I am shopping for a Jam2 sized pack with a frame and am split between the Mariposa and the new GG Gorilla. The Olm would be the right volume but the hip belt eliminates it from consideration. The 2800 cu.in. Gorilla, I am hoping, with the canister on the outside top would allow the pack to carry what my Jam carries.

Anything I have overlooked? Any guidance would be appreciated. Thanks, John

From the GG website it looks like the Gorilla is almost as heavy as the Mariposa Plus due to the heavier denier fabric. Are there durability issues with the Mariposa Plus (assuming we are not testing it like Backpacker Magazine)?

I have the Meriposa Plus and have had no problems so far with durability. I've taken it bushwacking a number of times where I was honestly more concerned about the mesh pockets than the actual pack, but so far it has weathered well.

Even though there is a picture on the GG site of a canister being carried in the Y-strap on top, in practice it really doesn't work. When you start bopping down (or up) the trail the canister works its way loose fairly quickly...somewhere between 100 yards and a quarter mile in my experience. That probably means you're looking at a mariposa plus unless you can substantially cut down on your gear. I know the guy who took that shot, and the canister was put in place for illustrative purposes only to show how large an item might be carried up there.

FWIW, my original mariposa, with a silnylon body, has held up fairly well, even with some bushwacking and off trail travel. The fabric on the plus version is substantially less apt to be prone to wear.

Thanks guys,

I think I am pretty sold on the Mariposa Plus. What do you pack in the front and side pockets?

hi larry
Mariposa plus is a great bag. front pockets i had water purification stuff, maybe a shamwow(towel), spare 'things' that dont have homes that arent too bulky;other hat, gloves,insualtion for cooking, fuel etc. you DO need to experiment with your kit to see what fit best where...

Edited by billybooster on 10/17/2009 21:49:18 MDT.

I have the Mariposa Plus and I carry everything I might need while on the trail (not camp) in the outside pockets.

In the long side pocket (left hand side wearing the pack) I carry my Rain Jacket, Pants, Pack Cover, Extra Water Bottle, etc. In the bottom right side pocket, I carry my Water Bottle, and lunch/snacks for the day. In the upper right (sundries) pocket, I carry my Aqua Mira, Purell, Headlamp (If I am hiking past dark, I don't want to have to dig through my pack to find it), map/compass, and other miscellaneous items I might need during the day.

In the front pocket I usually put my SpinnShelter and stakes. That way I don't have to open my pack and expose my other gear to the weather if it is raining. It also lets me store a wet tarp away from my other gear. In the cold, I also occasionally keep another layer in the front pocket so I can quickly put it on when I take a break. I will never own another pack without large external pockets, they are great for all kinds of things, and I am constantly amazed by the amount of gear that I can cram in them when needed.

I really appreciate the comments and discussion fellas. The 3600 cu in size of the Mariposa seems a little big but if the Y strap is not going to keep the canister on the pack, there is going to be just enough room with it inside-it seems. Thanks again.

Edited by johnk on 10/18/2009 00:17:05 MDT.

I have never carried a canister with mine, but I have heard that the Y strap works better if you wrap the canister in a strip of blue foam. It helps hold the otherwise slick canister.

John,
In my Mariposa, I carry my fly rod, map, and tent poles in the tall side pocket. In the top small side pocket, I usually pack a few snacks, Wet wipes, sunscreen, and other sundries. I usually don't use the big pocket in the pack but sometimes I put my rain jacket or wet gear there to dry out.

I've never had a problem lashing a bear canister on the top of my mariposa with the y-strap. YMMV, but I've walked hundreds of miles with the canister on top, and I can't recall ever having to stop to reposition the canister. Might be the canister, I have a bear vault.

You had asked about how people use the pockets on the Mariposa Plus so I took some pictures when I was out on a trip the other day.

On the left pocket here I have:

MLD Event Rain Mitts
GoLite Reed Rain Pants
DriDucks Jacket
MLD Pack Cover
32oz Poweraide Bottle
7oz bottle of sunflower seed kernels (that is empty in the pick and now holding garbage)

On the front pocket I have:

Gossamer Gear SpinnShelter
Alpinlite Bug Tent
Tent stakes
Socks (they are on the bottom in the pic, but normally up top to dry - It was the last day of the trip)

Finally in the right pockets I have:

Sundries (top) Pocket

Aquramira
Purell (repackaged)
Headlamp
Map
Permit
Ziplock trash bag

Bottom Pocket

32oz Poweraide Bottle
Misc. Snickers, Paydays, and Slim Jim's as snacks.

Left: Tarptent, stake bag, wrist brace (I have carpal tunnel syndrome). If you have one of the two-man Tarptent models this pocket is designed to fit it perfectly.

top right: compass, map

bottom right: water bottle, either steripen or aqua mira, bag of trail mix, bandanna

front: either rain jacket & pants or poncho, wind shirt, toilet bag (trowel, purell, TP, waste ziplock), polycro groundcloth

It may sound strange, but the pockets on the mariposa packs seem to be perfectly sized and shaped to most effectively carry the gear I would want on the outside of my main pack pocket. The pack is really easy to pack well.

Thanks for the information - I hear that the main body will hold a Garcia or Bearikade canister upright plus your sleeping bag and clothes. Do you agree?

These latest photos help significantly in making an informed decision. There also seems to be a split of opinion on the effectiveness of the "Y" strap in holding the bear canister. If I thought it would work in securing the bear can, I could most likely get by with a Gorilla. Anyone else have an opinion on this?

On the other hand, the pocket set-up of the Mariposa appears to be much superior to the Gorilla. The Jason Klass video is a deal closer but I wonder if the Gorilla had been available when Jason obtained his Mariposa, he would have made the same selection??

Appreciate the advice. Thanks again, John

This was in the user tips on Gossamer Gear's website:

Pack Modification for a Bear Can

To better hold my Bearacade Bear canister, I sewed two thin strips of velcro on the underside of each of the Y straps and affixed 2 strips of adhesive backed velcro on the canister...Perfecto ...bear canister stayed just where I wanted it to! --submitted by Peter Ireland

I have also heard that if you wrap the canister with a piece of blue CC foam pad it help hold it in place.