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Packs |
These
hiking packs are less than 1.5 kilo. Some are mass market available -
others such as the Gossamer Gear Mariposa are cutting edge ultra light
weight kit that the through walk hiker lusts after. My first back pack is the Kathmandu Altai below. I was initially contemplating a 70 litre back
till a friendly shop assistant suggested that I should be looking at around
50 Litres max and reducing my load. This made a lot of sense.
Suggestions are buy the smallest pack to avoid overloading. Buy
waterproof so you don't need to carry a separate waterproof liner.
With the gift of hindsight I should have bought the Equinox Katahdin or the
Six Moons Starlite. For a smaller load the GoLite Breeze must be worth
considering. But go figure, my most recent
pack is the Lone Planet WBA (medium) at 60 Litres and around 2 kilos.
I purchased this pack for the Overland
Track as I needed a bit of extra space for a cold weather walk.
The harness sold it for me. |
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Aarn Natural Balance |
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The Aarn range includes a
range of ultralite packs - while not quite making it under 1.5 Kg I thought
it was worth including.
2 sizes * Expedition Balance
Pockets * U, Free and Multi-Flow Motion systems * 4 Waterproof Dri-liners *
Full U-lite frame * Clip Torso-adjust; 10cm range * Custom-fit hipbelt (M) *
Cord-loc compression * Ice axe and trekking pole attachments * Snow shovel
handle slot
Approx Volume S: 60+15 L
L:65+18 L
Weight (Bodypack) S:2.09 kg
L:2.19 kg
Min. Weight (Bodypack) S:1.9
kg L:2.1 kg
Min. Weight (Backpack) S:1.5
kg L:1.6 kg |
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ARC'TERYX Cierzo 35 Backpack |
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Lightweight and highly
compressible
Stows in top lid
Removable Hypalon front compression sling with four straps
Removable foam back-pad
Hydration bladder sleeve
40mm webbing hipbelt
Ultra-light shoulder straps
Removable sternum strap
One ice axe loop
Two removable ice axe keepers
Front and back clip-in loops
Specifications
One Size - 0.58 kg / 20 oz; 35 L; 40 L max
210D Ripstorm
100D Invista HT Mini Ripstop with Silicone and Polyurethane coatings
420D Invista HT Plain Weave |
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Caribee Trekker |
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40 litre
900g
Top loading backpack with a heavy duty draw cord throat
Contoured internal aluminium stay for increased comfort and back support
Padded hip belt with lumbar support
Hip belt utility pockets
Daisy chain for attaching accessories to the backpack
Large capacity hood with rear zip pocket
Bungee system on hood
External compression system
Walking stick / shovel clip and loop (stick not included)
Lower webbing accessory attachment point
Compatible with 2L hydration bladder (not included)
Dimension: 58 x 30 x 24 CM |
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Equinox Katahdin |
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55 litres
738 grams
Review |
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GoLite
Pinnacle |
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2lb | 930 g
Volume: 4392 in3 | 72 litre
Review |
Review |
Review |
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GoLite Breeze Ultralight Backpack |
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WEIGHT: MED 14 oz / 400 g
VOLUME: Medium: 2900 in3 + 850 in3 47 liters + 14 liters
Review |
Review |
Review |
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Gossamer Gear Mariposa™ Plus
Ultralight Backpack |
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59 Litres,
S: 21.3 oz. (604 g.)
M: 22.3 oz. (632 g.)
L: 23.8 oz. (675 g.)
The Mariposa™ Plus continues building on the popular features of the
stalwart G4™ backpack, effectively incorporating the "dual use" technique of
ultralight backpacking. Your sleeping pad (NightLight™, Z-Lite™/Z-Rest™,
Thermarest® 3/4 length, or other 20"-wide pad) becomes part of the pack
frame by inserting into the back of the pack. This way it can be extracted
during rest stops to sit/lay on without unpacking your pack. The shoulder
straps and hip belt are designed to accept unused articles of clothing as
padding. Foam inserts are included if you don't want to use sleeping socks,
gloves, etc as your padding.
Review |
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Granite Gear Virga |
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The nylon shell gains support and rigidity from
your sleeping pad—simply drop in a rolled pad and let it uncoil to push
against the bag, and pack your gear inside the roll. The Virga has fixed
(not interchangeable), nicely padded shoulder straps and a 1.5” webbing hip
belt that adjusts to fit most hips. The Virga had the highest score in
BACKPACKER’S “Superlight Smackdown,” August 2003.
Torso Sizes: short |
regular | long
Weight: .54kg | 1lbs 3oz
Capacity: 52 liters | 3200 cubic inches
Suspension: Frameless
Load Capacity: 20lbs | 9kg
Review |
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Karrimor
Xlite 45+10 |
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Weight: 1,345g
Review |
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Kathmandu Altai |
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40L 1.2kg
50L 1.35kg
Padded air mesh harness with
adjustable sternum strap. Padded, stiffened removable hipbelt. Hydration
loops on shoulder straps. Internal hydration pocket with exit ports.
Compatible with a 3L hydration bladder (sold separately). Rear carry handle.
Side compression straps and wand
pockets. Front stretch pocket with drain hole. Lid pocket with water
resistant zip. Removable bungy loops on lid. Top internal compression strap.
Internal pack extension gusset. Internal zip mesh pocket with keyclip. PU
water resistant coating. Foam and plastic composite framing to give support
and structure. 50L also features pole attachment loops.
420D Nylon Oxford
420D Nylon Diamond Ripstop
840D Ballistic Nylon base
Litekamper review I have had the Kathmandu Altai pack for a few years now and have used it
a few times. It is a single sack with a separate compartment in the lid
where I keep my headlamp, kettle, stove and small items. I have the
first version of this pack which has a more substantial padding system than
version 2 but I cannot comment on the comfort difference. The longest
single walk with this pack was on an overnight through walk and we walked
about 17 km on the second day. I can honestly say that I find the pack
comfortable to wear. I found that I could adjust most settings with
the pack on my back. It does not have an integrated rain hood in the
base like many other packs. I cannot comment on the waterproof nature
of the pack but my approach to waterproofing is to use drypacks for my spare
clothes and sleeping gear.
The side pockets are relatively small. On one side I
sit my poop scoop with a packet of tissues tucked on the inner side.
On the other side I sit my
Camp Specialties
Mini Hiking Stool |
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Kiskil Mithril |
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An older frameless pack
Review |
Review |
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Lowe Alpine Nanon 50:60 |
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Volume: 50lt+10lt extension=60lt
(4000+600cu.ins)
Load Zone: 10-15kg / 22-33lb
Weight: 1,360 g
Review
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Review |
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Lowe Alpine Zepton |
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Weight 1 Kg
Volume: 50lt / 3000cu.ins
Back Length: 20” - 51cm
Load Zone: 10-15kg / 22-33lb
Review |
Review |
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Osprey Talon 44 |
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44 Litre light weight back.
Load handling: Up to 35 lbs (recommended)
Weight: 2 lbs 7 oz |
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Quechua Forclaz 37 Ultralight |
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37 litre
900 g |
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Six Moons
Starlite |
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25 ounces (710 grams) ,
67 Litres
Review
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Z packs |
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The "Exo" is an ultralight external frame backpack made from a new 2.92 oz/sqyd
Hybrid Cuben-Nylon fabric. The material is the same tough Cuben Fiber as our
Blast backpacks below, except with a protective layer of nylon on the
outside which gives it more strength, prevents fraying, and gives it a nice
solid color.
This pack is available with a super light adjustable carbon fiber frame, or
as a frameless pack. Even more popular options are included on this pack
than the Blast packs.
Exo - 3,000 cu in (50 Liters)
With Carbon Fiber Frame - 12.6 ounces (357 grams)
Frameless - 10.2 ounces (289 grams) |
