Huntindog45
WKR
FYI camofire has started the get rid of the old mystery ranch sale. Selway on sale today....pretty tempting if I didnt know about the new stuff.
Also- it looks like those buckles might be compatible with the popup.
Hmm....brings a pretty big question to my mind, why didn't they make that change on everything else, or use the lighter material to begin with...In regards to the material change, here was MR’s response to my inquiry:
“There's almost no difference in the durability of the two fabrics because of the weave on the 330D. The reason for the change was a lighter fabric with almost identical performance in durability and tear / abrasion resistance.”
My inclination is it is not an upgrade on the buckles, simply a business strategy. Upgraded frame, but make sure it's not easily backwards compatible and then you can sell a kit.
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Either way I choose to look at it as the glass half full and not always thinking the company is out to get me. Even though making money is their ultimate goal. The fact that they are selling a buckle kit is great. Lots of companies change designs and it's nice to able to upgrade your older gear to work.
The buckle change isn't related to the lumbar/belt upgrade that folks wanted and they didn't change the footprint of the frame or location of the buckles as far as one can visually see (IE if they kept the old buckles this new frame would be compatible with their prior packs w/o any hassle). They have to had expected prior customers to wonder WHY they changed the buckles right? It would be interesting to hear. Do the buckles offer the user a better experience in some way? Maybe they saved some grams switching buckles but is it a meaningful amount to the user?
Not sure which is really louder when it comes to companies listening to social media (Facebook, YouTube, Forums, Instagrams, eg) but maybe...just maybe...it's a business-decision to start counting grams to cater to the Ultralight Community who's shopping for a lighter-yet-tougher material packs. It's a fast growing community that speaks with their hard end money.
330D Robic nylon fabric in their Mountain line is no joke according to the ULTRALIGHT Community...even sometimes used with Hammock Campers weight around 250+ lbs and have not worrying the material ripping.
Maybe the newer buckles is using a newer tougher material which maintaining relatively lower weight in grams. Why not have both?
Link?There's a thread on newbergs forum where Newberg talks a little about the new frame and bags. He says the buckles are lighter and just as strong and that was the reason for the switch