I always figured those ultralight frameless packs were a gimmick until I hiked 90 miles on the Long Trail with one last week.

Turns out my 5-pound Osprey was overkill for a 3-season trip and my shoulders felt better after day 2 with the 12-ounce pack because I actually packed smarter, has anyone else made the switch and found a breaking point where frameless just stops working?

3 comments

3 Comments

karen_carter3d ago

My very first frameless attempt ended badly around mile 8 of the Pemi Loop with a 24-pound load, so I feel your pain on the breaking point. I remember a guy at a shelter in Vermont bragging about his 8-pound base weight while eating a can of beans he carried in his hand, which is next-level crazy but also kind of inspiring. @evan_davis is spot on about the foam sit pad trick, I use a Z-seat cut in half and it makes a surprising difference on longer carries. For me the magic number is 18 pounds total, anything past that and I'm wishing for a hipbelt by lunchtime. What was your total pack weight when you finished the Long Trail trip?

paul_ramirez3d ago

Did you read that study about pack weight and spine compression, or was it just trial and error for you?

evan_davis3d ago

Oh man, congrats on seeing the light lol. I switched to a 16oz frameless pack a couple years ago and for me the breaking point is right around 20 pounds total weight. Anything over that and the lack of hipbelt really starts punishing my shoulders after a few hours. I use a cheap foam sit pad folded up against my back to give it a little structure and that helps a ton. Also found that shoving my tent and sleeping bag in loose instead of in stuff sacks makes the whole thing carry way better. What gear did you ditch to get the weight down?