Thread: Zpacks 55ltr arc

Hi @Seventenths,

I own, have used, and seen a lot of the ultralight weight gear made in the US while hiking a number of the world's iconic long trails. All the brands you mentioned feature heavily on these trails. It's also a large proportion of those manufacturers intended market. Having hiked the US Rockies I would say that the North American wilderness isn't as tough on gear as the NZ bush is. If you're thinking about a lighter pack than the typical NZ made canvas Cactus pack or Macpac (which are usually between 2.5-3kg), you could also consider one of Ospreys lighter weight hiking packs because their warranty from what I've seen is second to none (at least in the US). You break something and they'll repair it or replace it, doesn't matter if you dropped your pack in the campfire. And the already mentioned Exped Lightening or Thunder models might be worth considering.

But like you mentioned, the combination of your big 3 (sleeping bag, backpack and shelter) is where you can save plenty of weight, along with taking only the minimum required to be safe and comfortable. Consider a quilt over a traditional sleeping bag and you could easily save half a kg.

Joel