Anyone have one of these hemp backpacks and know it's true weight? Actually, I'd like to know both of its weights: dry and wet, you know, like 3 pounds and 13.

From the specs & 'reviews' it's hard to pin down the cubic inches on this pack, although one reviewer said that size ranges widely for each pack, apparently dependent on the artisan women's mood that day, or how much time they stopped to yak, or milk their yak. Not even a general volume was given. But words like "large" and "big" were used by several reviewers.

And if there is a hiker out there with one, how exactly would you describe what was explained as its "funky" smell (when new), or its "bizarre" smell (when wet)? Strong enough to chase you down the trail when it's on your back?

Plus I like the idea that this hemp backpack helps "continue a long tradition of hand sewing various articles" by Nepalese sewers. I do question the idea that "purchasing these backpacks through Overstock provides a livelihood to these hard working people," since the essence of Overstock.com and their counterparts is the Internet-peddling of products dumped on them for a song. Sort of like feeling I was saving the traditional yard-game industry (horseshoes, badmitten) when I bought a dirt-cheap lawn darts set on productflops4less.com.

But still, this bp is all natural -- even the inner liner, and it looks cool. Might be a great pack for treks in southern Utah, or somewhere else that's dry, since a few users noted that it disintegrated when washed or got wet. But it still might make a great everyday city pack. And if it was used in the wilderness, it's good to know that if ever in a pinch one could always smoke it.<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />