High Sierra Topix

BSquared wrote: General comments about Golite packs?

I've got the Golite Trek. It is more lightweight than the pack you are looking at but the comfort and quality are very good. Definitely one of my better purchases.

I have a Gregory Forester, which is comfortable but a bit heavy. I'm looking for feedback comparing a "normal" pack, like the Gregory, to the Golite. Any feel for the comfort level between the two ? If it matters, I usually carry around 40 lbs.

I have the GoLite Trek, but for me its uncomfortable with more than 25 lbs. My pack weight is normally 28-30 lbs solo. I don't have hips, and the hipbelt doesn't have padding so its not comfortable for me. If you want it, make an offer!

I'm happy with my Kelty Flight, only 3 lbs (discontinued). I can carry 40 lbs and its still comfortable. If you see it on sale anywhere, please let me know!

I really like the Gregory Z-Pack I got last year. It's not quite as light as a Granite Grear or GoLite, but for the nominal extra weight I think it really does have a nicer suspension system/hipbelt/etc. I have carried some decent enough loads in it for 3-4 day trips without having to go too minimalist.

Most folks think I am goofy for stating this but I use a Kelty Shadow, it can hold 4500 ci and does fine with gear to the hilt. Still comfortable. Why so large, I carry the bulky stuff and canister for me and the wife; among other nice-ities...Nonetheless, empty it weights 3.5 lbs....after I got it adjusted following two mulit-day trips, it is totally comfortable. At that weight, it is almost a sub for my day pack....almost. Usually on day trips I use my thigh-packs....seen here.



Kelty Shadow, seen here....(photo not that great, but the pack was loaded, and comfortable, for this trip up San Gorgonio in October....)

Snow Nymph wrote:I have the GoLite Trek, but for me its uncomfortable with more than 25 lbs. My pack weight is normally 28-30 lbs solo. I don't have hips, and the hipbelt doesn't have padding so its not comfortable for me. If you want it, make an offer!

I'm happy with my Kelty Flight, only 3 lbs (discontinued). I can carry 40 lbs and its still comfortable. If you see it on sale anywhere, please let me know!

Yeah, I don't have much in the way of hips either. I guess it's a blessing in some ways. Sounds like I need to keep my Kelty, or try a lighter weight Kelty.

Yeah, I don't have much in the way of hips either.

Wanna trade? I've got way more hips than I'd like! Obviously, I need to do the JMT again -- I was 20 pounds lighter than ever before (well... mostly ever) when I came down from Whitney the last time.

Everything I've seen so far, both here and elsewhere, seems to be pointing me more and more at the Nimbus Ozone. There are several reviews at http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews ... s%20Ozone/, all generally positive. They say it's comfortable and can carry quite heavy loads, with the down sides being lack of external pockets, a little less resistance to abrasion than heavier-weight packs, and difficulty of replacing water bottles into the mesh pockets (I can't do that with my REI Great Star either).

I can't wait to try one on!

BSquared wrote:Wanna trade? I've got way more hips than I'd like!

LOL !!
Hey, let us know how the Nimbus Ozone works out.

The Nimbus Ozone arrived yesterday, and I threw a bunch of stuff in it (about 20 lbs -- 9 kg for you rational types) and hiked about three miles with it today. Wow, what a comfortable pack. Wow, how much smaller than my REI GreatStar Obviously, I'm going to have to learn to get a lot more compact!

Film at 11:00.

-BSquared

I started using a GoLite Gust last year and I'm very pleased with it. Last September, RJ and I took a 6 day trip from Tuolumne through Pate Valley, White Wolf, top of Yosemite Falls, and out at Porcupine Flats, with a day trip to the top of El Cap. My pack held the bear can, tent, and lots more - probably starting at about 35 pounds. Very comfortable. Lots of volume. Quality construction.

The biggest drawback for me is that the Gust lacks a pocket for a one-liter water bottle. RJ's pack carries two water bottles, so that's not a significant problem when we're hiking together. When I'm alone, I tie an 8 ounce bottle to one of my shoulder straps, so I only need to dig out my big water bottle every 30 to 90 minutes, depending on conditions.

I have a couple of other packs, but the combination of high volume, good functionality, very good comfort, $60 price tag, and 20 ounce weight make it my top choice for anything more than a day trip.