Aarn natural balance pack

[geoffmallo]

Anyone with experience with the Aarn natural balance pack? Likes? Dislikes? - http://aarnpacks.com/products/natural_balance.html

I have the featherlight freedom and love it. However I figure I need a bit more space for my upcoming trip. I'm a huge fan of the Aarn packs and it would take a whole lot to convince me of another brand. Other options are their stronglight category.

While they are bit of the heavy side compared to a few other options (eg. http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin ... kpack.html) I've experience the flo-mo system and it works very well with my back injury.

[ollster]

Anyone with experience with the Aarn natural balance pack?

IIRC there's already a thread on these. Do a search for Aarn.

[photohiker]

Basically, if you get along with one Aarn pack, you will get along with all of them. Just make sure you have the correct backlength and hipbelt size.

And yes, search. There is lots of posts here about Aarn packs.

[Tyson]

My disclaimer is that I live just down the beach from Aarn -- I have used both Featherlite and Natural Balance. The NB uses the same hip belt and shoulder harness but has a twin stay in the frame - so a bit stronger back. The main compartment has a divider but it is more like two legs as apposed to the Featherlite that connects in the bottom.
The NB is fit with a separate bottom compartment for sleeping bag . In the bottom compartment I have stuffed with bag and Neo air pad. I would like a side entry bottom compartment a bit better.
The NB comes with standard with larger front pockets 18L so see that is to your liking. Have your retailer exchange the pockets for the size that you want.

[geoffmallo]

One thing I didn't like about the featherlite freedom was the lack of waterproofing on the balance pockets. I used one for emergency stuff and camera stuff and the other for food and stuff for the day and rain stuff. Looks like the new ones are waterproof (have liners).

[bluewombat]

I am in two minds about the NB, used it on several walks. I like the pack but I dont like the balance pockets, I would actually like a slightly smaller set with less fiddly straps. I understand why they are like they are but they bug me when I am getting the pack on and off, they snag on stuff and they flap around a bit too much
bw

[north-north-west]

I've gotten into the habit of removing the pockets unless I have a stable surface of the right height on which to balance the pack while donning/removing it. It only takes a minute to replace them once you're used to the clip system, and it's much easier.