Stone Glacier Minimalist thoughts

[Colo4x4XJ]

Ah crap another backpack thread! After many hours of researching and comparing Ive decided that a Stone Glacier will fit my needs better than a Highcamp/Bikini. Ive opted to piece together my pack system to better tailor to my needs and ordered a Stone Glacier Minimalist pack with the Access bag and will be pairing it with an ultralight Mountain Hardware Scrambler pack. My goal is a modular pack system ranging from 20 to 80 liters that can obviously haul meat but doesnt weigh more than 3.5-4lbs. Does anyone have any experience with the minimalist pack yet? Its a pretty basic setup with no frills but I would really enjoy reading about other people's ideas with this pack
Thanks in advance
Andy

 

[tenth1]

I guess that I'm not following, why the Mountain Hardware Scrambler?

 

[muleman]

I haven't explicitly used a SG minimalist setup. I have used the roll top (minimalist) bag and the Approach bag with great success. That combo is my favorite setup for scouting trips of 2 days and one night. I day hunted a lot and packed 4 animals out with that setup last year.

For me the 3 piece belt and additional sizes will make it even better.

What specific questions do you have?

 

[Colo4x4XJ]

Ive got the 3 piece belt coming as well. Were the straps long enough to pack meat, drybag and Approach bag? How durable is the dry bag? Is the bag truly 2500 cubic inches? Basically the Scrambler is the older model and Im really only using it for its size, weight and because its in my closet . It will serve as the brain/top lid of the pack, extra room and possibly lash straight to the frame for a lightweight daypack that hauls heavy loads. Nothing is figured out completely yet as the pack wont arrive for another week or more

 

[muleman]

Ive got the 3 piece belt coming as well. Were the straps long enough to pack meat, drybag and Approach bag? How durable is the dry bag? Is the bag truly 2500 cubic inches? Basically the Scrambler is the older model and Im really only using it for its size, weight and because its in my closet . It will serve as the brain/top lid of the pack, extra room and possibly lash straight to the frame for a lightweight daypack that hauls heavy loads. Nothing is figured out completely yet as the pack wont arrive for another week or more

I don't know if you could do meat, dry bag and Approach. The straps are plenty long though. No problem getting a mature bull elk quarter between the frame and bag, with strap to spare.

The Minimalist bag is plenty durable. It has nicely sewn seems and a nice roll top. The fabric is thicker than I expected.

I haven't measured the capacity, but have no doubts that it meets the published specs. Instead of being round it is rectangular which makes it pack flatter.

 

[gil_wy]

I'm essentially doing the same thing with the Krux frame and an HPG Highlander... Great system for a daypack on up to 10+ days... Daypack gear goes in the highlander and everything else (camp, food, extra clothes, etc.) goes in to the SG dry sack and sandwiches between the pack and frame. Love it!

 

[Colo4x4XJ]

Thanks for all the input! Can't wait to get my base frame and start the tinkering process. I will be sure to post pictures of my pack fiddle fuc&ing when it arrives. One more question-how do you strap antlers to the minimalist?

 

[muleman]

Like stated previously I haven't used just the Minimalist without a pack bag. But here is how I would do it. I would load the Minimalist bag on the frame, then put the antlers on top of the Minimalist. Lashing it down, with para cord and available straps to make secure. You may find putting a stick across the antlers allows you to lash the antlers at another point on the pack or keep the antlers from swinging.

Here are a couple of pics from last year with the SG. Picture quality isn't that good but you can get the idea. There is a load in the shelf with antlers on top of the load. The pack bag is the Approach.

 

[Matt W.]

Why not just get the Sky 7400 or the Sky 5100 and be done with it? No need to mess with the Mt Hardwear stuff. Kurt designed these new bags to really compress down. Provides a lot of versatility for you... Take the lid off and run compressed, add the lid when you need to go big. Win, win..

 

[luke moffat]

Why not just get the Sky 7400 or the Sky 5100 and be done with it? No need to mess with the Mt Hardwear stuff. Kurt designed these new bags to really compress down. Provides a lot of versatility for you... Take the lid off and run compressed, add the lid when you need to go big. Win, win..

^ This!!!!

 

[Colo4x4XJ]

Before it's all said and done I will probably add a Solo bag to the frame, giving me basically a decked out Solo with drybag and Access pocket. For awhile I was considering the sky but still prefer a brain in daypack mode. I shall see how things unfold with this project as I put one boot in front of the other.
Thank you for all the input and Luke congrats on your recent goat

 

[Matt W.]

Before it's all said and done I will probably add a Solo bag to the frame, giving me basically a decked out Solo with drybag and Access pocket. For awhile I was considering the sky but still prefer a brain in daypack mode. I shall see how things unfold with this project as I put one boot in front of the other.
Thank you for all the input and Luke congrats on your recent goat

What do you mean by the comment I bolded above? Just curious as to what you mean "a brain in daypack mode." ?

It is my opinion I'd rather have to much pack that I can cinch down vs. having to add stuff to gain capacity. Some of these rather large packs can REALLY compress down these days.. Kifaru, Stone Glacier, and the even the new Ultra all do this.... I'm not trying to tell you what to do, just that I've wasted a lot of money on packs / gear over the years and at least giving you something else to think on. Everyone is different though and you know your intended use far better than any of us.

 

[Colo4x4XJ]

A brain is just another word for top lid, sorry for the confusion. And a lot of different pack manufacturers outside of the hunting world pride themselves on being able to offer backpacks that are huge yet compress to nothing, this is not a new trend by any means. Having the ability to add and subtract storage modules really appeals to me. Maybe it's my semi-neurotic ounce counting talking but I would prefer to not carry the extra weight of a large pack for a quick day jaunt or evening glassing session, as minimal as the weight may be. That and I've grown tired of all the long strap tails of a super compressed pack and really don't have the patience for those little Velcro dealies that organize them. Add to the fact that every time I need something out of my large pack that is compressed it feels like I have to loosen all the straps, grab said item from the main compartment and then re compress the whole pack. This gets to be a real pain in the ass after awhile.

 

[Matt W.]

Makes sense. Thanks for explaining brain.

 

[Colo4x4XJ]

Final pack weight with 3 piece waist belt is 3.5 lbs in 80L mode. Im really impressed with the construction of Stone Glacier and can't wait to put the pack through its paces. Pictures coming soon!

 

[Colo4x4XJ]

View attachment 14489

View attachment 14490

Just a couple of pictures, first one is with 7 days of gear and second is a daypack mode. Cost was under $450 excluding Scrambler pack

 

[Ramcam]

View attachment 14489

View attachment 14490

Just a couple of pictures, first one is with 7 days of gear and second is a daypack mode. Cost was under $450 excluding Scrambler pack

you're attachments don't work?

 

[Colo4x4XJ]

View attachment 14497

 

[Colo4x4XJ]

View attachment 14498

Did it work?

Edit: Guess not, sorry I'm not sure what's goin on

 

[Colo4x4XJ]

Lets try this again...