Buyers' Guides - Lightweight Packs

Ultra-lightweight is the new black with more and more manufacturers coming out with lighter and lighter packs in all areas of the market from lightpacking to mountaineering. On the face of it, that's got to be a good thing right? Except that it's not quite that simple.

Here are few basic tips to help you sort your carrier bag from your Bergen and your brown paper bag from your lightpacking sac...

---

WEIGHT FOR IT...

How light a pack you can get away with depends to a large extent on how heavy your load is. Ultra-minimalist packs like the GoLite Gust slash weight from your load, but the total absence of any frame or back system mean that the load you can comfortably carry is limited.

In addition, minimal back padding means you have to pack more carefully than with a conventional pack, using a sleeping pad, for example, to cushion your back against the load.

The two heaviest permanent items you're likely to carry as a backpacker are your tent and sleeping bag, so if you want to go ultralight with you pack, these are the two major areas where you need to cut weight first.

Multi-day trips are another weight adder as you'll need to carry food for more than a couple of days plus fuel to cook with, which means more weight and more capacity needed.

Climbers have issues of their own. Ropes and hardware, particularly in winter, are relatively heavy, so although they may not need huge capacity, a decent, supportive back system is arguably more important than saving 500 grammes. Robustness and abrasion resistance may also matter more to climbers, particularly if they need to sac haul at any point or thrutch up some ghastly chimney...

---

MINIMALIST BACK SYSTEMS

Early GoLite packs were fearsomely minimal and the 570 gramme, 59+17 Liter capacity Gust is still out there and going strong. However traditional pack manufacturers and the lightweight zealots are moving towards a common ground with packs which save weight through using lightweight fabrics and fittings alongside either a normal or more minimal, but still functional back system.

Different manufacturers favour different solutions: GoLite uses a very simple, lightweight internal plate for their Infinity sac for example to give a 1080 gramme sac with a 42+8 liter capacity.

Gregory uses a more extensive Exo-Frame system for its lightweight packs, that incorporates a twisting frame sheet for a supportive but flexible feel albeit at a slightly heavier weight - the acclaimed G Pack weighs around 1200 grammes and swallows approximately 50 liters.

Osprey's Atmos 50 is slightly heavier again at around 1400 grammes for its 50 liters of capacity and uses the titanium alloy frame technology from the smaller Atmos packs combined with a more conventional top opening and hip-belt. Later this year though, the company is set to release its new ultralightweight Talon 44 with a claimed weight of just 1.05 kilos thanks to light fabrics and an alloy-tubed perimiter frame teamed with a lightweight back plate.

Lowe Alpine's Hyperlite pack range takes a slightly different approach with a full-on frame combined with lightening elsewhere. The Contour 60+10 weighs in at 1920 grammes, almost four times the weight of a Gust, but will comfortably carry heavier loads thanks to what's really just a lightened version of the company's Torso Fit APS adjustable back system.

One left field option we like is OMM who've adopted the term 'leanweight' for their packs. Again they use a lightweight backplate system which is carefully integrated with the lumba/hip-belt area to improve stability and carrying. Last but not least, Karrimor was showing some neat new lightweight packs, so one to look out for.

Top Tip You can read about back systems, but it's essential to try them before buying using a load comparable to the one you intend to carry on the hill. Several of the US pack manufacturers show suggested maximum loads for each model on their web site. If you're going to be carrying a hefty load then you may well be better off using a pack with a sturdier back system for increased support and comfort.

---

RACE PACKS

You could argue that the whole OMM company - previously KImmlite - grew out of the KIMM sac designed specifically for fast-moving mountain marathon athletes.

The KIMM spawned a whole generation of lightweight competition packs which also make decent lightweight day sacs. They're generally close-fitting, light, stable packs often with lots of stash pockets, compression cords and a small amount of back padding. Ideal for lightish loads and available from lots of brands.

Top Tip If you're going to be running, load up, strap on and jump around in the shop to make sure the pack stays stable and happy.

---

FABRICS

A well known mountain bike designer famously commented: 'Strong, light, cheap - pick two'. The same's pretty much true of pack fabrics. It's possible to get light, strong, abrasion-resistant fabrics, but they're expensive.

OMM for example use a Dyneema-based fabric which is phenomenally tough, but also very light. GoLite has also embraced tough, light fabrics with, for example, Cordura pockets on the Infinity Pack and Dyneema body fabric for the Gust.

Osprey's imminent ultra-lightweight Talon has gone the same route with Cordura siliconised Nylon body fabric and heavier duty reinforcements in strategic areas.

The bottom line is that lightweight packs can be surprisingly tough, but don't expect them to be cheap at the same time.

Top Tip Dyneema-based fabrics are both lightweight and tough. A great option if durability matters to you.

---

FEATURES

Most weight saving in lightweight packs come from materials and structure rather than features, so you can justifiably expect to find pockets, key clips, compression straps and the like. Packs with adventure race heritage will have more pockets than a convention of stampeding kangaroos probably including hip-belt ones.

One thing we would look for is some sort of reinforcement to the base area of the pack and anywhere else which might be subjected to regular friction from, for example, walking poles or ice axes when strapped to the pack.

Top Tip If you want water bottle stuff pockets you can use when wearing the pack, look for an angled entry. Most still demand double-jointed dexterity to use.

---

More Help and Advice

This article should have given you some basic pointers. The good news is that there's a load more advice on OUTDOORSmagic:

• Ask on the gear forum about general issues or specific items.
  
• Check the member reviews section for user experiences of kit.
  
• See OM editorial reviews on the front of the site for our impressions.
  
• Ask Richard Gear if you have a specific question you need answering.