Hey guys, I was doing some checking for upgrading my gear in the upcoming years for some backpacking trips. I have read some reviews online but I was wondering if anyone has used either the GoLite Pinnacle or Jam and more importantly if anyone has used the Six Moon Lunar solo during a Thru Hike or hike of longer period.
Your comments are appreciated.
_Zach_ I bought the Lunar Solo in 2005 and used it in 05 and 06 on my final sections of the AT (maybe 500 miles.) I used it again last year on my thru hike and it performed beautifully. I had problems with condensation on only one or two occasions (but so did everyone else with a tarp tent.)It's light weight, it sets up quickly, there's a lot of room for you and your gear, and it kept the rain out really well. I would have liked to have had a free standing tent at times but I was never unable to put the Lunar Solo up.(On tent platforms I used rocks to "stake" it out..no problem finding rocks!) I would recommend it.
_Trashman_ I hiked the PCT with an older model golite weighing 16 oz and really loved it but it was too large capacity so I'm going with ULA on the CDT. River dog has decided to hike with the Pinnacle. Looks sturdy. Bought a used one at the Outdoor gear exchange in Burlington VT.
_swansong_ I used a pinnacle for most of the AT and liked it, although I would have been fine with the Jam I think. My baseweight was around 14 lbs then and I still had plenty of extra space in the main compartment. The side water bottle pockets seemed to lose their elasticity after a while, which annoyed me.
_Brian_ I've used the original Jam for probably 1500+ miles. Nothing but good experiences. If you keep backpacks light, they do not need to be complicated or expensive. The Jam satisfies both qualifications. The only signs of any wear are a ripped exterior packet that I caught for the millionth time on a scraggly desert tree branch.
_Matt_ zach,
I thru-hiked the AT, CT, and PCT all using a 2007 golite JAM-2. I absolutely loved the pack. The only problem is that golite has released the JAM again, and it is now a tad bit too heavy for my liking (I have been eyeballing some ULA “ohm” packs recently). They did finally add some small pouches around the waist strap though. I also used an old 07 pinnacle during the high sierra section on the PCT and it performed the same as the JAM…with a little more room.
As far as the lunar solo…I used this shelter for my AT and CT thru-hikes. Great setup. It’s light, roomy, and requires no poles. The only downside is that sometimes it can be a little frustrating to setup correctly. On the PCT i used the gatewood cape for the desert section (the poncho version of the lunar solo), and then switched to a tarptent moment (a little heavier, but sets up in under a minute).
so long story short…all good gear, although I can’t speak directly about the newest release of the JAM/Pinnacle other than to say it’s a bit heavier.
hope that helps
_lakewood_