Gear Review: Zpacks Arc Haul
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 6:33 pm
Joe Velasko at Zpacks has been progressively designing slightly heavier packs over the years and the Arc Haul is the latest version of a "load hauler" that is still lightweight. I bought one last year and it was done just in time for the HST Meetup trip in July. I haven't had time to do an 'official' style review (whatever that is:), so I figured this letter might provide some insight. Alpine Mike has since bought a blue dyneema Arc Haul, but this letter is from last year when he was considering buying one;
I finally broke down and bought a commercially available pack. It's a Zpacks Arc Haul. I had it made with two smaller rear pockets instead of the usual single large mesh pocket. The lower pocket is made using the same dyneema as the rest of the pack and the upper is a mesh pocket. There is already a hole in the mesh from my maps, so I wouldn't recommend that material. It weighs 26.2 ozs for just the pack. I added two hipbelt pockets (@0.75 oz each). I don't like their hipbelt pocket design for a few reasons; they are two big and stick out too far (hitting my arms while walking) and it is not possible to zip them open or closed with just one hand. I'm going to alter them myself but I wouldn't recommend them. Chris Zimmer looks like he makes a better design.
The dyneema is the heavier 210D and weighs 4.8 oz/sqyd according to Zpacks (it is usually referred to as 4.2 oz/sqyd on the Thru-Hiker website). It's the black color with small white x pattern dyneema threads at a 90 degree and 45 degree angles. I have used this material in my own packs and it is tough. I slid down a very steep 20 foot granite wall while wearing one of my own packs that has the dyneema material on the bottom 6 inches. The pack broke my fall and protected my back etc. There were only a few small holes in the material as a result of the fall/slide, and only where there were pointy items on the inside. The slide happened on the first day of a 9 day trip, full of food and gear.
I have only used the Zpacks Arc Haul on a single 9 day trip so far. It was mostly cross country via Pterodactyl Pass, Horn Col, Coppermine Pass, Colby Pass, Picket Creek Pass, Pyra Queen Col and Kawea Gap. I only climbed Coppermine Peak (12,345) due to crazy weather the first half of the trip (it was late July).
The pack is durable with no wear on the dyneema. The bottom of the pack where the frame attaches is made using much heavier material and is only showing slight wear and tear from being dropped/dragged/placed on the ground. Gazelle had an older model Arc Blast made with the lighter weight material at the HST meetup. The long vertical carbon fiber frame sheets on either side had both failed/bent on her pack but were still holding together. I think he has since started using a more sturdy type of carbon fiber that is round instead of flat. I haven't had a problems with mine.
The way this pack carries is very comfortable and seriously adjustable. The hipbelt is attached directly to the frame at the bottom and the load is carried directly to the hips. There are two straps on either side of the belt which makes it easy to get a good/perfect fit.
The shoulder straps are attached to the pack in a way that is adjustable within a 5"+- range (up or down the frame) and I was able to get a very good/comfortable fit after just a few miles. I was carrying about 30 lbs on day one including a Bearikade Weekender. This was the reason for buying a heavier pack with a frame (to carry a bear canister or snow shoes in the winter).
The frame itself is adjustable in that you can tension either side and make an air gap between the mesh and your back to your preference. There are three horizontal carbon fiber sections to the frame. By placing the bear canister next to the middle horizontal frame section I was able to protect my back from ever feeling it while hiking. Nice!
The pack is rated to 40lbs. I will probably never carry that much weight, but I would not recommend carrying a load over this rating. Hobbes sent me a link to a PCT hikers blog who had some serious problems while trying to carry heavy water loads over 45 lbs through the dry desert sections with this pack. For that kind of weight I would probably use an Osprey Aether with the heat molded hipbelt. They weigh over 5 lbs empty but are comfortable load haulers.
I hope this helps anyone who might be interested in ordering a Zpacks Arc Haul. I have since ordered a second one with two small back pockets but this time they are both made using dyneema. This new pack is very durable and I'm sure it will hold up for many years.
I will upload some photos asap.
Thanks, Andy.
I finally broke down and bought a commercially available pack. It's a Zpacks Arc Haul. I had it made with two smaller rear pockets instead of the usual single large mesh pocket. The lower pocket is made using the same dyneema as the rest of the pack and the upper is a mesh pocket. There is already a hole in the mesh from my maps, so I wouldn't recommend that material. It weighs 26.2 ozs for just the pack. I added two hipbelt pockets (@0.75 oz each). I don't like their hipbelt pocket design for a few reasons; they are two big and stick out too far (hitting my arms while walking) and it is not possible to zip them open or closed with just one hand. I'm going to alter them myself but I wouldn't recommend them. Chris Zimmer looks like he makes a better design.
The dyneema is the heavier 210D and weighs 4.8 oz/sqyd according to Zpacks (it is usually referred to as 4.2 oz/sqyd on the Thru-Hiker website). It's the black color with small white x pattern dyneema threads at a 90 degree and 45 degree angles. I have used this material in my own packs and it is tough. I slid down a very steep 20 foot granite wall while wearing one of my own packs that has the dyneema material on the bottom 6 inches. The pack broke my fall and protected my back etc. There were only a few small holes in the material as a result of the fall/slide, and only where there were pointy items on the inside. The slide happened on the first day of a 9 day trip, full of food and gear.
I have only used the Zpacks Arc Haul on a single 9 day trip so far. It was mostly cross country via Pterodactyl Pass, Horn Col, Coppermine Pass, Colby Pass, Picket Creek Pass, Pyra Queen Col and Kawea Gap. I only climbed Coppermine Peak (12,345) due to crazy weather the first half of the trip (it was late July).
The pack is durable with no wear on the dyneema. The bottom of the pack where the frame attaches is made using much heavier material and is only showing slight wear and tear from being dropped/dragged/placed on the ground. Gazelle had an older model Arc Blast made with the lighter weight material at the HST meetup. The long vertical carbon fiber frame sheets on either side had both failed/bent on her pack but were still holding together. I think he has since started using a more sturdy type of carbon fiber that is round instead of flat. I haven't had a problems with mine.
The way this pack carries is very comfortable and seriously adjustable. The hipbelt is attached directly to the frame at the bottom and the load is carried directly to the hips. There are two straps on either side of the belt which makes it easy to get a good/perfect fit.
The shoulder straps are attached to the pack in a way that is adjustable within a 5"+- range (up or down the frame) and I was able to get a very good/comfortable fit after just a few miles. I was carrying about 30 lbs on day one including a Bearikade Weekender. This was the reason for buying a heavier pack with a frame (to carry a bear canister or snow shoes in the winter).
The frame itself is adjustable in that you can tension either side and make an air gap between the mesh and your back to your preference. There are three horizontal carbon fiber sections to the frame. By placing the bear canister next to the middle horizontal frame section I was able to protect my back from ever feeling it while hiking. Nice!
The pack is rated to 40lbs. I will probably never carry that much weight, but I would not recommend carrying a load over this rating. Hobbes sent me a link to a PCT hikers blog who had some serious problems while trying to carry heavy water loads over 45 lbs through the dry desert sections with this pack. For that kind of weight I would probably use an Osprey Aether with the heat molded hipbelt. They weigh over 5 lbs empty but are comfortable load haulers.
I hope this helps anyone who might be interested in ordering a Zpacks Arc Haul. I have since ordered a second one with two small back pockets but this time they are both made using dyneema. This new pack is very durable and I'm sure it will hold up for many years.
I will upload some photos asap.
Thanks, Andy.