Prentiss Riddle
Aprendiz de todo, maestro de nada
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Português and/or Francés in 2023
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[Total aside] Exciting to know that Black's still exists, though they don't seem to have their own brand anymore.
I have a Black's of Greenock Tinkertent, Egyptian cotton, that was my dad's when he did geological exploration here in Western Canada in the early 1950s. A treasured possession and still useable one-person tent, though a bit fragile.
"In 1861 Thomas Black set up his own sail making business on the Clyde River. Using the same materials and expertise he had developed equipping boats and ships, he deftly turned his hand to crafting tents and shelters that epitomised the quality and workmanship we still stand for today."
but is cheap - £35, about 50USD? .. and weighs just 830 grams,
This is the sale price.
It was originally £75.00.
And In the Q&A, the weight is given as 520 gr.
If anyone is in the market for a pack atm, this looks like a great buy!
Blacks sale could end any day.
I had to buy a very big bag to store my rucksack collection in.A bargain!!
I was tempted but I do not need another pack!
(keep telling yourself that!!!)
Thank you for the detailed response! You make me think of more questions.Counting myself as "one of those ultralighters" here's what i think of that pack:
Pro:
- From what i read, it seems rather waterproof
- For that, the price is rather low
- The weight is rather low aswell
- it seems to have the neccessary features of a packpack
Con:
- It is a technical ascent pack, not a hiking pack. Therefore it has some features that you don't need on, say, a camino
- It lacks some features i personally like
Neutral:
- The material could work, but there is better stuff out there. Which is more expensive
- There are packs, made of better material, that have features geared more towards hiking/camino. But usually they are more expensive.
Conclusion:
I have not tested that pack and my personal experience is not that wide as with others around (davebugg etc). I would personally not use that pack. If i want a cheap and light pack, theres options on Amazon and Decathlon that likely work better towards hiking. If money is less of an issue, theres even better options. The waterproofing might be nice, but personally, i don't have that as a grade 1 priority in my backpacks.
I’m nervously awaiting the arrival of my Gossamer Gear Kumo 36L next Tuesday shipped from Texas to Canada for a hefty shipping plus duty feeI'm ultralight-curious and clicked on a Facebook ad for this company's line of ultralight backpacks. Has anyone tried them?
https://matadorup.com/collections/ultralight-bags
The Freerain32 particularly caught my eye because 32 liters is my preferred size. I love my Deuter ACT Trail 32 (now discontinued) but the Freerain32 weighs only 10.6 oz (0.3 kg), 2 pounds less than my Deuter. And I hate to say it, but the Deuter leaks in heavy rain.
Matador ultralights also seem to be priced much better than other ultralight packs.
But I know not to believe everything I see advertised on Facebook. Does anyone have any experience with the Matador line? How are they for durability, design, and comfort?
View attachment 104977
Hi...like you, my curiosity continues for using ultralight equipment. I recently received my gossamer gear UL pack (G4-20) and I can't wait to use it. I've used osprey on all other camino's and even with the air zone design a sweaty back is not entirely unavoidable. I chose the G4-20 because of the padded straps, kangaroo pouch and roll top closure. It feels great on, and I'm keen to keep the rest of my kit light as the next trip is Le Puy to SdC. Happy hunting for your own UL pack. There's plenty to choose fromI'm ultralight-curious and clicked on a Facebook ad for this company's line of ultralight backpacks. Has anyone tried them?
https://matadorup.com/collections/ultralight-bags
The Freerain32 particularly caught my eye because 32 liters is my preferred size. I love my Deuter ACT Trail 32 (now discontinued) but the Freerain32 weighs only 10.6 oz (0.3 kg), 2 pounds less than my Deuter. And I hate to say it, but the Deuter leaks in heavy rain.
Matador ultralights also seem to be priced much better than other ultralight packs.
But I know not to believe everything I see advertised on Facebook. Does anyone have any experience with the Matador line? How are they for durability, design, and comfort?
View attachment 104977
Lots of pilgrims use ULA packs. I know a few people who are very happy with them. I'm sure that @davebugg probably knows quite a bit about them.Has anyone used one of these ULA packs? They come very highly rated. And for a bit more money, you can customize them almost infinitely, since they are made to order anyway.
CDT
The CDT is our lightest, most basic, full-sized backpack. With just over 50 liters of available space, the CDT is the largest of our two frameless packs.www.ula-equipment.com
My 36L Gossamer Kumo (weighs 550gm) arrived today, have yet to open the box. I think you really shouldn’t need a 54L pack for the Camino.Has anyone used one of these ULA packs? They come very highly rated. And for a bit more money, you can customize them almost infinitely, since they are made to order anyway.
CDT
The CDT is our lightest, most basic, full-sized backpack. With just over 50 liters of available space, the CDT is the largest of our two frameless packs.www.ula-equipment.com
Discovered from this set of reviews...
The 5 Best Ultralight Backpacks
Ready to join the ultralight revolution? Over the past 9 years, our thru-hiking experts have tested 40+ of the best ultralight backpacks around. In this...www.outdoorgearlab.com
Has anyone used one of these ULA packs?
My 36L Gossamer Kumo (weighs 550gm) arrived today, have yet to open the box. I think you really shouldn’t need a 54L pack for the Camino.
Thanks @davebugg, as I stated earlier I limit my pack to 5-6 kg so well under the upper Kumo suggested weight plus I walk in winter months so not overly concerned with a hot back. The GG airflow mat you mention is out of stock currently so I’ll test with the crate mat supplied then adjust as needed. My 30L Millet has only 2 vertical sponge pads on the back and I don’t find it a negative. For me it’s about every gram or else I have to pack forward.Both of those backpacks are well designed and at an excellent capacity to weight ratio. I find them both to have excellent usability and quality of manufacture. There is one caution that I would mention in terms of user expectations.
Both of the backpacks are 'frameless' designs. Both obtain their rigidity to maintain their vertical shape from the backpad. This means that there is no supporting frame to help with the load transfer from the bag to the hipbelt. The hipbelts on both are both functional and comfortable, but they have a limitation.
When I have tested both backpacks, I found that 15 to 17 pounds was where the balance and comfort level was at its limit. Both backpack's specs state a higher range for weight limits, but in practical terms a lower weight limit works better. Put any more weight into them and you will not be able to ignore the presence of the backpacks on your back.
These are not the backpacks to use if does not wish to count ounces and grams. The lighter the load, the better to feel and the comfort level.
Comfort aside, I have pushed the stated weight capacity beyond the stated specs of those backpacks as part of my job to look for weaknesses and flaws in the materials and construction. At 50 pounds of load in the CDT, there was no evidence of stresses to the bag, the shoulder harness or the hipbelt. Due to its smaller capacity, the Kumo had to settle for a 42 pound loadit fared just as well.
There are some methods to increase the stiffness and support of those backpacks. And for the Kumo, if it hasn't been done already, swap out the included sitpad back panel with the one below. Your sweaty back will thank you for it:
Air Flow SitLight Camp Seat
Designed for use with our signature PVT Packs - Mariposa 60 & Gorilla 50. This upgraded Air Flow Sit Pad doubles as a back panel padding for our packs and an ultralight camp chair. Available in 3 sizes. These are only compatible with our new Mariposa 60 and Gorilla 50 PVT packs. For your small...www.gossamergear.com
@David Did my camino in May/June, and apart from the sagging issue, my complaints with an ultralight pack were few. Especially the issue of "sweaty back" seems to be more of a theoretical thing. Sure, there was sweat, but not overly much that it was an issue. (And i am a fast hiker, usually results in more than average sweat).
Another thing to add: My memory might be wrong, but people with more conventional backpacks did not seem to have less issues with sweat on their backs...
As for the other points: My 350g pack was labled "water resistant". I did never encounter any moisture inside it. The new pack, slightly heavier, but with more features is supposed to be even more waterproof. So why carry a rain cover? Thats just useless weight.
Have to run to an appointment now, but to conclude: Those packs are perfectly fine for a 35 day trip. Or a 100 day trip... just look at what some of the thruhikers in the US are using...
Great to hear from you after using the murmur which I considered but the Kumo strap and waistband mesh pockets and the huge outside pockets are big pluses. I hear what your saying about filling the pack and content placement so will experiment. It feels so light in keeping with its name Kumo (Japanese for “cloud”). My millet 30L is not as structured as the Osprey, Gregory or deuter snacks so I did learn to load my Millet to ensure comfort. Plus I think the thru hikers are carrying a lot and believe their long distant hikes are killers vs any Camino. Appreciate your and the others input. Change is good.@Colette Z I got one thing to add to davebugg's excellent post: Another thing that those packs don't like is beeing packed to loosely (lightly?). Aside from the panel, which does not give a lot of "rigidity" the main stability comes from the packs contents itself. If there is not enough stuff inside the pack, it will sag. The Kumo offers some means of compressing the pack, but not much, and it's only for the top half of the pack. When i was doing my camino with the Kumo's lighter brother, the Murmur, my main complaint with the pack was, that i was just not carrying enough volume inside of it to prevent it from sagging. When i was testing it at home, and did not have my camino gear, i was using some pillows to stuff it out, which made for a more comfortable feel compared to what i was experiencing when walking in spain.
Still, it was a great pack, and i think the Kumo is even better (screw those 300g more, the features and added padding are likely worth it), but you might want to keep this in mind when packing your things for the camino.
You might also want to experiment where to put what item. Clothes and sleeping bag tend to be much volume, little weight, as to toiletries and electronics are usually more dense and pointy...
Thanks David, my reason for finding weight savings is because I’m traveling with just my pack for 6 months so I want to take more items than my usual “1 change of clothes” hence I chose to not invest in a lighter more expensive sleeping bag (vs using a silk liner + quilt blanket) but invest in a new pack and I tried on all kinds in past months. The newly arrived Gossamer Kumo is super light I don’t even feel it on my back although the crate foam back insert will take some getting used to. But again,I’m a winter pilgrim so don’t expect to be sweating too much.I agree with most of the above posts - except, would add, just my personal opinion ... sure, you can get a 350 gms to 500 gms pack, but then add on the seating pad to stiffen the back. The downside is a pack that isn't really 'strolling' comfortable for a multi-week Camino. Sweaty back, not enough padding on harness, chest and hips. Missing zipped pockets and rain cover.
For just 500gms more you can get a regular lightweight pack, shaped, good back, excellent padded harness, all those pockets and pouches we like to have, and also bladder ready if you go that way.
I can see the virtue of super-light if you are fast scrambing up a mountain for a day, sure - but for a 35 day Camino?
Although it is my choice of pack at the moment, the Technicals Glencoe 28 isn't the only lightweight 'proper' backpack out there - and really, what is the trade off? The Glencoe is 830 gms, so, 500gms? Half a litre of water? The fleece you don't really need? Getting rid of the sleeping bag you use and buying one 500 gms lighter?
So, for me, a lightweight (under a kilo) regular 'proper' rucksack, every time.
Thanks David, my reason for finding weight savings is because I’m traveling with just my pack for 6 months so I want to take more items than my usual “1 change of clothes” hence I chose to not invest in a lighter more expensive sleeping bag (vs using a silk liner + quilt blanket) but invest in a new pack and I tried on all kinds in past months. The newly arrived Gossamer Kumo is super light I don’t even feel it on my back although the crate foam back insert will take some getting used to. But again,I’m a winter pilgrim so don’t expect to be sweating too much.
My total weight (base weight + consumables) on the PCT and the Colorado Trail for 5 days between resupply varied between 15 to 21 pounds. Camino total weight is about 9.8 pounds. Not so much 'killer' by any meansPlus I think the thru hikers are carrying a lot and believe their long distant hikes are killers vs any Camino. Appreciate your and the others input. Change is good.
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