Ultralite backpack and bear cannisters.

[Gris]

i went thru the UL metamorph two years ago. i don't think you necessarily need to hold off on pack. i think you will get yer load down to 25-40 depending on days out and then the Q will be hipbelt & stay(s) or rucksack. i do NOT agree with those that argue that any old rucksack can be made to transfer weight to hips via use of a sleeping pad. i think pack design plays a larger role than that. thus IMO the Q is are you the type that doesnt mind carrying most of a load on your shoulders all day or the type that likes to loosen up those shoulder straps and let it fall back on the hips a bit.

as far for hammock vs tarptent. i went for UL tarp over UL bug tent in lieu of hammock based upoen versatility - both as to number of users and conditions/pitch (sometimes a bug tent is all you need, sometimes a tarp).

 

[jwind]

I had a gift certificate to EMS a while back and the spire
caught my eye.

I looked at some Golite backs but they all felt way to flimsy on my back. I tried on the spire and it fit perfect. It's not as light as some framless packs but it's certainly not heavy. The canister would fine as it's 2500 cu in.

 

[afka_bob]

i do NOT agree with those that argue that any old rucksack can be made to transfer weight to hips via use of a sleeping pad.

Don't know 'bout "any old rucksack," but Tonycc seems to have good results doing this with a Golight Dawn, L, as he said above:

I have the Golite Dawn, L, and the Bearvault 7 day. This pack advertises 2,400 cubic inches. The bearvault fits easily inside a rolled blue foam pad inside the pack. this set up gives an excellent rigidity to the pack, effectively transferring all of the weight to the hip belt.

I've had what I think are excellent results using a rolled-up closed-cell foam pad cut to seat-size in my EMS 2800LT, as I related above:

Tonycc's suggestion to use the b.c. wrapped in a foam pad is a good one. I use a seat-sized closed-cell foam pad as a "rigidifier" in my frameless EMS 2800LT -- works like a charm to transfer the load to the hip belt, and makes a great seat on rocks and snow.

Other than those (since Tonycc seems at least as satisfied as I am), I can't say.

Perhaps you were ignoring these and referring to some other instances of pad-stiffening frameless packs that did not appear in this thread.

I mostly use tarps or shelters (or both) these days to save weight and space in my specific iteration of the ol' frameless rucksack. If it's so buggy that I need a tent and mesh windows and doors, I'd just as soon go to the movies. Tarps and floorless tents suit the sort of camping I like to do and are very easy on the back. My old Eureka pitching tarp was pretty easy on the wallet, too.

 

[Gris]

That Spire looks sweet, similar to my ULA P-2 and exact same weight - only diff seems a bit smaller main compartment and no hipbelt pockets, but it's 1/2 the price of mine!

 

[jwind]

That Spire looks sweet, similar to my ULA P-2 and exact same weight - only diff seems a bit smaller main compartment and no hipbelt pockets, but it's 1/2 the price of mine!

Really don't have anything bad to say about it. Sure it's no frills -- isn't that the trade off ?.

I'm not ready to go frameless. I'm not sure i'll ever be for that matter - I like a sturdy feel.