macpacs new lightweight tramping pack...

[GPSGuided]

Nice presentation as usual!

Tasman 45 looked in many area similar to the Exos, even the colours. Good to see that it can take a bit of scrapping with inevitable wear. 45L for 3 days, that's reassuring.

[Joomy]

The amount of plagiarism in this industry really irks me. That thing is an Exos with a Macpac logo on it. I don't mind when someone takes a good idea (like the tensioned vented back panel large-volume pack) and makes a genuinely unique product but I can't see where Macpac have improved or even fundamentally altered the Exos design at all. And the RRP is higher than the Exos' to boot. If you want to see a really innovative tensioned back panel pack check out Zpacks -- probably the most innovative outdoor gear company at the moment.

Not that I am be surprised, Australian "manufacturers" (they aren't though are they, most of the design work was copied and all the manufacturing is done in China) have been doing this sort of thing for years because we have an insulated market and it's too hard presumably for the original innovators to litigate here (Sea to Summit is probably the worst culprit, practically their entire range was copied off Exped, but since Exped was/is a relatively small brand here nobody knew it.)

[GPSGuided]

I know Exped! And love them.

I don't think we can really criticise MacPac here. Fact is, Exos has inadequate patent cover and there's no law against copying apart from our ethical belief. Also look at the way Samsung copies Apple and what could Apple do even with the might of patent protection? Little in practice. The whole IP litigation process is so convoluted and slow, trying to fight against it is almost futile in the market place. Consumers don't care or are oblivious, so the practice continues.

[Joomy]

I know Exped! And love them.

I don't think we can really criticise MacPac here. Fact is, Exos has inadequate patent cover and there's no law against copying apart from our ethical belief. Also look at the way Samsung copies Apple and what could Apple do even with the might of patent protection? Little in practice. The whole IP litigation process is so convoluted and slow, trying to fight against it is almost futile in the market place. Consumers don't care or are oblivious, so the practice continues.

I'm wouldn't expect a corporation to act any differently but that doesn't mean I can't criticise them. And the whole damn system while I'm at it!

[GPSGuided]

I'm wouldn't expect a corporation to act any differently but that doesn't mean I can't criticise them. And the whole damn system while I'm at it!

I agree, hence my earlier "really" qualifier. I also dislike that practice from an ethical point of view as we've all been taught to not copy since our primary school days. Imitate but not blatant copying that is.

It's also interesting to understand how the IP laws work. The deliberate arrangement is such that the beneficiary receives a 17 years of exclusive use of the granted claims. Outside of that, the law/society expect there will be copying to permit healthy competition and innovations. As such, the real life practice of IP law effectively acknowledges and facilitates copying of those technologies that could not attain a patent (ie. No novelty) or those that have expired from their 17 years protection. Supposedly, these are required to keep the economy vibrant and spur further innovations.

[Strider]

It appears the folds on the bottle pockets are the only real innovative feature. In marketing terms, late movers to a mature market.

[Joomy]

It's also interesting to understand how the IP laws work. The deliberate arrangement is such that the beneficiary receives a 17 years of exclusive use of the granted claims. Outside of that, the law/society expect there will be copying to permit healthy competition and innovations. As such, the real life practice of IP law effectively acknowledges and facilitates copying of those technologies that could not attain a patent (ie. No novelty) or those that have expired from their 17 years protection. Supposedly, these are required to keep the economy vibrant and spur further innovations.

I absolutely agree with that view of IP laws. In fact I tend to think a shorter IP periods and far more stringent laws on what can and cannot be patented are in order. It's not Australian law but stuff like Apple patenting the "wedge-shaped computer" is obviously ridiculous and patents on genes and plants are downright scary and dangerous. IP laws in general should strike a balance between encouraging innovation and maximising benefit to the public. I'm not sure that the public would suffer that much if Macpac were forbidden from selling their Exos clone, but there might be some stifling of further innovation which would definitely be bad. I guess I wouldn't want to propose a legislative solution, I would just fantasise about a better educated public who make decisions based upon quality and value rather than just... whatever it is that people who shop at Kathmandu and Macpac do (and I acknowledge that both K and M sell certain things that are arguably "good value").

[GPSGuided]

The difficulty is, not all innovations have the same life cycle. A 17 years exclusivity may sound ridiculous on a button design on a backpack, but 17 years may barely make it worthwhile for a product with high capital development cost eg. Pharmaceutics and medical devices. By the time those products reach the market, there may only be 5-6 years left on the patent, barely enough to recover costs. Not easy to find that balance across the industries.

[wayno]

Deuter use the trampoline pack rame extensively, did osprey bring out the trampoline frame before or after Deuter?

[Gusto]

The shoulder stabiliser strap on the latest Aarn packs has come from Mchale packs. Their patent ran out, so Aarn are using it now. It's a clever system, so perhaps this will become common place.

Realistically, Aarn designs have to build a significant customer base and reputation in the years it has remaining on it's patents before a larger player such as Black Diamond of Osprey just use his design and possibly kill his company. I suspect he only has 9 years perhaps before some of his patents expire.

Depending on what has been patented it may mean that they would be able to make the identical pack.

[wayno]

i doubt black diamond will copy them, they've already got their own harness system that does the job...

[GPSGuided]

...Depending on what has been patented it may mean that they would be able to make the identical pack.

Or Aarn can sell his company along with the portfolio of remaining patents. Not saying that's what he will or should do, but it's a common exit strategy for smaller players. Different strategy if he has more innovations (patents) coming through the pipeline that can support his market position.

[Joomy]

Deuter use the trampoline pack rame extensively, did osprey bring out the trampoline frame before or after Deuter?

Not sure but Osprey's system (which has undergone a few revisions -- the original style had a much curvier frame) is definitely superior to Deuter's.

The shoulder stabiliser strap on the latest Aarn packs has come from Mchale packs. Their patent ran out, so Aarn are using it now. It's a clever system, so perhaps this will become common place.

Is this the system you mean? I didn't realise Aarn had "adopted" (nice term) it.
Personally I've never felt the need for a different shoulder strap system but I can see why it might be nice to have the shoulder strap "float" so you can eliminate any gaps.

[Gusto]

Yes Joomy, that is the strap arrangment I was referring to. I first read about Mchale's design back in 2005 - 2006 when I was working in retail stores. I thought it sounded sensible. I'm now considering buying a new pack and I was looking at the Natural Balance four weeks ago in Melbourne.

I was asking about what was new about them and I was showed the the shoulder stabiliser strap. My resposne was "that looks like Mchale's system". I was then told by that it was Mchale's design, and it is no longer patented so Aarn are using it.

Aarn's design is different though as the strap is attached directly to the stay in a manner that allows the connection point to float up and down too. I think older Aarn packs have always had this particular feature.

These two feature combined with the U-flow system made the shoulder straps very comfortable.

[Joomy]

Aarn's design is different though as the strap is attached directly to the stay in a manner that allows the connection point to float up and down too. I think older Aarn packs have always had this particular feature.

I can see how that would be a very effective way to adjust the size of the harness. Personally though fixed length size 3 packs tend to fit me quite well so I've never felt the need for a more adjustable system.

[Aidan]

OK. Here it is then...

My review of the Macpac Tasman 45.

http://lotsafreshair.com/2013/10/28/gear-review-macpac-tasman-45/

Thanks for the link.

I enjoyed reading your pack review and more of your blog.

I look forward to seeing more of your reviews of Macpac's great range of products with interest.

Hope you enjoy your role of Macpac ambassador.

[blacksheep]

I can't wait to see their new rainwear piece I heard about...

[wayno]

how much influence is jan likely to be having?

[Strider]

how much influence is jan likely to be having?

Too much.