Most of my trips are fairly short. The majority are only 1 night and 4 nights is about the longest before a resupply. Additionally, most of my trips are in the mountains where water is plentiful. As a result I don't need a backpack that can carry large food/water loads and a smaller frameless pack (volume ~ 35 Liters) works quite well.
I have two backpacks that are fairly similar: the Pa'lante Simple Pack V2 and the Mountain Laurel Designs Burn. Some features are better than others and neither one is perfect. The "Simple Pack" is short and wide and the "Burn" is long and skinny. The volume of the Simple Pack seems slightly less. FYI, neither one has a great fit when mostly empty, but the Simple Pack is definitely better. This is probably specific to me but I wish I'd realized this beforehand.
In the photos below I fill both packs up with the same load (tent, sleeping bag, sleeping bag, clothes, doo-hickeys etc)
I have two backpacks that are fairly similar: the Pa'lante Simple Pack V2 and the Mountain Laurel Designs Burn. Some features are better than others and neither one is perfect. The "Simple Pack" is short and wide and the "Burn" is long and skinny. The volume of the Simple Pack seems slightly less. FYI, neither one has a great fit when mostly empty, but the Simple Pack is definitely better. This is probably specific to me but I wish I'd realized this beforehand.
In the photos below I fill both packs up with the same load (tent, sleeping bag, sleeping bag, clothes, doo-hickeys etc)
Pa'lante "Simple Pack V2" (left) and Mountain Laurel Designs "Burn" (right). Both packs empty here.
filled Simple Pack
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filled "Burn"
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There is definitely more room at the top (for food etc) of the filled "Burn" pack. This volume difference in the main body is offset somewhat by the bottom pocket on the Simple Pack.
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This is all the stuff I had in both packs. Trash compactor bag #1: 30F quilt, solo pyramid shelter with inner net and inflatable sleeping pad. Trash compactor bag #2: clothes (light down jacket, baselayer top and bottom, beanie, liner gloves), toiletry bag, polycro sheet, mylar space blanket, tent stakes.
Yes. I do regret not making the trivial effort to arrange/organize pack contents for the photo. As is, it looks like a racoon raided a dumpster...
The 150D DCF material for the body of the Simple Pack defnitely seems more durable than the Burn. However, I'm not sure this is necessary even for all the bushwhacking I do.
The perfect bushwhacking/scrambling daypack?
Ultimate Direction Fastpack 25. (Here I'm drying out my shoes/socks/gloves. And eating health food).
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A while back I picked up the Ultimate Direction Fastpack 25. I was envisioning it as a daypack but I picked the 25L version so I could use it on really pared down overnight trips in mild conditions. Ultimate Direction markets primarily to the running community but I definitely think they're on to something. The vest system (with two sternum straps) really gets the perfect fit that stays put.
Clearly, they developed this for runners but it's PERFECT for scrambling and even serious bushwhacking like jumping over deadfall since their isn't any sudden change in center of gravity as you move. The straps themselves don't have any padding (actually mesh in the center) but the fit is so great with the sternum straps I've never felt the need for more padding. They've also implemented tons of storage space on the straps themselves, which is perfect for keeping things accessible while walking. This includes snacking (or even "mealing"), checking maps, taking pictures from with easily accessible camera etc. |
An interesting perspective from "Neemor" regarding what makes a good pack. He's right on and makes his point well. His youtube channel is pretty good on the whole.
Backpack Fabrics
Virtually all premium backpacks are made of woven nylon under brand names such as Cordura, Dyneema, Robic and X-Pac. Sometimes cuben will also be laminated to other fabrics to improve abrasion resistance. Some manufacturers such as ZPACKS, Hyperlite Mountain Gear and Mountain Laurel Designs are well known for incorporating this feature in their packs. Andrew Skurka has pointed out that while cuben fiber is a good choice for ultralight shelters, it's not the best for backpacks, especially if you do lots of bushwhacking. I've never used a cuben backpack myself but this seems like reasonable advice.
Before I picked up the Burn and Simple Pack, my overnight pack was the Osprey Exos 48. Its overkill for summer conditions but I still think it's reasonable for overnight winter trips in the mountains. The frame makes clipping snowshoes to the sides much easier than with a frameless pack.
Backpack comparison spreadsheet
| lightweight_backpacks_feb_26_2018.xlsx |