I have the ULA and if I could put the sholder pads and belt from my McHale pack on the ULA I think I would have the perfect pack.
The ULA Circuit has one of those "old aluminum stays on 'load monster packs'".Originally Posted by peakbagger
frame stay.jpg
On packs like the circuit, or other UL packs, the pack rides directly against your back. Unlike large heavy duty packs where it is actually off the back.
Whats most important about that center stay, is is lets you contour the lower part of the pack to ride in your lower back, and hug your back , comfortably, and holds that shape regardless of how the pack is loaded. Keeps the pack against your back and helps support by the curvature of your lower back. The stay also makes a very rigid connection with the hipbelt support area.
I wasn't able to decide between a Circuit or the OHM 2.0 so I emailed Chris to get a circuit with the OHM side pockets and rear mesh. I should have it in about a month. So far everything I've heard about how good the customer service is true.
Are Chicken Ankles really what it's all about?
I have an Ohm and a Circuit and there are things I like about them both. I prefer the Ohms stretchy Front pocket and drawstring top closure. I would love to have those on a circuit. I know a few have gotten custom ones. I might just as well one day. The Ohms elastic rimmed side pockets are great, but since I only carry water bottles there, no real preference. They both work fine.
Consider getting the drawstring top closure too, the circuits is ....kind of screwball, could be better.
To elaborate, the top closure on the circuit is difficult to hold together to roll down with anything in the extension collar where you need to compress the pack down a bit. All it would take is some velcro (like the SMD starlyte) to hold the two stop edges together to improve. The drawback to velcro here is it grabs at your sleeves if wearing a long sleeve garment when digging in the pack. Can be avoided by flipping the top edges outward
I'm also a fan of the Ohm's drawstring closure. I'd love to hear the reasoning behind the two different designs.
Thanks! Definitely something I will consider.I have an Ohm and a Circuit and there are things I like about them both. I prefer the Ohms stretchy Front pocket and drawstring top closure. I would love to have those on a circuit. I know a few have gotten custom ones. I might just as well one day. The Ohms elastic rimmed side pockets are great, but since I only carry water bottles there, no real preference. They both work fine.
Consider getting the drawstring top closure too, the circuits is ....kind of screwball, could be better.
Are Chicken Ankles really what it's all about?
Ebay has a circuit for sale. Starts at 180 w/ 15 shipping. Seller claims it has never been used. I have the Catalyst and OHM. Love them both.
Sorry, but that is absolutely not true.
If you buy a pack with removable, shape-able stays (as God intended packs should be designed), and you actually understand how to shape them, your "large, heavy duty pack" will ride right against your back.
BTW, there are two (in fact probably three...) versions of the Circuit, so some features are not the same.
The earlier version only had the U frame , no stay.
It also had the drawstring closure but like others I mentioned to Brian that I preferred the rolltop type so it was changed to that.
(the collar was also extended to compensate and if rolled down twice it still takes a greater volume than the first version)
Franco
I got an original Circuit at Neels Gap a couple of years ago, then an original Ohm for summer hiking. I, too, liked features from both packs, so last fall I ordered a custom Circuit with the stretchy front pocket and drawstring top closure of the Ohm. It's a terrific pack. Nice to be able to get exactly what I want for a very reasonable price.
The Circuit is too large for summer hiking around here, but it'll hold my winter gear and rides comfortably in any season.
Ken B
'Big Cranky'
Many heavy conventional packs, ie Kelty, have dual stays which are exposed , and about 1" thick foam at the hip area in lower back, and again where shoulder straps are. You would not want these metal bars against your back. they are designed to ride slightly off for ventillation. maybe not all, but many. And it is absolutely true.
The stay inside an internal frame pack should (generally...) be shaped to your back so that the pack is close to it.
The closer the center of balance of your pack is to the center of balance of your body, the lesser the effort required.
USER-G---back-and-body-pack.gif
On the other hand , external frame packs , like the Kelty , have an H frame designed to keep the pack apart from your back.
Franco
how is done :
http://www.arcteryx.com/pack-fit.aspx?EN#shapingStays
I am upgrading packs this year and have narrowed it down to the Circuit. My dilemma is I have never used a roll top type of pack before. I was kicking around the idea of having them customize it and put the drawstring in it. For those of you that have experience with this what are the advantages/disadvantages of the roll top vs. drawstring closures?
I had a stock Circuit with the roll top, and before that an SMD Starlite, also with a roll top. At that time the ULA implementation was not as easy to use as the SMD pack, so when I ordered a custom Circuit I had them install a drawstring closure. Now I understand that ULA has tweaked the roll top to make it easier to use.
Drawstring is really simple and fast, but of course not water resistant (there's a hole.) Roll top is much more weather proof. For me that is not an issue, as I use a rain cover for my pack anyway.
In my mind the better custom option for the Circuit is the stretchy mesh front pocket from the Ohm, as I did not like the standard Circuit mesh pocket. But my understanding is that ULA is more able to tackle custom work in the fall when they are less busy, so this all may be moot unless you can wait.
Hope this helps. The Circuit is a terrific pack for the lightweight hiker.
Ken B
'Big Cranky'
I recently got a circuit and was a bit skeptical of the roll top. After two short trips with it, the roll top has grown on me. I did a few miles on of the trips while raining and can attest that nothing was wet in the bag.
Speaking of original ULA packs. Brian Frankle, the original founder of ULA, is now joining Six Moon Designs as their pack designer:
http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/index....=default&page=
Curious to see what direction the SMD packs go in.
Paul "Mags" Magnanti
http://pmags.com
Twitter: @pmagsco
Facebook: pmags
The true harvest of my life is intangible...a little stardust caught,a portion of the rainbow I have clutched -Thoreau
I have the Elemental Horizons Kalais pack now (a rolltop), but used to use the GoLite Pinnacle (drawstring). I much prefer the rolltop. There were times on the AT with the Pinnacle where, even underneath a pack cover, rain poured into the pack body through the drawstring hole even though I'd cinched it tight and rolled it down. This was during an hour+ of torrential rain--a rare situation, but not so rare that you shouldn't plan for it.
I can't think of drawbacks to the rolltop. I haven't taken out in the same type of rain as the drawstring, but I've taken it out in snow and light rain and the only moisture in the bag came through the pack fabric (which will happen with any lightweight bag fabric). It takes maybe 5 seconds longer to close the rolltop on my new pack than the old drawstring. Unless you're Andrew Skurka and you're the type of guy who urinates as you walk to save time, 5 seconds shouldn't matter much.
"Hahk your own hahk." - Ron Haven
"The world is a book, of which those who do not travel read only a page." - St. Augustine
http://scrubhiker.blogspot.com/
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