 
Ultralight Gear Reviews
BACKPACKS:SLEEPING BAGS:SLEEPING PADS:
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From: Charles Lindsey
KELTY makes the Spectra White Phantom--4lbs 1oz, 4670-6475 cu in., white w/gold webbing; and the Spectra White Cloud--3 lbs 1oz, 3655-4050 cu in. (regular size), white w/gold webbing. Both packs have a 7001-T6 alloy frame and HDPE suspension panel which contour the load around the body, precurved "S" shaped shoulder straps, three layer foam waistbelt, tons of straps and loops for gear, and are both made of ultra-lightweight and incredibly tough 4 oz. spectra cloth. Because of the $525 & $400 price tags and low turnover, most Kelty dealers don't stock these packs but will order them. I know REI will special order them at no extra charge (beware, though, they don't like returns on special orders).
I recently (Sep 96) tested the White Cloud and found it to be comfortable to 40 lbs. The suspension is solid and strong, yet flexible enough to conform to your body. I also found the sizing to be larger than the other Kelty packs (e.g., if you wear a LARGE Moraine or Redwing you'd probably want a REG White Cloud). It's a nice pack but I didn't feel I could justify the $400 + tax when I already have a Dana Design Bridger which gives me the same performance (even though it does weigh 1.25 pounds more). I'll probably reconsider the Cloud at a later date.
Outside of being an unattractive pack (white with gold webbing), it fit snug and rode nicely with 40 pounds. That's very unusual for a 3 pound pack. The spectra material is tough even though it weighs practically nothing. There is an abundance of webbing and lash points on these packs. You can view this in two ways--(1) you can tie a bunch of stuff on the outside of the pack or (2) you can remove (read "cut off") a significant amount of webbing material, in order to reduce the weight of the pack even further. If and when I buy the White Cloud, I will choose the latter, probably bringing the pack's weight down to about 2 lbs 13 ounces. Not bad !
One concern that I have with these spectre packs made by Kelty is their durability. Spectre cloth is extremely difficult to sew and the quality of the stitching that I saw appeared to be of questionable quality, with loose, dangling threads. Anyway, that's a caution, not a substantiated experience.
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From: Charles Lindsey, 8/15/97 (See pictures of the pack in the Lightweight Photo Gallery) The pack weighed-in at about 2 lbs, 11 oz. It appears to be well sewn and durable, despite its lightweight materials and overall construction. For suspension, it has two carbon-fiber stays which run vertically, the length of the pack -- approximately 28" long. It has a substantial lumbar pad--as do all Mtnsmith packs. The hip belt is pretty sad, though. It is basically two layers of nylon with an extremely thin layer of foam. If pack weight exceeds 30 pounds the belt crumples and sags. It has a reasonably comfortable shoulder harness. I like the compression system--two sets of hip hugger straps to pull the pack into and around the waist as well as load lifters on top. The pack bag can be secured by top and bottom compression straps, as well. I've been testing the pack with 37 pounds of weight (about 7 more than I would ever carry in it) and it has tested favorably. In fact, because of my hurt back, I've had a difficult time finding a pack that didn't hurt me. I couldn't carry a Dana Terraplane, even with 35 pounds in it. The belt was too stiff and the lumbar system put too much weight in the wrong places. The Osprey Flyte was ditto. A year ago those packs rode comfortably. Anyway, the Mountainlight doesn't hurt at all. For that reason alone, I'm going to keep it. All in all, I think it's a nice pack. Well made. Ultralight, and, if you're careful, it's sufficiently durable. It's simple -- a panel loader with two large zippers (with zipper pulls) which extend down either side about 65% of the way. It has a small internal pocket, a double bottom for durability, and a very thick coating of waterproofing.
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From: Charles Lindsey, 03/14/98
Recently received a Mountainlight 5200 from Mountainsmith - I've now logged well over 300 miles on this pack with no apparent wear and tear. I have discovered nothing in the way of discomfort. I have found the lack of pockets to not be a problem due to the very large pack lid pocket and the bungee cord on the back of the pack. THE MATERIAL: It is definitely ultralight - made of a tough, light, water-resistant fabric called "Magnalight". After trimming, with carbon fiber stays, I'd say it'll weigh about 2 lbs 15 oz, or so. Had it out in the rain for about an hour without a rain cover. It has a thick waterproof coating on the inside of the material and has very few seams, so this pack does well in wet weather even without a rain cover. Although the water was beading up on the outside, I think it would do even better, for a longer period of time, if it had an extra application of Tectron DWR or Gore ReviveX. I haven't had it long enough to talk about durability, but the Mountainsmith brochure says that "... Mountainsmith founder Patrick Smith has logged over 600 miles on his Mountainlight 5200 without a trace of tearing". THE FIT / COMFORT: I am pleased. It was about as comfortable as 41 pounds can be, I guess. But the carry was very similar to the Mtnlite4000, which I like alot. The carry was stable (didn't flop around), balanced, and comfortable. Like its 4000 cu inch sibling, this pack fit me right out of the box, no adjustments necessary. It is adjustable, however. The shoulder pads can be moved up or down to accommodate different torso lengths. The distance between shoulder straps can also be adjusted to accommodate width of one's upper body. These Mountainlight packs seem to be condusive toward a comfortable ride for me. The lumbar pushes in on the top of my buttocks area rather than (higher up) into the small of my back. Thus, it actually supports my lower back rather than putting downward pressure on my tailbone, which most packs do. That's why most packs, nowadays, hurt my back, but this one does not. The combination of the significant lumbar pushing in on my upper buttocks / lower back, and the two sets of lumbar region snugger straps make for a snug, form-fit as this pack wraps around my hips and lower back. Also, because the Mountainlight packs are relatively tall, the load lifter straps are effective at (1) lifting the load up off the shoulders and (2) securing the pack against the upper back. The Mountainlight 5200 measures 33 inches tall (maybe more if fully extended). It carries tall, also. There's potential for hitting tree limbs and such if you travel off-trail, so be careful. I find that I'm still a little skeptical, however, of the hipbelt. It appears to be lacking in padding, but, surprisingly, it seems to do the job. I haven't experienced any discomfort or "hot" spots during the carry nor any soreness afterward. The belt covers enough area alright, but the padding is only about 1/4" thick - quite a different strategy than with other packs this size. But, like I say, it seems to work and because it isn't beefy and stiff, it does conform rather well to the shape of my hips. I really like the slim profile - it in no way throws off my center of gravity when packed full, plus, because it's a fairly tall pack, it should carry well for long-trail usage. I'm thinking about a 9-day 117.5 mile section of the PCT in late August which would be without resupply so I got my eye on this pack as a likely candidate for that trip. I especially like the comfortable back pads - closed foam cushion covered with moisture-wicking mesh (Dri-lex®) - one on either side of the spine. I like the idea of not having a framesheet and stay running the length of my spine, pressing on it and encumbering its free movement. The two (approximately 29 inch long) carbon fiber stays run almost the entire length of the pack and are positioned directly behind the back pads. Between the cushioned pads runs a "Spinal Chimney" ventilation space which allows for ventilation that is non-existent on most other internal frame packs. OTHER FUNCTIONALITY: It has a nicely contoured top lid which doubles as a large hip sac. The hipsac hip belt is built-in and is stored inside a little pouch under the lid. The belt is made of 2" webbing with two sets of compression (snugger) straps which attach to the sides of the lid. The comfort level of the hip sac is comparable to any other hip sac which features a webbing belt. Inside the lid is a little pocket for loose stuff like car keys, lip balm, sunscreen, etc. The pack has two quick-release ice-ax loops and side webbing for lashing gear if you need to. I tested the ice-ax loop for quick access. Without taking off the pack, or straining to reach my arm around to the back of the pack, I easily reached around, unsnapped the clip-lock and pulled out my ax. It took me three seconds. WEIGHT-REDUCING OPPORTUNITIES: There doesn't seem to be as much excess webbing on this 1998 pack as there was on the 1997 Mountainlight 4000 - maybe it's just my imagination. Maybe if I look at it a little more intently, I'll see excess :-) I cut off 8 inches of hip belt webbing (I have a 33 inch waist). One of the ice axe loops has to go. I've got my eye on 10 little buckles that have questionable value. That's about all the excess in materials that I can find. This pack is fairly trim right out of the box. Other potential weight reducing ideas. The lid / hip sac. If you won't ever use the hip sac, there's weight savings galore. You can cut off the web belt, the little pouch that houses it and the four buckles on the side of the lid that the belt attaches to. A significant weight reduction. If you want to keep the hip sac functionality, you can still reduce weight by eliminating the two-piece belt buckle. It is identical in function to the one on the pack. When using the hipsac just remove the buckle from the pack and attach it to the hipsac belt. I find it interesting that the buckle for the hip sac is actually heavier than the one used on the main pack belt (1.2oz vs. 1.1oz). If you don't need a hip sac and the pack isn't crammed full to capacity, leave the entire lid at home (8.9 oz including hip sac configuration). In rainy weather you might need a partial rain cover just to cover the opening at the top of the pack, but other than that it would work fine. RECOMMENDATION: Now all I "need" is a 3000 cu in and a 4000 cu in, top-loading Mountainlight, and then I can stop looking for those "ideal" ultralight packs that I've been searching for. If you are looking for an ultralight pack for long-distance treks, without resupply, or to carry that extra Winter gear, or just for the extra capacity - just in case - I recommend giving the Mountainsmith Mountainlight 5200 a serious tryout.
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From: Charles Lindsey, 12/29/97 This bag is superb ! Honest, I don't work for Feathered Friends, I've just used their stuff a lot. Prior to converting all my bags to FF, I used others, including North Face (Cat's Meow, Blue Kazoo) and numerous Marmot bags (Nighthawk, Arete). For three season outings, I've been using the Swallow since 1992. Last Spring (4/97), I took my old Swallow to the Feathered Friends factory to have them clean it for me. During the wash process, the bag delaminated. When that happens, their policy is to give you a new bag. Consequently, I got a new $400, Dryloft 130, 800-Fill down, 2lb, 20 degree Swallow - FREE. Anyway, the bag is rated around 20 degrees and since I didn't add overfill, 20 degrees F is about right. I've seen much nicer hoods, but the hood on the Swallow is adequate. The bag isn't too narrow (like the Hummingbird) or too wide (like the Swift). In the paraphrased words of Goldilocks, "It fits just right". It features continuous baffles so that the down can easily be shifted from the top of the bag to the bottom and vice versa to accomodate the temperature outside. The standard bag, with no overfill, has good loft, but my suggestion on all FF bags is to always get 2 oz of overfill. They don't pack em full like Western Mountaineering and Marmot so the extra two ounces will help to fill it out nicely. Overfill costs only about $8.00 an ounce. This bag weighs about 2 pounds and stuffs to the size of a badly deformed loaf of bread. The Swallow has a superior, plump draft tube running the entire length of the zipper plus a nylon wind flap covering the zipper track on the outside of the bag. You can bivy in this bag and be assured that wind won't get in. My bag doesn't have a draft collar, but you can have them add one, if you so choose. Obviously, I recommend it. If you want to compare it to another quality bag, look at the Western Mountaineering Apache.
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From: Charles Lindsey The Rock Wren is most interesting. It zips halfway down the top of the bag--(it has a double zipper). It has arm slots and an opening at the bottom with a cord closure. It’s very functional since a person can walk around camp wearing their sleeping bag. It is especially useful for those of us who can make use of the zippered opening (a.k.a. fly) in the front, when answering nature’s unfailing midnight call. The most practical aspect of the Rock Wren has to be its many ways of venting. This is a perfect bag for warm weather, yet with down overfill its temperature range can easily be extended to 20 degrees F. The bag weighs a tiny 1 pound 9 ounces--nylon, and 2 ounces more for the dryloft version. It is rated at 25 to 30 degrees. If you are going to use it for full three seasons, though, I recommend getting 2 to 4 ounces of 800 power overfill. (I own numerous FF bags and that’s been my experience, anyway.) The cost of the Rock Wren: US $295.00 for the dryloft 830 version and $225.00 for the nylon. The 800-Fill Down (independently rated 800 to 870 fill) option costs an additional $20.00 and each ounce of overfill is $8.00.
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From: Charles Lindsey, 12/29/97 This bag is superb ! It has a gossamer nylon lining with a ripstop/gore-tex shell. It features a very nice, snug hood and removable draft collar. It is filled with 700-fill goose down (I also got 2 oz of overfill, since FF temp ratings are usually a little overstated). I dug out a hole in the snow and bivied in this bag (without bivy bag) in about 20 degrees (clear night, no wind) - had to keep my head out and the bag unzipped a tag. It is definitely a toasty bag and will more than suffice in mild Winter conditions. One cold sleeper that I know actually uses the SnowBunting for 3-season adventure. I mainly use it as my Winter bag. In fact, I had to choose between the Snow Bunting and a Marmot Aiguille because I didn't need two Winter bags. As much as I loved the Aiguille I had to sell it. The Snow Bunting is lighter and packs "much" smaller than the Aiguille. This is a time-proven performer. But, like all FF bags, it's expensive. On the plus side, though, they are high-quality Seattle,USA-made bags that will last a long, long time, if properly taken care of.
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