Gossamer Gear Mariposa vs. Z Packs Arc Blast

[JumpMaster Blaster]

Trying to decide between the two in an attempt to get a sub 2 pounds summer pack.

If I get the Arc Blast, I WILL get the optional hip belt pockets and possibly 2 of the upper side pockets along with the extra roll top closure, for a total weight of 25.1 oz.

If I go with the Mariposa, my size will be right at 28 oz.

Oh- I'm looking at the 52 L Arc Blast by the way.

[Rmcpeak]

hate to throw wrench in works but have you considered the gg gorilla? I went with it instead of mariposa and am happy. Have done 150 miles in three trips with it so far. Big enough for what I carry. Very light and comfortable. ....just a thought...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[jimmyjam]

Or maybe the MLD Exodus or Prophet.

[QHShowoman]

Trying to decide between the two in an attempt to get a sub 2 pounds summer pack.

If I get the Arc Blast, I WILL get the optional hip belt pockets and possibly 2 of the upper side pockets along with the extra roll top closure, for a total weight of 25.1 oz.

If I go with the Mariposa, my size will be right at 28 oz.

Oh- I'm looking at the 52 L Arc Blast by the way.

Since you're looking for a summer pack, I will throw this in there:

The Mariposa rests right on your back. My back gets VERY sweaty under it, even in cooler temps.
The Arc Blast has more of a trampoline "air flow" design, which allows for better ventilation between the pack and your back.

[scatman]

I really like my Mariposa. The only issue I have with it is the top zippered pocket. If you put anything of weight in it, it makes getting into the main body of the pack. The weight pulls down the extension collar and you have to hold it out of the way with one hand and dig with the other.
Other than that it was a great pack for my CDT thru-hike this summer.

[MuddyWaters]

Is the mariposa water resistant?
Is it made in usa?
Is the vendor willing to customize? Or even capable of it?

Try rhem both and see which you prefer.

[Kerosene]

I bought the 52L Arc Blast for my 250-mile section hike last September, but had to go back to my 65L GG Nimbus Ozone as I didn't have enough capacity for the food bag to take me through the 100-Mile Wilderness along with late Fall clothing. Of course, the weather was nice enough by the time I got up there combined with a food cache at Jo Mary Road that I could've made it work, but I wasn't positive.

I'm hoping to use the Arc Blast on my JMT thru-hike next September, but I'm not convinced that it will accept a bear canister, so let me know if you want to take it off my hands!

[MuddyWaters]

I bought the 52L Arc Blast for my 250-mile section hike last September, but had to go back to my 65L GG Nimbus Ozone as I didn't have enough capacity for the food bag to take me through the 100-Mile Wilderness along with late Fall clothing. Of course, the weather was nice enough by the time I got up there combined with a food cache at Jo Mary Road that I could've made it work, but I wasn't positive.

I'm hoping to use the Arc Blast on my JMT thru-hike next September, but I'm not convinced that it will accept a bear canister, so let me know if you want to take it off my hands!

It will take bear can vertically fine
How much room you have left, and how much the can damages the pack are other topics. Lets just say cuben isnt abrasion resistant and hard items in pack can rub with every step as pack flexes.

[scatman]

Is the mariposa water resistant?
Is it made in usa?
Is the vendor willing to customize? Or even capable of it?

Try rhem both and see which you prefer.

The mariposa is water resistant but in a heavy rain it will soak through.
I believe they are made here in the US.
Not sure about the customizing.

[Hangfire]

I used a 52l arc blast for my thru hike in 2014. I over packed that thing regularly (left Uncle Johnny's at 42#) and my answer to more room was a 20l granite gear water proof bag stuffed into the webbing(nylon cord webbing option) on the back of the pack. I liked to keep my extra food back there as well as my rain shell so that I could get to it quickly if need be. Looking back I don't think it was the ideal set up, but I made it work and I never really worried too much about it once I got used to it. It's hard to beat a ultra light water proof backpack, just don't plan on bringing a lot of extra stuff with you.

[MuddyWaters]

The mariposa is water resistant but in a heavy rain it will soak through.
I believe they are made here in the US.
Not sure about the customizing.

They are made in china i believe, previous versions were made in mexico.
There is no customization.

[saltysack]

It will take bear can vertically fine
How much room you have left, and how much the can damages the pack are other topics. Lets just say cuben isnt abrasion resistant and hard items in pack can rub with every step as pack flexes.

I can't imagine a small cuben pack doing well with any rigid bear can. I had my weekender horizontal near the top of my circuit, it road perfectly on the carbon frame loop and wore the carbon down a little. I was concerned that it would wear into the pack itself but turned out to be a non issue. If the blast wears like their food bag I'd pass on using with a can.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[MuddyWaters]

I can't imagine a small cuben pack doing well with any rigid bear can. I had my weekender horizontal near the top of my circuit, it road perfectly on the carbon frame loop and wore the carbon down a little. I was concerned that it would wear into the pack itself but turned out to be a non issue. If the blast wears like their food bag I'd pass on using with a can.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If you wrap it in something its OK. Im too lazy for that. hassle.
I expected some damage, and got it. Im OK with it, I dont expect gear to last forever. I like buying new stuff occassionally.
It was simple to fix with some patches of 1.43 oz self adhesive cuben that Joe sells.
Pre-emptively laminating the contact areas would be intelligent .

[JumpMaster Blaster]

hate to throw wrench in works but have you considered the gg gorilla? I went with it instead of mariposa and am happy. Have done 150 miles in three trips with it so far. Big enough for what I carry. Very light and comfortable. ....just a thought...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Actually, yes, I have considered the Gorilla, but I'm not comfortable having a pack without load lifters. I don't know why GG didn't go with them.

[QHShowoman]

Actually, yes, I have considered the Gorilla, but I'm not comfortable having a pack without load lifters. I don't know why GG didn't go with them.

Other than the sweaty back issue, the other things I don't like about the Mariposa are:

The "load lifters" on the Mariposa are pretty much useless as they don't actually attach to the frame.

I don't like the top zip pocket. The zipper opens backwards (from bottom to top), so that if you're trying to get into it when the lid is closed or if you ask someone to get something out of it while you're wearing it, your stuff will fall out.

It doesn't carry well when it's not full and the pack is HUGE. I am constantly amazed at how much stuff I can get in it and have used this for travel in addition to backpacking. I pack my Duplex inside the pack to help fill it up and there's still plenty of room. BUT, if you want to dump your stuff and slackpack, even if you've added shock cord to it, it doesn't compress well and doesn't ride correctly.

[saltysack]

They are made in china i believe, previous versions were made in mexico.
There is no customization.

That's sad....i assumed all cottage gear was made here locally.....other than zpacks, ula are any others US made? As I type this I'm driving my Toyota Tacoma down a road made by a foreign company...... Uggggg...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Coffee]

I spoke to a few hikers using the Mariposa on the PCT this spring. My impression is that it doesn't carry the load nearly as well as the Circuit. I tried on a Mariposa loaded with about the same weight I had in my Circuit and found it pretty uncomfortable.

[Rmcpeak]

Actually, yes, I have considered the Gorilla, but I'm not comfortable having a pack without load lifters. I don't know why GG didn't go with them.

Yeah, if I were carrying a heavier load I'd probably want lifters too. I'm a big guy (6'4" 225) and my current 3 season kit comes in around 12 lbs. I hope you find a pack you love!

[Dochartaigh]

I can only comment on the GG Gorilla and the ZPacks Arc Blast.

The GG Gorilla, in large, came in 31.3 ounces instead of the listed 28 ounces (most likely meaning the larger Mariposa you're looking at will probably be 4+ ounces more than the listed weight). The pack felt exactly like my frameless GoLite Jam with only a CCF pad in the back acting as a "frame". The GG may have a U-shaped piece of metal wire as a frame (which probably does help distribute load), but I hated how it felt. No matter how I packed the bag the back panel always bowed out in the middle like a cylinder (since there's no frame in the middle at all) which in no way was comfortable for me. The Mariposa

Arc Blast was a dream. External frame with mesh lets you pack the bag however you want and you have a nice flat yet flexible surface floating on your back with great airflow. I had mine customized (longer pdded hip belt, lumbar pad, shoulder straps moved an inch apart and longer padding - I'm a big guy –, a couple add-on pouches, whatever you want really). With my 9-10 pound base weight and a couple days worth of food and water and I couldn't be happier.

[Rmcpeak]

I can only comment on the GG Gorilla and the ZPacks Arc Blast.

The GG Gorilla, in large, came in 31.3 ounces instead of the listed 28 ounces (most likely meaning the larger Mariposa you're looking at will probably be 4+ ounces more than the listed weight). The pack felt exactly like my frameless GoLite Jam with only a CCF pad in the back acting as a "frame". The GG may have a U-shaped piece of metal wire as a frame (which probably does help distribute load), but I hated how it felt. No matter how I packed the bag the back panel always bowed out in the middle like a cylinder (since there's no frame in the middle at all) which in no way was comfortable for me. The Mariposa

Arc Blast was a dream. External frame with mesh lets you pack the bag however you want and you have a nice flat yet flexible surface floating on your back with great airflow. I had mine customized (longer pdded hip belt, lumbar pad, shoulder straps moved an inch apart and longer padding - I'm a big guy –, a couple add-on pouches, whatever you want really). With my 9-10 pound base weight and a couple days worth of food and water and I couldn't be happier.

Arc Blast looks awesome and I want one. Will you sell me yours? ;-) I got lucky; the GG Gorilla sits perfectly in the small of my back on top of my hips. Rides in there really nicely. I use the large back and medium belt. The bulgy ccf pad doesn't bother me. I sometimes kneel on it to flatten it out before I put it on but if I don't overload the pack it's not a problem. That's why I got the Gorilla -- it's small and it makes me pack light and smart.