1. No hydration sleeve.

2. Skip shoulder strap pockets

3. Keep all three outside pockets. Strap systems suck.

4. Roll-top a la Gossamer Gear or single closure strap with cinch cord (like a Jardine pack). No lid!

5. The hipbelt must cross the iliac crest to carry any weight.

6. No load lifers - they are unnecessary on all UL packs.

see page 5 summary

Edited by wandering_bob on 03/24/2009 22:21:15 MDT.

Might as well respond too.

1. Not necessary

2. Skip them

3. Keep all three

4. Roll-top

5. I'm ok eith either here depending on how much weight it's intended to carry. Heavier wait needs to cross at crest, < 20 lbs I can carry at the waist.

6. Not necessary.

1. Hydration sleeve - yes, essential for me. A port would be nice too. Perhaps the hydration sleeve could be a clip on model that is easily removed for those that don't want it.

2. Loose the shoulder straps - hip belt pockets are roomier & can hold the same type of things (i.e. lip balm)

3. Make the 2 side pockets shorter and use cord/webbing above them to allow the sides of the pack to compress. The tall mesh pockets would be a nightmare on brushy or overgrown trail I would think. I like the back pocket to hold a wet tarp or rain gear I think. It should either be elastic or roomy enough to be useful. Perhaps an elastic bungee with cord lock at the top to make it adjustable.

4. Roll top is good.

5. Sized for the hipbelt to fit the iliac crest

6. Less sizes with lifter straps sounds good to me. I sometimes like to change around the way the pack weight carries as elevation becomes steeper.

1. No hydration sleeve
2. No shoulder strap pockets
3. All 3 external pockets
4. Roll-top
5. Long torso
6. More sizes, no lifter straps

Like others have mentioned, this is a tough market to penetrate. Unless there is something very innovative with the BPL design I'm unlikely to switch from my ULA Conduit.
Mark

1. Hydration sleeve? Oh yes or at least optional.
2. Shoulder strap pockets? Optional. Kind of thinking how ULA do their ala cart.
3. Keep all 3 mesh pockets
4. Depends. I have a Granite Gear pack and love the roll top. But would be ok with a cinch style
5. Long torso
6. Yes on the load lifters.

Great idea Ryan!

1. No Hydration sleeve
2. No shoulder pockets
3. Keep all the mesh pockets
4. Roll top. Although I do really like a cinch with a flap.
5. Short torso
6. No load lifters.

Some additional thoughts:

I like to shoulder most of the weight so some wide straps are nice. Like 3in plus. Breathable foam a must.

Put the should strap adjustment piece down at the bottom like they do on the osprey packs. Very ergonomical that way.

> I also question the wisdom of (and any perceived need for) competing with the existing cottage industries on major items like packs. BPL already has enough problems maintaining the quantity and quality of their inventories.

Edited by wandering_bob on 03/12/2009 14:40:21 MDT.

Perhaps begging Ryan's original question, but I agree with wandering_bob 100% on this one.

Looks like a nice pack though.

So this may not be in the realm of possibilities for BPL but it seems that everyone wants something slightly different... so why not start with a basic pack and then have options available for extra, similar to what zpacks does. i know this would increase the price, but for some it might be worth it to get exactly what they want. or have maybe a few pre-set pack designs available with different combinations of features... that way it would be more like having a custom pack, but fewer hassle for the makers and a lower price than there would be if they allowed everyone to pick exactly what they want.

i would say for me in general though
1. no bladder sleeve
2. optional add on like most others do
3. all 3 pockets
4. cinch with cover flap or roll-top
5. long torso
6. load lifters.


bottom line: you can't really beat a lot of current packs and companies on quality, customizeabiity, or attention to detail... so make the packs cheaper or do something different if you want this to work.

Edited by derekcox on 03/15/2009 16:15:38 MDT.

My humble opinion/ vote.

1. No hydration sleeve.

2. Skip the shoulder strap pockets.

3. Keep all three outside mesh pockets.

4. Roll-top closure.

5. Long torsos.

6. Skip'em and provide more pack sizes to dial in fit to your torso length.

Although unwanted pockets and straps can be removed with scissors, I would prefer to see a pack that is completely modular. Have lots of attachment points that the user can add external pockets etc...if they want them, or leave them off if not needed. For instance, I agree with Roger that outside pockets, especially mesh ones, are a poor design for any off-trail use. But it would be nice to have the option of adding either mesh or non-mesh pockets if desired. Likewise with shoulder and hipbelt pockets.

No hydration sleeve

Don't care about closure

Long torso for sure

Yes to load-lifters

Yes to internal support/stays (not sure if hat's part of the design or not).

All that being said, I still wouldn't buy one. And watch out for feature creep. At 1.8lb, you are getting dangerously close to the weight of an Exos 46 which has far more features, better support, better airflow across the back and a lot more pockets!

1) no hydration sleeve

2) No shoulder pockets

3) all three external pockets

4) Roll-top

5) Long torso

6) no load lifters

I am a pretty big fan of BPL branded products, but I am not sure that I would buy one of these. To me the GG Gorilla is looking like perfection, and pretty close to your target specs, so I would probably get one from Glen.

I am in full agreement with several others. The cottage pack industry has matured to the point of highly refined products that are satisfying most readily identifiable niches. I don't see anything unique about the BPL design (yet).

But the BPL name has a pretty good reputation, so I can imagine that you will leverage some market share from folks who just think it would be cool to have a BPL pack. Hopefully not at the expense of any of your cottage brethren.

But I can't resist contributing to the voting, so here are my opinions:

1. No hydration sleeve.

2. Shoulder strap pockets would need to bellowed or similar to accept sunglasses, an eTrex GPS, a pocket camera, or similar sized item and have be stretchy material to be useful. If they can't get there, delete them (have to be high cost/volume item anyway).

3. Keep all three outside mesh pockets, but square and lower the side pockets. They are too high to "draw" a water bottle from without removing the pack anyway. Middle pocket needed for wet gear like tarp or poncho. A lacing system would be okay, but I prefer static cord to bungee.

4. Roll-top, roll-top, roll-top.

5. Long torsos (iliac crest).

6. No load lifters without stays.

Other thoughts (mostly for cost containment):

Make the waist belt webbing extra long and let users trim excess to fit (one size trims to fit all).

Could keep the pack bag the same size for all and adjust where shoulder straps attach to it. S, M, and L torso lengths provide decent fit for most users. M and L cover most men.

Daisy chains add flexibility but detract from looks. Most summer packers probably only use exterior tie ons for closed cell pads. If used for snowshoes, crampons, or tents, I wonder if this would really be the pack of choice.

Would be very helpful to know what the suspension system might be. Pad, frame sheet, stays (curved or straight). This affects other decisions.

Edited by jbrinkmanboi on 03/15/2009 23:10:08 MDT.

see page 5 summary

Edited by wandering_bob on 03/24/2009 22:21:59 MDT.

1. yes, hydration sleeve

2. No, no shoulder pockets

3. Yes, keep all three outside mesh pockets

4. Roll top with flap

5. Please include long torso

6. Please include load lifter straps

lookin' good..

1. No hydration sleeve

2. no shoulder strap pockets

3. Keep just the two side pockets

4. strap for roll-top. (don't make taller, just a strap on top)

5. see #6

6. more sizes to dial-in fit

1. No
2. One or option
3. Keep all three outside mesh pockets
4. Roll top
5. Hip belt that crosses the iliac crest
6. Load lifters don't. More pack sizes to dial in fit

-Mark

1. YES

2. KEEP ONE (LEFT PREFERRED)

3. KEEP ALL THREE.

4. SOMETHING WEATHER RESISTANT.

5. ILIAC CREST FOR SHORT PEOPLE TOO! SO PERHAPS SIZE OPTIONS. (5'4") BELT CUSHION SHOULD BE LONG ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY COVER ILIAC CREST.

6. MORE PACK SIZES.

see page 5 summary

Edited by wandering_bob on 03/24/2009 22:22:43 MDT.

1. Do you guys want a hydration sleeve?
No

2. Keep, or skip, the shoulder strap pockets?

Skip--the hip belt pockets are enough

3. Keep all three outside mesh pockets, keep just the two side pockets (and replace the center pocket with a bungee system), or keep the center pocket and ditch the side pockets?

Keep all three. Maybe split one of the side pockets into 2--one above the other like a Mariposa Plus.

4. Proto above has a cinch closure - simplest and lightest option that preserves the max capacity of the packbag, but not weather resistant. Do you need a flap, roll-top closure, etc., or can you live with simple/light for the top?

I'd like to see a roll top closure.


6. Provide "load lifter straps" (which don't really lift the load off the shoulders) which provide some latitude in fit, or skip'em and provide more pack sizes to dial in fit to your torso length, then bring the shoulder straps right over your collarbone crest?

I'd rather not have load lifter straps.