After a two month wait, I finally received my new Zpacks Arc Haul backpack. After two 10 mile hikes, I sent it back.
I really hate sending things back to Zpacks. Looking at my return history, I'm guessing they would beg to differ. Anyway, if it doesn't work, I'm not keeping it.
Here are my issues with the Arc Haul: Too narrow (or I'm too fat). It's made for a thin thru hiker. The back mesh panel didn't fit my wide back very well, and the bottom of the shoulder straps rubbed my love Handles (of which I have very little). Compared to a simpler frame pack (i.e. ULA circuit), there appears to be more that could go wrong. This is not to say that anything would go wrong, but less straps/buckles/stays/taught cords seems like a safer option. Zpacks makes exceptional equipment, so this Is probably more my issue than anything.
The good: The ventilation from the mesh was nice. The weight was around 29 oz. The hipbelt was very secure, BUT the bottom back edge of it seemed to dig in a bit on the top of my rear. I think sometype of little flare at the bottom would make it fit better. The top of the shoulder straps were the best fitting straps I've ever used. Very comfortable and adjustable. The ULA S straps are a close second.
My main purpose for trying the Arc Haul was to find a comfortable pack that weighs around 28 oz. It seems that many ultralight backpack manufacturers make good 28 oz packs that can carry up to 30 lbs,.
I've tried 4 ultralight, 28 oz (approx) backpacks. Arc Blast (actually around 19 oz), Arc Haul (29 oz), Gossamer Mariposa (29 oz), ULA Circuit (41oz), ULA OHM 2.0 (28 oz).
Keeping your base weight under 10 lbs will make just about any pack comfortable. So, I usually put 25 lbs in the pack for testing. I've also hiked at least 20 miles in each h of the above packs.
Shortcomings of each pack-
Arc Blast and Arc Haul- see above. (Arc Blast had other design issues, but they were addressed and changed with the Arc Haul).
Gossamer Mariposa- tops of shoulder straps too close together (I've got broad shoulders). Otherwise, excellent pack.
ULA Circuit-too heavy. Otherwise excellent pack.
ULA OHM 2.0- Easily overloaded. Good to about 28 lbs. My latest purchase, and will be testing soon...
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Sunday, March 8, 2015
Gossamer Mariposa Backpack
Gossamer Mariposa Backpack- Large $225
I bought the Mariposa about 4 months ago and have used it on at least 4 day hikes with usually 20-28 pounds in it. My intent was to use it for my up coming thru hike, but I've decided to go with a ULA circuit instead. I thought I'd give a review about why I won't be using it to assist others considering this pack.
To cut to the chase--I have broad shoulders (6-04" 210 lbs), and the Mariposa's should straps are just too narrow. I bought both a large and X-large backpacks (I sent the X-large back) to compare. The X-large is taller, but the shoulder straps are not any wider. The straps, which are now angled a slight amount (older models apparently were sewn strait across the top), were still too close together, and too flat (no outward angle).
The things I really liked about the pack are: the weight (29 oz for large), top closure, the aluminum stay has an awesome shape that really fit my lumbar area, the padding on the shoulder straps and hip belt is excellent, and lastly, the 7 pockets are great.
If I were king and wanted to make improvements to the pack, I'd have two outer pockets on both sides of the pack instead of the one long pocket on one side, and I'd make the top of the shoulder straps a little (1"-2") farther apart and/or angle them more (esp on large and x-large packs).
Side note--I measure the distance between my ULA circuit backpack should straps and they are actually closer together than those on the Mariposa (by about 1/4 inch). Upon closer inspection, I noticed that the Mariposa's straps are sewn almost strait across the top with very little outward angle. The ULA's, on the other hand, are angled a considerable amount.
So, the two variables that need to be considered is the spacing between the top of the shoulder straps, and the angle at which they're sewn to the pack body.
Hope this wasn't too confusing, but there you go...
Hoka one one Stinson
No pictures of the shoes, but I thought I'd give a quick review.
I switched from heavy hiking boots to trail runners about 3 years ago, and haven't looked back. I've hiked in every weather/condition, and my feet are still happy.
I've hiked in Salomon 3D GTX, New Balance 910 (non gortex), Brooks Cascadia, Merrell Moad ventilators (low and mid high), Merrell Grassbow, and some others that I've forgotten.
Then....I tried on a pair of Hoka One One Stinsons. My first thought was, "hell, I'm just going to blow out an ankle on these!" Second thought was, "wait a second, that's a pretty soft, springy ride." My feet, ankles, knees, hips, and lower back seemed to notice all that cushioning. I pondered if something would go wrong in a pair of shoes that are the complete opposite of a sturdy, very little under-foot padded pair of boots. Lack of support? I bought a pair. Actually, I left REI with no shoes, went home, and bought a pair of 2014 Stinsons from Sierra Trading Post for $100.
After inserting a pair of superfeet (orange), I went on an 8 mile hike up Mt Si (east of Seattle). I couldn't believe the ride. Small to medium rocks and roots (up to about 1") were absorbed by the shoes and my feet felt great. Coming down the hill was equally impressive. The larger, cushioned heel/sole really absorbs the heel strike while going down hill.
Ok, all good. Not quite. There is a little learning curve with the increased sole height. After 3 hikes under foot, I can say that I'm confident that the Hokas will improve my walking comfort during my through hike of the PCT.
To better describe the differences between "regular" trail runners and Hokas, as far as sole height is concerned, I'd have to say the Hokas require about 5-10% more attention at watching large rocks and roots. I'm not sure that is the best way to describe the "rolling" possibility, but you get the idea. There is a little concern about the increased height, but once you get used to it, it's not a big deal.
The trade-off in foot and joint comfort make it worth the switch. There is about a 70-80 percent comfort improvement when compared to regular trail runners.
The Hokas are one piece of my gear that I will be giving periodic updates during my hike.
I switched from heavy hiking boots to trail runners about 3 years ago, and haven't looked back. I've hiked in every weather/condition, and my feet are still happy.
I've hiked in Salomon 3D GTX, New Balance 910 (non gortex), Brooks Cascadia, Merrell Moad ventilators (low and mid high), Merrell Grassbow, and some others that I've forgotten.
Then....I tried on a pair of Hoka One One Stinsons. My first thought was, "hell, I'm just going to blow out an ankle on these!" Second thought was, "wait a second, that's a pretty soft, springy ride." My feet, ankles, knees, hips, and lower back seemed to notice all that cushioning. I pondered if something would go wrong in a pair of shoes that are the complete opposite of a sturdy, very little under-foot padded pair of boots. Lack of support? I bought a pair. Actually, I left REI with no shoes, went home, and bought a pair of 2014 Stinsons from Sierra Trading Post for $100.
After inserting a pair of superfeet (orange), I went on an 8 mile hike up Mt Si (east of Seattle). I couldn't believe the ride. Small to medium rocks and roots (up to about 1") were absorbed by the shoes and my feet felt great. Coming down the hill was equally impressive. The larger, cushioned heel/sole really absorbs the heel strike while going down hill.
Ok, all good. Not quite. There is a little learning curve with the increased sole height. After 3 hikes under foot, I can say that I'm confident that the Hokas will improve my walking comfort during my through hike of the PCT.
To better describe the differences between "regular" trail runners and Hokas, as far as sole height is concerned, I'd have to say the Hokas require about 5-10% more attention at watching large rocks and roots. I'm not sure that is the best way to describe the "rolling" possibility, but you get the idea. There is a little concern about the increased height, but once you get used to it, it's not a big deal.
The trade-off in foot and joint comfort make it worth the switch. There is about a 70-80 percent comfort improvement when compared to regular trail runners.
The Hokas are one piece of my gear that I will be giving periodic updates during my hike.
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Fleece vs Smartwool
This isn't a review of a particular product, but rather a comparison of two insulating products--Smartwool vs Fleece.
In my quest to find the perfect insulator for my upcoming PCT hike, I've been hiking in the rain and cold trying out different clothing combinations.
My main concern, as with most people who hike in the cold and wet, is how do you keep yourself warm (and deal with moisture) after hiking up a big hill. The general scenario is it's warm (er) at the bottom, and as you hike up, you run into snow, colder temps, and on top of that, you're a sweaty mess. Here's what I've found out--
I've always believed that wool is a great insulator when wet. I believe this to be true, if the wool is heavy and has a certain amount of loft to it. Armed with this belief, I bought several different weights of smartwool, put them on, and then off I went into the wet and crappy weather of the pacific northwest in the winter time.
The ultralight weight smartwool is great, as long as you keep moving. Even when sweaty and wet, I was pretty warm (not totally). I tried it under fleece, a light wind jacket, a rain jacket, and it performed "OK." I then moved up to mid-weight smartwool, and as expected, it was a little warmer. What I did notice is that when I stopped at the top of the mountain or some place to take a break, I had to immediately take off the sweaty smartwool or get chilled. It didn't really feel much different than when I used to hike in COTTON!
Next I tried just wearing my medium weight Cabela's fleece pullover next to my skin. Luxurious! Not really. Fleece next to skin, when sweating, is a little weird. As I hiked with the fleece on, I noticed that it regulated my temperature very well, and never felt cold. Even when I stopped! I'm not sure where the moisture ends up, but the material insulates very well. After stopping for several minutes, the fleece continued to keep me warm. Here's the really cool part about fleece--I took it off for a minute, let the moisture inside cool, and then put it back on. The fleece was only about 1/10 as cold as putting on a soaking wet wool or cotton shirt.
So the winner is fleece. Cheaper, warmer, and you get the added bonus of smelling like an old goat after a day on the trail. Ok, the last part isn't really a bonus, but fleece does soak up stink. Smartwool wins in that category.
Next, I'll continue testing lightweight performance shirts. I'm considering taking a couple along on my PCT hike next year and swapping them out as I reach various summits so I'll have something warmer to wear down the other side. They'll have to be super quick drying, ultra lightweight etc...
In my quest to find the perfect insulator for my upcoming PCT hike, I've been hiking in the rain and cold trying out different clothing combinations.
My main concern, as with most people who hike in the cold and wet, is how do you keep yourself warm (and deal with moisture) after hiking up a big hill. The general scenario is it's warm (er) at the bottom, and as you hike up, you run into snow, colder temps, and on top of that, you're a sweaty mess. Here's what I've found out--
I've always believed that wool is a great insulator when wet. I believe this to be true, if the wool is heavy and has a certain amount of loft to it. Armed with this belief, I bought several different weights of smartwool, put them on, and then off I went into the wet and crappy weather of the pacific northwest in the winter time.
The ultralight weight smartwool is great, as long as you keep moving. Even when sweaty and wet, I was pretty warm (not totally). I tried it under fleece, a light wind jacket, a rain jacket, and it performed "OK." I then moved up to mid-weight smartwool, and as expected, it was a little warmer. What I did notice is that when I stopped at the top of the mountain or some place to take a break, I had to immediately take off the sweaty smartwool or get chilled. It didn't really feel much different than when I used to hike in COTTON!
Next I tried just wearing my medium weight Cabela's fleece pullover next to my skin. Luxurious! Not really. Fleece next to skin, when sweating, is a little weird. As I hiked with the fleece on, I noticed that it regulated my temperature very well, and never felt cold. Even when I stopped! I'm not sure where the moisture ends up, but the material insulates very well. After stopping for several minutes, the fleece continued to keep me warm. Here's the really cool part about fleece--I took it off for a minute, let the moisture inside cool, and then put it back on. The fleece was only about 1/10 as cold as putting on a soaking wet wool or cotton shirt.
So the winner is fleece. Cheaper, warmer, and you get the added bonus of smelling like an old goat after a day on the trail. Ok, the last part isn't really a bonus, but fleece does soak up stink. Smartwool wins in that category.
Next, I'll continue testing lightweight performance shirts. I'm considering taking a couple along on my PCT hike next year and swapping them out as I reach various summits so I'll have something warmer to wear down the other side. They'll have to be super quick drying, ultra lightweight etc...
Sealskinz waterproof socks
I recenlty purchased and hiked about 8 miles in a pair of Sealskinz "Thin Ankle Lenth socks."
I was extrememly impressed by thier weight (3.1 oz - size XL mens), comfort (merlino liner), and their ability to keep my feet dry and warm.
I hike in trail runners (Nike 910 V1), and usually get wet, cold feet while going through snow and muck. The Sealskinz kicked some serious butt, and I will always take them along no matter where I go (maybe not the desert).
They feel a bit more stiff and rugged than regular wool socks (I hike in darn tough socks too), but never did I get a blister or even a hot spot.
Zpacks Arc Blast 60L
I recently purchased, and returned, a Zpacks Arc Blast. This review is of my limited time with the pack (20 miles of hiking), carrying about 25 lbs.
I won't go into the specifics about the pack; you can get all that info from Zpacks.com. The options I selected are:
1. The camo cuben fiber material (way cool)
2. 22.5 inch shoulder strap/pack size
3. hip belt pouches (very nice)
4. Large hip belt size
5. Top stabilizer straps
**The pack weighed 18 oz empty
(I'm 6'3" and weigh 222)
The 20 miles of hiking I did with the Arc was actually done on 2 seperate hikes. I hiked 10 miles with the Arc, and then hiked 10 miles with my ULA circuit, and then did another 10 miles with the Arc (that's 10 miles a day, for three consecutive days).
Enough with the preliminaries, here is the review--
The quality and workmanship of the Arc is second to none (as with all Zpacks products).
The rolltop closure at the top works very well at keeping out water (it rained on one of my hikes).
The stabilizer straps are connected to material on top of the pack. A possible improvement would be to move the straps onto the frame of the pack so that when you tighten them, the frame moves forward instead of the pack material.
Next, I'll talk about pack fit- I've always been led to believe that a pack shoulder strap should fit like this--(pic from www.outdoorsports.com)--
I won't go into the specifics about the pack; you can get all that info from Zpacks.com. The options I selected are:
1. The camo cuben fiber material (way cool)
2. 22.5 inch shoulder strap/pack size
3. hip belt pouches (very nice)
4. Large hip belt size
5. Top stabilizer straps
**The pack weighed 18 oz empty
(I'm 6'3" and weigh 222)
The 20 miles of hiking I did with the Arc was actually done on 2 seperate hikes. I hiked 10 miles with the Arc, and then hiked 10 miles with my ULA circuit, and then did another 10 miles with the Arc (that's 10 miles a day, for three consecutive days).
Enough with the preliminaries, here is the review--
The quality and workmanship of the Arc is second to none (as with all Zpacks products).
The rolltop closure at the top works very well at keeping out water (it rained on one of my hikes).
The stabilizer straps are connected to material on top of the pack. A possible improvement would be to move the straps onto the frame of the pack so that when you tighten them, the frame moves forward instead of the pack material.
Next, I'll talk about pack fit- I've always been led to believe that a pack shoulder strap should fit like this--(pic from www.outdoorsports.com)--
Notice how the shoulder straps curve all the way over the top of the shoulder, and slightly down the back to where the strap connects with the pack? Also, the stabilizer strap should connect to the shoulder strap either right on top of the shoulder or slightly towards the back. I've read on several websites that this is how a shoulder strap should fit on an internal frame pack, and I assume the same is true for an external frame like the Arc blast. Maybe someone could clarify...
I also have an internal frame ULA Circuit pack. It is set up this way and is very comfortable.
If you go to the pack fitting instructions at Zpacks.com, they suggest you measure with a yard stick from the bottom of where your hip belt would sit to the top of your shoulder, and then use this measurement for ordering their pack. I did this measurement, and came up with 22.5 inches.
Here are two pictures of measurements, comparing my ULA circuit and the Zpacks Arc Blast--
 |
| ULA circuit - 15.5 inches |
 |
| Zpack Arc Blast - 18.5 inches
|
Before I get into these comparisons, I should tell you that the ULA Circuit is a size large for 21"-24" backs. Also, I've measured my back from my C7vertebrae to top of my hip bone and it's 22.5 ".
As you can see from the pictures, the CLA circuit measures 15.5" from where the shoulder straps connect to the pack to the top of the hip belt. The Arc Blast measures 18.5 inches.
So, what does all this mean? I'm not really sure. Here's what I do know- The ULA circuit, which weighs in at 41 oz empty, carried 27 lbs more comfortably than the Arc blast (which weighed in at 18 oz-and carried 25 lbs total). The mesh back of the Arc did lend itself to a more comfortable and cooler back. Both packs were very similar in size and features, but the circuit is about $100 cheaper.
Here's my bottom line question--If the Arc Blast's shoulder straps were the same as my ULA Circuit's, would the Arc be just as comfortable (or more so because of the weight savings)? That would mean lowering the Arc's straps 3 inches! So I would need to order an Arc with a frame size of 19.5 inches instead of 22.5. Is the large difference because of the different type of frames (internal vs external)? Just food for thought...
Lastly, I've ordered and returned a few items from Zpacks. Their customer service is excellent, and they have always offered to fix or customize the product in question.
Thursday, November 20, 2014
ULA Circuit Backpack
I purchaed the ULA Circuit during the summer of 2014, and have hiked about 200 miles with it. I opted for the XL "S" straps, and the large hip belt and they both fit well. (I'm 6'3", 221lbs, 34-35" waist). The quality of the backpack is outstanding, and it doesn't feel fragile at all. I also opted for the slightly heavier (2 oz- I believe) camo-material. I removed the water bladder holder that was clipped inside the pack, and now just use two water bottles that are carried on either side of the pack in nice pouches. I also really like the size of the hip belt pockets. I can fit almost an entire days worth of snacks in one side, and use the other side for my phone, bug stuff and other equipment. I purchased a Zpacks shoulder strap pocket that I put on the right strap and keep my wind shirt and pants inside. Another thing I really like about the pack is the large mesh pocket and elastic cord that is on the back of the pack. It is so nice to pull off a wet shirt or extra dirty/wet clothing and stuff it inside the pocket to deal with later (or allow it to dry). I've carried around 30 pounds of gear in it with no problems. I think the limit would be around 35-37 pounds.
The only problem I have with the pack is figuring out which way to roll the top closed. The top is similar to a dry bag roll system with buckle. It probably doesn't matter (it's never leaked, and I've hiked in a LOT of rain), but there is no clear answer. When the pack is stuffed full, it seems best to roll the top so more black material is showing. A less full pack, the camo-showing roll is better. It doesn't really matter, I suppose.
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| Pack with Zpack shoulder pocket |
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| Water pouches with draw cord |
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| 1.5 quart water bottle-very secure |
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| As example-shoulder straps have cords to hold H2O bottles-I don't use them |
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| Back mesh pocket and elastic cord- very cool |
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| tried to show height of pack-not so good pic |
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