I finally retired my circa-1968 Kelty frame pack after so many years of stubbornly resisting the ultra-lightweight revolution. And after 5 nights out on the trail with the Granite Gear Nimbus Meridian, I’m never going back.
First of all, the best feature has to be the weight. Coming in at 3lbs, 8oz this pack must weigh at least 3lbs less than my old model. Of course, the old Kelty was pretty convenient if I wanted to pack in an old Buick on the trail, but really, how often is that necessary? Once a year – tops?
Second, the frame sheet is unbelievably comfortable. I can lift as much as 35lbs on my back (still considerably less than I used to carry) without really feeling much of anything. The weight gets perfectly distributed to my hips keeping the heavy lifting off of my shoulder straps – and shoulders.
Third, when I got the pack last year I thought the external front-access panel zipper would be key for getting into and out of my pack, but after discovering the wonders of stuff sack I now wonder if this just isn’t extra, unwanted weight. If I “downgrade” to the Nimbus Ozone I’d lose 8oz. Just a couple swigs of water really, but those base ounces add up faster than you can say “pulled disc”.
Of course, I could go completely overboard and trade in for the Vapor Trail and lose 1lb 3oz – and 200 cubes of much-needed storage space.
But this is where my new pack has really revolutionized how I think about backpacking. With a lot less space to pack than my old Kelty – I’m forced to pack only the essentials. It’s as though my pack is scolding me as I get my gear together for a trip, “Yeah… you don’t need that…” And so I leave it at home.
It’s like the old backpacking adage. Make three piles of your gear. 1. The gear you use all the time. 2. The gear you use some of the time. 3. The gear you seldom use. Then toss the second and third piles.
With the new pack, that 1st pile is getting smaller.
