As promised in another thread here is my review of one of my favourite packs so far, naely the Granite Gear Vapour Trail. For those of you who define quality and reliability as 'bomb proof', 'squaddie proof' or 'built as a tank' then you could probably stop reading here. Being light weight and made in light weight durable materials it's for the more open and daring crowd I guess. Although marketed as ultralite I would say that it's light rather than ultra light. Featuring a minimalistic design and a rather lacking feature list I think it is well suited to the kind of outdoor activities I do. A feature is just another think that can get broken. I rarely use any of the features my former packs have boasted. It would probably put this pack in better light if I stated my experience of packs. I've used a lot of packs, steel framed army packs, alu framed hiking/hunting packs, military soft packs, civilian trekking packs, and some rather good climbing packs.
Any way, on with it then! Okay, the pack is made from a light weight cordura ripstop fabric, reinforced bottom and some parts on the front. No external pouches, but elasticated pockets, the kind which has become more or less standard in the UL world. And for a reason I might add, I feel these pcokets are way superior to any pouches I've used. Well, you can't make a day pack out of pockets, but how often do you do that anyway?
Here's a pic of the front, the two straps are prefect for your kip mat, and you can also see the pockets. The pockets can be accessed while the pack is on your back. They could easily hold a 1.5 pet bottle and some other bits and bobs, they are quite spacious. Also notable is one of the key design features, namely the non-existent lid. While at first I was rigid in my views of the traditional ruck sack, with lid, I have now really questioned why I used a lid at all in the first place. What is the point of the lid? Hold a kip mat? No, a pair of straps does that as good if not better. Hold a climbing rope? No, straps again win that. Rain protection? No, not really, you always have to combine with some liner. The top pocket? Come on, that small space doesn't jsutify the lid. I can't really understand why almost all packs have a lid, it's just in the way of the opening anyway.
Any way, on with it then! Okay, the pack is made from a light weight cordura ripstop fabric, reinforced bottom and some parts on the front. No external pouches, but elasticated pockets, the kind which has become more or less standard in the UL world. And for a reason I might add, I feel these pcokets are way superior to any pouches I've used. Well, you can't make a day pack out of pockets, but how often do you do that anyway?
The front
Here's a pic of the front, the two straps are prefect for your kip mat, and you can also see the pockets. The pockets can be accessed while the pack is on your back. They could easily hold a 1.5 pet bottle and some other bits and bobs, they are quite spacious. Also notable is one of the key design features, namely the non-existent lid. While at first I was rigid in my views of the traditional ruck sack, with lid, I have now really questioned why I used a lid at all in the first place. What is the point of the lid? Hold a kip mat? No, a pair of straps does that as good if not better. Hold a climbing rope? No, straps again win that. Rain protection? No, not really, you always have to combine with some liner. The top pocket? Come on, that small space doesn't jsutify the lid. I can't really understand why almost all packs have a lid, it's just in the way of the opening anyway.
Side view
As you can see from the side view there are a pair of compression straps on each side. The side compression straps in combination with the pockets can be used for collabsible poles, fishing rods, a gun or whatever.
The back side
This shot of the back side shows another typical trait of the lighter packs, namely the complete lack of any carrying frame. This pack is more moderate as it features a foam pad which provides enough stiffness. Also the shoulder straps and waist belt is very stiff and has good padding. I guess most people will think that some sort of carrying system is a must, and that a well designed load bearing systems will 'take the load of your shoulders' think again pal, there ain't no such thing that's worth it's own weight. I have tried this a lot, using a 16 kilo load in this pack and then putting the same load in two different frame packs, and a soft pack. What matters is total weight, not what kind of pack you use. Try it yourself, you will be amazed. As long as there is some kind of basal stiffness in the pack (either by something stiff in the pack or by packing in a certain way) you will most likely favour the lighter ones. A easy example, 16 kilo load in a 1 kilo pack is 17 kilos, 16 kilos in a 3.5 kilo pack is 19.5, the difference is 2.5 kilos, or 13 percent. No way is the 3.5 kilo ruck gonna relieve 13 percent of the load. Dream on.
The waist belt is removeable, a nice touch if you're travelling by train, plane or bus. Less to get snagged in aisles or bet abused by the luggage handlers. The waist belt is adjustable on both sides, and against the actual bag. The shoulder straps are pretty straight forward. A sternum strap that is less visible on the picture.
The waist belt is removeable, a nice touch if you're travelling by train, plane or bus. Less to get snagged in aisles or bet abused by the luggage handlers. The waist belt is adjustable on both sides, and against the actual bag. The shoulder straps are pretty straight forward. A sternum strap that is less visible on the picture.
The top
As you can see, the lidless top is strapped into place by two crossed straps. Since the lid is missing the collar is much more expandable. The little spruce cone is there for a reason, it's separating the main pack from the foam pad to reveal a really neat pocket, ideal for e.g. separating wet gear from the rest of the pack or for axes, saws or other tools. You can also see the haul loop. Instead of a adjustable back system, the vapour trail comes in three sizes. I bought mine in a group buy and not a single one of the buyers have been dissatified with the fit. Not shown in the pics is the internal pocket which is well suited to hydration bladders, there is a channel for the hose.
70D Ripstop Body
210D Nylon Cordura Reinforcements
Stretch Woven Pockets
Features
www.granitegear.com
My overall impression of the pack is very good, I have used it for about a year and a half and am well shuffed with it. The stitching and overall build quality breaths reliability and craftsmanship. Granite gear states that the load capacity is 14 kilos, although I have personally used it for a lot more. Around 18 maybe, and that is more or less how much I am willing to carry unless somebody pays me. Ihave been out for about 9 days with out any support with this pack, although it was filled to the brim the first days. A smart thing is that it has no zippers at all, which are a good thing IMO as zips are the first thing that go bust.
And I must add, I am by no means an ultra light hiker. I prefer traditional stuff as most here do, I don't weigh any of my kit and I don't see any great need for it either. But I don't seeing any point in constantly looking backwards. I made a specification for a pack and looked thru what was available in the market that fitted my needs, and the choice fell on this one, and it turned out to be a great deal lighter than I had hoped for. Here are the specs from the company, and they are great to deal with, the prices are fair and quality high. They also have a range of canoe packs, in modern materials and more modern harnesses. worth checking out IMO.
Specifications
Torso Sizes: short | regular | long
Weight: 1kg | 2lbs 5oz
Capacity: 59 liters | 3600 cubic inches
Suspension: Vapor
Load Capacity: 30lbs | 14kg
Materials:And I must add, I am by no means an ultra light hiker. I prefer traditional stuff as most here do, I don't weigh any of my kit and I don't see any great need for it either. But I don't seeing any point in constantly looking backwards. I made a specification for a pack and looked thru what was available in the market that fitted my needs, and the choice fell on this one, and it turned out to be a great deal lighter than I had hoped for. Here are the specs from the company, and they are great to deal with, the prices are fair and quality high. They also have a range of canoe packs, in modern materials and more modern harnesses. worth checking out IMO.
Specifications
Torso Sizes: short | regular | long
Weight: 1kg | 2lbs 5oz
Capacity: 59 liters | 3600 cubic inches
Suspension: Vapor
Load Capacity: 30lbs | 14kg
70D Ripstop Body
210D Nylon Cordura Reinforcements
Stretch Woven Pockets
Features
- hyrdation compatible
- optional lid
- interchangeable belt
Talk about over engineered. That one looks so simple in comparison.
