Z Packs

[roysta]

I never thought of looking in this direction until now, but I'm looking.
The Arc Blast 60 (Wayne your Facebook post on this got me thinking) is the one I'm looking at.
Can someone with a Z Pack, not necessarily the one above, fill me in on their properties, how they travel on your back and what sort of loads they could take.
I see 30lb is mentioned as an upper limit for the Arc Blast 60, which is 13kgs.
I wouldn't want to use something like this with more than 12kgs anyway, so enlighten me someone.

[wayno]

just in case you werent aware mate, theres an ultralight subforum under the equipment forum if you want the ultralighters to catch your query...

[roysta]

off I go, thanks

[wayno]

i'm still trying to work out how i can get away with adding a pack to my collection without incurring the wrath of my significant other.. i'm being told to reduce the no's...

[roysta]

I don't have a problem carrying my current packs, but really, 600g for a 60 litre pack up to 13kgs is very appealing.
Similar problems here justifying it to others, but everything must be considered as one gets older.

[wayno]

yes i just got away with my last purchase saying it was better for my neck which i injured... but that was because it had wheels on the pack...

[wayno]

the amazing thing is , is that the pack has a frame on it despite being so light, real bonus there

[icefest]

I have an Arc Blast but have not had a chance to play around with it yet.
Exams finish in a week and I can post images and opinions.

[roysta]

When you test it out can you post something, will be really interested.

[forest]

so enlighten me someone.

Hi Roysta
I have a Arc Blast and it's a sweet pack. Carries amazingly well. I'd liken it to my old Osprey Exos 46 but more than half the weight.
Have a look at my Larapinta report, used it out there and if I did it again I would not hesitate to take this pack. Belt pockets are great, stretch back mesh great, shoulder pockets/pouches great. Everything great.
I'd like a blue one.... Didn't have atht option when I ordered mine.

[roysta]

Thanks Forest, I have an Exos 46 which I love, so you've got my attention.
Looks like a blue one coming Up

[roysta]

I've ordered one, blue

[wayno]

[Strider]

Here is the rest of Stick's review too

http://sticksblog.com/2013/11/08/first- ... #more-6190

[roysta]

My 60 litre version arrived today and it looks fantastic, god, does a pack get THAT light?
2 hip pouches and a shoulder pouch and the pack is still under 450g empty.
In good time I'll give my impressions of this cuben fiber number.

[icefest]

Exams are finally over and I've had a chance to play around with it.

Just walking around the house so far with 10kg in it. Its very comfortable (with lumbar pad) but the load lifters were not needed, they just get in the way and attach in a very strange way...

Otherwise, I like the designs of both the chest and wait pockets, though the chest pockets are rather small. I might attach another strap to the top to prevent my water bottles falling out. (If you lean forwards when you have a 700ml bottle in them they fall out). The water bottle pockets on either side of the pack itself are spendidly large, no more worries about making bottles fit like in my Macpac Cascade.

In all I am quite happy with it. I'll be able to give a better review when I come back from the South Coast track in a couple of weeks.

The only thing that I noticed was that the seam tape on the inside, on the top edge of the water bladder hole hasn't been cut properly so that it would eventually come off - fixed it myself (and the bottom of the same hasn't been seam taped - fixed with seam grip).

I also got a down hood and a couple of cuben bags and pillow.

[roysta]

In all I am quite happy with it. I'll be able to give a better review when I come back from the South Coast track in a couple of weeks.

There have been some concerns raised about the stitching on the Z Packs, so I'll be very interested to see what you think.