Front Pack Alternatives [Archive]

2009ThruHiker

10-30-2008, 10:00

For my upcoming thru-hike I am going to use a Granite Gear VT Pack... 1 compartment. I have used this frequently on hikes and while it's not a huge inconvenience to dig through to find something during the day, I would like to be able to keep a few things handy. I also dislike carrying these items in my pockets. So... I started looking at the Sync Pack, but to me I think it weighs too much and will be too hot against me.

The items that I would want easy access to are my camera, map, journal + pen, daily snacks, and perhaps a water bottle...although that one isn't as vital.

What alternatives are available? Can you attach a small waist pack to your existing pack in a stable, comfortable manner?

Thanks for your thoughts on this.

BookBurner

10-30-2008, 10:11

JAK

10-30-2008, 10:15

I used a large fanny pack as a front pack and it worked very well but was heavy. I liked having the two bottle holders right there, and a good sized compartment for quick access. Also made a good arm rest while walking. I think someone needs to make these UL.

KG4FAM

10-30-2008, 10:16

Dana/Marmot Wet Rib. It might take some looking to find one.

2009ThruHiker

10-30-2008, 10:32

What about shoulder pouches? The one I use from www.zpacks.com (http://www.zpacks.com) is very stable. light, and will easily hold my map, compass, glove liners, candy bar, and crackers. Add another one and you'll probably take care of your camera, pen, and a small journal.

Do these rub on the back side where they come around your shoulder strap???

Dana/Marmot Wet Rib. It might take some looking to find one.

Cool Whiskey. Looking into this now.

2009ThruHiker

10-30-2008, 10:48

Dana/Marmot Wet Rib. It might take some looking to find one.

thanks again whiskey ...i found the marmot wet rib. Anyone out there used this? Thoughts?

JAK

10-30-2008, 11:15

I think front packs are a great way to carry some convenient items in front. They are also a good weigh to balance a small load, like 15-20 pounds, allowing you to wear your straps loser. It gets tricky if you still want most weight carried on your hips, but its do-able. They are also a way to increase the volume you can carry without getting a new pack. If you were to optimize on your total system from the get go, they can be a good way to organize you gear and carry your gear without adding much extra weight, because your back pack can be a little simpler and lighter to offset the weight of the front pack, and they can be integrated together so your not adding any straps. I've yet to see this done really well though, in a UL fashion. So its a great idea with plenty of room for development and improvement and DIY.

mountain squid

10-30-2008, 11:16

What alternatives are available?Personally, I wear zip-off pants with cargo pockets. Daily snacks and current maps easily fit and are readily available. My camera and other important things (ID/money/credit and atm cards, etc) I keep in small shoulder pouch. It goes everywhere I go with or without pack. I Never worry about losing essentials. (Definitely keep your camera handy, otherwise you probably won't take many pictures.)

Can't you get a water bladder with hydration tube for that pack?

Unless you plan to journal at every rest break, just keep it handy in main compartment of pack or in one of the side pockets (ensure to keep it in a ziploc as well).

See you on the trail,
mt squid

mudhead

10-30-2008, 12:33

What about shoulder pouches? The one I use from www.zpacks.com (http://www.zpacks.com) is very stable. light, and will easily hold my map, compass, glove liners, candy bar, and crackers. Add another one and you'll probably take care of your camera, pen, and a small journal.
Thanks. Looks cool.

Dana/Marmot Wet Rib. It might take some looking to find one.
Discontinued?

thanks again whiskey ...i found the marmot wet rib. Anyone out there used this? Thoughts?
If you found them for sale, you could be a good person, and PM Minnesotasmith.

Mercy

10-30-2008, 19:27

Mountain Crossings @ Neels Gap had Marmot wet and dry ribs a couple of weeks ago. I bought a dry... used it through the SNP... and like it real well.

hopefulhiker

10-30-2008, 21:01

I used the front pack with the Luxury Lite Pack system. It was great!

There was another guy, trail name Senator, that hiked with a homemade front pack.

Check out the luxury lite system though.. It helped to balance the weight and also was really convenient for just about everything.. It changed the hiking experiencr for me..

It served as a feedbag, water source, a desk, a camera holder, a map holder, glove and raincoat comparment, MP3 holder.

Since the pack was an external system the weight balanced the bulk of the pack weight with the fulcrum being the top of external frame.

BookBurner

10-31-2008, 09:15

2009ThruHiker - The shoulder pouch straps do not rub whatsoever. You'll never notice them.

handlebar

10-31-2008, 18:03

CowHead

10-31-2008, 18:30

I spent the 95 plus tax on a SyncPack and I will share the short time I kept it. I attached it to my pack to do the 42 miles from Penmar to Harpers Ferry. Within 5 miles of my journey starting around the devils race track one of the supports went flying off to the right, ok stop pulled some duct tape off my pole and rigged it to work 3 more miles the left broke &*^%^ now I stopped one more time and tied it to my back pack, after the trip I emailed the companyand shipped it back and got my money back. The person responded and said that there was a default in the pack and was not put together right, hopes this helps.

bigcranky

10-31-2008, 20:34

I used a Wet Rib for many years. The water bottle holder was convenient, and the pouch carried all the little stuff.

But I switched to a small waist pack a few years ago. I can carry my camera, headlamp, knife, wallet, etc., and have it with me even when I take off the pack. The waist pack rides very comfortably above my pack hip belt.

I think it's an Eagle Creek waist pack, two compartments, one of them slightly padded.

Homer&Marje

10-31-2008, 23:56

I think Tyvek solved this problem

http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=21275&original=1&c=searchresults&searchid=18833

mudhead

11-01-2008, 04:40

This (http://www.jansport.com/js_product_detail.php?cid=7&pid=TAN1) worked great and only weighed 4 oz.

I gave one of these as a gift. Nice little unit. Not huge.

Pickleodeon

11-01-2008, 08:47

I believe Terrapin posted this on another thread. Looks pretty cool to me.

http://www.simblissity.net/

"An ultralight front-pack that attaches to your backpack's shoulder strap or hipbelt, holding a camera, GPS, maps, snacks, lip balm, or other essentials away from the body yet close at hand.
Top-loading main compartment and separate front mesh pocket keep you organized. Circumferential Compression™ mounting system keeps both UnSlack Pack™ and its contents motion-free.

Total product weight: 0.94 ounces (27 grams)"

SouthMark

11-19-2008, 11:57

If anyone is still looking for the Marmot Wet Rib:

http://www.backcountrygear.com/catalog/accessdetail.cfm/MA7200

aaroniguana

11-19-2008, 12:09

Since I wore a Sportkilt with no pockets on my PCT thruhike, I needed something to carry such items as camera, MP3 player, map & guidebook pages for today's section, swiss army knife, and SPOT device. In town I replaced map&guidebook with hiker wallet. This (http://www.jansport.com/js_product_detail.php?cid=7&pid=TAN1) worked great and only weighed 4 oz.

I use this and it nicely compliments my REI UL45. Keeps little things like lip balm, bug juice, camera, headlamp, gorp, Clif bars and sanitizer, etc at my fingertips. Sometimes my lunch. And I use velcro cable ties to keep it riding up on my waist belt and not hanging low where it can do damage.

Christopher Robin

11-19-2008, 12:56

I found a bag foe holding a water bottle to attach to the hip belt for Comor. I can put a 16ozs. botter bottle, map, @ a snack in it. Best ting is the velco closer so I' dont need to undo my hip belt if I would like to take the bag off.