Calling All Gram Weenies

[Acylum]

Because I’m quickly becoming one of you as I age. Never was one who was going to forgo a trowel and use a stick to dig my cathole or cut my toothbrush handle off and tie the head to my finger with floss, but here I am. I bought into compressed towels and water bottle bidets a few years ago. I am not using an expensive pad, mostly Klymit and Therm-a-rest. My tents are the Dan Durston X-Mid 1 and 2, depending obviously. My question is about packs. I currently am using the Granite Gear Crown 2 which I really like so far. But apparently I can do better.
So my question comes down to whether the exotic fabrics ( Gossamer Gear, Hyperlite, Zpacks, Lite AF, etc) are worth the money. I’m mainly concerned about the durability aspect. I don’t want to lay out that kind of money every 2,3, or 4 years. This whole post may be a fool’s errand since I’m not sure how long the cuben fiber stuff had been around. TIA

 

[madguy30]

Are you talking about tents or toilets?

 

[cyfan21]

 

[dosry5]

Cocaine is a hell of a drug

 

[JP4CY]

 

[CyCrazy]

Sounds fun. Get a shovel dig a hole and crap away.

 

[3TrueFans]

I currently am using the Granite Gear Crown 2

Embarrassing

 

[HitItHard58]

Are you talking about tents or toilets?

I thought they were talking smack about people who use Instagram.

 

[baller21]

Squirting water bottles on your bung and scrubbing with a toothbrush head? Sounds pretty kinky.

 

[Acylum]

Are you talking about tents or toilets?

Strictly packs.

 

[DeereClone]

I am lost.

 

[madguy30]

FWIW Granite Gear Crown 2 looks like a 60L? Do you need that much space?

I just have an Osprey 35 (?) and it works fine although I don't use it that often. I suppose it depends on how often you're getting out.

 

[isucyfan]

I really thought the title of the post would be explained in the body of the post, but I was mistaken.

 

[madguy30]

Strictly packs.

FWIW Granite Gear Crown 2 looks like a 60L? Do you need that much space?

I just have an Osprey 35 (?) and it works fine although I don't use it that often. I suppose it depends on how often you're getting out.

Are the ones you listed a specialty of some sort? I'm not sure I've heard of any of them.

 

[Acylum]

FWIW Granite Gear Crown 2 looks like a 60L? Do you need that much space?

I just have an Osprey 35 (?) and it works fine although I don't use it that often. I suppose it depends on how often you're getting out.

You’re dead on at 60L. I do mostly 3-4 nighters in the border states during cooler weather. I can’t stand being in a tent during high temp/ high humidity conditions. I’ve considered hammock/tarp camping but there’s too many places it’s not feasible.
I’m a solo hiker because I’m trying to get away so there’s no opportunity to divide the load- everything I need I have to carry. So the 35L cap just isn’t going to work for me most of the time. I like to “clean up” every night and am definitely NOT going to turn my boxers inside-out to save weight! Lol. I’ll go two days in the right weather conditions though. This whole cunumdrum started last fall when I met a couple and told them I needed to start cutting weight and they suggested the best place to start was my pack. Which I thought was already UL.

 

[davegilbertson]

Because I’m quickly becoming one of you as I age. Never was one who was going to forgo a trowel and use a stick to dig my cathole or cut my toothbrush handle off and tie the head to my finger with floss, but here I am. I bought into compressed towels and water bottle bidets a few years ago. I am not using an expensive pad, mostly Klymit and Therm-a-rest. My tents are the Dan Durston X-Mid 1 and 2, depending obviously. My question is about packs. I currently am using the Granite Gear Crown 2 which I really like so far. But apparently I can do better.
So my question comes down to whether the exotic fabrics ( Gossamer Gear, Hyperlite, Zpacks, Lite AF, etc) are worth the money. I’m mainly concerned about the durability aspect. I don’t want to lay out that kind of money every 2,3, or 4 years. This whole post may be a fool’s errand since I’m not sure how long the cuben fiber stuff had been around. TIA

:Who da FOOK is that guy!?" - Connor Mcgregor

 

[madguy30]

You’re dead on at 60L. I do mostly 3-4 nighters in the border states during cooler weather. I can’t stand being in a tent during high temp/ high humidity conditions. I’ve considered hammock/tarp camping but there’s too many places it’s not feasible.
I’m a solo hiker because I’m trying to get away so there’s no opportunity to divide the load- everything I need I have to carry. So the 35L cap just isn’t going to work for me most of the time. I like to “clean up” every night and am definitely NOT going to turn my boxers inside-out to save weight! Lol. I’ll go two days in the right weather conditions though. This whole cunumdrum started last fall when I met a couple and told them I needed to start cutting weight and they suggested the best place to start was my pack. Which I thought was already UL.

Haha, I just checked and have no idea what I was thinking with the 35 reference. Mine's an Osprey Atmos 65.

How much weight are you carrying? What's used for food and cooking gear? I use Minute Rice and Starkist Chicken stuff with the Pocket Rocket which can be heavy but also tends to save space.

Any other campers out there want to chime in? This is a happy time of year to commiserate about the outdoors.

 

[Macloney]

Because I’m quickly becoming one of you as I age. Never was one who was going to forgo a trowel and use a stick to dig my cathole or cut my toothbrush handle off and tie the head to my finger with floss, but here I am. I bought into compressed towels and water bottle bidets a few years ago. I am not using an expensive pad, mostly Klymit and Therm-a-rest. My tents are the Dan Durston X-Mid 1 and 2, depending obviously. My question is about packs. I currently am using the Granite Gear Crown 2 which I really like so far. But apparently I can do better.
So my question comes down to whether the exotic fabrics ( Gossamer Gear, Hyperlite, Zpacks, Lite AF, etc) are worth the money. I’m mainly concerned about the durability aspect. I don’t want to lay out that kind of money every 2,3, or 4 years. This whole post may be a fool’s errand since I’m not sure how long the cuben fiber stuff had been around. TIA

A ULA Circuit on sale should be around $250. That's about as cheap as you can get. No UL pack is going to be as durable as a normal pack and you also have to remember that you can't pack them heavy.

 

[cowboycurtis]

I see why you are hiking solo because only one person understands what the hell you are talking about.

 

[Clonehomer]

You’re dead on at 60L. I do mostly 3-4 nighters in the border states during cooler weather. I can’t stand being in a tent during high temp/ high humidity conditions. I’ve considered hammock/tarp camping but there’s too many places it’s not feasible.
I’m a solo hiker because I’m trying to get away so there’s no opportunity to divide the load- everything I need I have to carry. So the 35L cap just isn’t going to work for me most of the time. I like to “clean up” every night and am definitely NOT going to turn my boxers inside-out to save weight! Lol. I’ll go two days in the right weather conditions though. This whole cunumdrum started last fall when I met a couple and told them I needed to start cutting weight and they suggested the best place to start was my pack. Which I thought was already UL.

Try hammock camping and you won't go back. I've never ran into a problem with finding a location, but I like to go to places with plenty of trees anyways.

I guess my feeling is that you're better off taking weight off in areas other than the pack. Your pack is one thing that you really don't want to fail on your trip. So why risk going with a thinner material just to save a small amount of weight? Cut the weight in cooking equipment, food, and clothing first.