Seek outside Paradox?

[luke moffat]

From the Paradox custom shop

3 lbs all in , pricey but not in the range of many other setups and a lot lighter

It's stuffed with closed cell foam so it looks a little stiff . It's going pack rafting in Alaska and water proofed ness was important

Looks cool Kevin!!! Waterproof is a must for packrafting!!! I have been eyeing a ULA epic for a packraft only dedicated backpack this summer as weight shouldn't exceed 60 pounds, but that looks like a great option as well!!

I'll have to "weigh" my options They look similar in design, but the paradox with the stronger taller frame is attractive. Whats the cost of the setup shown?

Here is the new packrafting setup I was looking into. ULA epic with drybag.

 

[Ray]

It showed up this week and today was the first day to take it outside. What a nice pack. Since it has a much different shoulder system than I am used to it took a few attempts to get it to fit once I had some weight in it. Pretty simple process.

About 15 pounds today with a 9 pound water jug and some basic fluffy gear. It was so warm that I stuffed the puffy into the zip pocket top lid. There is not a full main bag or day main bag connections for the top lid so it sticks way up in the air when locked to the upper anchor points. It looks like a solution for that would be to have the spare connectors on the tag ends of the lowest compression straps all depending on the loads being carried. Even as loose as the top lid was today it did not flop around.

The Xpac material did not change its noise factor once out in the cold. It as the same as in the warm house. Not that it was that cold today, but in the shade for part of the hike up a creek drainage it was in the mid 20's. Once on the trail it did not make any noise at all. For future trips I will focus on securing the zippers for the top lid so that they do not clink next to my ear. I kept thinking we were being followed by a dog with a bell until I figured out it was the two zipper pieces tapping together.

This bag is huge and on my small portly frame it appears even larger with only one trasher sleeping bag and basic day gear (1 gallon zip lock of stuff) to hold the water jug up in place.

The belt did not impinge on my swollen lumbar disk. I did notice that I was carrying weight on my back, but with no lumbar pad to push on the trouble spots the issue was not made worse. I am looking forward to getting more weight in the pack and doing more hikes this spring.

 

[DaveC]

The VX fabrics don't get noticably louder until temps get close to zero. This is worse with new fabrics and with the lighter fabrics. New VX-07 is quite crinkly at -10, for instance. Once used a fair bit VX-21 and VX-42 are no louder than cordura under field conditions.

 

[RockChucker30]

Ray, here is a quick fitting video. Its hard getting used to it being this simple after experience with other packs

http://youtu.be/JOfgCLvZGms

You can repurpose the middle or lower side compression straps to tighten the top lid up. The buckles are keyed to allow it to be used many different ways.

 

[Ray]

Ray, here is a quick fitting video. Its hard getting used to it being this simple after experience with other packs

http://youtu.be/JOfgCLvZGms

You can repurpose the middle or lower side compression straps to tighten the top lid up. The buckles are keyed to allow it to be used many different ways.

Thanks. I did see that video and it helped. I just need to fine tune it. I think at 15 pounds it was not heavy enough to settle in quickly like in the video. Still comfy though. I had to loosen the waist belt up, which is the completely opposite experience with my Longhunter G2.

The top lid does have a lot of potential for adjustment and I'll be playing with that this spring. I am still learning all the buckle fittings for the day talon and lid stuff. Really liking this pack system.

Soon I will give the rifle doohickey a test run on a hike. Should gets lots of strange looks from the skiers.

 

[luke moffat]

Thanks. I did see that video and it helped. I just need to fine tune it. I think at 15 pounds it was not heavy enough to settle in quickly like in the video. Still comfy though. I had to loosen the waist belt up, which is the completely opposite experience with my Longhunter G2.

The top lid does have a lot of potential for adjustment and I'll be playing with that this spring. I am still learning all the buckle fittings for the day talon and lid stuff. Really liking this pack system.

Soon I will give the rifle doohickey a test run on a hike. Should gets lots of strange looks from the skiers.

You certainly will from this skier

 

[RockChucker30]

Ray, I think you'll like the Gunhook. It's my all time favorite rifle carry solution.

 

[Ray]

You certainly will from this skier

Yeah, you would start messing with pack and seeing what the changes are since you test drove one last year, then start asking questions about the rifle. Maybe I should just stick a piece of black iron pipe in my old Model Seven stock for a practice rifle. Hate to have the ski mom's freak out. Or you.

 

[sneek-ee]

 

[sneek-ee]

 

[Blackcow]

Have to say I'm starting to dig that pack.

 

[RockChucker30]

Quick update, the website now has better product photos.

Last Thursday my wife and I were setting up our outdoor booth at Appalachian Trail Days in Damascus, VA. It was raining sideways at the time. It was one of those miserable miserable days.

The AT ran about 10 feet in front of our space, and thru-hikers would periodically trudge by in the slopping rain. One poor guy was wearing a pack that was about 50 liters in size, and he had a rain cover on it that must have been a 70-80 liter size.

It had rained so much that the bottom of his rain cover had actually filled up with water, and it was swinging back and forth. Probably two quarts of water was hitting his rear on each step.

Guys, THAT is why we use X-Pac for our pack bags. Kevin and I have both been there, done that, and it royally SUCKS.

It poured the next day as well, so I left my personal pack out to get drenched. The contents were dry as a bone afterward.

 

[Ironman8]

Is the Paradox designed primarily to use the load shelf to pack out meat (like the Stone Glacier)? Or primarily to put meat inside of the pack?

If the load shelf is the primary design feature, how is there enough compression (and load shelf) to keep all of the components compressed and stable? I may be missing something, but I'm under the impression that the packbag and talon would be completely detached from the frame and relying only on the compression straps to keep them from moving anywhere. The load of meat directly against the frame would be the only one really on the load shelf, correct? The components/configuration that I'm referring to is: frame > meat > packbag > talon.

 

[Kevin_t]

You can carry meat three ways, load shelf , packbag, talon. Most seem to use talon. The pack bag can detach but for meat carriage it does not, rather it pivots at the bottom creating a V essentially , which does limit space but also prevents items from slipping free. The top of the pack bag can use the the bag attachment to adjust opening but i suspect most would just use the compression straps since there are three and the over the top straps if needed
Thanks
Kevin

 

[Kevin_t]

Here are a few recent field photos , cuben unaweep sub 3 lbs by a long shot