I recently hiked from Bishop, CA's South Lake to Mt. Whitney on the John Muir Trail. My highest pack weight including 8 days of food and 2 liters of water was about 35lbs. I know this is an excessive weight to most of you but this is remarkable for me and it also includes a Garcia bear cannister). (My base weight is 16-17 lbs.)

One thing I wished I had taken along was a summit pack for side excursions including Whitney. This summit pack would need to hold a little food, some water, and maybe a rain cover. Any suggestions?

cheap...REI flash UL

light but more expensive, a z-packs pack.

What about a Golite Ion, or is that too big?

I have a Dana Designs Kompressor (10oz). I believe Marmot now carries this design. I did not take this pack along because to avoid the added 10oz for the 100 mile trek.

I was actually wondering if there is a product that weighs less than 5 oz. Maybe that is just wishful thinking.

There is, it's called z-packs. under 3 oz.

Under 3oz? That's crazy! But in a good way.

Christopher, these Zpacks look very cool. The guy says he's on the Continental Divide Trail but will be back in December.

http://www.zpacks.com/backpacks/zero.shtml

The smaller packs (1000/1400 cu in) each weigh in around 2oz and they double as a sleeping bag stuff-sack so effectively they are weightless in your main pack.

This is exactly what I am looking for.

Thanks,

Larry

I normally carry a small key chain backpack for summit attempts. It's from a company called Kiva Designs. It weighs about 2.5 ounces and costs about $10 from any major luggage store such or even Hush Puppies & Family shoe store. It's fold's up into it's own storage pocket. It only has about 600 cubic inches so not too big.

It's pretty fragile and I wouldn't carry too much weight in it. It has served it's purpose very well on the summit trail to Whitney last year and day tripping in the Escalante River area of Utah. Thanks.

James

An REI Flash pack can be trimmed down to 6.1 oz, by removing everything (waist belt, sternum strap, lash straps, and interior pockets), except the (shortened) shoulder straps, the main bag, and the drawstring closure system.

Still not as light as the z-pack, but if you need a summit pack before December, you can get an REI Flash.

Integral Designs has an option at 4.5oz. Just a stuffsack with straps so $50 is kinda steep. If you can sew or know someone who can it would be an easy project.

http://integraldesigns.com/product_detail.cfm?id=770&CFID=1011840&CFTOKEN=74561482&mainproducttypeid=1

Montbell has a couple sizes of a model called "Pocketable Day Pack". These are in the 7oz range. I have an older version I like for travel/carry-on.

http://www.montbell.us/products/list.php?cat_id=36

There's a slightly cheaper option at oware - $43 for a 2.9oz "stuffsack + straps", 1050 ci capacity.

All of these options look great but the "Make Your Own" UL Daypack seems interesting.

Some links to MYOG packs:
http://www.gossamergear.com/cgi-bin/gossamergear/myog.html
The 1 oz pack at gg looks interesting and not too hard to make (simple is lighter anyway).
http://thru-hiker.com/projects/lab_pack.php

The GG 1oz pack looks cool but it may be a little over my head in the sewing department. I purchased a couple of straps and a 1oz silnylon 20L stuff sack. I think if I can somehow sew or attach the straps to the stuff sack then it would be a perfect summit pack to carry a windbreaker, some water, and some food for a side trip.

Any ideas on how to attach or sew straps onto silnylon? Do I need some kind of backing to sew into?

Used it for my last hike in Greenland,
as a stuff bag for my mirage sleeping bag,
for summit hiking or fishing

one strap was enough for low weights, and the lenght from shoulder to waist meaned it would stay in place on my back without sliding when full.

Edited by Fre49 on 09/23/2009 14:26:01 MDT.

Very cool design...plus it holds that bottle of wine very nicely! So you sewed the straps in at the silnylon seam. That seems like a good idea.

I was intrigued by the idea of making my own LW daypack so I purchased a SIL nylon bag (30L) and some straps from REI. The bag weighs 1oz and the three straps weigh about 1oz each before cutting them down. I am pretty happy with the result. I wear it with the shoulder straps crossed over my chest and the waist strap cinched. I have tried it out with a 2L water bladder, a lunch, and a jacket plus a few essentials. It carries very well.

I put it on a scale after cutting the straps down as much as I dare and it weighs in at 3.5oz. I guess I could have purchased one that weighed 2oz but I am still happy with my own creation.

Here is a couple of pictures:

Very clever. Green clips nice contrast.

Edited by backpackerchick on 10/28/2009 14:14:36 MDT.

Congrats on a successful project.

I'm trying to think of a way to adapt my REI Flash to use as a chest pack with the stuff in it I use during the day, then I will have it to use for day hikes.

Rather than just carrying it as a stuff sack in the pack.

I could just "S" clip it to the pack shoulder straps, but I'm not sure if that will be comfortable.

Maybe I should just try it and see.

Any thoughts/ideas?