Zpacks Arc Blast

I think I've gotten enough miles on this pack to write up a worthy review.  I'll start off by saying I absolutely love this thing!  I ordered an Arc Blast from Zpacks.com when I got tired of carrying several days worth of food in my frameless MLD Burn.  While I really like the Burn, I missed the support of a frame for heavier loads (more than 20 lbs).  I didn't want to revert back to the relatively "heavy" Osprey Exos 46 however.  There is a newer version, the Exos 48 which is weighs in at 2.6 lbs - excellent for a mainstream company.  Still, I didn't want to buy another (nearly identical) pack to save just a couple of ounces.

On the Hammersley Wild hike, Chris carried a Zpacks backpack - and after the Sufferfest I decided to check them out.  The price is steep, but all high end ultralight gear is.  And the base weight is only 16.5 ounces (52 liter version)!!!

Matt was extremely helpful and responsive when placing my order.  You gotta love the ultralight cottage industry community - where else can you communicate directly with the people making your gear?  Despite being in the middle of their heavy order season, they got it out to me in just a couple of weeks.  Finally, a pack customized to fit my 6' 5" torso!  You can't get that with an Osprey back.

Arc Blast details from Zpacks.com:

45L Pack Size:
Total Volume: 45 Liters / 2,750 cubic inches - 16.0 ounces (454 grams), $275
Body dimensions: 5.5" x 12.5" x 30"  (14 cm x 31.8 cm x 76 cm)

52L Pack Size (the original default size):
Total Volume: 52 Liters / 3,200 cubic inches - 16.5 ounces (468 grams), $279
Body dimensions: 6.5" x 12.5" x 30"  (16.5 cm x 31.8 cm x 76 cm)

60L Pack Size:
Total Volume: 60 Liters / 3,650 cubic inches - 17.0 ounces (482 grams), $289
Body dimensions: 7.5" x 12.5" x 30"  (19 cm x 31.8 cm x 76 cm)

Pockets:
The side pockets account for 5 Liters / 300 cubic inches and the mesh center pocket is 8 Liters / 500 cubic inches, and are included in the total volume.

I purchased the 52 liter.  Coincidentally, frequent hiking buddy GQ also got the Arc Blast about a week before me!  I also chose to add on the hip pockets (removable), bottle holder (attaches to chest strap, also removable), ice tool holders, and trekking pole holders.  The total weight, with my additions, came to 19 ounces.

This is the lightest back with a frame I have every seen.  This feat is accomplished by building the pack out of light weight denier reinforced cuben fiber, using carbon fiber for the frame, and leaving off the countless unnecessary buckles, straps, and extras found on mainstream packs.

You can choose your torso length (huge selling factor for me), belt length, and color (they have several options, including camo!).  You can also choose to leave off some options, like the frame or hydration port if you don't want them.  All this can be customized right on the site, which is very cool and easy.  Definitely go check out the site - they have tons of pics of all the different configurations.

The packs stand up pretty well, unlike frameless packs.

Toughness

Early versions of Zpacks were pure Cuben Fiber - but the new Arc Blast is a hybrid Cuben plus denier polyester protective coating.  I was nervous at first about the durability - but so far that feeling has proven unfounded.  The only hole in mine came from getting my bottle holder snagged on a branch while navigating tight summit trails in the ADK's.  Nothing a small square of Gorilla Tape couldn't fix.




GQ reported that he started to see some wear on the very bottom of his pack from sliding down rock scrambles (LOTS of them), presumably.  He preemptively applied some tape and all was well.  I haven't noticed this problem with mine, but intend to keep an eye on it.

I put it through any number of stress tests over the last year or so I've had it, including a couple of packraft trips.

I was worried that I'd find some wear marks from the paddle edges, or that the hard jostling run might pull some shoulder strap threads.  My fears were completely unwarranted, as it come through unscathed.

Features and Accesories

It's rainproof!  I'd almost go so far as to say, if you sealed up the hydration port, you could fully submerge it and come through with dry gear.  I haven't tried that yet - but I have experienced a full-on deluge that took me from sweltering to near-hypothermic in minutes.  This was after 12 hours of my sweaty back contacting the bottom of my pack where my quilt was.  One or the other (or the combination) managed to get the barest amount of moisture on the surface of the quilt.  But I mean really minor.  And only at the very bottom of the pack, maybe 10 square inches.

I didn't have it in a dry bag like I usually do (generally a bad idea, but I wanted to see what would happen).  Knowing the shear volume of water that was dumped on me, I call this an incredible achievement in water-proofness.  If you use a light dry bag like Sea to Summit's Ultra-Sil Nano inside your bag, or garbage bag liner (as you really should for any trip to be sure your down-goodness stays dry) - you will be good to go.

Quick aside - I actually stopped using garbage compactor bags a year or so ago.  I had a hard time finding them cheap, and was constantly tearing them.  The Ultra-Sil bags are of comparable weight, but you have a secure closure in case your bag actually is submerged.  It's nice to guarantee dry gear.  Just my 2 cents.

GQ did a shower test - putting the pack in the shower for 30 minutes.  The insides came through dry.

The top has a dry bag-like roll up and buckle snap closure.  The top seam also has velcro, making it easy to align the edges when rolling them down, giving you a nice solid rain proof seal.  It works very well.  It also lets you tighten down the pack to fit small loads.

The optional hip pockets are also rain-proof.  I have the older style, that close with a flap and velcro.  The newer versions are your standard taped zipper style.  Both are quite generous in size.

The back rest is a suspending mesh panel.  You can adjust the arc by tightening or loosening a pair of line-locks at the top by your shoulders.  Mine seem to always work there way loose eventually.

On the sides you have some reflective line for securing stuff above or in our bottle holders.  The bottle holders on each side (with you can optionally leave off) are quite ample - holding a 32 or 40 bottle.  The tops have shock cord woven in to give you some retention.  It's not quite as secure as some other packs I've had, yet I've only tossed my bottles a couple of times (during nasty ski spills!).    They stay put just find on scrambles and ballistic movements.



You will find a long list of accessories and mods are Zpack's site - so I won't bother to list them here.  But it's nice that they easily give you the option to customize your pack exactly to your needs and wants.


Conclusions

With many, many miles on it already, I'm confident this pack will last a very long time.  My only regret is not getting the 60 liter version for winter expeditions.  But really, I might only have trip or two a year that need that kind of capacity.  The rest of the year I'll barely fill three quarters of the pack.

While pricey, the Arc Blast is more than worth it to have a pack that fits me like a glove.  The incredible base weight and other features are a bonus.  Zpacks customer service is great, and very responsive.  I have no reservations about recommending them or their gear.

A long with my Arc Blast, I ordered a set of Zpack's rain gear.  Rain jacket, kilt, and mitts - all in Cuben.  The kilt has gotten the most use, it's perfect for 3-season rain showers!

One method for dealing with oppressive heat during a rainstorm!

Sheltowee Boone 40 Hammock Demo and Tutorial

Recently acquired a new hammock from Alex over at Sheltowee Hammock Company and decided to roll some video putting it up.  Ended up turning it into a semi-tutorial/demo of how I put together my hanging rig.  Check it out!

I love the rapid and easy setup.  Most of this is due to having the insulation (underquilt) integrated into the hammock.  It all pops out of the bag in an instant, ready to go.  For this setup, I added my BIAS (Butt In A Sling) Nano-Buginator.

This is my first full coverage underquilt.  While I've made due with 3/4 length setups for some time, on window nights, it's just a pain getting everything adjusted just right to prevent drafts.  The Sheltowee is just more effective, and I can't wait for cold weather to really put it through it's paces.

The entire setup is slightly heavier than my comparable hammock + underquilt (just under 40oz).  But the trade-off is well worth it to me.  You save time not only in setup, but in those middle-of-the-night fiddle sessions when you are woken up by a cold spot.  I love slinging this thing up, and just being done.

The standard setup comes with buckles attached to the hammock loop in a more or less permanent fashion.  It comes with tree straps to complete the suspension.  I asked Alex to attach Whoopie Slings instead with tree hugger straps - which is what you'll see in the video.  This is a big lighter, and easier for me as all my other hammock setups are like this.  And I typically attach my tarp right to the whoopie with a prusik loop.

Long story short, this thing is the mac-daddy of hammocks.  It's going to get a lot of miles...

Mountain Laurel Designs Burn 2300ci Backpack

Mountain Laurel Designs (www.mountainlaureldesigns.com) is a great cottage industry, and well know among the ultra-light backpacking community. Their products cover a wide array, from backpacks, to shelters (like the famous TrailStar), to quilts. They also carry a variety of accessories for hikers.

When I started backpacking with DCUL, I immediately took notice of the tiny frameless packs many of the members used. I was intrigued, and when I saw the Burn go on sale, I snapped one up. It was my go to pack for all of last years hiking, except for the winters trips when I had to carry more hardware and I reverted back to my Osprey Exos 46 for it's larger capacity of weight handling ability. But I'll circle back to that - for now, lets check out the Burn's specs!

From MLD, the Burn 2300ci details:

• Weight:11oz (included external bungee and sternum strap not include in base weight)

• Total Maximum Volume: 1950ci main pack / 2200ci using extension collar

• Minimum Volume: 1200ci with compression bungees engaged.

• Main Pack: 1500ci

• Main Outside Pocket: 200ci

• Side Pockets: 150ci + 150ci

• Extension Collar: 300ci

• Pack Fabric: Dyneema X (TM)

• Extension Collar: 70D Silicone Coated Ripstop Nylon

If you are a gram counter, that first detail probably jumped out at you. This pack only weights 11 ounces!!! Even with the added hip pouches and bottle holder, the total weight of my Burn is 13 ounces. That's 1/3 the weight of my Exos. When I switched to this pack around a year ago, this finally got me under 'official' ultra-light base weight of 10lbs. MLD achieves this by cutting out all the un-necessaries, and of course the frame. The stark contrast between this and my previous packs was obvious the moment it was delivered in a small envelope.




I have to say, I loved this pack from the start. While I eventually ran up against it's limitations, it remains a favorite pack for short hikes when I don't need to carry more than 20lbs. This weight limit is stressed by MLD. If you put more than 22 pounds in this pack, you will hate life. Of course, I carried way more weight in it than that on many occasions, but after 15 miles my shoulders always had enough. This is made worse by my long frame. The short torso length of this pack causes the packs weight to ride heavily on my shoulders. It's difficult to get it to rest on my hips when it's fully loaded.  It also feels like a stuffed sock a bit if you jam it full, which means no airflow on your back.

My normal weight for a trip with this pack is 12-18 pounds.  When I have it in that range, it's a complete dream - you barely notice it at all.  Even if the weight rides on your shoulders, it hardly matters!

It comes with a length of shock cord which you can rig up on the back with the included hooks.  You can use this to either strap on gear, or tighten the pack down when it isn't full.  Accessing the side bottle compartments requires a little bit of a stretch, but is easily doable while you are hiking.  The zippers on the hip pockets are taped to help them shed water, and they are a decent size.  Opening them one handed is tricky, and I usually have to resort to two.  The stretch mesh compartment on the back is perfect.  Whatever you stuff in there stays put, and ready at hand.

The nylon material initially made me a little nervous.  I wasn't sure how it would hold up to abrasive abuse.  But after coming through a week in Zion, including scraping through narrow canyons unscathed - my fears were all put to rest.  All the stitching has held up perfectly, despite the fact that I have over-loaded it many times.

Waist deep in just-above-freezing water in Zion's Subway.

So what I ran up against, and what eventually made me look for a new 'main pack' was the weight limit.  I really missed having a frame for heavier loads.  For long trips, there is just no way around it - as Michael Martin once said, "the calories weigh!".  I would have my base weight under 8 pounds, and then need 20 pounds of food and water for a long trip.  Somewhere between 15-30 miles, my shoulders and back surrender.  Again, some of this suffering is due to the fact that I need a pack with torso length of 24 - and most packs top out at 21 (eventually I had a Zpacks Arc Blast made custom for my size).

The Burn pressed into service as a day pack for a XC-ski adventure in Maine!

So bottom line:  I still love this pack, and it will certainly hit the trails with me for some adventures - while the heavy lifting will be done by other packs.  Which, really, is the way these are designed.  It's important to know the strengths and limitations of your gear.  If you are going for a 3 season weekend adventure, this pack will certainly do the job!  Also, if you are smaller framed, this pack will be ideal.

Osprey Stratos 36 Review

The Osprey Stratos 36 has been around for a while, but it's still a great short-haul workhorse. Mine is a couple years old, with numerous hikes (both day and overnight) and many miles on it. It's still in perfect shape (if dusty and stained in places).  It was the first pack I picked up when I started converting to 'Ultra-light' backpacking.

Most sites will list this as a day pack. But for any ultra light backpacker you can easily accommodate gear for longer hauls.  I would rate this pack as a good 3 day hauler for moderate climates.  For very cold, snow filled trips, you might find you need a bit more cargo room.  As always, fit the pack to your gear and needs.

The Stratos 36 weighs in at 3 lbs 1 oz (large size) and 2 lbs 15 oz (medium). I trimmed all the excess strapage to get mine under 3 lbs.

The Stratos has cinching straps on either side, for tightening down on a small load or lashing on your jacket when the trail gets you sweating and there is just no more room inside your pack. There are two pockets in the top flap, which are relatively easy to access while you are wearing the pack and on the move. A pocket on each hip strap keeps even more stuff ready at hand.

On either side of the bag is also a bottle holder, big enough to handle your standard 32-40oz water bottle. There is also a secondary compartment on the back, and just superior to this is another zipper opening that lets you access the mail compartment - for those times when what you need is all the way at the bottom and you don't want to pull everything through the top opening.

You will also see a tool attachment loop at the bottom, and a clip attachment point at the top of the secondary compartment. On the left side of the bag is the Osprey hiking pole loop. If you use hiking poles, this is awesome for stashing your poles on the go. Stick the bottom of the poles through this loop (collapsed or not) and then the handles get attached to the left shoulder strap at your chest. On the opposite strap is a pocket for sunglasses. I was wary of my Oakleys getting crushed in there, but after a dozen trips my fears have been unwarranted.

And speaking of sweating, this pack has the Osprey "Airstream". Basically a mesh back support which helps keep your back breathing. Compared to normal back padding, I find this totally superior in every way. I miss it everytime I'm wearing my bigger, heavier bag (which isn't often since I love the stratos so much). You can optionally hang your water bladder here instead of in the pocket inside the main compartment, saving some space for other gear, and making it easier to access and refill without unloading the pack. Loops at the shoulders are provided to thread your bladder's hose through and keep it from thrashing around. I use a clip to attach it to the sternum strap as well. On the sternum strap is the standard safety whistle.

Hard to believe I used to use that heavy rope for hanging my hammock!

Bottom line: Obviously I love this bag. It has accompanied me on many miles, withstood my abuse (which is substandial) and held up superbly. I have since moved on to true ultra-light packs from cottage manufacturers, but this is a good entry-level pack for hikers or backpackers tackling short trips.  You can also look at the Osprey Exos as a good mainstream answer to ultra-light packs.

Buying considerations: Like many Osprey packs the Stratos comes in small, medium, and large. Keep in mind this has nothing to do with your relative size, and everything to do with your torso length. If your torso is longer than 21" I would go with the large. Smaller than 18" go with small. When in doubt, go to your local outdoor outfitter and have them size you up. You can save yourself some change by ordering the pack online though. Amazon.com typically has the lowest price.

I actually have this pack in my sell or swap pile - though I love it and it certainly has sentimental value, I've been working on adopting a minimalist attitude to my entire life.  As such I'm trying to part with anything I don't absolute need or use a lot.  My new Zpacks Arc Blast (review forthcoming!) fits all my backpacking needs at the moment, so I don't feel the need to keep the Statos except as a loaner for friends.

New Gear, New Blog - Hammock Gear Cuben Fiber Tarp

So I've collected quite a bit of additional hiking gear over the last year.  Since I get asked about such things a lot, I decided to start doing more formal reviews for my own amusement and for others to check out.  This seemed to necessitate a new blog!

First up, I decided to review a piece of gear of have gotten many nights out of already.  The Hammock Gear Cuben Fiber Tarp.

Hammock gear puts out some great stuff.  I also have two underquilts, and have a top quilt on the way.  The top quilts work just as well for ground dwellers, though they are obviously ideal for hangers.  Everything they make is top notch.  I can't recommend them enough.  You can get stuff customized just how you want it.

So, on to the tarp!

Pictured here in 'Porch Mode' - rigged high for better views and airflow.

The tarp, without lines, weights in at 6.4 ounces!  Mine is the 12' version, with doors.  The ridgeline is reinforced, as are all the tie outs (4 on the corners, 4 more on the 'doors', plus 4 more support tie-outs midway down each panel.

Pictured with the door flaps closed, in a very awkward hang!

It's worth noting a couple of things about cuben fiber, in case you aren't familiar.  It's natural to compare it to sil-nylon, it's closest competitor in weight and toughness.

First off, cuben does not stretch.  Not at all.  This might take some getting used to if you typically just crank down on your lines and stretch out a sil-nylon tarp.  Though it's not necessarily a bad thing.  One tip, you don't want your pitch to be too tight.  You can easily make your cuben fiber tarp play like a drum.  It might look cool but if you get a real down pour, you will experience a 'misting' effect.  Rain coming down with force can actually push it's way though the fiber, causing mist to fall on you.  This is easy to avoid, just something I had to learn along the way.

Hammocking with a trap is great in the summer!  Rig it a little higher for full coverage with lots of air-flow.

One trick I developed after being through a couple of downpours:  You'll notice that your ridge-line will tend to loosen up or sag sometimes.  I started using 1/8 shock cord (like this) for my tie downs.  Not only does this make setup easy as you can be less precise, but it will also automatically take up any slack that develops in the night so you keep a nice tight pitch.  On my last couple trips I switched to using Nite Ize Figure 9's for even easier and faster setup, and works perfectly with the shock cord. 

Speaking of rain, this is an area where cuben beats sil-nylon hands down.  Cuben Fiber doesn't adsorb water.  Not one drop.  Shake it off, and it's dry.  Pack it away and get on the trail!

While cuben is super tough, it can be easily punctured if you are careless.  Try not to poke it when you have it drawn tight.  That being said, mine has survived intact from some minimal abuse so far.  It's also easy to burn, so try to avoid setting it on fire!

Coverage of this tarp for either hammocking or ground sleeping is superb due to it's large size.  If you pitch it high, you can have a party under it.  I've lounged in my hammock during several downpours, staying high and dry while I cooked my dinner.  It does a pretty good job of covering a double hang as well - or even 3 if you are desperate.

I've had to tarp out in several winter scenarios, one were the temps dipped to -5.  The wind protection is fantastic do to the extra long panels.  You can pitch this thing just about down to the ground, and with the doors closed you have total wind protection.

For milder weather were you might want the doors out of the way, I either pitch the sides up in 'porch mode' to have open views, or simply tie the doors pack to the center of my ridgeline cord to keep them from flapping and annoying me while I sleep.  Really you can rig the tarp up anyway you want.  I rarely use the extra mid-panel tie-outs unless I know I'm in for heavy snow, or if I'm hanging my hammock as high as possible inside the tarp.  In that case, using the tie outs can give you some more shoulder room.

There isn't a whole lot more to say - the tarp design is great.  Other manufacturers make similar tarps, but I like the longer side panels and minimalist design of HG's that shaves a few grams off the total weight. Hammock Gear makes top notch stuff.  You can't go wrong with anything they make.