My 49 year old knees aren't all that fond of a heavy pack and I'm getting ready to go light. I've taken three pounds off my sleep system, one pound off my tent, now for the pack.
I do mostly 2-3 night trips in generally warmer weather so I'm not looking for an winter expedition pack. I've gotten pretty good at paring down my load though I'm by no means an ultralight hiker. I imagine a base weight (after purchasing all this lightweight gear) of around 15 pounds though some of that depends on just how lightweight I go.
I've got a 3.5 lb Osprey that I really like but it's on the chopping block as it now weighs about the same as my bag, tent, & pad combined. It just seems a sin to be so light in some areas and heavy in another. I generally like something with some structure so totally frameless is out of the question. Given that, I'm looking at two options: ULA Circuit or the Zpack Arc Blast. The Circuit shaves a little over a pound off of my current pack weight and the Arc Blast shaves off 2.5. It would seem a no brainer given that weight is my primary criteria.
A weight savings 2.5 pounds is awfully appealing though I worry that the Arc Blast will be too little pack -- can something that light really get the job done with reasonable comfort and durability? Does anyone have experience with both and can help me with my quandary?