What packs are there out there for sul long weekend trips? Theres the zero anything without a 6 week wait ?

GG Murmur, and I think Ron at MLD has some Burn Packs in stock.

+1 on the GG Murmur. I think it's the ideal long weekend pack, offering only what you need and not a thing more. It's like the Smart car of backpacks...

Michael

+1 on the Burn (which could be in stock). The fit is magical (at least for my 5'9"/150 lbs body with the medium).

EMS Packable Pack, 9oz, 1500 cu in., $30 (I got one on sale for $21 if I remember correctly)

http://www.ems.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4399091&lmdn=Brand&cp=3677352.11373430.4456715

Patagonia Lightweight Travel Pack

I don't have one, but I was looking at one the other day in the store.

11.4 oz (as listed, I haven't weighed one), 1,587 cu in., $79

http://www.patagonia.com/us/product/patagonia-lightweight-travel-pack?p=48817-0-247


You could get both of these packs in less than 8 weeks, if you have a trip coming up soon.

best of luck,
v

North face Verto
Camp Phantom
Seas 2 summit pocket daypack
Hyperlight mountain gear drybag pack
Gossamergear Riksack
REI Flash 18
MEC travel light top load pack

I forgot to mention I would like it under 4ounces I have a TNF verto and I like it but i need something light to go to the whole xul thing

HMG drybag pack
Riksack
Sea 2 summit pocket day pack

are all under 4 ounces. The old GG g6 whisper was 4 ounces

I really like how the Zpacks Zero look.

But thats prolly a looooong way off for me.

Question for you gurus of the extremes of Ultra-Lightness, based upon experience what backpack you would take when a bear canister was required either large or small.

I have a BV450 and a BV500 canister. Given that they weight 2 pounds, 1 ounce and 2 pounds, 9 ounces respectively, if I'm going by the numbers, my SUL/XUL hopes are pretty much dashed. Maybe I could still hit an SUL load with the smaller cannister...but it doesn't fit in my homemade 6 oz. pack. Next smallest pack I have is a Golite Jam, 19 oz. The Jam and small canister would leave me less than 2 pounds of other gear to hit a sub 5 packweight...I suppose it's doable, but I don't bother.

Cans and SUL/XUL don't seem too compatible...

Custom pack to hold that canister. probably a cuben style, like a zpacks, or a zimmerman creation could get one in at around 9-11 ounces. you would have cut back on iother features to come in at a low weight.

It depends on how many days long the trip is.

If it is only a few days, my little Bear Boxer (1.6 lb) is pretty compact for a bear canister, and it will easily fit into any 8-oz backpack of 1500 cubic inches.

If it is a longer trip, the solo BearVault 450 (2 lb 1 oz) holds more food. An old sub-1-lb Golite Breeze holds it with ease.

If it is longer still, the larger BearVault 500 (2 lb 9 oz) holds more. The Golite Breeze stills it with ease. However, now we have eaten up a lot of the weight allowance with just two items.

--B.G.--

Go for the Zero (you'll love it). Tell Joe when you need it by; see what he can do.
Here are the specs for mine:
Zpacks Zero 1400ci Cuben = 2.8 oz.
+ Detachable Sternum Strap = 0.2
+ Removable Waist Belt = 1.2
+ Bungee Accessory Cordage = 0.4

I can't tell but does the EMS packable pack have a hipbelt?

The EMS pack doesn't have a hip belt or sternum strap.

I like that EMS pack a lot for the price. Might pick that up. Anyone link to some good instructions on adding a hipbelt to something like that?

LAUFBURSCHE make the huckePÄCKchen, the small version of the huckePACK about which I wrote the review here. 180 gram in cuben, iirc.

Ended up making my own 28 liter main compartment side waterbottle Pockets made the pack body out of grey sil and the bottom and strap reinforcement with 1.9 ounce ripstop final weight 4 ounces

Guys, I was looking at the zero, and my fingers are twitching for me to buy it. I was looking at the small size 1,500 cubic inches. At first, I was going to add pockets, but decided that maybe just a back center pocket, or just a side pocket would work. I mainly wanted a pocket for my liter platypus.

For those of you that have used the Golite Ion, MLD Newt, zpacks Zero, or any other rucksack type, was it annoying to get the water from out of the pack each time? And because of this, did you drink less? Any tips or advice? I also use trekking poles, if that makes a difference.

Currently, I use the GG Murmur, and it's a fantastic pack, but I'm looking to downsize a bit more.

Edited by johnch on 07/22/2011 01:18:55 MDT.

I've had a Zero size small out of CT5K.18 for some time now. I elected to get two side pockets but skipped the large front pocket because of the weight penalty associated with it. So far I love it, it is a fantastic pack and I like it significantly better than my Murmur.

Switching out the cord and cord lock that Joe uses for AirCore 1 and a micro cord lock as well as trimming the excess webbing got the weight down to 81 grams (2.86 oz). There is also some extra plastic on the ladder locks which can be trimmed off to save another 0.2 grams. I emailed Joe about using 1/2" grosgrain instead of the thicker webbing that he uses since that would shave another 3.4 grams off the weight of the pack. He is also willing to make the pack from CT3.5K.18 (pretty sure, he didn't seem put off by the idea). That would save a further 9.2 grams pushing the pack weight down to 68 grams (2.4 oz).

I have a zero x-small (1000cu in) and it weighs 3.5 oz with side pockets, sternum strap, daisy chain. If you have a deadline that is not ridiculous, I am sure he can work with you.

Here is the Zero about half full. I am 5'7", 175.

"Switching out the cord and cord lock that Joe uses for AirCore 1 and a micro cord lock as well as trimming the excess webbing got the weight down to 81 grams (2.86 oz)."

the cord being that thin, would it not eventually wear through the fabric?

I don't have a thru hike on it or anything like that but after about 50 miles I see no evidence of extra wear. Given how burly the CT5K.18 is I really doubt that AirCore 1 would be up to that task.

anybody else have had experience carrying a pack without any pockets?

I did it once with my Ion, and found I drank less water. Then I got shoulder-strap pockets for my water bottles, and it was nice. It did flop a bit though, and probably negated the weight savings of not having built-in pockets on the side of the pack.

I think the original Zpacks Blast backpacks used really thin cord like Aircore 1. In the BPL review (of the Blast 20 I think) the reviewer thought that the thin cord might wear through the cuben but Joe chimed in that he had used it like this for a thru hike and there was no signs of this sort of trouble.

FWIW, I have a new 1500 ci (small) Zero that is new and I've been meaning to sell if someone is in a lather to get one of these. It's olive drab cuben, has side pockets, rear pocket and a webbing hipbelt. It tips the scales at 140g or 4.96oz. I bought it last fall but I haven't used it yet because all of my trips this summer have been longer ones with my wife (ie. I carry the tent) so I've been using my bigger pack. I'm selling it because I've ordered another Zero from Zpacks with a few changes (slightly bigger, sternum strap, roll top, no hipbelt).

Edited by dandydan on 07/24/2011 17:53:06 MDT.

I've been using a Zero with a small Bear Boxer (25.6 ozs) for 4 day trips in Yosemite this summer. The pack weighs 5.9 ozs and is the same size as a Blast 26. It has 2 side pockets, 1 front pocket and a home-made detachable padded cuben hipbelt to make it a little more comfortable. I also switched out the heavy shock cord and cord locks with lighter ones and they seem to be holding up fine, although they don't provide the compression of the original heavier ones. My wife is wearing it in the picture.

I finally just made a pack out of 1.43 oz/sqyd cuben and added all of the options myself. It's 7.4 ozs and includes a removeable internal frame taken from a large GG Gorilla (11 ozs w/ the internal frame). I have been using a Bearikade Weekender MKII (30.2 ozs) with this one for longer hikes or when I'm carrying all of the food and a tent with my wife on shorter 4 day trips (so much for SUL).



I used the Zero in Emigrant this summer and was able to go SUL even while carrying a Spot II and camera (no bear canister required).

Here's the Zero with a Bear Boxer:

I have an Ion and don't have a problem stopping and getiing water from the pack evey now and then. I also use a Sea to Summit folding mug, which sits on top of the pack and I use to drink when I see a stream.
I also hike with pants that have front pockets, and regularly fill a half liter platty and store it in my pants pocket and can take it out easliy when I need a drink along the trail.

You CAN get by without pack pockets.

Edited by fredfoto on 09/04/2011 07:59:51 MDT.

I have recently gone back to no pockets. Sure you style will change slightly, but I don't miss them. I also seem to stay hydrated just fine. Water stays cooler in the pack out of the sun too. Nothing on the outside of the pack to snag on brush or get pulled/dropped out of pockets.

Your pack is the one piece of equipment that experiences every mile that you do. I'll go with durability in this case. Everything used in camp can be a light as possible.

I had lycra mesh pockets (front and side) added to my Ion, I don't miss being pocketless :)

"Your pack is the one piece of equipment that experiences every mile that you do. I'll go with durability in this case. Everything used in camp can be a light as possible."

+1

Well said :-)

Yep when you think of it your pack is the protection for your gear most of the day you don't want to tear up a pack and have to improvise that would get old after a couple miles

I consider 1.5oz cuben to be pretty bomber. With reasonable care, it's going to last many years as a pack material. I'm not a fan of disposable gear, but I do like 1.5oz cuben packs. They're not for everyone (ie. climbers) but IMO opting for 210D nylon in a SUL pack is giving away precious ounces for little benefit. Many ways to skin a cat though....

EDIT: I just noticed that Zpacks is now offering their Zero packs in the cuben/nylon cuben material (2.92oz) and it comes in a nice shade of tan. This looks like a great option for anyone wanting something more durable and/or more normal looking that regular cuben.

Edited by dandydan on 09/09/2011 11:08:47 MDT.

anybody else have had experience carrying a pack without any pockets?

John, I often hike with my McHale LBP with all the pockets removed and in some pretty hot climates. Not a big deal. A few extra seconds to get the water. An advantage in hot weather is keeping my quilt on top of the water which keeps it cool versus getting hot sitting in an external pocket.

pockets are handy, but certainly not essential- they were "essential" on my Ion as I didn't have enough volume w/o them, w/ them added they did provide the necessary volume to do 3-4 day trips AND they did prove rather handy :)

question- how does pocket material weight mesh/lycra etc compare to pack material?- I'm pretty sure cuben will be lighter (maybe not?), how about the "normal" lighter nylon pack materials- dyneema, xpac, etc?

Lycra mesh is 5 ounces per square yard. Most Dimension Polyant material is 4 to 8 ounces I believe. Dyneema Grid-stop is 4 ounces I think.

thanks, given that the weights are comparable more or less, does it reason that adding pockets for a little more volume (and convenience) is a wash to adding volume to the main pack? or does it take less material to add to the main pack volume wise?

A pocket will add extra weight I'd assume. It is doubling the fabric vs. adding a small sliver of material. I used a very basic volume calculation (HxDxW) with the GG Gorilla. It has 396 cubic inches of space in the ALL pockets. Using 6x11x22 for the body (which would give you a fixed cube, which is not exactly correct) gives you 1,452. If you add 1.5 in per side you get 363. That means a section of 3 x 22 pack material will give the same amount of volume as a much larger pocket. I could be off here, but this was my thinking.

I agree I just finished a pack a while ago and used it for a trip this past weekend made out of 1.5 ounce cuben I baby my gear but I have no durability concerns about it matter of fact im trying 1.26 ounce cuben. Yes a mesh like a Lycra or tuff mesh will add a little weight to keep weight at the lowest weight I would use either 1.5 ounce cuben or sil if your not bushwacking sil is so slippery brush tends to slide over not snag