I have done about 50 miles of the AT with a Gregory Palisades and while it does work well I have found several things that I don’t like. BTW I’m a 6 ft 65 year old male.
What is every one else using ?
Rocky65
Rocky: I use a ULA Conduit which weighs only 20oz.When I first started Backpacking I carried at least 50 lbs.Over the years I’am down to carrying 20 lbs,including food and water for 5 days.
The Conduit maybe a little small for you, but look at the ULA Circuit which weighs only 32 oz.
Peace.:boy
old&in the way
I switched a while back to a Osprey Aether 70. It weighs a little over 4 pounds and carries about 4,200 square feet of gear.
Although a thru-hiker wouldn’t carry such a weight - it is rated for 55-65 pounds. I carried about 35-40 pounds and was very pleased.
However, it does not have and hip belt pockets. I’d just go to Walmart and get a cheap fanny pack and rig up some way to attach it to your hipbelt. I do that and have a holder of a 1-liter water bottle on the other side. If you have anything susceptible in your hip belt pocket (camera, etc.) remember to keep it in a zip lock or something to guard against rain.
You mention problems with hip belt comfort. The Osprey has something they call a thermo hip belt that can be shaped to your specific needs. But you have to go to a special dealer who has the equipment (some type of heating device) to mold the hip belt to you. I know if you buy it at REI they will do the shaping for you.
The Unknown Hiker
I used to carry a lot (40 - 50 lbs) in my Kelty Tioga and loved the pack. Most comfortable for a big load and I just like an external frame. I have gone to lighter weight as I have aged and use the ULA P-2 which I believe was replaced by the Circut. I love the confort of the pack (you need to keep it under 35 lbs)and the hip belt pockets are great. I use a water bottle holster I purchased at EMS to keep my water handy.
Big B
I used the Palisade for about 2 years:
(1) Never had an issue with the belt or comfort with any of my Gregory packs.
(2) Hmmm, I’ve not seen any pack with pockets on the waist belt.
(3) Never any issues using the water bottle pocket while hiking.
(4) It is heavy, but it’s designed to carry heavy loads (up to 55-60 pounds).
I switched from the Palisade to the Granite Gear Vapor Trail and have no plans to ever use the Palisade again.
TwoCan
I’ve gone through three backpacks and finally decided to go lightweight. I recently bought an Osprey Aether 60. I have to admit that I like it a lot better than the other two bigger packs that I have (a Marmot and a North Face) and the shoulder and chest straps feel more comfortable. I was pleased to get it and am looking forward to using it on my thru-hike next year.
Martin Davis
i use the osprey atmos 50 - have used it for 2 or 3 years now and really really like it. it is rated for a load between 30 to 40 and i really like that because it forces me to keep my pack weight around 25 pounds - it weighs in at just 3 pounds and has the inside water sleeve and two outside pockets that i rarely use due to the water sleeve inside the pack - it does have the belt pockets that you are talking about but i feel that they are a waste - have not had any luck using them…
my fiance has the ariel 65 (mens is the aether) with the heat molded belt - she has used it several times and really really likes the fitted belt…
hump
Medium ALCE pack modified and with a plastic frame. 2500 cu.in. and weighs 4 pounds. Wonderful.:happy
scout005
I use a heavily modified Golite Gust (no longer available, alas) that’s had side pockets, compression straps, a plastic framesheet, and a new REI Ridgeline hip-belt added. Problem is, it now weighs in at 40oz, well in excess of its original 20oz. I’m seriously looking at a ULA Circuit as it has exactly the kinds of features I’ve added to my Gust plus other goodies (like a better frame and hip-belt pouches) for all of 32oz. It has almost the same capacity (3750ci) and is more than big enough for anything a relatively lightweight hiker is likely to need even for the 5-7 day jaunts that a thru-hike might make necessary.
Strategic
Scout005 - your mention of the All-purpose Lightweight Infantry Carrying Equipment (ALICE) pack brings back a lot of memories from Vietnam. My memories were that the Army had them while us Marines had something called the M1942 pack that was made out of canvas and probably really was made in 1942. Ah, those were the days!!
The Unknown Hiker
Those were both rather interesting pack systems, much more modular than we generally use today. All of my modern packs are just one big bag, really, but even commercial lightweight packs used to be divided. My first Kelty, bought back in 1974, was a (then) lightweight 4.5lbs and had three major bag divisions plus four more large pockets. Yet it weighed more and carried less than my Gust. Just goes to show where new paradigms can change a field as significantly as new materials.
By the way, I found an image of the Marine Corps M1941 Pack system and the Wikioedia entry on ALICE pack and its many components. It’s still a viable concept, but just not much practiced anymore outside of military circles.
Strategic
I simply enjoy my ULA Catalyst pack. I used it for the JMT this past year and found it to be very comfortable and with all the features you are looking for (the waist belt pockets are excellent). The Catalyst pack may be a little big for the AT as re-supplies are more frequent and thus the ULA Circuit would be perfect. The waist belts on the ULA packs do their job to perfection - they transfer the weight to the bigger muscles of the hips. After I received my pack, I noticed that my hips/buttocks were sore. I called Brian at ULA and he said - excellent! - the pack is riding and fitting perfectly!
There is plenty of pocket room on ULA packs - unlike the Vapor Trail or other packs. Both the Catalyst and Circuit can handle the hard sided bear cannisters if you want to use one.
Other packs I have had good luck with are the SixMoonDesign and GossamerGear packs.
OregonBeerMan
I also started with a Palisades. IMHO, a great well built pack but too heavy…Switched to a Baltoro, which I really liked due to the shoulder harness and hib belt being about 1/2 ’ thicker. The Baltoro was still a bit heavy at 6" 8 oz.
Finally switched to the Osprey Atmos 65 4#-13 oz…not nearly as comfortable as the Baltoro, and I don’t think it will hold up nearly as long as the Gregory products. Can’t carry nearly as much stuff as the Baltoro, but that’s why I bought it to begin with…
Others i’ve tried are an REI, and a CamelBak (both around 1800 cubic inches) versus the 5000+ for the Baltoro & Palisade…
BitBucket
I started my thru-hike with Osprey Atmos 65 - excellent pack: light and very comfortable. The light weight comes at the cost of the durability for a long distance hike. by the time I made it to Harpers Ferry, WV I was keeping the shoulder strap together with floss. I swapped it out for a Aether 70 - more ruggedly built, heavier and less comfortable than the Atmos. I think between both models - I would probably return to the Atmos. REI has an excellent return policy.
Doggiebag
I’ll second the Catalyst. I used it on the CDT and GDT, and several short hikes as well. It was a comfortable pack, even when I was carrying a heavy food or water load. The hip belt is the best I’ve ever used; it actually fits around my hips rather than sitting on top as most of my previous packs did!
Ginny
I was amazed at the number of Osprey packs on the trail this year. I myself had one and I enjoyed the support, and the fact that it is off of your back so there is some air circulation. It is not as light as I’d like (3 lbs), but they haven’t invented my ideal pack yet.
I tried to convert to an ultra light pack- but most hikers I know who had them advised against it as they had trouble with seams splitting and not enough correct support. So they complained of sore shoulders a lot. That is the trade off with light weight.
Boo-Boo
