GBarron
11-05-2013, 18:06
Hi all,
Could use a bit of help with a purchase decision.
Some background: To date, most of my hiking has been in Canada, but friends want to plan a trip to California next summer; specific destination as yet undetermined. But I expect we'll be required to carry a bear container, which typically aren't required in Canada.
My base weight runs 10-12 pounds and I've been happy with an 35 litre Arcteryx Cierzo for trips up to 5 or 6 days. But I expect we'll need more volume if we carry bear containers. And it might be nice to have external pockets.
One option I like is the Osprey Hornet 46. All the design features I like, a bit more volume, plus a design that's closer to the conventional climbing packs I've been using for 30 years. But maybe I need to get used to the virtues of roll-tops.
That said, I'm leaning towards the Six Moons Designs Swift. A slight bump in usable volume if one includes external pockets. Reasonable price. Good reviews. Light weight. Rugged design. I like the large hip pockets. And the tall side pocket would be a good home for my TT Moment.
Not sure if I'll use my Exped Synmat UL for the pad pocket or cut up several widths of 5 mm Evazote foam. Suggestions?
And I'm really used to webbing compression straps, so I will have to adjust to the less robust looking cord compression system.
Anything I'm missing? Will this pack fit a bear container with my base weight? Anything else I should look at or think about?
Thanks for any/all comments!
G.
P.S. As an afterthought, I do notice that, to me at least, modern UL gear is less visually appealing than its midweight mass-produced counterpart. Don't get me wrong: I can see the virtues of the Swift and I love my TT Moment and EE Revelation X quilt. They epitomise to me pretty close to the optimum in functionality and light weight. But I confess that I'm often seduced by the looks of heavier gear.
Which brings us to this paradox: often design elegance is achieved by the relentless removal of superfluous additions, and what is left is beautiful in its simplicity. See Chouinard's climbing gear and Jobs' electronics, e.g. But UL backpacking gear, no matter its practicality on the trail, often fails to sell itself visually.
Could use a bit of help with a purchase decision.
Some background: To date, most of my hiking has been in Canada, but friends want to plan a trip to California next summer; specific destination as yet undetermined. But I expect we'll be required to carry a bear container, which typically aren't required in Canada.
My base weight runs 10-12 pounds and I've been happy with an 35 litre Arcteryx Cierzo for trips up to 5 or 6 days. But I expect we'll need more volume if we carry bear containers. And it might be nice to have external pockets.
One option I like is the Osprey Hornet 46. All the design features I like, a bit more volume, plus a design that's closer to the conventional climbing packs I've been using for 30 years. But maybe I need to get used to the virtues of roll-tops.
That said, I'm leaning towards the Six Moons Designs Swift. A slight bump in usable volume if one includes external pockets. Reasonable price. Good reviews. Light weight. Rugged design. I like the large hip pockets. And the tall side pocket would be a good home for my TT Moment.
Not sure if I'll use my Exped Synmat UL for the pad pocket or cut up several widths of 5 mm Evazote foam. Suggestions?
And I'm really used to webbing compression straps, so I will have to adjust to the less robust looking cord compression system.
Anything I'm missing? Will this pack fit a bear container with my base weight? Anything else I should look at or think about?
Thanks for any/all comments!
G.
P.S. As an afterthought, I do notice that, to me at least, modern UL gear is less visually appealing than its midweight mass-produced counterpart. Don't get me wrong: I can see the virtues of the Swift and I love my TT Moment and EE Revelation X quilt. They epitomise to me pretty close to the optimum in functionality and light weight. But I confess that I'm often seduced by the looks of heavier gear.
Which brings us to this paradox: often design elegance is achieved by the relentless removal of superfluous additions, and what is left is beautiful in its simplicity. See Chouinard's climbing gear and Jobs' electronics, e.g. But UL backpacking gear, no matter its practicality on the trail, often fails to sell itself visually.