New pack recommendation

[cp4056]

Hello, I currently use and really enjoy my talon 44. However for winter use where my insulation takes up a much larger portion of my pack I need something larger. I picked up a kestrel 68 but don't love it. It's much heavier in materials than the talon. My question is, is there a pack like the talon that's bigger than 44? With lightweight materials. I'd like to not pay a crazy amount and I love the forever guarantee that Osprey offers me.


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[Venchka]

Exos 58? Atmos 50 or 65? Volt 60?
Some of your gear could ride outside of the main pack body.

Wayne


Sent from somewhere around here.

[Venchka]

Exos 58? Atmos 50 or 65? Volt 60?
Some of your gear could ride outside of the main pack body.

Wayne


Sent from somewhere around here.

Looking beyond Osprey there are a bewildering array of packs from the cottage companies: Zimmerbuilt, zpacks, ULA, Gossamer Gear, Seek Outside, Katabatic, Elemental Horizons, Six Moon Designs, Hyperlite Mountain Gear, and more.

Wayne

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[HooKooDooKu]

One pack I would suggest you at least look at is the REI Flash 62. It's only about 3 pounds, around the size you are looking for, and priced reasonable (especially if you can wait until the next 25% REI Branded gear).

[Ercoupe]

I've tried and returned the old flash 62, the Granite gear Crown Vic 60, the Exped lightning 60, all thru REI. Finally settled on the New REI flash 62, $100. As much as I wanted the heavy Duty Z-pack, could not justify 200+ for 24 oz. Although in weight saving that beats what I figure is the going rate of $20 an ounce.

[daddytwosticks]

Exos 58. I have an Exos and love it. If you want an Osprey, this seems like a natural.

[Kraken Skullz]

Gossamer Gear makes a larger pack, which is much lighter than the kestrel. I just sold a SMD Starlite, which is a 50L pack, and it weighs around 2lbs. Usually any frameless pack that you get will be lighter than the internal frame packs. Not recommended for heavy loads though.

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[cp4056]

Thanks for all the input, I did take a trip to rei today in soho and I've got to say, I do love the exos. I would really like to try one of the cottage industry packs out, but without a brick and mortar store it's going to be tough to try one on to see if I like the fit. And I don't imagine a stranger would take to kindly to, " May I try your pack on "? Lol


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[Venchka]

ULA has two dealers on the AT: Mountain Crossings at Neels Gap and Bluff Mountain Outfitters in Hot Springs, NC. A third is in Maryville, TN. Check their web page for more dealers.

Wayne

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[Venchka]

ULA has two dealers on the AT: Mountain Crossings at Neels Gap and Bluff Mountain Outfitters in Hot Springs, NC. A third is in Maryville, TN. Check their web page for more dealers.

Wayne

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ULA also has a dealer in Damascus, VA. The location of these dealers directly on the trail makes sense. Folks starting out with the wrong pack make good customers for a light, quality backpack like the ones made by ULA.

Wayne

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[Kenai]

Six Moon Designs is having a closeout sale on last years packs. The 39 ounce Fusion 65 is on sale for $110., with free shipping,( it was $230.), but all sales are final, so you would not be able to get a refund or exchange if you did not like it.
It did get some very positive reviews in The Great Outdoors Magazine,and Backpacker.com, but if you don't like the fit your'e stuck.

[q-tip]

Granite Gear Crown VC, my go-to pack, 60 L, 2.2 lbs, love it.....

[Del Q]

2x My son just scored the 6 moons pack, fantastic gear, at $110 is should be a misdemeanor to order this gear

[v1k1ng1001]

2x My son just scored the 6 moons pack, fantastic gear, at $110 is should be a misdemeanor to order this gear

Really wish they'd slash the prices on that 30L pack!

[Traveler]

Hello, I currently use and really enjoy my talon 44. However for winter use where my insulation takes up a much larger portion of my pack I need something larger. I picked up a kestrel 68 but don't love it. It's much heavier in materials than the talon. My question is, is there a pack like the talon that's bigger than 44? With lightweight materials. I'd like to not pay a crazy amount and I love the forever guarantee that Osprey offers me.

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As a question, are you using stuff sacks for your insulation? I used up a lot of pack space in winter keeping down jackets in stuff sacks as it didn't fill all the available space, forcing me into a larger volume pack. Now I use very few stuff sacks and find my winter gear can fit into the pack fine by stuffing the wear into the corners and around other things. You likely are already doing this, but it came as quite the surprise to me when I got that figured out at the time.

[jimyjam]

+1 Osprey Exos 58


Life is full of ups and downs! Hike on!

[Vthiker77]

Seek outside unaweep!


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[cp4056]

I do still stuff my insulation, but I make my own sacks a bit oversized so I can do the jam in the corner thing.


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