I'm looking for a lighter alternative to my current pack, but I'm also trying to stay on the cheaper side of things.

My current 3 season gear includes

Precip jacket
Driclime windshirt
Helium long bag
Blue CCF pad
Long Johns
Super Cat stove
>1L pot
Balaclava
EMS glacier down vest (or 100wt fleece top)
Tarptent Cloudburst
socks (2-3 pairs)
Occasionally gaiters and sealskinz
Sometimes BV500
Nalgene 3L bladder

Then the usual first aid, smallish knife, etc...

I don't think that I'll be able to do much >7 day stretches anytime soon. But I am looking for a pack that will fit all of that gear, be comfy (relative, I know) and a piece of gear that won't eat my pocket book. If there was enough additional room for me to have eventually fit winter gear, then that would be great as well.

Any thoughts, opinions?

BTW, the outfitters here aren't very well stocked. I've tried on an Osprey Kestrel 48, it felt great, and had some nice compression straps that go right over the side pockets, other than that, the ability to try on lighter packs is minimal at best.

Thanks in advance,
Taildragger

I've fit all that stuff in a GG G5, you might change your sleeping pad situation.
A GoLite Jam2 also will work.
Both of these are far lighter then the Osprey

I just replaced an Osprey Aether 60, which I loved, with a ULA Circuit, more than cutting my pack weight in half.

I had the Circuit out recently with an 18lb base weight for early spring conditions in the Wind Rivers(included were crampons, an ice axe, and fly-fishing outfit), plus 8 days worth of food. The pack was absolutely tremendous. Highly recommended.

My vote is for ULA too. Osprey, Gregory, etc. all make great packs, but they aren't lightweight. If you're like most people who are transitioning to the lightweight movement, you'll find it somewhat difficult to jump straight from a conventional pack to a Gossamer Gear or Mountain Laurel Designs pack which are both very lightweight, minimal support, no frills packs. A happy medium, and close enough to UL packs, is ULA. The packs are extremely durable, made well, reasonable in price compared to others, and they get the job done with minimal weight.

Joel,
I hate to break it to you but I believe I got the last circuit of the batch from ULA. Brian frankle, the proprietor of ULA, goes on a fall hike.
http://www.ula-equipment.com/index.htm

Call them later in august.

I got the last S/M Conduit. If you need a large Circuit or a Catalyst Mountain Crossings has some in stock (or did last weekend).

http://www.mountaincrossings.com/

Will something like a 3100 be able to haul all of my gear (my main thought here is that I'd like to be able to use the bear can if need be)

Also, as far as materials go, other than granite gear and gossamer gear, no one really uses the lighter nylons right (I do bushwack some, so I'm trying to avoid the light nylons)?

How are the compression systems on the packs? I've looked at the SMD packs, but since I cannot get my hands on one I really have no idea how the mesh pockets will behave when full, or how the pack will behave with a lower volume of food in it.

Actually, would it be better for me to get something like an amp (or conduit) for my 3 season, and once I get the $, get a larger pack for winter and or bear can use?

I really just want to ditch this 8lbs gregory, I just haven't been able to get it to carry right with such a low volume amount of gear (and it nearly doubles my base weight).

Edited by taildragger on 07/17/2008 08:51:47 MDT.

The majority of packs in the UL category are Sil with the exception of GoLite, SMD, and ULA that I know of.

I did what you're contemplating and got a Conduit for small 3-season loads and a Catalyst for bulkier/heavier winter loads.

Based on the number of folks that love them I have no doubt that ULA makes outstanding packs, but Golite Jam2 and Pinnacle packs cost less, are somewhat lighter and definitely more available.

Same for my favorites, Granitegear's lighter packs. My Virga has handled a 14lb "three season" base load (35*F-90*F, possibility of all day rain with 4-5 days food and 4 liters water).

Regarding winter, pls define "winter". I've bought a Granite Gear Latitude Vapor for my winter use (0*F-30*F, snow on ground and sometime the air, no liquid precip) but I haven't yet needed the additional volume for the limited winter camping I've done. Might still use it if I try to go below 0*F

Edited by jcolten on 07/17/2008 10:29:20 MDT.

I don't think that I'd really push out beyond the 0*F range, but that could change if I move somewhere farther north.

So to me, it would be adding a larger sleeping bag (probably won't be able to afford an 800 fill 0* bag for quite some time) and some extra layers and food.

I don't think that I'd really push out beyond the 0*F range, but that could change if I move somewhere farther north.

So to me, it would be adding a larger sleeping bag (probably won't be able to afford an 800 fill 0* bag for quite some time) and some extra layers and food.

0*F sleeping for me has been quite cozy with:
* roomy MYOG bivy
* a MYOG 6oz/yd**2 PL1 quilt that fastens to the inside floor of the bivy, funtioning like a top bag of sorts
* old full length Ridge Rest pad
* 60" long GG nightlight pad
* Warmlite vapor barrier socks
* down booties
* light wt XStatic top and bottom
* MYOG 3oz/yd**2 PL1 insulated pants
* medium wt polypropylene long sleeve top
* hooded unlined nylon wind shirt
* a MYOG 6oz/yd**2 PL1 arm sleeve
* Warmlite vapor barrier gloves
* light wt knit gloves
* merino balaclava
* a MYOG 6oz/yd**2 PL1 balaclava
* not the newest Marmot Arroyo sleeping bag (30*F)

I'm pretty sure that'd be good to -5*F ... maybe colder, I just haven;t tried that yet

Next winter I'll also be using Warmlite vapor barrier pants and shirt and maybe a vapor barrier balaclava.
Also maybe two blue foam pads instead of the ridgerest and nightlite ... saves on volume.
Also maybe add a lightly insulated hooded pull over (1.8 oz/yd**2 PL1. And replace the Arroyo sleeping bag with a 40*F quilt that attaches to the pad.

The 6oz/yd**2 quilt steals from JRB No Sniveler quilt to make an upper thigh length vest. Used with the PL1 balaclava, the PL1 sleeves and hooded windshirt they make great dual use items and save a lot of volume. The downside comes when you take the quilt off and attach it inside the bivy while wearing those gloves ... you'll learn to do it quickly or else you'll learn to like going to bed chilled. I have yet to do that on a very cold and windy night

One or both of the pads gets dual use to stand/sit on while cooking, eating, chilling before going to bed.

Down booties and foam pad soled overbooties get me out of my boots after camp is setup.

Edited by jcolten on 07/17/2008 21:34:44 MDT.

Well, after much deliberation, I've decided that I should spring on a ULA circuit. I think that this should work for what I need and I shouldn't be over 35lbs with food and water, and if I am, I figure I can find a way around it.


Thanks for the replies!

Hey gang- In the "for what it's worth" category, I grabbed one of the Kestrel 48s for myself as soon as they came out. All things considered, it's a heck of a nice pack for the price--about $150. That said, buyer beware on the actual pack weight. In a small/medium, Osprey claims a 3# 5ounce weight; actual weight is 3# 14ounce on my pack and the other two s/m 48s I've weighed in the shop.

I bought a Kestrel 48 as well. I like it a lot, it fits everything...and to me is light enough. I am not an ultra light backpacker....yet. But the Osprey Kestrel 48 has a lot of nice features, a rain fly, and hydration pocket, and its price is excellent for what you get. I paid $140 at the Campmor retail store in Paramus. So I basically am reiterating what Brad said lol

Edited by GDeadphans on 07/20/2008 10:24:25 MDT.

I just recently ordered a MLD Exodus and a ULA Conduit; and I have already received the Conduit and tested my gear in it.

As my subject suggests, my gear list is very similar to yours in terms of pack size and weight; and there is plenty of room for the Conduit for 5 nights of summer packing. The Conduit is actually far too large for my summer gear list; but will still be plenty large enough for when I add my Exped Downmat and insulation clothing for winter and shoulder season trips.

It's safe to say that a Circuit would be more than enough for when you elect not to bring your BV, and perhaps even when you do bring it.

If you missed the boat on your Circuit order (all sales are off right now), and you are considering a Conduit, mine may be up for sale at the beginning of September if I absolutely fall in love with the Exodus. It will only have about 4 nights under its belt and see some use as a daypack and travel pack during my vacation to Glacier, Yellowstone, et al next month.

If you were able to grab a Circuit, then enjoy, and let us know how it works!

They are on sale at backcountry gear and they are extremely light weight but very comfortable. Nice padded hipbelt and shoulder straps. The rest is basically ultralight materials.

They are on sale for less then a hundred bucks and it is amazing how light the whole package is.

Edited by Ultimate2 on 07/20/2008 11:28:30 MDT.

I have a Circuit and it is very nice. I really don't like frameless packs and I find my Circuit or G-Pack much more enjoyable to carry than anything else I have tried. You may also want to try out a Gregory Z-55 I looked at one the other day and liked it alot.

As for nabbing a circuit, Mt Rogers outfitters still has ULA packs in stock (not all are listed on the website), so I was able to get one there.

Can't wait to get this thing and try it out (especially since it was a huge jump this summer when I started switching to light gear instead of my old bulky 65# pack setup).

Too bad ULA is closed for business until December.