ZPacks Arc Blast opinions?

[PaulWorksHard]

I am thinking about buying an Arc Blast pack. How well do they hold up? Those that have bought them, does anyone wish they got the Arc Haul instead? Intended use is a 2 month or so section hike on the AT. I am hoping to have a base pack weight below 14 lbs. thanks

[MuddyWaters]

They hold up fine, treat with care. Its not a ballistic cloth duffel bag. I have worn holes thru mine. Easy fix.

Gear isnt supposed to last forever, and its not claimed to. It will last a thruhike with care.

Id say get your basewt down to ul range, to use a ul pack. It comfortably carries about 25 lb. At 14 you are better off with a heavier pack. No experience with arc haul, but if its from joe, id expect it to be great.


Btw, wow. What did they do to it,? 52l is listed at 21 oz now, mine is 16.7. Another case of making ul gear sturdier for lightweight hikers to use???

Looks like a different belt, Im guessing they beefed it up somehow to handle more weight. Thats a shame for real UL folks. Just like the new tents.

[fastfoxengineering]

Glad I'm not the only one who noticed that Muddy Waters. The weights went up a few ounces in the past year or so.

[bigcranky]

They added a more robust frame (bottom cross bar), load lifters, and made the torso length adjustable. I think that now the only difference between Blast and Haul is the fabric. I got the Haul and think it will last a long time.

[MuddyWaters]

no custom torso length? adjustable sizing? Interchangeable belts ? Zpacks has gone mainstream with a $315 pack .

[Skinny Rooster]

Mine held up just fine during AT thru hike this past year. Shredded up one of the side pockets in the Whites and southern Maine - I don't blame that on the pack though. I saw others on the trail that weren't holding up quite as well. Folks were overloading the pack IMHO.

[Vegan Packer]

To my knowledge, they also upped some of the padding, since there were some complaints about shoulder strap pain (in a max load) from a few people. As far as I am concerned, I like seeing that they respond so quickly to customer reports and suggestions for improvements.

[MuddyWaters]

Mine held up just fine during AT thru hike this past year. Shredded up one of the side pockets in the Whites and southern Maine - I don't blame that on the pack though. I saw others on the trail that weren't holding up quite as well. Folks were overloading the pack IMHO.

the hybrid cuben is a lot more fragile than most think. My bear can rubbed thru mine on the JMT n a few spots. The stays rubbed thru the pack in spots (destroying itself!). On a short ferry ride across part of lake edison my pack was in the front of the small aluminum boat, leaning against the front thwart. The metal rim of the bearikade, sandwiched the pack fabric against the edge of the aluminum thwart. It wore a neat 1" long slit in the cuben hybrid due to vibration in just 5 minutes. Looked like it had been sliced with a knife

Keep that 1.43 cuben self adhesive patch material handy and repairs are quick and easy.

[fastfoxengineering]

With the weight of the Arc Blast going up a few ounces. I have a hard time deciding between the zpacks and an ohm 2.0

A stripped ohm 2.0 is only what.. 5oz's heavier?

[PaulWorksHard]

I considered ULA, but I really like the *look* of the zpacks suspension system and frame. Unfortunately, with these custom manufacturers, it's difficult to try out the gear before buying it. That's why I find it so valuable to be able to get feedback from actual users of the various packs. I would point out that zpacks claims the arc blast can carry loads up to 35 lbs. So, a base weight of 14 lbs should be no problem. I should never exceed around 30 lbs.

[MuddyWaters]

You can order it and try it, joe will take it back if you dont like it.

Read carefully. Zpacks says the material and pack can handle up to 35, they do not say it will comfortably carry it. Im sure they made some improvement for the added wt. though. No experience with arc haul, but i havent seen even a light wt pack that carries 35 as good as conventional pack. It simply takes a stiffer, heavier, rigid belt and pack connection not to start sagging and not put significant wt on shoulders.

[Havana]

Mine has held up well through a season of backpacking. As others have pointed out, you shouldn't get a UL pack unless you have UL gear. I haven't done my base weight calc lately but my total weight with 3-4 days of food is usually under 20 (depends on the season) so my base weight isn't far from what you're thinking about. Anyone looking for bulletproof construction you should be looking at something like an Osprey. Of course you'd also have to sign up for 2+ pounds in additional weight.

[Deacon]

I've used an Arc Blast on all my AT sections, and I can tell you that if loaded more than 22 lbs. total weight, it will sag at the waist band right in the center of your back. This pack is fine for ULers, but any heavier I'd go to something slightly beefier.

[floid]

I have one and like it. Mine has held up well so far. Last spring I had 26lbs including food and water. I didn't notice any sagging, but that's about the max for comfort with those shoulder straps.

I'm a big guy, so my winter clothes are likely 2x heavier than yours. I would think this pack is ideal for small folks.

Sent from my SM-G925V using Tapatalk

[poolskaterx]

I do a lot of snow hiking and my pack carries great at 27lbs all the time; I have the Arc Zip 52l. p.s. love the hip pouches I added!!!!!!!

[Dogwood]

In my reviewed comparison the ULA Ohm 2.0 approaches 90-95 % of the Arc Haul. If dollars start playing more heavily into comparisons...hmmm? Add the hipbelt pockets to the Haul and the volume is almost identical to the Ohm 2.0 but have a wide price gap of $210 verse $344...possibly a steep price to pay for what amounts to VERY little wt savings. NOTE THE WT comparisons carefully with all the added features of the Haul that could be removed from the Ohm 2.0 and the wt savings isn't all that....maybe 3 or so ozs. So, IF you do go with the Haul you have to REALLY REALLY like it for reasons other than for just the very so so wt savings which to me has been the impetus for so many consumers buying Zpacks gear...the perceived cutting edge wt savings.

Mountain Laurel Designs makes the comparable highly touted Exodus too that with hipbelt pockets is the same volume as the Haul with Dyneema X that comes in at $230.

Could go on with SMD, GG, etc etc backpacks that all deserve careful comparable consideration to the Arc Haul. And, when investing $350+ on a backpack starts bringing more into focus having a very customized pack built from someone like McHale, Zimmerbuilt, etc, for those who really know what they want

I'm not surprised noticing the wt slightly creep up too with the Arc Blast making it possibly more difficult in my mind's eye to justify the added $ for a wee just bit lighter backpack than some other comparable UL similar volume similarly featured backpack models. The wt margin difference is less that ZP enjoyed from what I can tell possibly once justifying the added do re mi for those gram weenie wannabees with deep pockets. Still like some of the features in a UL CF hybrid Arc Blast Joe Valesco brings to the show. Besides Zpacks is running a biz that has fiduciary commitments and long term economic sustainability so it's my best guess they've crunched some numbers and have looked at market shares of what they want to be part of in an increased manner.

I for one so appreciate these UL cottage manufacturers all working so diligently developing the UL market! Just wish I had enough do re mi to buy three or four Arc Blasts with the way I go through Arc Blast's backpacks which I set up w/ the hipbelt pockets for $370 each. OUCH!

[Dogwood]

I routinely have had a sub 10 lb LD Base Pack Weight(BPW) for about 8 yrs now and can tell ya not one of the pieces in those kits are the absolute lightest wt single piece option I could choose from.

[Coffee]

Dogwood, the Ohm 2.0 comparison is interesting. My impression has been that the ULA recommends only the Circuit or Catalyst for loads that include a bear canister and the Ohm 2.0 is only comfortable up to 30 pounds. ZPacks is saying that the Arc Haul is good up to 40 pounds. So I've always thought that the Circuit is the nearest comparable pack to the Arc Haul. Still the price differential is very significant at around $100+ fully equipped and zpacks has been raising prices recently. My circuit, with 2300 miles on it, shows wear only at the hip belt which I plan to replace soon. Otherwise it is well set for my pct thru and I plan to use it for that purpose rather than buying a new zpacks pack. The ohm 2.0 is interesting, however for further weight savings at low relative cost. I've always thought that the ohm 2.0 could be an ideal AT thru hike pack.

I I also have a CDT which is now my go to pack for overnights, day hikes, and even general travel. I use the CDT more than the Circuit now except if I'm doing a 3+ night trip.

[bigcranky]

Hey, Dogwood. I had an Ohm, the original, which topped out for me right at 25 pounds for any sort of comfort. I expect the full wrap hip belt of the 2.0 might help a little, but for me the Arc Haul seems to be comfortable with a much heavier load than I could ever get in the Ohm.

[Dogwood]

I hear ya folks. All good pts. Each of us can pt out different comparisons based on our priorities. I made mine on like volumes and took it from there.