BackPack Quality/Endurance

[petedelisio]

So, I'm looking at and considering these new fangled packs Zpaks UL MLD etc .... with the super thin strap down the shoulder pads with very little padding.
Watching some of these videos it appears much of the weight is transferred to the shoulders. thoughts and opinions on this???
As a rough guide, Could you bet on one of these packs to flipflop the AT twice.
The Zpacks max recommended weight is 30lbs.... At maximum load How much of that weight is felt in the shoulders? How much of the weight is transferred to the waist?

Are the thin shoulder straps and thin padding any count beyond an AT thruhike?

I will probably go the extra 11 ounces for my old gregory which is about 40L and would probably survive a fall off of a cliff, but these old bones are talking to my brain and they won't shutup. And apparently I can't be changed midstream.

[DuneElliot]

I love my ZPacks Arc Haul and very little of the weight is on my shoulders. I have a 19" torso (or there-abouts) and have it set so that maybe 5% of the weight is actually leaning against my shoulders. ZPacks is very good about this...if you buy the right size. The padding is actually decent too.

[petedelisio]

I love my ZPacks Arc Haul and very little of the weight is on my shoulders. I have a 19" torso (or there-abouts) and have it set so that maybe 5% of the weight is actually leaning against my shoulders. ZPacks is very good about this...if you buy the right size. The padding is actually decent too.

How much weight do you haul with your haul?
And you get pretty much no downward weight on your shoulders?

[DuneElliot]

How much weight do you haul with your haul?
And you get pretty much no downward weight on your shoulders?

I have carried it with a maximum of 30#...I wouldn't go heavier than that, no matter what they claim

I have no downward weight on my shoulders because of the way I have the shoulder straps adjusted. They are only there to stop the pack falling backwards. I find any weight on my shoulders tiring.

[colorado_rob]

I cannot rave enough about the comfort of my ArcHAul, fantastic pack. I personally think it's comfy for up to 35lb, as I carried that much (maybe a tad more) a few times w/o discomfort recently on the PCT (6 liters of water carried a few times with 6 days of food, ugh...). But I'm probably 50% heavier than Dune (just a guess).

As far as durability, I think the pack should be good for up to two AT thru hikes, but probably will be a bit worn in places by then. Doing some quick math, I have 1500 miles on mine (bought a year ago) without noticeable signs of any wear-related failures, but I can see places where it might fail in a couple years (call it another 3000 miles).

One does pay the price a bit on durability for truly UL gear, I'm personally willing to pay this. Plus my wife is a good seamstress, can repair most anything that can be repaired with a sewing needle.

My Arc Haul is quite simply my favorite all-time pack.

[MuddyWaters]

Durability depends on you

Ive got about 1200 miles on a cuben arc blast
It will go a few thousand more for sure

What ive always said about the pack, is Joe got something right. It rides vertically, doesnt lean away from back heavily, doesnt need load lifters or chest strap to hold it upright

Fit depends on your body, and how you like to wear it, nobody can tell you if you will like a pack over internet. Get it and try it

[Slo-go'en]

If you buy an ultra light pack, everything you put in it must also be ultra light. Don't overload it and it will be comfortable. Don't drag it over rocks and it will last a long time.

[colorado_rob]

If you buy an ultra light pack, everything you put in it must also be ultra light. Don't overload it and it will be comfortable. Don't drag it over rocks and it will last a long time.

I hear you, but I would respectfully sort-of disagree with this, the Arc Haul is an Ultralight pack, but the 30-35 total pounds that it will comfortably carry might not be really UL, unless it's a lot of food and water, in other words, a 15 pound base (not at all UL) with 20 pounds of food/water will work in an Arc Haul. I guess it's just semantics, and you make a good point anyway: don't try to carry a heavy kit in a UL pack.

[Captain Panda]

What is the point of spending for an UL pack if you plan on carrying 35 lbs. I agree with Slo-go'en; either go UL, or don't. The 2+ lbs you save with the UL pack compared to the added comfort of a more conventional pack such as an Osprey Atmos won't matter. This also begs the question of why you need to carry 35 lbs on the AT. I'm not an UL hiker, but using the already mentioned Osprey pack on a Flip Flop; fully loaded, (including food and water); I kept it between 26-28 lbs. That said; I have considered going full on UL, but as a retired guy, can't justify the big $$$ for all the gear.

[colorado_rob]

What is the point of spending for an UL pack if you plan on carrying 35 lbs.

My point is: sometimes 35 pounds IS ultralight. Like when you have to make a big food and water carry, even though the rest of your gear is truly UL. I suppose though, since this is on the AT part of the forum, my point doesn't really apply, since really, there are no places along the AT where such big carries (like 6 liters of water and 7 days of food, or whatever combo thereof). I suppose if one wants to hike through the 100-mile wilderness without the hassle of a mid-section resupply, one might have to carry 7-8 days of food through there.

Still, another part of my point is that the Zpacks Arc Haul, though a UL pack, acts very much like a heavier, more supportive pack. For example, though a pound lighter, my Arc Haul carries a load significantly better than my Osprey Exos.

So, if you can afford the cost, and don't mind taking a slight durability hit, why NOT save the extra pound (or more) and buy the Arc Haul? You don't sacrifice any comfort with this fantastic pack (again, as long as you do keep it down to 30-35 lbs max).

One more point about buying such a pack such as the Arc Haul, and then I'll shut up: Perhaps you're not UL yet, but at least you're starting to trim your kit and maybe you're at least "lightweight". Most of us cannot afford to buy all UL gear at once (nor is it a good idea even if you can), so getting an Arc Haul is at least a good place to start. Maybe later you can spring for that nice UL zpacks Cuben fiber tent, then later that 1-pound quilt, etc, etc. Because the Arc Haul acts likes a heavier more supportive pack, it is a good place to start.

[Slo-go'en]

I kept it between 26-28 lbs. That said; I have considered going full on UL, but as a retired guy, can't justify the big $$$ for all the gear.

The older I get and the more miles I put under my feet, the greater the incentive to invest in UL replacement gear. Just wish I could really afford it though.

[soumodeler]

I have hundreds of miles on my ArcHaul Zip, with almost zero signs of wear. I have carried up to 30 pounds without issue, and normally carry 20-25. It is extremely comfortable below 25, and not bad at 30. Over 30 I think it would be okay just for a short section, like carrying water to a dry camp. I don’t have any issue with weight on the shoulders.

[Venchka]

I have carried it with a maximum of 30#...I wouldn't go heavier than that, no matter what they claim

I have no downward weight on my shoulders because of the way I have the shoulder straps adjusted. They are only there to stop the pack falling backwards. I find any weight on my shoulders tiring.

This is nothing new for well designed backpacks dating back to the Dark Ages, around the mid-1970s. Joe doesn’t get any credit for coming up with a revolutionary design. His pack works as it should. Just like hundreds of others over the 50-60 odd decades since the likes of Gerry, Kelty, Rivendell, etc. began making quality, comfortable backpacks.
Wayne

[cmoulder]

This is nothing new for well designed backpacks dating back to the Dark Ages, around the mid-1970s. Joe doesn’t get any credit for coming up with a revolutionary design. His pack works as it should. Just like hundreds of others over the 50-60 odd decades since the likes of Gerry, Kelty, Rivendell, etc. began making quality, comfortable backpacks.
Wayne

He got a patent on some aspect of it, but I've been too lazy to look it up and read the Claims section, which is the important part of a patent. It can't be the trampoline design itself because that's been around for a long time, so I'm thinking it's the adjustable arc feature.

So while not revolutionary, certainly evolutionary.

[Elaikases]

I have carried it with a maximum of 30#...I wouldn't go heavier than that, no matter what they claim

I have no downward weight on my shoulders because of the way I have the shoulder straps adjusted. They are only there to stop the pack falling backwards. I find any weight on my shoulders tiring.

Same with my Osprey Exos. The straps ride loosely and are there to keep the pack from falling off.

[MuddyWaters]

This is nothing new for well designed backpacks dating back to the Dark Ages, around the mid-1970s. Joe doesn’t get any credit for coming up with a revolutionary design. His pack works as it should. Just like hundreds of others over the 50-60 odd decades since the likes of Gerry, Kelty, Rivendell, etc. began making quality, comfortable backpacks.
Wayne

Joes packs are really UL packs.
My original arc weighed 16.7 oz new, more now with a few repairs and reinforcements.

No one else has ever approached this in commercially succesdful framed pack. Shoving two arrow shafts on sides.....isnt same.

The 3 oz frame, is the difference between comfortably carrying 15 lb, and 25. While needing no internal or external padding to keep hard objects off back. This last point is downfall of nearly every other lightweight or UL design with and without frame. My ccf for lower legs stays on top, accessible as sitpad. Back not sweaty. Not inside pack against back.

[Venchka]

Oops.
5-6 odd decades. Not 50-60 odd decades.
Muddy Waters:
While you were splitting hairs you missed my major error.
Wayne

[Hosh]

This is nothing new for well designed backpacks dating back to the Dark Ages, around the mid-1970s. Joe doesn’t get any credit for coming up with a revolutionary design. His pack works as it should. Just like hundreds of others over the 50-60 odd decades since the likes of Gerry, Kelty, Rivendell, etc. began making quality, comfortable backpacks.
Wayne

If this weren’t so stupid, it would actually be funny.

Wanna make the same statements about golf clubs, tennis rackets, oh never mind.

Integrating high tech materials, developing new processes, oh never mind

If you don’t own one, it can’t be any good, jeepers

[Venchka]

Load bearing hipbelt.
Shoulder straps non-load bearing.
Circa late 60’s or early ‘70s.
Everything old is new again.
Total weight has diminished with mixed results.
Wayne

[Dogwood]

So, I'm looking at and considering these new fangled packs Zpaks UL MLD etc .... with the super thin strap down the shoulder pads with very little padding.
Watching some of these videos it appears much of the weight is transferred to the shoulders. thoughts and opinions on this???

Depends on the model and the USER.
As a rough guide, Could you bet on one of these packs to flipflop the AT twice.

That's 4X AT thrus. I say no way!