trinity
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Post by trinity on Jul 28, 2024 13:02:17 GMT -8
I look forward to a review of this pack, I've been eyeing the Circuit for years, but my old Gregory Z55 is still alive and kicking, so I haven't been able to justify the purchase. Out of curiosity, on what did you base your choice of fabric? I like the Robic for the color selection and the price. I like the Ultra for the weight savings and the increased water resistance. Not sure which I would purchase.
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Post by va3pinner on Jul 28, 2024 14:58:28 GMT -8
Honestly I chose the Robic for the price. At this point I'm not making any long-distance hikes, I'm spending more time caring for other people than hiking. So the weight difference between the robic and the other fabrics versus the price I couldn't justify it.
There are a ton of reviews on this pack. It is by far one of the most popular packs for long distance hikers particularly for CDT and PCT trail users.
There's not a whole lot to it, a big canyon interior, a very stretchy shovel pocket on the back that I use for all of my rain gear, a pack cover if I bring it, and inflatable seat pad, whatever else I can jam in there. Two large side pockets for multiple water bottles, or a tent or my case a tripod. And two good size Belt pockets. Roll top closure. Now this for me took some getting used to. Every pack I ever owned has had a lid that was really handy for hats, gloves, extra lens, snacks, whatever. I learned over time the exterior pockets on my catalyst are fine for all that stuff.
I have a tendency to modify everything I own. Don't ask me why I just the way my brain works. I can add a lid to this pack.
My stuff sacks are granite gear zipp sacks, the lightweight version. They have a loop on both ends.
On both the catalyst and the circuit, you roll the top closed and there are two fastex buckles on the side to fasten it down.
I place the appropriately sized granite gear stuff sack on top of the closed pack, insert the fast text buckle through the loops and connect it to the body of the pack. There is a top strap on the pack. I wrap over the stuff sack and connect that. It's locked in it will not shift. I have not used that combination much, really don't need it. Plenty of room inside the pack. But I was thinking about winter hikes where I could keep my puffy so it'll be easily grabable. Or if I'm going with my heavy weight selection of camera gear. I've got two setups for that.
What I'm trying to figure out now is whether I want to continue using my bladder or switch to water bottles. Trying to figure out where I will put the bladder inside or outside this pack.
Long story short this looks to me to be a great bag been very happy with my catalyst and it's huge 75L, I really don't need something that big now.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Jul 29, 2024 6:51:25 GMT -8
For what it’s worth, I put the bladder outside because that bladder sleeve inside is perfect for my journal and Kindle. That also makes sure the water is kept far from the things least compatible with water (not only the aforementioned items, but also my down jacket and quilt…). It occurs to me that I could make a much smaller sleeve that would just fit the things I actually put in it. I also like the idea about a top pocket, though after 6 years I’ve gotten used to just having everything down inside.
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jazzmom
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Post by jazzmom on Jul 29, 2024 7:19:10 GMT -8
I used to miss the lid pocket but I've found that a separate stuff sack that can be stuffed in the big pocket is more weight-efficient and easier to take in the tent at night. (My pack usually sits in the vestibule at night.)
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Post by cweston on Jul 29, 2024 7:49:25 GMT -8
I thought I would miss the lid, but I really don't. I use that same strategy of a small mesh "ditty bag" for things that would otherwise be hard to keep wrangled in the big pocket.
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Post by va3pinner on Jul 29, 2024 7:49:36 GMT -8
I used to miss the lid pocket but I've found that a separate stuff sack that can be stuffed in the big pocket is more weight-efficient and easier to take in the tent at night. (My pack usually sits in the vestibule at night.) jazzmom I like that idea except it can be much wetter here than where you hike I think. Bulling your way through rhododendron or Mountain Laurel bushes is common, and soaks everthing they touch. If I have any kind of stuff sack outside my pack, I've learned to line it with a turkey bag. Helps a lot. rebeccad I may try that side pocket idea. It would balance a tripod in the other pocket. How do you route your hose?
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Post by va3pinner on Jul 29, 2024 7:53:17 GMT -8
I thought I would miss the lid, but I really don't. I use that same strategy of a small mesh "ditty bag" for things that would otherwise be hard to keep wrangled in the big pocket. I have a similar idea, larger Zippsack inside the pack at the top for stuff I easily need.
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Post by cweston on Jul 29, 2024 7:57:10 GMT -8
rebeccad I may try that side pocket idea. It would balance a tripod in the other pocket. How do you route your hose? I route it up and over the shoulder strap on the same side as the reservoir, clipped onto my sternum strap. I like that the hose is a little less slack and floppy than when it's inside the pack.
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Post by cweston on Jul 29, 2024 7:57:54 GMT -8
(Oops: Out of context thread, here I come.)
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Post by va3pinner on Jul 29, 2024 8:04:47 GMT -8
Something else I'll throw in the mix (I'm always looking for ideas!) is how I've grown to pack things.
I used to have packs with several pockets. Not the case with the Catalyst or the Circuit. So I no longer use small stuff sacks or compression sacks. I stuff things as flat as possible, to evenly fill the pack from the bottom up. For example my sleep system is a down sleeping bag and an inflatale Exped pad. The Exped pad comes with an inflator bag called a Schnozzle.
I put the sleeping bag in a rectangular mesh bag just to contain it a bit, then put that inside my schnozzle. Smash as much air out as possible and seal it so it's now a pancake that fits in the bottom of my pack.
I use a much larger stuff sack than necessary for my camp clothing, which packs flat and goes on top of the folded sleeping bag. Folded Sleeping pad goes on top - all of this inside a waterproof pack liner.
I find this fills the bottom of the pack nicely, and it stays dry. At least it worked well when my bladder leaked inside the pack a couple weeks ago!
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jazzmom
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Post by jazzmom on Jul 29, 2024 10:12:59 GMT -8
jazzmom I like that idea except it can be much wetter here than where you hike I think. Bulling your way through rhododendron or Mountain Laurel bushes is common, and soaks everthing they touch. If I have any kind of stuff sack outside my pack, I've learned to line it with a turkey bag. Helps a lot. Well, I don't hike exclusively in dry places but I also pretty much assume all stuff sacks are waterproof, mostly because I make them. So if I'm going to bother putting my down in any kind of sack (your mesh bag, for instance), why not just make it waterproof for added insurance? In my experience, mesh bags aren't really any lighter than the lightest silnylon. My packing order is similar to yours but I haven't felt the need to flatten my bag down completely as the weight and pressure of other items compresses it as much as it needs to be. I very rarely put water inside my pack, and I appreciate the big side pockets on the Circuit for this. I use stuff sacks for things that I want to be able to keep and carry around together, e.g., food, water treatment (filter, containers, etc.)
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Jul 29, 2024 12:00:17 GMT -8
rebeccad I may try that side pocket idea. It would balance a tripod in the other pocket. How do you route your hose? I route it up and over the shoulder strap on the same side as the reservoir, clipped onto my sternum strap. I like that the hose is a little less slack and floppy than when it's inside the pack. Pretty much this. I run it under the compression strap on the side, and behind the side strap (the one that holds the end of the roll-top to keep it from shifting forward and getting in the way of my arm.
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Post by va3pinner on Aug 24, 2024 19:09:28 GMT -8
cweston My pack mod didn't work all that well. The idea will work, but the buckles did not, they kept slipping off because the tension on the strap was at an angle and they would work loose. So I figured out a simpler, and lighter version using 1/8" bungee cord. Same stuff as the bungee on the back of the pack. I found some tensioners I had lying around and tied two of them on a loop on the front of the pack. for the back I had to attach them to the lid compression strap. I folded and sewed a small loop on the strap right next to the pack. Used bungee material to tie the line tensioners onto the loops.Once I'm happy with the setup, I'll make cleaner connections. I thought the 1/8" bungee would work better, smaller, lighter, and just enough tension to hold items where I want them. I don't have this problem with the Catalyst, just the Circuit. Attached photos can explain a lot better than this!
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