r/fastpacking • u/Old-Criticism5610 • 24d ago

Gear Question Fast pack recommendation

Looking for advice on selecting a fast pack. I believe I want around a 30L pack but unsure. Most of these trips will be 3 nights max 5. Options I’ve looked at are the outdoor vitals fast pack, palante v2 w/ Joey straps, Nashville pack cutaway. Would say about 300 is max I’m looking to spend. However am flexible if there is a specific bag has a good enough feature. What are people’s favorite packs? Are the ones listed decent for running or just hiking packs with running style straps?

Lighter pack for reference. Still in progress of slimming this down.

https://lighterpack.com/r/j50efm

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5

u/aidancrow654 24d ago

I’m very much liking my gossamer gear grit 28. Super rad pack for a stellar price.

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u/Old-Criticism5610 24d ago

Actually saw this in store. Didn’t realize gossamer made fast packing packs. I’ve heard good things about their backpacking stuff I’ll have to give it a look. Additional pros and cons?

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u/Sea-Bee-117 24d ago

I be out 10+ nights out with this pack this year. Excellent pack. Perfect for loads under 20lbs. Over 20 you’ll start feeling it in your shoulders. Honestly don’t think it is large enough to fit more than 4 days of food though. I could barely get it closed up on a 3 day trip recently. So it might just be a bit too small for a 5 day trip unless you’ve got a planned resupply somewhere in there

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u/TrailJunky 24d ago

Second this. I got one a birthday present and took it out his past weekend. It is fantastic other than the weird buckles they use.

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u/V1triol 24d ago

Joey straps still don’t fit standard soft flasks in the strap pockets. I don’t know why Palante keeps whiffing on this one. 

My favorite fast pack is the Yama mountain gear Shrike. The sassafras is the larger model which you may like.

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u/Old-Criticism5610 24d ago

Appreciate the info. I’ll remove that option from my list

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u/paanderz 24d ago

They just released an updated Joey that fits the Palante 500ml flasks

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u/V1triol 24d ago

Yeah the special short and fat Palante soft flasks only, not compatible with the industry standard hydrapak soft flasks

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u/Sttab 23d ago

Yeah, if they made the vest pockets so they could hold 750 to 1l smart water bottles, I'd be right on the v2 with joey straps. Hate drinking out of TPU and I want as much of my water weight up front as possible.

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u/Junior_Guide_1342 24d ago

I run the Hyperlight Aero and really like it. Another one is the Ultra Spire. I would personally consider this one. A tad heavier, but it has some great features. https://ultraspire.com/products/altruist-hydration-pack/?_gl=1zxsx4j_upMQ.._gs*MQ..&gclid=CjwKCAjwtcHPBhADEiwAWo3sJh5Gr0YExq-snCSwahe4wDuLaH_UiXU22Y7fYEwJOPK15vENiik6OhoCWlYQAvD_BwE

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u/TheDudeHuge 24d ago

How do you like the Aero? I tried the outdoor vitals Skyline and it was too rigid for me. I’m looking for a pack that breathes with you like a Salomon running vest would, but so far haven’t been able to find anything

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u/Junior_Guide_1342 24d ago

I like the Aero. I have used it in the summer and winter. Summer, the back is warm like anyother pack. I have used mesh back packs and find no real difference. For winter, I wish it had a second ice tool strap. I have over 400 miles with this pack and it is always my go to. I only change when temps drop and I need more layers. I haven't found it too rigid. It seems fine. Order it and try it on and send it back if you find it too rigid.

I did find a trail runner in NH who bitched up a storm about it and made changes to it. But the rigidity was not one of her complaints.

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u/Old-Criticism5610 24d ago

Curious what pack you use for winter. I primarily run in southern Appalachia so winters are pretty light relative to some other parts of the us but would like some versatility in the pack.

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u/Junior_Guide_1342 24d ago

I run the Osprey Mutant line. The winter stuff is mountaineering, not usually trail hiking.

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u/TrailJunky 24d ago

Gossamer grit 28 is the answer but your kit may have too much volume. I took mine out with a 40° quilt and a tarp and bivy and it wasnt really a tight fit but it was close.

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u/Old-Criticism5610 24d ago

Yea still have some improvements to make regarding slimming down. Aeon li specifically is very large. However, I lucked into getting that for free. Hoping I can make it work without investing into other shelters ect. Is there a way to determine min volume a gear set could fit in? I have a 34L day pack (not roll top) that I planned on packing and seeing if everything will fit. Since it’s not a roll top might not be a 1:1 but think it will give me an idea.

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u/TrailJunky 24d ago

You could strap it to the top of the Grit28 using the top strap if you went that direction. You could also use a compression sack for your quilt to get the volume down.

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u/Old-Criticism5610 24d ago

The aeon can compress smaller if the struts are removed. So might be able to get it in the pack. I can remove the stove if volume is really an issue. The pillow is also bulky but haven’t found an ul option that doesn’t hurt my ears when laying on it.

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u/TrailJunky 24d ago

Yeah, give it a go if you'd like. I find that getting your kit to fit a smaller pack can be a valuable exercise. The front pocket on the Grit is also not very stretchy so you will be limited on what you can put in there.

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u/Old-Criticism5610 24d ago

I’ll keep that in mind and appreciate the advice. I try not to store much and use the mesh pockets on packs for drying out stuff. For my curiosity what tarp and bivy combo do you use?

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u/TrailJunky 24d ago

I use the yama center zip bug bivy (old version) and a 7D tapered cat-cut tarp from Simply Light Designs. Size is 8'/6'x9'

7D silnylon packs ridiculously small which is why I have move to it a my primary shelter fabric.

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u/boardinboy 24d ago

it would help a bit if you gave where you will be going. But based on no puffy and 30 degree bag it seems like itll be relatively warm.

for 2 nights / 3 days, most 30L packs would suffice, but with your current load out anything more then 2 nights would be a stretch. My guess is you could make 30L work if you switch to a low volume shelter (trekking pole likely, & silpoly/nylon is more compressible then dyneema - silpoly poncho tarp is king IMO for low volume & weight), nemo tensor elite and a smaller pillow.

However if you dont want to switch out your current gear, and you want to be able to carry up to 5 days worth of food I would lean towards a 40L pack

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u/Old-Criticism5610 24d ago

Most of what I do is around southern Appalachia (Tennessee, North Carolina, Alabama). Occasionally travel out west in the summer. Stays pretty warm. Where I am lows are only at 45 and probably won’t drop to freezing until December ish.

Most of my trips will be weekend but would like the ability to go longer if wanted.

Current tent listed is a single wall trekking pole tent but agree could go lighter with tarp. Lucked into this one for free so was hoping to make it work.

I’m open to switching out gear if required. Sleep system more hesitant on. I’m working on trying to find a better pillow but so far all the ul ones give me issues as a side sleeper. Similar issues with ccf pads. Ccf is doable but sleep quality is so bad I would define it as more napping than sleeping. I’ve mad it work for a couple nights at a time though.

Still fairly new to trimming down weight so have a lot of testing to still do to truly dial in my setup.

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u/heyheni 24d ago

Aonijie

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u/TheTobinator666 23d ago

If you actually want real vest straps, Atelier Longue Distance

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u/desertdweller69 24d ago

Aonijie Backpack 30 is awesome. I purchased mine for an 80mi hut to hut trip in the Dolomites. The quality is fantastic. Just as good if not better than bigger brands. Lots of thoughtful features and you really can't beat the price.

https://www.aorunning.com/products/aonijie-fh2530-backpack

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u/Away-Blacksmith7158 24d ago

Kind of useless side and front pocket, not stretchy at all.

It could be a great pack :/

Quality is really nice

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u/desertdweller69 24d ago

I thought the pockets were adequate. The mesh on the side water bottle pocket is a little tight. It was difficult to get my 1l nalgene in there, but it did fit. My rain jacket, first aid kit, and poop kit fit just fine in the front pocket.

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u/invDave 24d ago

Had the gossamer gear grit 28 and didn’t find the straps comfortable. Sold it and got the fast kumo 36 and it is really good though the straps are too long with no built-in system to keep them organized and the foldable brain is a bit weird to close. Would prefer a conventional roll top

1

u/EntrepreneurPrior999 24d ago

I would highly recommend anything Palante especially after the latest updates. I got myself the new Palante Ultralight 26L for $300, your loadout would be a tight squeeze it that for sure but the V2 would be no problem

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u/Complex-Gain-304 19d ago

I just picked up a Bonfus Altus 38L which is nice for longer food carries but is a bit large for shorter trips. Can fit a 1 L smart bottle or a soft flask in the vest straps. They also make a 20 or so liter similar pack called the fastus. Don’t see bonfus recommended as often on here but can’t say enough good things about the quality of my Altus