MONEY

jkern15674 · Joined: 17 Mar 2005 Posts: 208

Browsing through REI.com and saw the arc'teryx naos 70 backpack for $500 and thought holy schniekie. Would anyone pay that or am I a cheap a**??

LongStoryShort · Joined: 04 Oct 2004 Posts: 402 Location: Doha, Qatar

I dunno, but I work there in case anyone was wondering.
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Happiness is being high on the food chain.

IGO · Joined: 08 Feb 2005 Posts: 4144 Location: Las Vegas

If I wanted it and I thought it was the thing I'd buy it.
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"Surely all God's people, however serious or savage, great or small, like to play. Whales and elephants, dancing, humming gnats, and invisibly small mischievous microbes - all are warm with divine radium and must have lots of fun in them." John Muir

Davis2001R6 · Joined: 12 Dec 2003 Posts: 5591 Location: Italy

I would never pay that much for a backpack. A 4 season tent, maybe.

azbackpackr · Posted: 7/28/2006, 6:09 am Post subject:

What's a schniekie?

I have used the same pack for 31 years. It works fine except for canyoneering/scrambling, because it's external frame, a bit top heavy, wide, etc. I need a new one, but I'm not paying $500! No way! However, if someone likes that pack and can afford it, well, then, I say go for it! I agree with IGO (for a change Very Happy

).

Anyone tried that REI ultralight one--it's around $100? I am going to interview folks about it. I did try it on at REI/Tempe, (on my one and only visit there since becoming a member in 1971.) There is another ultralight I saw being carried by a PCT hiker in the Sierras. I want to say it was an ULA or UMA or something--three letter word starting with a "U." This guy said it was way better than the REI one. If I buy another pack I'm going for lightweight. Anybody heard of it?

Shawn · Posted: 7/28/2006, 6:40 am Post subject:

I rationalize what I spend on gear by the the fact that "regular" vacations cost hundreds of dollars a day, so if I spend $500 on a pack or $250 for shoes, they are "paid for" in a few nights on the trail. If you want the high end and can afford it-more power to you, you likely earned it.

Elizabeth, talk to me about that pack, sounds like mine but I can't remember the acronym right now either. Will think of, made in Utah bya small company. No complaints.
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The bear went over the mountain to see what he could see.

azbackpackr · Posted: 7/28/2006, 6:47 am Post subject:

Yeah, it was an ultralight, with a lot of netting pockets on the outside, light green fabric with that funny ultralight look to it. This guy claimed it was way better than the REI one. I didn't ask him if he thought it was better than the Go-Lite ones. He was planning on hiking the whole PCT with it and had already made it to the Sierras, and was pleased with it. Of course, there would be the question whether or not it's made for smaller women.

ghoster · Joined: 14 Nov 2003 Posts: 152 Location: Scottsdale

Yep, the one you are talking about is from a company called ULA or Ultra Light Adventures.

The link is;http://www.ula-equipment.com/

I owned the one at REI for one backpack to Rogers Trough, the problem I had was that it's harness or straps pivot on the center of mass and when I loaded it with the water and stuff it seemed to roll from side to side for me. Plus when I stuffed the bag and tent into it, it was hard to access the outside pockets. I wasn't impressed so I took it back I have been thinking about the ULA one, but still haven't committed to it. Take a look at the website, They are pricey but if you want one I think the quality makes it worth it.

azbackpackr · Posted: 7/28/2006, 7:25 am Post subject:

Thank you for the info!!

Shawn · Posted: 7/28/2006, 8:03 am Post subject:

Yup, that's my pack.

Very nice in my opinion, only complaint is the top bag doesn't snug down very tight, so I run the strap up over it which accomplishes the objective. Doesn't quite "look" like a pack should in some opinions, but switching to this took 2-3 pound off my back at the time, so I can stand the style issue.

Let me know if you want to see it sometime, and I'll remember (yeah fat chance of that) to bring it to an event where we are both there.
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The bear went over the mountain to see what he could see.

Davis2001R6 · Joined: 12 Dec 2003 Posts: 5591 Location: Italy

I have a REI UL 45 as well, I got it on sale for $30 over the winter. If your around 20-25lbs it is ok but not much more than that.

I have heard good things about the ULA packs, also I noticed that the granite gear packs were popular as well for the thru-hiker/lightweight type people.

I have a Gregory Z-Pack and I absolutely love it, I got one on sale for $90 and I've carried loads up to 50'bs in it, but that is overload for it. It's great for around 35lbs. They make a G-pack which is a bit smaller.

Shawn · Posted: 7/28/2006, 8:04 am Post subject:

Oooops, double posted
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The bear went over the mountain to see what he could see.

Davis2001R6 · Joined: 12 Dec 2003 Posts: 5591 Location: Italy

Shawn I completely agree with your Philosophy on spending $$$ on camping stuff. Compared to regular vacations they are fractions of the cost.

IGO · Joined: 08 Feb 2005 Posts: 4144 Location: Las Vegas

azbackpackr · Posted: 7/28/2006, 7:26 pm Post subject:

Yeah, I have the Flash--it's nice.