WhiteBlaze Pages 2024
A Complete Appalachian Trail Guidebook.
AVAILABLE NOW. $4 for interactive PDF(smartphone version)
Read more here WhiteBlaze Pages Store

Results 1 to 18 of 18
  1. #1
    Registered User DrewNC2005's Avatar
    Join Date
    12-07-2005
    Location
    Denver, CO
    Age
    40
    Posts
    153

    Default Favorite 2lb or under pack?

    I have a 3.5 lb pack and am thinking about dropping to a lighter pack. I have heard good things about the Granite Gear Vapor Trail and am very interested in one. However if others have really liked using other packs, I would like to know.

    I have looked at some GoLite packs but hear that they do not hold up very well and tear up easily. Anyone had experience with GoLite packs?

    Thanks,
    Drew

  2. #2

    Default

    For packs between one and two pounds, I like ULA and Golite.

    I own several Golite packs. I find the adventure racing packs don't hold up as well but the Trekking and Mountain Packs are rock solid for durability, especially the Gust and Jam. My father's Gust has been on two thru hikes and still performs wonderful.

  3. #3

    Default

    All my experience with go light packs is visual...

    They dont look comfortable. There is nothing supporting the stuff inside and there is no padding on the sholder or hip belts.

    For less weight you can get a very comfortable Moonbow Gearskin with a full custom hip belt and sholder straps. The whole backpack compresses together to form one tight package that is its own frame. I have had mine for a summer and was beyond impressed by it. It was very very comfortable and light.

    Pink
    The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness. - John Muir

  4. #4

    Default

    Vapor trail: I really like the carry comfort of the granite gear vapor trail, though it isn't the most conveniant pack to use.

    GoLite durability: My experience is that GoLite packs tend to be reasonable well made. I wouldn't worry more about GoLite than other packs made of simular materials. You will have to be fairly careful of abrassion with the sil-nylon packs. In general, I have found packs made by other companies have better carry comfortable than GoLite.

    Other packs: There are a lot to choose between. The packs I like (and not like so much) are listed with mini reviews at http://www.verber.com/mark/outdoors/pack.html

    --mark

  5. #5
    Surveyor & cartographer wyclif's Avatar
    Join Date
    01-12-2006
    Location
    Wilmington, Delaware
    Posts
    207
    Images
    3

    Cool granite gear vapor trail

    I saw blurb on the Granite Gear website claiming that 40% of AT hikers last year used these.

    True or just marketing hype?

  6. #6
    Registered User
    Join Date
    09-25-2003
    Location
    Nova Scotia
    Age
    70
    Posts
    209

    Default

    Six Moon Designs offers several fine packs under 2 pounds.

    Cheers,

    PKH
    Youth is wasted on the young.

  7. #7

    Default

    Gearskin: 1.5 pounds and it can handle heavier loads than most other lightweight packs

  8. #8

  9. #9
    Donating Member/AT Class of 2003 - The WET year
    Join Date
    09-27-2002
    Location
    Laramie, WY
    Age
    74
    Posts
    7,149
    Images
    90

    Default

    Another vote for the Vapor Trail. I haven't carried any of the other 2 or sub 2 pound packs so I can't compare them but I have over 2000 miles in my Vapor Trail and now my wife hikes with one too.

    'Slogger
    The more I learn ...the more I realize I don't know.

  10. #10
    Registered User
    Join Date
    09-22-2005
    Location
    England
    Age
    65
    Posts
    383

    Default

    i used the golite speed and found it to fall apart very easily. also youhave to sew on pads to the shoulders or you face a bitch of a ride. it was very well organised though and easy to get to things without unpacking. i hear good things about ula gear, but no experience there. i used the granite gear pack for 4,000 miles this year and it was awesome, but it was the ozone which is a step from the virga. i also used a kelty redwing 1600 that i stripped to about 1lb, that was awesome.

  11. #11
    Registered User
    Join Date
    09-22-2005
    Location
    England
    Age
    65
    Posts
    383

    Default

    oh yeah, i heard that mountain hardware are bringing out packs this year and from what i hear they are going to be killer! so check them out aswell. if they are as good as the rest of thier gear then i would hate to be a pack manufacturer in 06!

  12. #12
    Registered User
    Join Date
    05-15-2005
    Location
    Snellville, GA.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    222

    Default

    I'm using the GoLite Trek. No real problems yet.

  13. #13
    Registered User
    Join Date
    10-18-2004
    Location
    Auburndale, MA
    Posts
    537

    Default

    I vote for the Vapor Trail as well. Only bad part about it is that the side pockets are useless.

  14. #14
    Registered User betic4lyf's Avatar
    Join Date
    09-11-2005
    Location
    east side
    Age
    35
    Posts
    336

    Default

    i was doing some trail work on the at and most of the people i saw (in the berkshires) had vaport trails

  15. #15

    Default

    Golite Jam. If you pack it right, it's really comfortable even though it doesn't have a frame.
    BackpackFlyfishing.com
    Tight lines, light packs!

    Gear Talk with Jason Klass
    There is no such thing as having too many sporks!

  16. #16
    Thru' hiker one weekend at a time... vipahman's Avatar
    Join Date
    09-26-2005
    Location
    New Canaan, CT
    Posts
    434
    Images
    8

    Default

    Golite Jam. 21 oz. 2200ci main body. Great pack. Rated upto 30 lbs. I have had it in the 18-22 lbs and it's very comfortable. And I hate uncomfortable packs. It seems fairly rugged for a pack it's weight and it's waist belt actually works.

    This link has a comprehensive list of sub-pound backpacks. http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=11964
    -Avi
    AT completed: NJ6-1, NY13-2, CT5-2

  17. #17
    GA-VA 2005, VA-CT 2007, CT-ME ??
    Join Date
    01-08-2005
    Location
    Atlanta, Georgia
    Posts
    558
    Images
    29

    Default

    My favorite is also the GoLite Jam, but it might be outside of your volume and carrying capacity needs. The Trek is also nice. The materials and workmanship of GoLite packs is certainly competitive with other manufacturers--but the designs may be less forgiving of inattentive packing or overloading.

    You should check out the offerings from Six Moon Designs, specifically the Starlite and Comet. Good accessibility with stays and pad support. The ULA Conduit is probably also worth your attention.

    -Mark

  18. #18
    Registered User
    Join Date
    03-13-2005
    Location
    Colorado Springs, CO
    Age
    48
    Posts
    4,109

    Default

    I've been happy with my GoLite Speed. A few hundred miles and it hasn't fallen apart. It's rated to 30 lbs - comfy to about that, tolerable to about 40. Big enough to hold everything but small enough to not let me go crazy with extra stuff. Someone on another thread said they needed to sew padding to the straps - might have been nice at 40 lbs, but then it's only rated to 30...never needed more padding at the ~25 I usually carry.

    I really like all of the mesh pockets - tarp and raingear in the big back one, waterbottles and snacks in the bottom side ones, TP and first aid in the top ones, etc. Plenty of organization for very little added weight, and I've never had anything fall out of them.

    Works for me, but I'm also very intereted in the Gearskin...might be my next pack purchase (or project).

    FWIW, I tried two Vapor Trails in the store and neither were comfortable before I even loaded them. They seem to be popular with other folks, though.

++ New Posts ++

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •