With our PCT hike quickly approaching Hannah and I are starting to shake out all of the details: food, travel, and most importantly GEAR.
We have started collecting the things we need and upgrading a few things to better, lighter versions. Christmas time was a perfect excuse to get some new stuff. Hannah was in dire need of an ultralight pack so, after a lot of research, she decided she wanted a ULA Ohm pack. It arrived just before Christmas but she waited to open it. She carried the pack on our three day yurt and cabin tour of the Porcupine Mountains and had nothing but rave reviews. At 21oz for 3,500 cubic inches this pack is light. The construction looks great and the design is super thoughtful. With a recommended max load of 30 lbs and a base weight of under 12 lbs this pack is perfect for Hannah’s needs out west. The simple drawstring and clip closure on top works really well at keeping your gear in and the weather out. The water bottle pockets are huge and easily accessed on the move. The compression system seems adequate and the single ice axe loop will be handy when we head into the Sierra Nevadas. The single U-shaped carbon fiber suspension rod seemed a bit out of place and unnecessary but when she added her Thermarest Prolight 4 into the included attachment points inside the back of the bag she said it was way more comfortable than she expected. One disadvantage to lightweight packs is that you sacrifice some of the comforts of big, bulky frames for pounds of weight saved. Well worth it in our opinion but it’s not for everyone. She opted for one of the add on hip belt pockets for a camera and some snacks and it was a good move. They are roomy and well attached. This seems like the perfect bag for the job.
I have been looking at ULA bags for a while. I saw a few on my AT hike and really liked the look of them. Several friends have gotten them on my recommendation and every time I see one I get a little jealous. I just couldn’t rationalize getting another bag and replacing the Granite Gear Meridian Vapor I used on the AT. It served me well on many trips and logged over 3000 miles of hiking in two years. But as I was loading up with food for our Porkies trip I noticed a few holes developing and some serious light shining through the seems. I could probably have sent it in to Granite Gear and had them repair the bag but I wanted something I could trust for 2700 miles. I don’t blame my Meridian Vapor, it had a long run and performed well beyond my expectations, but it was time for a new pack. I considered getting another Granite Gear but seeing Hannah’s Ohm in action convinced me the ULA was the way to go.
I decided that the Ohm was a little small and went for the next larger pack in ULA’s line, the Circuit. This pack is similar to the Ohm but has an integrated frame sheet so you don’t have to use your Thermarest for support. It is slightly larger, at 4,200 cubic inches and the added frame helps it carry a heavier load; 35 lbs with 15 LBS of base gear. This extra size and load carrying capability comes at a cost though, bringing the total weight of the pack to 37 oz. Once again the design and craftsmanship are excellent. The roll top closure is super nice and acts as a vertical compression system. Huge water bottle pockets, integrated hip belt pockets and large mesh front pocket add a ton of space and easy access to a lot gear. The hip belt and shoulder straps are well padded and the padded back panel makes for a comfortable ride. I will say that in the few times I have had the pack out is not as comfortable as my Granite Gear but this may just be a product of familiarity. The only draw back I have seen thus far is in the positioning of the carbon suspension hoop. I was hauling gear into a waterfall to do some ice climbing and found that when I looked up my helmet hit the hoop and made it tough to see. This isn’t really a normal situation and probably was never considered in the purpose of the pack but it is just a consideration if you plan to use the pack for alpine climbing.
On top of making great products, ULA is a pretty cool company. They are pretty small with less than a handful of employees. Every bag has a tag that says “Sewn in my garage, UT”. I really respect a small company that makes quality products and is willing to strive toward innovation rather than bend to market forces. Plus they took a bunch of time off last year to do some hiking. What’s not to love.
We posted a gear list a while ago and have made it permanent feature on the site. You can see it HERE. It isn’t complete but it’s a work in progress and shows a pretty good idea of what we plan on carrying for our 2700 mile hike.
One Response
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Aaron Says:
Sounds like a pretty sweet pack. You need to stop using cubic inches though and start using liters. I know I was the one complaining about you using kilometers in the porkies, but for some reason liters makes a lot more sense to me when it comes to measuring volume.