MLD Prophet vs. GG Mariposa

I'm hoping that those of you who've used the adult versions of these packs can help me with a lightweight pack for my grandkids. That's why I'm posting here instead of in the Hiking with Kids section.

The packs on my "final" list are the Mountain Laurel Designs Kids' Prophet and the Gossamer Gear Mariposa (the small size is small enough, just barely, to fit the kids). The kids are 6 and 8 (the younger is actually the same size as her brother and a stronger hiker, so I don't mind giving her the same weight--maybe it will slow her down so big brother won't feel left behind!).

I don't want half the weight that they can carry to be the pack itself, which is the case with the standard kids' packs such as the REI Comet and the Deuter Fox. With either of the packs I'm looking at, they can carry their sleeping bags (TNF Tigger), sleeping pads (cut-down Z-Rest), most or all of their extra clothing (not all for the Mariposa because the pack is half a pound heavier), snacks and a pint of water for a total of about 7 lbs. Translated, this all means that if the pack itself is light enough, Grandma won't have to carry their personal stuff, just their food and the bigger tent.

The Mariposa appears to have a more supportive suspension with the stays and the Sitlight pad in the back. It also happens to be on sale. (That's actually a disadvantage because it means I have to get it right now.) The Prophet, on the other hand, is frameless, but is half a pound lighter and appears to be built sturdier otherwise.

My question: With a stiff sleeping pad and a tent pole inside, will the Prophet be supportive enough so that the weight will transfer to the hip belt and not pull on the shoulders? Or should I get the Mariposa? What do you think? Remember that while 7 lbs. is less than a daypack load for us grownups, it's almost 15% of the kids' body weight, so it's like 20 lbs. for a 135-lb. adult.

Thanks very much for your help!

I'd say yes. I am yet to actually use my Prophet on a hike but have played with it packing different items. I found that a full length Z-Lite pad was way overkill to use as the frame sheet. I carried 20lbs around the house. I think a rolled foam pad with gear in the middle should be PLENTY for a sub 10lb pack.

I love my Mariposa. I have never tried a Prophet but I think the answer to your question is that the stiffness of a closed-cell pad provides plenty of stiffness for a pack. My Mariposa without the carbon fiber stays is still plenty stiff to transfer weight well.

But let me make an observation about kid's packs. I've been thinking about this recently because I have 5 kids and so I'm also in the market for kid's packs.

Take a look at the picture of the girl wearing the Kid's Prophet. Now take a look at the hip belt. It's just an unpadded strap, designed to keep the pack from bouncing around. It's not designed to take any weight (at least not comfortably). I don't think this is a design flaw. I think the MLD people have thought long and hard about this and come to the conclusion that I have and that is that a kid's pack shouldn't really transfer weight to the hip like an adult pack. So a nice padded belt like a Mariposa has isn't all that necessary.

Now I'm no expert on pack design but when I look at my kids that are of the age you are talking about this is the conclusion I come to. Their hips are so narrow that I can't see a hip belt working. For my 14 year old it would work, but not my 9 year old.

So I think I'd recommend a different strategy. Rather than the Mariposa (which is one of the bigger packs in the Gossamer Gear lineup) take a look at the Whisper. It's a smaller pack. It doesn't look as rugged as the Kid's Prophet but without the optional hip belt it's half the price. Even with the optional hip belt it's 3/4 the price of the Kid's Prophet. That's probably the way I'm going to go.