I think Osprey Atmost 50 (the red one) @ 3 lb 3 oz is the most comfortable bag I have ever worn. I tried those ultra light bags but I just don't like the feeling of carrying a bulked up pillow on my back. I love how this bag allows my back to air out (sweater here) and how it tightly conforms to the contour of my back. Its just very very comfortable and I love it. However, I am trying to cut as much weight as I can and having a bag at 3 lb and 3 oz just insults my ultra light backpacking sensibility. What to do?

And No, I will not give up my boots neither!

Edited by taegello on 08/02/2009 12:52:33 MDT.

Hike your own hike. Although a ULA or Exo 46 would probably give you similar performance, with less weight.

would those bags be alright for 5 days hikes with bear canister and five days worth of food?

Hi Tae,

Pack comfort has a tremendous amount to do with what you put into it. If you're carrying a heavier load, then a heavier pack will be nice, although I agree that the Osprey and ULA packs mentioned above might be able to do a similar job with less weight.

But consider a truly ultralight load (say 10-20 pounds). Put these into a really lightweight pack from Gossamer Gear, Ula, Golite, Mountain Laurel Designs, Six Moon Designs, etc. and the comfort will be wonderful. From my experience, there is nothing more comfortable than a 10 pound load in a 4 ounce pack. I punch the pack to conform it to my back and it disappears on my back.

But to each his own! If you love your pack, consider losing weight elsewhere. Or if you're really happy (when it comes to gear, I never am- it's a curse), then just get out and hike. Lots of ways to enjoy the outdoors!

Doug

Another tricky question- this depends entirely on what you put into the pack.

I've gone for 5 days with the precurser to the Murmur pack http://www.gossamergear.com/cgi-bin/gossamergear/Murmur.html and found it to be fine, if not a little too large. But my stuff is tiny and very, very light. Most time other backpackers think I'm dayhiking, which confuses them when I'm far outside of dayhiking range.

Again, it all depends on what you're carrying. I use a pack your size for winter trips sometimes and a 2 pound Golite Pinnacle for family trips and mountaineering with loads of gear. But that's just me!

Best, Doug

Edited by djohnson on 08/02/2009 15:31:40 MDT.

Traditional backpackers thought my wife and I were dayhikers in the smokies this summer, we felt like ul ambassadors. We met a group and they were talking to us like we were greenhorn dayhikers, it turned out their weekend was shorter than the day we were on. Hehe, but I digress, I like osprey packs, I have an aether, and It was the last piece I switched. I went Gossamer Gear MP plus and I love it. My wife went GG murmur and literally singing songs about how much she loved it.

Long winded but my real point is I felt like i was betraying a friend when I got my new pack, but I'm glad I did. The sweaty back thing, well just think how warm it is in the winter!

I have the Exos 46 in the Large size. I think it is actually closer to 50L and similar size to the Atmos. I prefer the Exos.

Doug, 10lb for 5 days seem unreal,,, what are you eating??

Ok, I just got Exos 46 and 58. They don't seem as sturdy as my Atmos, but 10oz weigh saving sounds good.