Nimbus Meridian

Has anyone besides Trauma used a Nimbus Meridian on a long distance hike? I like the look and size and have seen the posts from some who own one for shorter trips. I'm considering it (and the ULA Catalyst) for thru hiking.
Thanks

No direct experience whatsoever, but both Granite Gear and ULA have legions of enthusiastic fans. Methinks that when you've narrowed your choices to the final two or so -- it may be well worth it to buy them both -- to better try them out with your own gear. It's the best and sometimes the only way to know for sure how well they carry and how easily they pack. Return postage is pretty minimal -- esp. when compared to your investment and the importance of fit/comfort.

For me, if GG carries significantly better, then I would go for it. But if both are comparable in the comfort department, then I would go for the ULA -- for weight saving and ease of use. For one thing, I very much dislike backpacks with floating tops and myriad of straps. Secondly, I also dislike packs with a design that makes it exceedingly difficult if not impossible to pull out / put back a water bottle without having to take off the entire pack. Not a problem if you always use an internal bladder, but bad, bad side pocket/strapping design for bottle users.

Thanks Ben2world.
I had been toying with the idea of buying one of each and I'm glad someone with more experience thinks it makes sense.
I need packs for myself and my wife. We plan an AT thru. While we're looking and learning, we've been using ALICE packs that I have been modifying as we go. I removed the external pockets from a medium and fitted it with a large pouch on the front that is waterproof material on one side and expandable mesh on the other. (Goes on and off with Velcro and some light rope.) We experimented with carrying our Tarptent Double Rainbow in it. The idea was to mimic the Catalyst, in that a big mesh pocket makes sense for carrying a wet tent or tarp, which seems like a good bet on an AT thru.
I've been day dreaming that the Catalyst would work well for my wife, Mudpie, and the Nimbus Merdian for me. I like the idea of a removable lid that doubles as a fanny pack and I like lots of pockets and webbing. I understand GG makes add-on exterior pouches.
What I really want to know is if these hold up for entire thru hikes. I've heard GG's tend to bust seams after several ghundred miles, which would not jive with Trauma's 10,000 mile experience with the NM.
Thanks again.

One thing that the GG has over the ULA is the pivoting waist belt. Although not promoted much in the marketing material, the belt is attached to the frame by a pivot bolt that allows the belt to move side to side with the hips, not against them. A real benefit with heavier loads.

I've personally checked out Trauma's pack that he took on his 10,000 mile trek and I didn't see any busted seems. The pack, as far as I could see, was a standard Nimbus Meridian without any modifications that would have made it stronger. It used the same materials and construction as one off the shelf. Actually the production packs are better because of the feedback they got from him.

GGR packs hold up very well, but that's not to say that a stitch may come apart at times. This happens to the best of gear and is definitely under warranty. One of the reasons why GGR has been so popular for thru hikes is that they hold up well and can be used for the whole trek. Many thought it was standard procedure to buy several packs along the way. GGR changed that in many ways most importantly in durability (according to the south-east GGR rep). Every year, at Trails Day along the Appalachian Trail, the GGR boys bring their portable repair station to help out their fellow thru hikers. According to Jeff and Scott (owner and main designer for GGR), they very seldom see a GGR pack needing repair, but instead are super busy stitching busted packs from every manufacturer. This helps them see how their packs are holding up on the trail compared to competitors.

Both the ULA and GGR packs are as good as it gets. You can't go wrong with either.

Thanks jasonlivy, that's very helpful information and sets my mind at rest about that issue.

How could Trauma do 27+ miles per day for 365 days straight?

It absolutely blows my mind too, but he did it. Actually there were days that he hiked 45 miles. Some of the terrain didn't allow him to get in the full 30 miles per day that his goal was set for because of snow and steep terrain. However, on the flat stretches he was able to cover an unfathomable amount of miles. It's hard to believe, but he had detailed descriptions of the massive trip on his website. The GGR boys also kept tabs with him everyday via email, sat phone, or cell phone.

We can talk about some of the amazing feats that people have done in climbing mountains, running ultra-marathons, multi-day eco challenges, etc, but what Trauma did may never be repeated.

On top of all this, he's hiked the width of New Zealand and swam around Lake Tahoe without getting out of the water (70 miles of swimming, treading water, and walking in the shallow parts, but mostly swimming!). You've heard of the 7 Summits, right? Well, Trauma's next expedition will be to hike across the 7 Continents! Crazy! I have all the faith in the world that he'll do it. He's a freak of nature!

I had the pleasure of conversing through e-mail with Trauma. He is the real deal, no question.