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Post by Coolkat on Sept 2, 2020 4:29:11 GMT -8
I'm in a quest for a new backpack and I'm thinking maybe I've found the one for me. It appears to have a nice balance between weight/volume/load carrying ability. I'm curious if thee are other users of Seek Outside gear and your thoughts. Maybe even actually own this pack? I'm not sure I would have ever heard of these guys without listening to a BPL podcast. I had a few questions so I called the company and the guy who designed the pack answered the phone and was extremely helpful. Right now they are 8 weeks behind as they are having a hard time keeping up with demand. seekoutside.com/divide-ultralight-backpack-gray/The draw back for me is the price... but I don't have to have this until next summer so I can save my pennies.
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jazzmom
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Post by jazzmom on Sept 2, 2020 6:02:34 GMT -8
Not convinced it's "better" than my ULA Circuit. Price is a little nuts -- with two hipbelt pockets and a foam stay, it's $444. Circuit is $255.
I put "better" in quotes because so much is about fit. When I got the Circuit, the Ohm looked better on paper but just didn't fit as well. There isn't a good close-up photo of the hipbelt but I love the one on the Circuit. For me, this is key.
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Post by Coolkat on Sept 2, 2020 6:19:47 GMT -8
jazzmom, that is why I posted this. It's good to get the thoughts of others.
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Sept 2, 2020 7:26:59 GMT -8
Another Circuit user here. Happy with it after many years of use, and if I were in the market for a replacement, I'd probably end up with another one. Price, comfort, fit, and the components I am looking for.
If you decide on this other pack, please drop a review after a few trips. I understand that would be next Summer.
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Post by Coolkat on Sept 2, 2020 8:17:18 GMT -8
For you Circuit owners. I was originally looking at the Catalyst but I decided against it once I read somewhere that only 42L of the 75L was the main part of the bag the rest was dependent upon outside pockets. I'm not a big on depending on outside pockets. I consider that space bonus. I do use the "brain" of my current pack for quick access items but that is so small compared to the rest of the pack.
So I say all of that to ask if Circuit is the same way?
P.S. the nice thing about either of those packs is that I can get it in purple!!!
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Post by Coolkat on Sept 2, 2020 8:19:20 GMT -8
Never mind... I answered my own question about the Circuit...
PACK VOLUME TOTAL VOLUME: 4,200 CU IN | 68 L
Breakdown (Cu In):
Main Body: 2,400 Front Mesh Pocket: 400 Left Side Mesh Pocket: 400 Right Side Mesh Pocket: 400 Extension Collar: 500 Left Hipbelt Pocket: 100 Right Hipbelt Pocket: 100
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Sept 2, 2020 8:34:33 GMT -8
Typically, I carry a tarp, and rain gear in the front mesh pocket. Water bottles & stove fuel in the side pockets. Sunscreen, bug dope, lip balm in one hipbelt pocket. Bandana, snacks in the other one. All of the rest of my load is in the main body, with varied use of the extension collar (depending on season). I find the Circuit to be more than I need most trips, but I no longer camp in Winter. It held up fine for 7 days in Weminuche a couple of weeks ago. That's about as much gear/ food / clothing as I've hauled in a few years.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Sept 2, 2020 8:46:02 GMT -8
Typically, I carry a tarp, and rain gear in the front mesh pocket. Water bottles & stove fuel in the side pockets. Sunscreen, bug dope, lip balm in one hipbelt pocket. Bandana, snacks in the other one. All of the rest of my load is in the main body, with varied use of the extension collar (depending on season). I find the Circuit to be more than I need most trips, but I no longer camp in Winter. It held up fine for 7 days in Weminuche a couple of weeks ago. That's about as much gear/ food / clothing as I've hauled in a few years. Another Circuit user here, and with similar results as Zeke. I think most if not all packs get a substantial amount of their advertise volume from pockets, etc. On the Circuit, the “collar” is really just part of the main pack bag, and I expect to use that for any but the shortest and lightest trips. For a week in the Weminuche, I started with my tent in the outer pocket, but by the time I’d eaten my way down to. 3 or 4 days of food, everything went inside that I like inside, including the tent. The bottle pockets are fully usable and very good for actually getting bottles in and out, unlike most packs. Hipbelt pockets are enough for organization/ready-use items, with my camera/batteries in a camera bag hanging off the belt. So I find no loss of capacity compared to my old Osprey Ariel 60 (I think—the new ones are 65, but mine was a hair smaller), which was always plenty for me, at least once I was done carrying gear for the children.
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Post by Coolkat on Sept 2, 2020 9:14:12 GMT -8
You guys are twisting my arm into looking at circuit and catalyst again. I have a few months to decide but this is the kind of input that I love about this place.
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Post by bradmacmt on Sept 2, 2020 10:19:30 GMT -8
I was originally looking at the Catalyst but I decided against it once I read somewhere that only 42L of the 75L was the main part of the bag the rest was dependent upon outside pockets. You did yourself a disservice... ULA's ci #'s are wildly conservative. A typical Catalyst main bag is on the order of 60+ liters.
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trinity
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Post by trinity on Sept 2, 2020 10:38:57 GMT -8
I heard that BPL podcast as well, it was interesting. Are you a Backpackinglight member? You can read their review, as well as some member comments on the pack, here. Carry on with the ULA lovefest....
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driftwoody
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Post by driftwoody on Sept 2, 2020 11:08:56 GMT -8
SMD has their Fusion 65 on sale for $157, which might be worth checking out.
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Post by bluefish on Sept 2, 2020 13:09:39 GMT -8
What I gather about the seek outside pack is the ability to carry weight, not just volume. I had trouble with 30 lbs. in my Ohm. Not meant for it. Heavy desert water loads and winter might change use perspective. I go back to using an Osprey, at least it's comfortable and doesn't sag.
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trinity
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Post by trinity on Sept 2, 2020 13:19:02 GMT -8
SMD has their Fusion 65 on sale for $157, which might be worth checking out. I have an older model of the Fusion 50. Pretty nice pack, carries very comfortably. It's a lot of pack for the money.
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Sept 2, 2020 13:24:12 GMT -8
It is true. One needs to pay attention to the suggested load limits of any pack. 35#s is tops for my circuit.
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