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  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    12-28-2015
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    Bad Ischl, Austria
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    Default Lightwave pack started to break

    I have a Lightwave Wildtrack 60 pack since 2016, did many trips with it and was very happy.
    Now during my most recent desert trip it started to break on several points and had to field-repair it, was actually lucky that I could finish the trip as planned.

    One Thing that bugs me is, that the body of the pack is not sewn together like any normal pack I ever had, but looks like being glued or welded.
    Exactly some of this glued or welded seams ripped open and I had no other way to fix it than to apply lots of tape (which I luckily carry on all trips).

    Now my questions are, does anybody know this brand, or even owns one?
    Is this kind of failure common, or did I do something with this pack it was not designed for (like, doing desert trips)?
    Is there any other brand of packs that are not sewn, but glued or welded?

  2. #2
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    12-28-2015
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    Default

    Good things take time!
    The other day I recived a brand new pack from Lightwave as a replacement for the disintegrated one I sent in last year.
    Its an improved version and I'm really happy with it.

  3. #3

    Default

    any chance you got DEET or some other bug spray on it ? Stuff can do some weird things to glues and synthetics

  4. #4
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    12-28-2015
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    Default

    No chemicals involved.
    The issue most likely was caused by the rash desert environment, in conjunction with the specific way of packing I did.
    The pack was pretty stuffed full and the edges of the Thermarest roll were forming lumps on both sides of the pack.
    During the desert hike (roughly 4 weeks) the extremely abrasive Granite desert environment worked too hard on the seam running exactly over those lumps.
    Once a seam started to fail in one spot, all came apart pretty quick.

    The new pack I got is reinforced (taped on the inside) on exactly this spot

  5. #5
    Registered User
    Join Date
    12-19-2005
    Location
    Knoxville, TN
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    Default

    The new pack I got is reinforced (taped on the inside) on exactly this spot


    did the manufacturer replace your other one?

  6. #6
    Registered User
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    12-28-2015
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    Default

    Yes, the dealer sent in the bag last March, and I got a new one recently as a replacement.

    This is a pic from the time when the pack was still OK:

    scrambling-wadi-abu-teen-hurghada-shayib copy.jpg

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