Fanatic Fringe

I was going to write a little something about the Fanatic Fringe Thompson Peak pack. First i like the price, a very well valued piece of gear. Second it weights only 9.5oz with a hip belt! The hip belt is ok, its better than nothing! Though pack weight should be small enough not to need one.
Its a very basic pack. Has two good sized pockets that fit a 2 liter bottle, i use two 1 liters bottles for the weight distribution. The back pocket is big for extra or drying gear. There are two compression straps and an extension collar, with draw strings. The pack material lets water beed off, but no silnylon.
I added an elastic pocket in the main pack to hold my zlite. I think a rolling pad might be better. I also am going to add a elastic ice axe and trek pole loops.
The recommended pack weight is 20lbs, i am not sure if thats base weight or total weight. I have only used the pack so far for an over night so pack weight has be around 13 pounds with food and such.
All in all a great pack, i want to try an add slots to slip in some fiberglass or aluminum stays.

I have a Thompson Peak. A slightly older design from what I hear, but basically the same. The 20# limit is definitely total weight. Optimum is 15# and below. With those weights, the pack is a dream to carry. Then again I am sure any pack under 15# will be great. Over 20# you can "feel it" and it is uncomfortable. YMMV If I have to go over 20#, I will switch to pack with a suspension, usually my MS Ghost.

I neve got how people could load up a golite breeze so dame much. Anyway i loaded the pack with 14 pounds to simulate 8 days of food, plus my gear and water. I am going to add the stays in and try a rolled pad to see if its any better. Its totally do able to carry that weight, but i worry about the pack ripping.

I remember feeling the same way about hoping the pack wouldn't rip. I wonder if this is a common fear the first time someone starts using a frameless pack. I have used mine now for a couple years. Probably about 80 days on the trail. At first I was really cautious with it, now I treat it like my other packs. I figure the only difference between it and some of my other is not the stitching, but some metal or plastic sewn inside. I do have one small tear on the back panel, it looks like I "cut " it somehow. It is a half in long incision. So far it hasn't grown. Oh, I don't make a tube with my pad like they (and others recommend). I fold mine so that it is the same width as the back panel and place it against the back. I can get more volume that way.

Frameless packs seem, in my experience, never worth the discomfort for the few ounces of weight savings. Osprey says so in their literature and they are correct. For me it's a frame pack - period.

Eric

I have the opposite experience - it really depends on you and
how much weight you are carrying. I can basically save a couple of pounds with a frameless pack, and for me, it's very comfortable with my gear and the way I pack it.

Of course for you it may well be (and likely will be) different.



The manufacturer of framed packs says so in the literature - sounds like bovine scatology to me - they ain't correct for me! (they may be for *you*)



And that I totally get. Just don't assume everyone is that way and particularly don't put more credence to marketing schmoop than it deserves..

I do like my osprey pack, feels a bit like a external frame pack when loaded up. Though on over nights and weekend hikes when my pack weight total is 17 pounds, the fringe is great! Something that feels good is putting my fleece pullover between me and the pack.