I've been using a 2009 Golite Jam2 for a couple years, and I'm finding it's no longer doing a satisfactory job for my style of backpacking. I want to replace it with something a little more substantial, but still reasonably light. Here are my criteria for a new pack:

Weight: 2 lb or less
Capacity: 50 litres
Framesheet or internal stay
Padded hipbelt

Any suggestions would be welcome!

Edited by jasonpicard on 04/24/2011 10:13:53 MDT.

SMD Starlite?

Edited by Stick on 04/24/2011 10:45:21 MDT.

.

Edited by annapurna on 04/25/2011 10:28:14 MDT.

I love my ULA and the Ohm fits your criteria. You can order one up and try it for yourself. Like most gear choices.... it is a personal one.

You may want to look at the HMG Windrider also.

Great suggestions! Thanks!

The Starlight looks really promising. I'll be researching these further and hopefully make a choice this week.

Not sure what other gear you have, but the Starlite is a HUGE pack. You may get better advice if you post up all your gear. We might be able to suggest a much smaller pack with an internal stay.

Okay, here's a very quick version of my gear list. These are all the major items I carry. I didn't bother with the small odds and ends:

Shelter:
Tarptent Contrail

Sleep:
Marmot Hydrogen
Therm-a-rest Prolite + reg

Cook:
Caldera Cone
MSR Titan Kettle

Clothing:
Patagonia Down Sweater
Capilene Long Johns
Capilene 3 zip-t
Merino liner gloves
Smartwool Phd Crew socks

Rainwear:
Marmot Oracle Jacket
Marmot Precip Pants

Hopefully this paints a picture of what kind of space I'm needing. I live in Ontario, and really enjoy trips during the shoulder seasons, so some extra capacity beyond this list would be needed for colder weather in spring and fall.

The six moon designs swift is a nice pack. It is smaller than the starlite but still should be more than enough room for your gear.

I owned both the Swift (10) and the Starlite, but just sold and shipped the Starlite on Friday. The Starlight is larger but the Swift holds enough for me to go 10 days without resupply. Both are very comfortable with the Starlite obviously carrying a heavier load with greater comfort.

What is it about your current pack that isn't working for you?

Edited by Servingko on 04/25/2011 09:51:10 MDT.

I'll give one more vote for the swift. The new 2011 model includes removable aluminum stays. Before I bought this pack, I was concerned that it wouldn't be big enough for all of my trips, but believe me, its got plenty of room. If you had enough room in a jam you will do fine with this pack as well.

How many days will you typically be out when using this pack? I.E. what kind of total weight are you planning on carrying?

Check out the Osprey Hornet 46L if you have a short to medium length torso. It has a more substantial frame than a Jam. Mine weighs 24.5 oz.

Andrew

I'm typically out for 3-5 days at a time, so loads almost never exceed 25lbs. My complaint about the Jam2 is the flimsy framesheet and the unpadded hitbelt. I've had some great trips with this pack, but know that I could be a lot more comfortable for only a little bit more weight. This runs counter to the ultralight ethos, I know, but at this stage I'd like to balance weight vs. comfort to make the most of my available time for adventures.

It's a great pack with the top compartment "pretty useless" removed it's 2 lbs on the dot only 44 liters but it has more possibilities for strapping things on externaly best thing about it is how well it carries loads how well it vents and it is just very comfortable FWIW hadn't been mentioned so I though I would bring it up

+ 1 on the Osprey Talon 44. It definately seems to fit more in it than the 44 liter spec implies. I have tried the Swift 2010 model, the ULA Ohm, and the Talon, and I prefer it to the other two. The Swift was a close 2nd. My issue with the Swift is my bear can. I couldn't figure out a good way to get it set up in my pack without it pulling away from my shoulders. The Talon has load lifters that help pull in that part of the pack. If you don't use a bear can it won't be an issue. I actually found myself missing the removeable tops of packs that I used before going to the lidless models, I am actually leaving mine on and 'eating' the weight penalty in favor of easy access to stuff I need throughout the day. I did trim and remove some straps and other features that I didn't need to shave a bit off. I picked mine up at REI which gives you the option of trying it out first and being able to return it,( just don't cut the straps until you know it's 'a keeper' ). My overall weight with food and water for 5 days is 20-21 lbs, so the pack rides superbly!

I guess there is no padded hip belt option for the swift. I have the wing belt which is very comfortable and transfers the load quite well.

"You may want to look at the HMG Windrider also."

+1. So far, that is the most impressive pack for the weight that I have seen. 25.5 oz for a full featured framed waterproof pack.

(and I have a Mchale)

Regarding the Talon 44 -does not meet the 2lb limit stated by the OP.

I'll second the Windrider recommendation. I carried around 30 pounds in it (camera stuff, mostly) on the trip up Kilimanjaro, and found it to work quite well -- even in comparison to my custom McHale -- plus it has the added benefit of being waterproof, which I've put to the test while biking around Seattle in winter as well as when hiking across The Saddle on Kilimanjaro in sideways sleet/rain.

Of course, you could also go for the Big Kahuna and get a custom McHale that is exactly optimized for your needs, but you'd probably end up paying 2-3x as much as for a Windrider... worth it if you have the bux, but not everyone can afford that sort of a splurge.

Edit:
Looks like I'm third rather than 2nd (thanks a lot, Dave ;)) -- but it's pretty funny that you're also comparing to a McHale ;)

Edited by Tamerlin on 04/25/2011 12:18:21 MDT.

I stated without the lid and without it is 2lbs and will carry just as good proably better then any pack in that weight range IMHO although it doesn't quiet meet his stated capacity i figured it hadn't been stated so I would mention it as a option fwiw

I note that all of the packs listed do not meet his 50L specification, not that they wouldn't carry his sub 25lbs of gear. Then again most packs over inflate their numbers for their size so...