packs: zpack vs windrider vs ula circuit

[Priscilla NC]

Hello everyone,

I'm gearing up (haha) for my first camino beginning mid April. Time to buy a pack, and I'm strongly leaning towards one of the ultra lite packs.

If you've carried a Zpack, Windrider, or ULA pack, can you please tell me the pros and cons of your experience? Or stories of others' experience?

Many thanks!
Priscilla

 

[newfydog]

My wife and I got z-pack arc blasts last year and used them on the Stevenson trail in France and Manaslu circuit in Nepal. They are custom made and take a few weeks to arrive. I got a superb fit, my wife got a decent fit after some modifications. They did those changes for free, and also fixed where a cat chewed though my mesh outside pocket stealing our jambon bayonne.
They are just SO light that you assume they are delicate, but we have not had one single rip or seam failure. They are quite waterproof with sealed seams so we do not carry a pack cover. The suspended mesh back is nicely ventilated, but the shoulder and hip straps are not breathable and a bit sweaty.

They are quite compressible, so my 55 liter pack carries smaller load very well. It is obvious the people who make these remarkable packs actually use them.

 

[Nanc]

I have a Gossamer Gear Gorilla and love it
it s 40L (28 L in main body)
Weight of my M pack is 737 gm (26 oz)

the water bottle side bags are reachable and tilted so I can actually access mid hike
also accommodates hydration systems confortably

There is a real hip belt with 2 zipper pockets for fast reach items and it truly carries the weight well. Shoulder straps comfortable
The support is from a combination of aluminum? U shaped bar and the sitz pad that is in the back- sitz pad goes with you
(when I had my rescue moment on the "mountain" I took the pack apart and I sat on the sitz pad- reasonably sized- and used to pack to provide more rain cover and warmth for the dog- despite heavy rain, interior contents were dry)

It doesn't have the front loader zipper that some of the Zpacks have but I don't miss the weight
It doesn't have load stabilizer straps that I think ZPack has but with this size pack I haven't missed those either

I have ordered the compression SegSac after seeing someone's note about the hobo roll- it is a compression sac that is divided and should be useful in this top-loader
Nanc

 

[Priscilla NC]

My wife and I got z-pack arc blasts last year and used them on the Stevenson trail in France and Manaslu circuit in Nepal. They are custom made and take a few weeks to arrive. I got a superb fit, my wife got a decent fit after some modifications. They did those changes for free, and also fixed where a cat chewed though my mesh outside pocket stealing our jambon bayonne.
They are just SO light that you assume they are delicate, but we have not had one single rip or seam failure. They are quite waterproof with sealed seams so we do not carry a pack cover. The suspended mesh back is nicely ventilated, but the shoulder and hip straps are not breathable and a bit sweaty.

They are quite compressible, so my 55 liter pack carries smaller load very well. It is obvious the people who make these remarkable packs actually use them.

Thanks for this, I've heard good things about the Zpack. Sounds like you've gotten good use from them in more rugged conditions than the Camino.

 

[Priscilla NC]

I have a Gossamer Gear Gorilla and love it
it s 40L (28 L in main body)
Weight of my M pack is 737 gm (26 oz)

the water bottle side bags are reachable and tilted so I can actually access mid hike
also accommodates hydration systems confortably

There is a real hip belt with 2 zipper pockets for fast reach items and it truly carries the weight well. Shoulder straps comfortable
The support is from a combination of aluminum? U shaped bar and the sitz pad that is in the back- sitz pad goes with you
(when I had my rescue moment on the "mountain" I took the pack apart and I sat on the sitz pad- reasonably sized- and used to pack to provide more rain cover and warmth for the dog- despite heavy rain, interior contents were dry)

It doesn't have the front loader zipper that some of the Zpacks have but I don't miss the weight
It doesn't have load stabilizer straps that I think ZPack has but with this size pack I haven't missed those either

I have ordered the compression SegSac after seeing someone's note about the hobo roll- it is a compression sac that is divided and should be useful in this top-loader
Nanc

I thought I heard that Gossamer Gear had gone out of business. Obviously not. I will check them out, thanks.

 

[AlwynWellington]

I also use zPack gear.

The pack is brilliant having three outside mesh pockets. The model I chose was the Arc Blast at 52 litres as I had not read the "small print" saying the bag itself was 39 L with the three pockets accounting for the balance. Having used it for about 8 months on one day and multi-day trips I find it very convenient.

When i need to replace I will choose the 60 L as it has a slightly deeper (front to back) footprint and so will take bulky but light items easier. When not needed the side strings can be drawn in to reduce that profile.

With the "load lifter" straps and the sternum strap the only weight is to the front of the shoulders and that is slight.

The frame is light weight and external: the key trick is to keep the frame bowed when in use (keeping the pack proper away from the back). And unbowed when taking on planes etc.


And a framed pack is normally always preferred. We have a saying in this part of the world, that an unframed pack is a "kidney basher" and very reliant on the contents being distributed just right.

 

[Priscilla NC]

I also use zPack gear.

The pack is brilliant having three outside mesh pockets. The model I chose was the Arc Blast at 52 litres as I had not read the "small print" saying the bag itself was 39 L with the three pockets accounting for the balance. Having used it for about 8 months on one day and multi-day trips I find it very convenient.

When i need to replace I will choose the 60 L as it has a slightly deeper (front to back) footprint and so will take bulky but light items easier. When not needed the side strings can be drawn in to reduce that profile.

With the "load lifter" straps and the sternum strap the only weight is to the front of the shoulders and that is slight.

The frame is light weight and external: the key trick is to keep the frame bowed when in use (keeping the pack proper away from the back). And unbowed when taking on planes etc.


And a framed pack is normally always preferred. We have a saying in this part of the world, that an unframed pack is a "kidney basher" and very reliant on the contents being distributed just right.

Thanks Alwyn. Good info. I've liked external packs 'back in the day'.

 

[Penner]

I am using a Zpacks Arc Blast 52 L in the desert SW in my profile picture (the pack is 1 pound = 454 gram). I bought the pack in 2012. I don't think they make the 1 pound pack anymore, they are several ounces heavier now. I am thankful I got the 1 pound pack.

I carry 26 pounds in it (this includes 4 liters of water).

The only issue I had was the load lifters (an option), never worked. I tried to tighten them once & they ripped away from the pack. So I had to re-sew it myself in a diamond stitch by hand (faster & cheaper than sending it back to zpacks). I used dental floss to sew it. I still think its a great pack, but don't bother getting the load lifters.
Also, the hip belts run smallish (unless you are on the normal to thin side). So I had to sew hip belt extensions to make it fit (just 1 inch black nylon webbing strips).

Also if you "stuff" it towards the bottom (where I put my bulky but 1 pound sleeping bag), the "Arc" in the back of the pack, will disappear. I haven't noticed this being a problem with my back overheating tho, & this is in 92 F degrees ambient temperature hiking (as that was the temperature the day of my profile picture).