Registered: 02/03/06
Posts: 6800
Loc: Gateway to Columbia Gorge
Back in 2005-2006, when I went through the lightening up process using your 27 lb, 7 day gear list as a model, I found that Mountainsmith had discontinued their light weight packs and gone much heavier. Having found what I needed elsewhere, I never checked back. I just looked at their website, and they are still featuring heavy hauler packs that carry (supposedly) 60-65 lbs. and weigh 5 to 5 1/2 lbs. They certainly can no longer be considered lightweight!
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May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view--E. Abbey
I used a Mountainsmith Phantom in 2005-2006. It weighed around 2.5 pounds (IIRC). I never really liked it that much; it rode on the top of my butt in an uncomfortable but not painful way. I sold it when I bought a more comfortable but heavier Golite Quest in 2007. I’ve been through several other packs since then.
When I was looking for a pack for my upcoming northbound JMT hike I looked again at Mountainsmith but didn’t find anything I liked; too heavy and too many straps, loops and other bells and whistles. I finally settled on the new, 36 oz, Elemental Horizons Kalais. I’ve used the older, somewhat smaller, Kalais for about 6 years and like it a lot. The new model is a bit bigger, a bit heavier and even better IMHO.
Registered: 02/03/06
Posts: 6800
Loc: Gateway to Columbia Gorge
The Elemental Horizons Kalais is one of the packs I would look at if I needed a new one (which I don't). The others would be the ULA Circuit or Ohm.
The pack I bought in early 2006 (the then just-discontinued Six Moon Designs Comet, with the optional stays) still works fine. I added a hip belt pocket and a shoulder strap pocket, trimmed some extra-long straps, and ended up with a 29-oz. pack that will, even for me, comfortably carry about 30 lbs. I had a bit more than that for a couple of days; my shoulders and back were fine but my knees and feet protested. Some stitching came apart its first summer, but SMD fixed that for free and I have had no more problems. I do treat this pack very gently, because the lightweight fabric is definitely not bomb-proof.
Six Moon Designs is another company that has discontinued its really light packs and gone to sightly heavier models. At least their packs are still lightweight.
Edited by OregonMouse (07/22/1803:08 PM)
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May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view--E. Abbey
If you're looking for something light and well built, you might look at Z-Packs. I have one (prior to their current Arc series) and am extremely happy with it.
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Human Resources Memo: Floggings will continue until morale improves.
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