GoLite Pinnacle / Golite Quest (merged)

[CenVicCharlie]

Thinking of getting one of these does anyone have experience with it? Good or Bad!!

Starting to get bitten by the UL bug and the old heavy 2-4kg 75l pack is just a little too heavy

cheers

Charlie

[kanangra]

Charlie,

I cannot recommend them highly enough. They are excellent. I have had several. They don't last as long as the old canvas packs but they wear pretty well. I actually have one of the current model for spare in the medium size. It is virtually new. Used once only for a few days. I ended up getting the large but having done so there is really nothing between them. It is the latest model with the better padding in the back panel and with the mesh pockets on the belt. It weighs about 780g from memory and i can carry gear for a week in it no worries. One little thing I will mention is that the buckle on the sternum strap is prone to coming off but that is the only fault with them. I find them amazingly comfortable and light. If you are interested give me a PM. I could probably let you have it for $100 plus postage. It is blue in colour.

K.

[Jellybean]

Hi,

I have one and I love it! Light, plenty of room (the compactor straps make it very versatile), very comfortable (as long as you don't try to carry >15kg, it's not designed for that). Not quite as light as some of the UL die hards would like but you can reduce the weight further by chopping off the ends of straps (they're very generous). If you don't use a hydration bladder you can also cut out the insert that holds the bladder in place.

Highly recommended IMHO. (N.B my off track walking is restricted to light to medium scrub, I don't find any fun in trying to plough through heavy scrub).

Cheers,

JB

[Tony]

Hi Charlie,

I have used Golite packs for 5-6 years now, I first started with a Golite Trek which was a earlier version of the Pinnacle, I liked the Trek very much, I have recently upgraded to a lighter Pinnacle and find it very similar, I have carried up to 17kg (4kg water) with no more discomfort than the same weight in my old internal frame berghaus pack. For three season use I use a 50l Golite Jam2 which I find is extremely comfortable but a bit small for snow use (this is my favorite pack). I do a lot of bushbashing and rock scrambling, the Golite packs are made from Dyneema which has proven very tough material, the side pockets are made from lighter material and have shown some wear.

Golite packs are much cheaper in the US, my Jam2 was A$260 localy, I got mine for A$102 from the US, it might be worth giving nuts a PM ucp.php?i=pm&mode=compose&u=375 to see if he has any Pinnacles left.

Tony

[SteveJ]

I picked up one here from Earthling that was essentially new and it has worked out extremly well for mL. I have used it on half a dozen walks and love it. I can not reccommend them highly enough. Last trip I did I fitted my Alpack Packraft and paddle, all my fishing gear, 5 days gear and food kit and water (3L), it went about 15kg total. I walked 60kms with the pack on that trip through a variety of terrain with no probs, very good. Very good value for the dollars and *&%$#! light but very tough!! I have the medium mens (70 ish L)....

Steve

[Earthling]

Good to hear the pack is seeing some nice sights Steve

Charlie I used to use an old 2.7kg behemouth of a pack...used it for years.

Then I bought the Pinnacle.

I havent looked back.

Fantastic.

[SteveJ]

yer it has seen a good deal so far and is off to Arnhemland in 8 weeks for a few weeks....lucky pack, it has a good life.

I forgot to mention that I love the camelback facility on the pack, it is my first pack that has this and I would never get another without it. The little pockets on the waist strap are also excellent for PLB, Glucodin lollies, a small camera etc.

Steve

[Tony]

I forgot to mention that I love the camelback facility on the pack.

Steve

I cut the hydration sleeve out on both the Pinniacle and the Jam2 saved on some weight, I use PET bottles instead.

Tony

[SteveJ]

How much weight dod you save Tony?, I would have thought the padding benifits and ease of use of that system would overrule the minor weight reductions? The Camel pack is a very easy wasy to stow 3 liters of water (compared to PET bottles.)

Steve

[quigs]

Hi I also have a golite pinnacle, its the first backpack I have owned in many years and bought it because it was so highly recomended on this and many other forums. I have used it on a few trips on the bibbulmun with about 12 to 15 kilos and it is very comfortable and easy to carry and pack (once you figure out what all the straps and asjusters do.) I would recomend it to anyone. I have a question about the space for the hydration bottle. I wand to get a 3 liter camelbak bladder for the Pinnacle and Im not sure if it will fit OK. I am aware of the isues about refilling it but that is OK, I can live with that as the pack is so good. Anyone with any suggestions re the camelbak and the pinnacle I would like to hear your comments
quigs

[Stibb]

I'm in the process of buying a new pack for my birthday but cannot decide which one..
The Quest (USD 79 ) can carry more load more comfortably (for those planned multiday winter trips) but is heavier (still very light) and is not made out of dyneema
The Pinnacle (USD 79 ) is lighter and is made of dyneema but carry less and has no frame (I've never used a frameless before and I'm still skeptical)

Decisions decisions
Will dyneema be significantly better in Tas if we don't do much off-track walking or will the quest be just as good/bad?
I think I''ll carry up to 12-14kg incl food/water. Is that too much for the pinnacle?

I must have made up my mind hundreds of time by now. Help me get out of my misery.

EDIT Oh, and I wont buy both, I'd rather buy something else for the money

[Penguin]

Stibb

I bought a Jam middle of last year. I have done several two to three day walks and find the pack very comfortable with 10 to 11 kg. Remember you are saving about 1kg over the weight of a standard pack. Some off track work. The Dymeena has not suffered but it is hard to say - others may have given theirs a real pounding. I have found that with a smaller pack, it is getting snagged less in undergrowth. I have been using a One Planet Shadow prior to this and an MacPac Torre prior to that.

If I had my time again I would have bought the pinnacle rather than the Jam - that bit bigger pack would be easier to make waterproof. Having said that I am working at fitting eight days worth of stuff in the Jam for a walk in the SW in February.

Cheers

P

[mattmacman]

Im not going to try to make up your mind however I will say this, hurry up and decide because all the cheap golite packs are selling out!

[Bluegum Mic]

Im sure its also a personal preference thing but I found 12kg comfortable for my pinnacle, 14kg too much and the discomfort started creeping in. Im actually in the process of tossing up between a jam, quest or an Osprey exos 46 or talon 44 for light loads

[Stibb]

Thanks for your input
I think I have made up my mind (again) and it will be a Quest as I really need to be able to carry ~14kg without issues. Just hoping the material will not fall apart too early.

Has anyone ordered directly from Golite with an Australian cc? I can't seem to enter my Australian billing address (even though it will be shipped to a Californian address) I haven't received any answers from Golite :/

[Bluegum Mic]

I don't think they accept an oz card. Ninja recommended priceusa and they will order and post it for you. You pay them. Hope that helps.

Cheers

Mic

[John Sheridan]

Seems golite don't make the Mens version anymore or even the Jam2 either, I guess I missed out.

Sucks to be me

Cheers.

[Jellybean]

Seems golite don't make the Mens version anymore or even the Jam2 either, I guess I missed out.

Sucks to be me

Cheers.

They're still available in stacks of places - here' one example: http://www.altrec.com/golite/mens-pinna ... affNT=true , 'just not at the $79 price. $148USD is still a great price for a pack. Just Google, GoLite Pinnacle, you might find an even better price elsewhere. (For every problem, there is a solution. If you focus on finding the solution, not on the problem, you'll find that life doesn't suck so much at all!)

I'd be surprised if they discontinued either the Pinnacle or the Jam, they both get great reviews.

Cheers,

JB

[John Sheridan]

Of course the Jam2 mens and Pinnacle mens have been canceled, they are not on the Golite website thus are not being made and or sold anymore, I was looking for a Pinnacle 50,55 or 60 Liter pack, I was pretty sure they made them, but it seems it was only 72 litres, seems I might have got them mixed up

Cheers.

[Stibb]

Hm, no they don't seem to want Australian business
I've just asked a relative to order it and send it over

[hikin_jim]

They're both excellent packs. I've carried 13kg in my Pinnacle. No worries. But when I've carried 15kg, even for a few shot km from a water source to a camp, it was misery with two straps.

The thing I like about the Pinnacle is that it's very versatile. I actually use it as a day walking pack for family use. I just stuff all the coats, food, etc. inside it. The thing is huge. The three of us get along fabulously with a Pinnacle on all but a very cold day.

HJ

[hikin_jim]

What? They've discontinued the Pinnacle? That's nuts. It's a fabulous pack.

HJ

[alaz]

Hi I am looking at the Golite backpacks. The w's Pinnacle seems ok.
I would like a 60l one i am quite short so don't want a big pack.
would this be OK for a 5 day walk carrying about 14-15kgs?
However i read that it is difficult carrying more than 13k with this pack can someone let me know of their experience??
alaz

[johnw]

Just noticed that these guys have the Men's Golite Jam on weekly special until 27/2 for $119-99 and Women's Quest for $139-99 (plus postage - about $9 from memory). Probably limited sizes/colours. I get some cycling gear from them occasionally and find them reliable but haven't bought anything else.

http://www.torpedo7.com.au/products/G7BGBN1JP/title/golite-men-s-jam-pack

http://www.torpedo7.com.au/products/G7BGBN1QW/title/golite-women-s-quest-pack