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Hi I am new so, uhhh hello. I am looking for a lighter smaller pack and am thinking of either the osprey atmos 50 or the gregory z-pack. I am thinking of doing more 2-3 day trips than anything. I am also hoping to do a bit of canyoneering. So any suggestions on which pack to get are apreciated. Thank you.

Oh and what are some good hikes in the sierra vista area? Thanks again.

Erin

Welcome to HAZ Erin!

Hopefully Mike, one of the Matts or a handfull of the other backpack gurus will jump in with some good answers here as I don't have a clue on packs. If nobody answers you might try the search function in the forum as a lot has been posted over the years on packs.

There's also many gurus on board with experience in the Sierra Vista area, unfortunately I'm not one. If worse comes to worse, I'll go find out myself and report back

My vote would go to the atmos. The material is a little heavier so it would be better for canyoneering. Ultimately though, comfort will make the decision. Try on both packs (with a load) and see which one will fit you the best, then buy that one. Don't worry too much about the weight of the pack. If you are trying to go lightweight then first you should get as much weight out of the pack as possible. The very last step in lightening your load should be buying an ultralight backpack (ultralight packs will not hold greater loads comfortably so you need to make sure your load is as light as it can get first).

I don't know much about the sierra vistas, but if you ever want info on the supes or central rim area let me know.

Some of the nicest hiking around Sierra Vista can be found in the Huachuca and Santa Rita mountains. There are good guidebooks devoted specifically to these areas at Summit Hut in Tucson.

As far as backpacks go, I don't have experience with the two you mention. To throw a monkey wrench in the works, here are some other nice light backpacks to consider:
http://www.ula-equipment.com/
http://www.granitegear.com/
http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/
http://www.gossamergear.com/

I would suggest getting a seperate bag for canyoneering. Repeated submersion in water will play havoc with most regular backpacks, not to even mention ultralight backpacks that are typically made with lighter and less durable material. You will significantly shorten the life of your backpack by using it for canyoneering. A SealLine Boundary Bag is perfect for canyoneering and can be had for only $50-70.

Hey thanks for the suggestions and welcome guys. I always try to do research and get some opinions of "regular" people out there instead of just magazine reviews....I also always have a hard time forking out the dough so this is just one more way to delay. Thanks again.

If you intend to canyoneer with the pack, I would get the Osprey or perhaps look into a Granite Gear bag. I have the Gregory Z pack and while I really like it for its light weight, it is not very durable. I vote for Granite Gear; light and burly. Osprey bags weigh a ton, but the Aether series is good.

If you can find it get the Osprey Aether 45, no longer made but my favorite bag of the series. Weighs in at around 2 lbs, roll down top, no lid, I think mine has a capacity of 2800 cu.
You can roll it down to make a day pack or for short light backpacks. I have one I have cannabalized for a caving pack, and another that is my long weekender. I have an Atmos 50 too, I like it but the 45 fits me better.

My second 45 I picked up for 50 bucks online.

matt gilbert wrote: Try on both packs (with a load) and see which one will fit you the best, then buy that one. Don't worry too much about the weight of the pack. If you are trying to go lightweight then first you should get as much weight out of the pack as possible. The very last step in lightening your load should be buying an ultralight backpack

I totally agree Matt. The more ultrlight your pack is the less weight it will be able to hold comfortably or even break under the stress. If the rest of your gear is ultralight then you'll be ok. Try on as much stuff as you can. You never know what brand will fit perfectly.

For ultralight summer loads I plan on getting one of these.
[ 2020-02-04 Removed dead link ]

My normal pack is a Z-Pack. It fits me great and is a perfect balance of ultralight and weight carrying abilities.

I've heard great things about GraniteGear stuff also.

Good luck.

Matt Hoffman wrote:If you intend to canyoneer with the pack, I would get the Osprey or perhaps look into a Granite Gear bag. I have the Gregory Z pack and while I really like it for its light weight, it is not very durable. I vote for Granite Gear; light and burly. Osprey bags weigh a ton, but the Aether series is good.

Yep.... GG Vapor Trail

Granite Gear rocks. The BEST pack I have tried. Thanks to advice from Kurt and Shi, I hike with the Vapor Trail for day hikes, and the Latitude Vapor for extended backpacks (takes care of that pesky top loading frustration). Both weigh just over 2 pounds.

I have an alternate view, however. If you are just deciding to get into lightweight backpacking, and you haven't already purchased most of your gear- I'd go with buying the pack first. A lightweight pack FORCES you to seriously re-think your gear. It demands that you think multi-use, and yes- it'll kill your wallet, but if you are already mulling over ultra-light packing, you are either independently wealthy, or cultivating the attitude- "what? Rent, electricity, food- who needs that stuff?"

Good luck!

Mike

For 20 bucks you can buy a used, but in new condition military surplus Alice pack (with or without frame) they come with quick release straps in case you need to drop your pack in the event of a crisis and have several different storage pockets and a divider inside to keep items separated, they are exceeding durable and they are easily large enough for any 2/3 day trip. They have the means of attaching almost any accessory you could possibly want to take. They have grommets in the bottom of every pocket and storage area for rapid drainage. They are without a doubt, the most durable pack ever made. Another plus is that there are not made in some Bangladeshi or Chinese sweat shop by a 11 year old child like a lot of this mega-expensive, albeit it, stylish backpacking gear. If it is style you are after you have lots and lots of options, but if it is a very rugged, longlasting, inexpensive pack you are looking for, you should look it over. The only downside is they don't go over well with the fashion critics. They might not be as light as some packs, but whats a little extra among crazy people who stuff heavy objects in packs and leave air conditioned houses and cars, to go crawling up canyons and through deserts filled with every species of biting, stinging flora and fauna known to man in 100 degrees plus tempetures.

I have backpacked in the Huachucas, up Brown Canyon and over a pass and then down Ramsey Canyon, finishing the loop by walking a short distance along the paved road back to Brown Canyon trailhead. I think you could do this as a dayhike, but I also think you have to get permission from the people at Ramsey Canyon (The Nature Conservancy). There are many other popular hikes in the Huachucas, and also along the San Pedro River. The Arizona Trail goes through there.

My favorite animal is very common in the Huachucas--the coatimundi.

i just purchased an atmos 35 for dayhikes and over canyoneering.tried it out 2 weekends ago in lower tonto crk.and loved it put some grommetts in for drainage. i intend to use this pack for 1 or 2 nighters once i down size my sleeping bag. 2500 cu. willbe plenty of room.

my ultralight gear usually costs much less than heavier counterparts. For instance... Jam Pack $80
6x8 tyvek $6
you only lose money if you end up wasting it on heavy gear that you later never use.

In response to mikeinFHAZ's reply:


loose money on too big of gear....ummm yep that is what I am doing. But if I ever decide to go for a 3 week hike I'll have all I need in one bag, and then turn around two days later unable to go on

I have an osprey aether 90 right now, 5600 cubes

I checked out the z-pack and am thinking I will go with the osprey. I like it, and the size seems about right.


So here is the way cool plan I want to try come july 10thish. I want to go on a mortorcycle/backpack tour for about 5-6 weeks. Plan to ride from tucson to northern az, utah, colorado, wyoming, montana, washington, oregon, norther cal, nevada and back to tucson. I would like to try and get in at least a one three day hike in each state, but we'll see how motivated I stay. If there are any must do hikes I need to hit let me know. Glacier is on the list, as with zion and the narrows, and of course some where in the colorado rockies but not sure what yet. This trip is probably going to be me winging it and deciding what to do by the flip of a coin, and of course when I get back to tucson I will be living in my bivy sack and eating canned beans straight out of the can....ahhh, heaven.

as with zion and the narrows

You can do hikes/canyoneering in a lot of places in Arizona that are the same or better than the Narrows in Zion. I would try to get a permit to the Subway in Zion if I were you. It would much more worth your time.

I have a Kelty Tioga Internal frame backpack that I purchased new from REI in 1986. Would like to replace the back band, hip belt and shoulder straps (pack frame and and pack bag are ok) I have visited the Kelty website and was wondering if anyone had done replacement parts and options you can recommend.

@Nighthiker
Kelty has a small selection of accessories. Be sure to read the comments about the sternum strap in the comments on shoulder straps. Might also salvage parts off a used pack on eBay, at Goodwill or etc.

Kelty may be able to help..
"We maintain a full repair facility to assist you with any problems you may have with any Kelty product. We offer a lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship, and for a nominal charge we will repair damage due to accidents or normal wear and tear."
And/or > https://popupbackpacker.com/update-your ... -backpack/

Just researching options to modify my Kelty pack, and yes the folks from Kelty were quite helpful. I have a Kelty Cache Hauler Freighter pack. I like the shoulder strap, backpad and hip belt assembly on the pack. I removed the internal frame assembly from a military CFP-90 pack and installed it on the Kelty Cache frame. I also have a medium ALICE pack and installed it on a military 1606 frame and I can use the shoulder straps and hip belt from my Tactical Tailor MALICE Pack.