Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board The Shave 5-10lbs in Pack weight Challenge

Hi Bob... yeah I know what you mean about a pack that doesn't fit well. I have sacraficed weight to get a good suspension for a long time. The good news is packs are getting lighter and have better suspension systems than they used to. Here are a couple thoughts:

I have liked how the Aether 85 carries on me and love the weight of it. It has also proven to be durable.

I have never carried the GoLite Odyssey. From others I've heard the biggest issue is durability if you're a serious user. If it fits well on you its weight is tough to beat though.

Another option is the Wild Things Andinista. This pack has had a cult following for many years. It is light and durable. They make a spectra version that's 3 lbs 9 oz versus their standard that's 3 lbs 15 oz. If you bought one and didn't like it I'm sure you could sell it.

Jansport will be coming out with some very nice packs but that's about a year away.

This is the pack I have, it's very light weight but I have read that it doesn't do well with loads over 40 pounds, with my personal experience I can't say I have had any issues other then it doesn't have enough space for me even though it's a 90L pack.

After many trips I did start to get a very sharp pain in my upper back a bit higher then my shoulder blade, to put it plainly it was about like being stabbed in the back with a knife and was certainly worse then you could just ignore but could it be because the pack wasn't good for the load or I was wearing it wrong or not adjusted properly or generally another problem? I can't say so I can't attribute it to the pack.

If you have the money to spend you can always go custom with a company like this:

http://www.mchalepacks.com/index.htm

I plan on dropping about 1300 or more on one of their packs in a couple months.

I'd definitely say that many packs fit well on some people and not so well on others. Different body types seem to be a factor. It's difficult to say what's wrong with the fit on your Wild Things pack. It could be that it isn't fitted correctly or it just could be that it isn't the right pack for you.

I bought a McHale back in 1992 when I was getting ready to guide my first two Alaska expeditions to Mt. McKinley and Mt. Foraker. I tried my best to make that pack work for me and I never could. I ended up selling it to another guide who liked it a lot. The one thing that might eliminate a McHale from Bob's list is they aren't the lightest packs around. They're durable but a bit heavy.

And I thought one of the main reasons to go custom like that was to have it a perfect fit, I guess not...

Well I better be happy with what I buy if I spend 1300 lol

As for the Wild Things pack I wouldn't really say it doesn't fit me right because I do feel comfortable in it and I have been satisfied with it, the only reason I am going to buy something else is for more space.

Some time soon I plan to literally live out of my pack as I plan to take to the road as a tramp :P so I am really going to need a large pack that can serve me well in this.

You sure all their packs are heavy though? I think I saw one around 80L that was 2.7 pounds or so.

Just a thougth: when I split from my guides on a climb/trek in Nepal a number of years ago, I carried a 90L pack on my back with the rest of my gear (mostly electronics) in a large daypack in front. It looked weird, but splitting the load front/back seemed pretty comfortable.

Bob - please be sure to report your conclusions. Thanks!

I've had a Golite Oddessy for almost 2 years now - it's been pretty durable and comfortable - well worth the $130 I paid for it on sale. I also have a really comfortable older Osprey Ariel 60 - the newer version of the Ariel is a lot different and heavier than the one I have (mine weighs in at less than 4 pounds). When I was looking for a pack bigger than the Ariel 60, I found the Golite and it has worked out well. I still use the Ariel but mostly for day hikes in the winter when I'm carrying lots of stuff and don't want to use a hydration bladder (it isn't set up for one).

Its not equipment, its commitment! Your attitude will have a lot more to do with your success than six to twelve ounces of weight.

forgot, it is my humble opinion that most people would be better off shaving four to seven pounds of body weight (spare tire
) instead of trying to skimp on the difference between a ti cookpot or an aluminum one.

I guess that's an example of that positive attitude that you are talking about???

lol This is true and I was thinking that when I go on a long trip this summer that as I go I will probably loose 20 pounds so it will get easier as I go :P

I lost 10 pounds hiking for 8 days.

Lots of truth in that statement. The same applies to cycling. Have a couple of friends who spend thousands to eliminate a few ounces, and we joke about it might be better to diet, or even to pee more often...

Oh so true. That middle-age spread sure does make me slower. Unfortunately, my commitment to candy bars has not slow down but my metabloism sure has over the last 7 or 8 years. I think that's one of the things I find hardest about getting older - not being able to eat as much as I used to.

To Bob R......Bob I also use a Osprey pack..I have the Aether 75 and I am very very happy with it. The suspension on it is the best I think..very comfortable for me on both the shoulders and the hip belt..I packed with it on my Milestone basin trip and had plenty of room in it that was a 7 day trip. One thing I really like about it, it lays very comfortable againest my back..nice a snug like.
take care
Anita

I have an Osprey pack, and it's quite comfortable. But ... it's the least durable of all my packs (have about 8).

Great topic!
Before a shave my "Pack Weight" I should probably shave my "Back Weight".. Rather than shave 20 or 30 ounces I could do a lot by shaving 20 or 30 pounds! Dropping the lottery application in the mail this week and attempting another summit this year. I guess dong it last year wasn't enough!
I am learning a lot with this topic and will adjust for this years journey.

Thanks all,

Ron

Yes I know what you mean about shaving a few pounds off the body in addition to my pack. I caught that nasty flu that was going around just after the New Year. I was a slug and still have all that added weight from the Christmas season plus no exercise for a couple months.

This is a great thread. I've learned a lot of good nuggets of information from it. Keep it coming!

I tried out the Osprey Aether 85 and the GoLite Odyssey (90 liters), sizes large. Both are plenty comfortable carrying ~30 lb, although the Aether seems slightly more so. The Aether weighed 4 lb 15 oz, and the Odyssey 3 lb 9 oz. The materials appear to be similar, so roughly equally durable.

Both have bells and whistles galore, with the Aether's approaching the ridiculous. I have used enough packs over the years to know what features I need or want, and I attack any new acquisition with scissors and knife. If I were to buy the Aether, I would probably reduce its weight by around a pound; the Odyssey half that.

One thing I have noticed: With the advent of 900 fill down and compression stuff bags, my sleeping bag and parkas occupy smaller volumes than previously. 85 or 90 liters seems unnecessary now. So I ultimately decided to get the Odyssey’s baby brother, the 72-liter Quest. It differs only in having a smaller volume, and is without the separate sleeping bag compartment. The quoted weight is 3 lb 3 oz, and it will be down in the high 2 lb range when I get through with it.

Some may argue that a couple of pounds of pack weight isn’t a big deal, and—isolated like that—it isn’t. But as part of a philosophy of scrutinizing each and every ounce, whether it's the pack or what you put in it, the bottom line is the total of what you're carrying. Everything contributes.

Interesting that we came to the same conclusion, although I decided that I'm going with the Quest based on a conversation that I had with a couple heading over Kearsarge Pass to Yosemite. I knew they were wearing GoLite, but didn't know what model, so I asked. They stated that it was comfortable for long walks with 40+ pounds loaded. I was sold and will be happy to be rid of the Gust that I've been using for a couple of years now.