Hi Everyone,
I never bother with gear reviews, but I have had such a unique find with Seek Outside, I thought that I had to bring it to the attention of my fellow HST users. Seek Outside is a truly innovative, different company. See the link to the pack above
The Seek Outside Packs are all the perfect balance between an extraordinary, lightweight, external frame that takes all of the weight off of your shoulders and puts it on your hips. Infinitely adjustable with all of the usual adjustments and several you have never thought of. It can come with a lumbar pad if you need extra padding and to help with pack angle and better fit. Accessories are endless. In short, the designers and ALL of the staff use their products, and have designed them with carry comfort top of mind. The frame can even be lengthened or shortened in the field! (Only an hunter would need this, but it makes the at home adjustment easy.) The staff are incredibly knowledgeable, patient and helpful. I cannot say enough good things about the service and experience and advice of the staff. The pack weighs in at 3-4 lbs depending upon the accessories and straps you put on it. It swallows up a 50 lbs load, (which I only will carry if I have to take Jasmine Rose’s pack or snow gear) such that I do not feel it at all on my shoulders!
Now the cons, nothing is perfect… The price, SIGH 50% to double what the going rate for light packs are. The wait time, it is a 3-4 week delay between order and delivery of your pack. I have justified the price because 1) this pack is indestructible as opposed to the Osprey, Gregory and main stream packs that are only good for a few seasons. The light packs say they are only good for one through hike. 2) It is so modular, I intend to use it as my backpack, day pack and snow trip/ski pack. I do not believe I will need to buy another pack again. Another drawback is that since the packs are so modular and adjustable, it takes time to get the exactly correct fit.
Now for my personal specs and the story behind this find:
First my needs, since they may or may not match yours:
I am a girl hiking solo and I have 45 good reasons to be a light hiker. However, I cannot lighten my pack much more than I have. I get cold and need warm gear, I will not compromise on my sturdy sling fin double walled tent that will hold up in ANY wind or storm event, I need my navigation backup because i am a lousy navigator, I cannot bring less food than I do, (As it is, I begin eyeing the dog food towards the end of every trip since i am so hungry.) since I’m alone, I do not want to give up the field repair or first aid kits, etc. Everything in there, though considered a lighthiker’s luxury, for me, is a safety necessity. Additionally, Jasmine Rose carries our water while I carry her bulky, but freeze dried and relatively light, food and requiring two bear proof containers.
Finally, I have a boney spine and clavicles and nearly every pack out there causes SEVERE pain from rubbing the lower vertebrae. I need to stick extra foam pads in my pants where the hip belt sits. A real annoyance and sweaty as well.
I have been using an Osprey Ariel Plus 85 L. It is a beast! My true 6 LB enemy! Every year I try to lighten my load with new gear, …But that pack!!!
So, this year I tried some of the Light packs. Hyperlite and ULA both cut off my circulation so badly with only 40lbs that it took over a week for the tingling and numbness in my hands to go away.
I began to despair, How can no company put a lightweight bag on a sturdy suspension? Then my software engineer husband said “Let’s see what Grok has to say” After a few back and forths, it came up with Seek Outside. I had never heard of them nor seen their gear on the trail.
They do exactly what I had hoped for, a FANTASTIC frame built for extremely heavy loads with an ultralight fabric bag!!! They do not advertise to the backpacking community and they are considered packs for hunters who carry 100lb + loads. I have saved 2 lbs or more on weight, ditching the Osprey while maintaining comfort.
I hope that you found this review useful.
