[pct-l] Experiences with the Following Packs

[GARY HEBERT]

That's a GREAT idea. Call them up. Be honest. Tell them your plans and
products you're considering. Ask questions, particularly about how to use it
best or what it's limitations might be.  They're not looking to sell anybody
something that doesn't work for them. On the contrary they've designed their
products with a very specific approach to SUL hiking. They like their stuff
and can tell you the best things about them. They're usually PC about not
trashing other cottage industry competitor stuff but are pretty familiar
with what's out there and the tradeoffs. And they know what's good about
their own. They also constantly update upgrade or tweak their stuff to stay
cutting edge - the best features for the lightest weight.
Don't know lots about Tarptent specifically but Henry Shire was apparently
an early innovator and many swear by past and current designs.

A lot of this stuff is fairly universal for 3 seasons but may work best
under certain conditions or for certain purposes.  (more space/roomy vs.
lightest weight, or optimal wind/rain resistance vs.breathability etc., with
a bivy, without a bivy, how/what you plan to use for ground pad  etc.)

G

On Wed, Jan 7, 2009 at 10:27 PM, E A <afishnamedcarl at gmail.com> wrote:

> Gary,
> Thanks for the reply...  Its a hard choice between the three(Six Moons,
> Mountain Lauren, and gossamer gear).  It seems like they all make great
> packs(and other gear).  I am leaning towards Six Moons Starlite or one of
> the Mountain Lauren Designs Packs.
>
> Seems like you have a lot experience with the gear.  What do you think
> about www.Tarptent.com
> Do you think those are quality?
>
> Thanks for the rant gives me some good insight into the equipment.  I think
> I will give those guys a call next week and talk to them about the gear.
>
> Thanks
> Edan
>
> On Wed, Jan 7, 2009 at 6:07 PM, GARY HEBERT <hikerfedex at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Yes.
>> Ron Moak @ Six Moon Designs (owner/designer) is SUPER customer friendly.
>> Very knowledgable, honest, helpful. Bought my luna solo enhaned tarptent 07
>> from him and talked extensively since at Trail Days 08 about his and other
>> tents. Had minor issue with my tent shortly before I was leaving for AT, I
>> called him up, sent it 2 day shipping, he turned it around the same day and
>> shipped it overnite. Definitely has tweaked his products for little details
>> and stands behind them fully.
>>
>> Ron Bell @ Mountain Lauren Designs is AT LEAST as knowledgable and
>> customer friendly. He is currently my favorite among the cottage industry
>> for his persistence to tweak and tweak and tweak his designs to get it
>> perfect. Every piece of near-custom gear has benefited from minor revisions
>> with tons of added usefull features at very little added weight. Ron
>> REALLY understands SUL gear and the balance of durability, functionality and
>> very low weight. I own his SUL (Cuben Fiber) Patrol Shelter (tarp), SUL tent
>> lines & tension adjusters,SUL orange colored shepard hook titanium stakes, &
>> 6" Titanium V stakes, eVent Rain/Wind MItts (shells), SUL Tall Gaitors, SUL
>> Caribiners, Noseum Bug Head Net, and soon his SUL Bivy & pack. He has a very
>> thorough understanding of features which enhance strength, durability and
>> functionality for thru hikers under intense weather conditions, yet keep
>> added weight to the absolute minimum. Even if you make your own gear (MYOG)
>> with the same materials it would be difficult to make it lighter than most
>> of his custom gear-it's the lightest stuff out there and still loaded with
>> features. (READ his product descriptions filled with details of why it's the
>> best. Common sense - once he explains it & points it all it to you.) His
>> tarps are light years ahead of most. After talking with Tom @ Hennessey
>> Hammocks at Trail Days 2008 about a possible future SUL Cuben Fiber (the
>> lightest material out there now) HEX fly for his hammock, he said it's still
>> in the works.  After talking with Ron Bell I learned it was Ron who will
>> make it for him! Similarly I've had 2 very minor issues with orders which
>> were quickly corrected. Once had a minor issue with my new tarp tent, again
>> I sent it back, he turned it right around & shipped it out the next day -
>> right before Christmas! I will likely purchase one of MLD's packs & litest
>> bivy's for the PCT very soon.
>>
>> Glen & the staff at Gossamer Gear also really know their shit. I own every
>> ground waffle & flat closed cell pad they make, the Mariposa Pack which I
>> used for the AT 07, the LT 08, and several hundred other miles on the AT 08
>> including Tennessee, Virginia, CT, Maine, the Whites, most of the upper LT
>> in VT  last winter, and recently a little in the Adirondacks.  After
>> ??3000-3500miles my pack is a little worn at a couple seams (threads
>> loosening here and there), the mesh is a little tattered (mostly from
>> bushwacking) and one lower pack strap stitching ripped out but was very
>> quickly temporarily repaired on the trail & later tacked back in place. (GG
>> offered to repair it free, but since it was free at Trail Days I had the
>> guys there fix it - it's still fine.)  Many clever & functional design
>> features are incorporated into this and Glenn's other packs. I don't remove
>> the padding to replace with socks, etc. but I've carried 33.5lbs on a recent
>> trip and 30+lbs many times coming outta town with way too much food - well
>> over the 25lb rating. (The new Mariposa PLUS is rated for 30lbs) and it's
>> worked fine.  What I like most is the flexibility to fill the pack up to the
>> collar (TONS of room) or snug it down for slackpacking with almost nothing
>> inside, carry bear canisters, rolled pads,etc., wet tarps & rain shells and
>> mega other stuff on the OUTSIDE and easily accessible without emptying my
>> pack during a rainstorm or whatever. Again, gurus of functional features,
>> not just useless fluff that adds weight to the design. They even offer
>> instructions on the web site on suggested ways to use and pack the pack. (I
>> don't follow all these, but it sparks ideas to best understand how to max
>> it's flexibility). They're very knowledgeable about materials and features
>> as well as competitors products. (Side note Ron Bell's MLD pack hipbelt &
>> packstrap pouches are better designed and have better features, but I'd
>> already bought the pretty damn good SUL GG ones)
>>
>> All 3 of these guys know eachother well and all the competitor products on
>> the market.  They  thrive on getting it right. making the best stuff out
>> there, not just the lightest, though theirs are pretty damn light.
>>
>> I own ULA MIST Overmitts I bought at Neel's Gap (AT 07) for $30 & I'm
>> still using them, though a bit worn. They're SUL (<1 0z) highly wind & water
>> resistant and work great with liner gloves even in winter! I've carried &
>> used them on EVERY overnite or serious hike since I bought them,
>> including winter trips. Awesome product. (Recently I switched to MLD eVent
>> Mitts for better durability for $45 but they're still awesome-especially for
>> $30 & under 1 oz. I did own the Helix Potty Trowel aka SUL Ice Axe. It was
>> well designed and SUL, exactly as specified and reviewed in
>> backpackinglight.com. It just did not inspire confidence for me and
>> seemed functionally too short for side hilling or self belay though I bought
>> it too short; so I will purchase my own more traditional ice axe for serious
>> winter treks. It was however exactly as described, I should have listened to
>> the warning on ULA website and others. Just not for me. Sold it quickly on
>> BPL forums. Several I met used ULA packs with great pleasure.
>>
>>
>> I have no direct experience with ULA packs or customer service.
>>
>> Sorry if I got off on a couple tangents but WOW you've hit my short list
>> of cottage industry gurus. Backpackinglight.com reviews and forums are one
>> of my favorite sources of serious reviews, articles and info and these guys
>> stand up in those reviews.  Sorry for off topic ramblings.
>>
>> Choosing products from any of the above is more about personal preference
>> for different features or tradeoffs than quality.
>>
>> whoooh.....breathe.....ahhhh....
>>
>> :)
>>
>>
>>
>>
>