Question on backpacks

So this is a hello to all and a little introduction... along with a question. I'm new to the forum and wouldn't consider myself a backpacker but looking to get started this spring and summer. I do however consider myself an avid outdoors man and have considerable experience in the back country. I love the idea of ultralight/light backpacking. I have all of the gear (I'm a gear junkie), but am debating on getting a new backpack. I have a bomb proof hunting pack, Badlands 2200 that I use out west, but it comes in at a whopping 6 pounds 4ozs. It's a great pack, very comfortable, just wondering if it makes sense to get a new one? I was looking at the Golite Jam 50, and it would shave a little under 5lbs off my base weight. My other gear is fairly light, 2lb bag, 3.5lb tent (or I have a 2lb tarp/hammock setup). I guess I'm looking for a reason to get a new pack Any thoughts or suggestions let me know! I think even with my heavy pack I can keep my load down to 25lbs for extended weekend trips.

Note that the Golite Jam is a frameless pack. Many are not comfortable with moe than 20 lbs. in a frameless pack, although this depends on the individual. Very few like a 25-lb. weight in a frameless pack. What you may want instead is a lightweight framed pack. Here are some examples of framed packs that mostly weigh 2 lbs. or less:

ULA Circuit (about 2.5 lbs) or Ohm 2.0
Six Moon Designs Starlite or Traveler (with the "optional" stays)
Hyperlite Mountain Gear (several packs)
Elemental Horizons Kalais or Aquilo
Gossamer Gear Mariposa or Gorilla

My own recommendation is to look first at other areas for lightening up gear. Have you read the articles on the home page of this site, left-hand column? Chances are good you have plenty of possibilities in clothing (duplicate items) and all the miscellaneous stuff. I know I did!

You might want to look for a lighter tent. 3.5 lbs., especially for a solo tent, is pretty heavy these days. You might want to look at offerings by Tarptent (especially their Notch and new Moment DW, both double wall tents), Six Moon Designs, Lightheart Gear. All these have solo tents under 2 lbs. and some nearer 1 1/2 lbs. They have 2-person tents well under 3 lbs.

Once the rest of your stuff is as light as you want to get it, then assess if you really want a frameless pack. In the meantime, you may be able to lighten your bomber pack a couple of pounds by removing the lid and trimming straps (just be sure the straps are long enough to fasten over all your winter clothing, and hem them after trimming so the buckles won't come off--don't ask me how I know this! ).

I agree with OM - go through your pack and eliminate whatever you can first.

Her recommendations are primarily from "cottage" gear makers (though some of these are growing to the point that they are at risk of becoming "mainstream" gear makers.) The only way to get their products is, generally, online (they all have great return policies, recognizing that you may find it isn't really what you were looking for once you get a look at it.)

If you prefer to see and touch before buying (i.e., a store shopper), you'll be looking at those "mainstream" products. Those gearmakers offer equally good and light gear nowadays - they had to keep pace with the innovation of the "cottage" folks! Some choices available in the stores include the Osprey Talon 44 pack, the Big Agnes UL and Platinum tent lines (especially the Fly Creek series, which offer a two-pound, two person tent), Granite Gear packs, and a number of others.

But the biggest loss still comes from eliminating stuff, not buying more stuff. I used to carry 35 pounds (when my buddies carried 45), now I carry 18 or 20. The first 12 pounds I lost were by simplifying my technique and eliminating stuff I never used; I threw money at the last 3 or 4.

Excellent information and thank you for your input! I thought my other stuff was fairly light with the exception of my backpack, guess I have some work to do! I'm not looking to make any mods to the backpack I currently have, it was designed that way for a purpose, and I'll definitely use it for that same purpose again... That's the approach I'll take, focus on reducing items, item weight, and then assess at a later date. Again, thank you so much for the info, enjoy the outdoors!!

How did you arrive at a size of backpack. I see that many multiday packs are as big as 75 liters but are light in weight. what features are you looking at?

Why do features have to do with it?

You use the pack that the gear fits in. My "multi day" pack is about 50 liters if I intend to haul a large bear canister. I carry a 40 liter most 3 - 5 day trips.

The size of the pack primarily depends on the volume of gear (including food and water) you plan to put into it. That's why nearly all of us, and the excellent articles on the home page of this site, left hand column recommend buying your pack last.