MY THRU HIKE

If you will look at the right side, and down a little ways of our site. You will see Both mine and my mother’s packing lists. These lists are our base weight only. Base weight is everything that will be in our packs while they are on our backs minus consumables. Consumables are food, fuel, and water.On my list you will note that I was using the Z-55 from Gregory. It is a great pack with lots of room. I even wrote a review about it and made the claim that it was going with me on the trip. Well…. yeah. Its not.

The Z-55 is a great pack loaded with so many features for its 3.5 lbs.I have learned through a recent experience that the fit of a pack is not only effected by the shape of your body. But is also the strength of your core muscles. Now, if you take the few seconds to think this through. You will see just how much of a “duh” point this is. The core muscles are the main muscles used in backpacking next to the leg muscles of course.

When I began looking at backpacks. I had to go through a long list of the multitude of backpack options out there. I rejected the ultralight backpacking offerings out there based on a fear of damage to my back and just an all around lack of experience. Plus, they aren’t sold at REI or another outfitter that I can buy from and return to in a reasonable amount of time sans shipping.So that left the usual pickings and the new “fast and light” series by more than a few manufacturers. Of the fast and light listed backpacks, my favorite manufacturers were The Northface and Gregory.

I grew up in a period of outdoor adventure when LL Bean was an ACTUAL outfitter. As an outfitter they sold Dana, Gregory, The Northface, and a few other brands of notable reputation. So one thing leads to another and Dana has been bought by Mountain Hardware, so Gregory and The Northface is where I turned.

I tried the Skarab 55 and Skarab 40 early on in my quest. But at 240 lbs and with weak back muscles the pack was perfect for my hike, but not for me. I just couldn’t get it to fit right. Plus, and this is the biggest problem, I suffer from “nobuttatall” disease. So the pack kept slipping off my tukus!! That led me to the Z-55. It had a lumbar pad.But twenty-five pounds later I got the idea to try the pack again.

I lost that twenty pounds THANK YOU! Anyway. I tried the pack out again and BAM! The Skarab 55 is a pound lighter than the Gregory, easier to pack, it has bottle pockets, comes with a pack cover, and has a huge outer pocket. Don’t forget that there is no “brain” to hassle with and it fits very close to the body making it oh so easy to move with! It is very form fitting, breathable, and stream lined! I will write a review soon. But for now just take my word for it. It is easier to pack and much more to my liking than the Gregory!