad. I'm a lazy packer and I don't really like stuffing. I don't know how much vertical space I'll have in the ULA Catalyst so I plan to strap the Z Lite outside. I hear it makes a great kick stand for your pack whoever you set it down. I also hear most people store the inflatables inside the pack due to puncture considerations. I need to see how much vertical space I actually have before I make my sleeping pad decision. Inside the pack, outside the pack. Kickstand or not.

Got my tent and bag wish listed at least in my imagination anyways. Thinking about Leki trekking poles and some kind of titanium cookware. I hear alcohol stoves are in favor on the trail. I"m still stove clueless. I'm currently leaning towards something with no simmering capabilities what so ever but doesn't sound like a jet engine either.

My digital hanging scale is in the mail too. I hope to come in under 30LBs when I hit the trail next April. NOBO from Spring Mountain to Hot Springs is my goal.

[Coffee]

The Catalyst is really big so you should have plenty of room inside the pack. I had the Catalyst before the Circuit and found it very roomy for my gear.

[saltysack]

I just ordered a ULA Catalyst. It's still in the mail. I did a lot of research on packs. I wasn't sure I would have the range (daily forward progress in miles) to safely justify getting the Circuit. I wanted something light, but traditional in size so that I could make a few mistakes in gear choices, clothing, and most of all I'll probably pack 3 more days food that most people due to range anxiety. I worry my daily average will be 8 miles or less.

The pack is the first item ordered of the Big Three: Pack, sleep system, and tent. I think I'll go tent instead of hammock. I'll feel like I accomplished something if my big three comes in under 10 pounds. I'm also looking at the Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol sleeping pad. I'm a lazy packer and I don't really like stuffing. I don't know how much vertical space I'll have in the ULA Catalyst so I plan to strap the Z Lite outside. I hear it makes a great kick stand for your pack whoever you set it down. I also hear most people store the inflatables inside the pack due to puncture considerations. I need to see how much vertical space I actually have before I make my sleeping pad decision. Inside the pack, outside the pack. Kickstand or not.

Got my tent and bag wish listed at least in my imagination anyways. Thinking about Leki trekking poles and some kind of titanium cookware. I hear alcohol stoves are in favor on the trail. I"m still stove clueless. I'm currently leaning towards something with no simmering capabilities what so ever but doesn't sound like a jet engine either.

My digital hanging scale is in the mail too. I hope to come in under 30LBs when I hit the trail next April. NOBO from Spring Mountain to Hot Springs is my goal.

I'd rethink.....circuit is plenty of room......IMO...I'm light but not a gram weenie.....easy to get a tent/tarp at 2 lbs for 2 person and a good 20 deg down bag ie marmot helium lil over 2 lbs under $300...


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[jjozgrunt]

A ULA pack is on my short list but the problem I have is postage to and from Australia if I don't like it and it need to be returned. Can't find anyone here that has one and lives close, to look over the pack.

[saltysack]

A ULA pack is on my short list but the problem I have is postage to and from Australia if I don't like it and it need to be returned. Can't find anyone here that has one and lives close, to look over the pack.

U will not be disappointed....


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[Coffee]

Postage can be expensive but the cost of hiking with the wrong pack would be higher. I would suggest taking your measurements carefully and then following the guidelines on torso size selection provided on the ULA site. If the measurement is somewhat ambiguous or seems in between sizes, Chris might be able to provide input on making the decision to try to get it right the first time. Being in the United States, I actually ordered and paid for two Circuits - a medium and a large - so I could test both out inside my home. I took photos of both loaded packs on me and sent the pictures to Chris and he helped me make the decision. Then I sent the medium back and kept the large. Outbound shipping from ULA only cost slightly more than shipping one pack. And I mailed back the medium for a $10 flat fee to ULA. So that worked out for me. International shipping may make this prohibitive but again other than shoes, the pack is the most critical piece of gear that needs to fit the body so being willing to spend the money if needed to get the right size is something to seriously consider.

[Tramp]

[QUOTE=Woof Shaven;1913634]I just ordered a ULA Catalyst. It's still in the mail. I did a lot of research on packs. I wasn't sure I would have the range (daily forward progress in miles) to safely justify getting the Circuit. I wanted something light, but traditional in size so that I could make a few mistakes in gear choices, clothing, and most of all I'll probably pack 3 more days food that most people due to range anxiety. I worry my daily average will be 8 miles or less.

The pack is the first item ordered of the Big Three: Pack, sleep system, and tent. I think I'll go tent instead of hammock. I'll feel like I accomplished something if my big three comes in under 10 pounds. I'm also looking at the Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol sleeping pad. I'm a lazy packer and I don't really like stuffing. I don't know how much vertical space I'll have in the ULA Catalyst so I plan to strap the Z Lite outside. I hear it makes a great kick stand for your pack whoever you set it down. I also hear most people store the inflatables inside the pack due to puncture considerations. I need to see how much vertical space I actually have before I make my sleeping pad decision. Inside the pack, outside the pack. Kickstand or not.

Got my tent and bag wish .....

Hey, have you read this ?http://blackwoodspress.com/blog/1588...ear-list-2013/
It was helpfull to me.

[Studlintsean]

I'm also looking at the Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol sleeping pad. I'm a lazy packer and I don't really like stuffing. I don't know how much vertical space I'll have in the ULA Catalyst so I plan to strap the Z Lite outside. I hear it makes a great kick stand for your pack whoever you set it down. I also hear most people store the inflatables inside the pack due to puncture considerations. I need to see how much vertical space I actually have before I make my sleeping pad decision. Inside the pack, outside the pack. Kickstand or not.
.

I have a circuit and use a Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol sleeping pad in the summer months. I pack it vertically inside the circuit in one side and then stuff my sleeping bag loosely in the other side at the bottom. Everything else (not outside the pack) goes on top of that.

[Coffee]

[QUOTE=Tramp;1913752]

Hey, have you read this ?http://blackwoodspress.com/blog/1588...ear-list-2013/
It was helpfull to me.

Can a CDT really carry a 26 pound total load well? That's usually where I have my Circuit for a 4-5 day hike and the Circuit carries such weight very well, as I think the Ohm 2.0 would as well.

[Mags]

Can a CDT really carry a 26 pound total load well? That's usually where I have my Circuit for a 4-5 day hike and the Circuit carries such weight very well, as I think the Ohm 2.0 would as well.

Depends upon a person's comfort level, I imagine?

"Back in the day" I used an old Lynn Wheldon 1 lb mesh pack that is the granddaddy of lightweight frameless packs.

I carried 10 days of food and an ice axe (42 lbs total). It was NOT comfortable the first 2-3 days I will say that much! But I am also broad shouldered and look like an extra from the dockworker's union.

A thinner framed person may not like it.

I had a GoLite Jam (old style), very similar to the ULA CDT, and it would carry similar weights OK (the infamous 10 lbs of pork roast for a hut trip)

If you *occasionally* overpack a light pack, it should be OK if you can handle he weight. If you constantly overpack something, however, I think the pack will be destroyed. It is what happened to my GoLite pack. Guilty as charged!

A 1lb pack is not meant to really carry 30+ lbs on a consistent basis I find.

YMMV.

[Dogwood]

I'm on my fifth ULA CDT backpack. I get at least 3500 but often more trail miles out of each one. The current one I have that I bought used for $90 has about 4600 of my own trail miles on it. It's still in good overall working shape but the thin stretchy tulle like mesh material has many stitched repairs. Thank goodness ULA went back to a more durable outside pocket fabric! Chris at ULA graciously sent me free to me new tulle fabric to make my own complete repairs though. I got slightly more than 6000 trail miles on one ULA CDT backpack not to mention countless traveling through airports, bus stations, etc miles on it. *I CONSIDER THE CURRENT PRICE OF $135 for the ULA CDT A GREAT BALANCE IN FEATURES, DURABILITY, and PRICE FOR THIS UL OF A BACKPACK.

After buying three new(two were bought for the then $125 price) and two slightly used ULA CDT backpacks AND having sometimes gotten used to hiking without clasping the waist belt while hauling sub 20 lb loads I would say 25 lbs, possibly 30-32 lbs for short durations, is about max for this backpack, using the hipbelt. However, there's some room for play in the carrying comfort depending on exactly what suspension/pad you use for the virtual suspension;this is, after all a rucksack type backpack. I typically use a folded and partially inflated(inflate after backpack is totally packed) NeoAir XLite Shortie or NeoAirXLite Women's inflatable pad for my suspension. Works well, although the older now discontinued NeoAir Pro Lite 3 inflatable pad in some ways(it's thinner for one) worked better as a suspension. I would say my shoulders have gotten used to carrying 30 lbs in this backpack for very short, maybe a day or two duration, or during heavier one day water hauls, so Mags is right on by saying it largely depends on your comfort level/what you're willing to carry in terms of wt for a very short duration. The shoulder padding is pretty good but if hauling wt on the higher side I might think adding some sheep wool padding to the shoulder straps would increase comfort.

I usually carry a sub 22 lb kit with about 6 days food and often use this backpack yr round even on shorter winter hikes. I tweak my ULA CDT backpacks out to about 19.5 -21 ozs. Again, not shabby at all IMHO for a backpack with this light wt, volume, durability, feature options, and price. Even as an ULer I'm not of the opinion that gear choices always have to be based on the mentality that it's the lightest wt gear or nothing.

Chris at ULA, and previously Brian Frankel, have always impressed me with the level of ULA customer service and their attention to moving their products forward being open to innovation.

[Woof Shaven]

[QUOTE=Coffee;1913770]

Can a CDT really carry a 26 pound total load well? That's usually where I have my Circuit for a 4-5 day hike and the Circuit carries such weight very well, as I think the Ohm 2.0 would as well.

I have your suggested link bookmarked and under study. Eric the poster at that link makes a great presentation

[Woof Shaven]

I'd rethink.....circuit is plenty of room......IMO...I'm light but not a gram weenie.....easy to get a tent/tarp at 2 lbs for 2 person and a good 20 deg down bag ie marmot helium lil over 2 lbs under $300...


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I will keep your CDT suggestion under consideration. I know i'll be making a few gear choice mistakes but hopefully will get things sorted out after i start assembling but before i leave. Hey wait a minute, the CDT looks like it is for advanced trekkers. If i do a rethink at my skill level i'll probably look more towards a circuit but will keep my mind open.

[saltysack]

Many newbies get a big vol pack...feel the need to load up w unnecessary things....I almost did just that but after talking with the guys at ula....they steered me to the circuit, which is really larger than I need but keeping because I sometimes bring my son and dog....I carry lil more load then. I hike year round with the circuit and have plenty of room when stuffed with winter gear...very durable and almost dog proof...


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[shakey_snake]

ULA Rocks??

Do they come in the backpacks?