With all due respect, I disagree that a review should only contain objective data, a fact sheet could effectively accomplish the same thing - that's not a review.

A review is necessarily subjective, and you choose to read reviews from a particular publication because you respect the reviewers experience, knowledge, and opinions.

I would in fact encourage the reviewers here at BPL to accompany their scientific measurements and data with more subjective opinions from their experience with a product to better paint a picture of what using the gear is actually like.

The key is acknowledging which parts of a review are objective, and which are subjective.

In a similar pack (DIY) I just use some 6mm Aluminum tubing cut to length. This transfers the weight nicely, bends to fit my back and weighs under 50g/1.7oz?

It's proven to be very comfortable on a week-long hike carrying 20+lbs at times.

Well we have bamboo and now 6mm aluminum tubing. Any other suggestion for alternatives to the carbon fiber arrow shafts used as stays in the Miniposa. Exactly what are the dimensions of these carbon fiber shafts? Do the flat aluminum stays from sixmoons fit or do they have to be trimmed? If anyone has done this, share the method used. I had thought of using a pair of fiberglass wands that came from an old MH Ghost pack and just trimming to size and using the plastic caps that are already in place on these wands to protect the pack fabric. These are already very flexible even if they don't shape the way aluminum does. And they have proved to work exceptionally well in the Ghost.

Edited by mitchellkeil on 12/19/2007 11:17:58 MST.

well, I plan to try heavy duty zip ties as soon as the small Miniposa is available to buy. I've used them in sewing corsets and they bend but still maintain stiffness. They won't degrade as fast as the bamboo will when wet and stressed, although they won't be quite as stiff as the bamboo. You can cut them and sand or melt the edge to decrease rough edges. Will tell you how they worked out as soon as I get a small sized Miniposa to experiment with...

Did anyone ever find out if the Six Moons stays fit the Miniposa? I have a pair and I am considering the Mini, but I would love to know if they work before I order one.

Aluminum stays that are 1/2 inch wide and 1/8 inch thick will fit in the sleeves and weigh around 5 oz. This aluminum bar stock was available at my local hardware store, and easy to cut with a hacksaw. Alluminum Arrow Shafts will only weigh around 2 oz., are bendable, and will fit as well. I wonder if I drilled a hole in the arrow shaft near the top of the pack, and inserted a large cotter pin parrallel with the back of the pack, would it keep the shaft from twisting? It might need a piece of plastic to protect the pack fabric and firm the pin up. Of course, GG has a suggestion on thier website of taking a coat hanger and bending it between the two shafts with notches in the ends of the shafts to keep them from twisting. That might be the easiest and lightest solution after all. I just got the pack and it seems great!-Scott