macpacs new lightweight tramping pack...

[wayno]

if they become less of an all round outdoor retailer and focus on gear, i'd predict their sales to drop and that they struggle to afford running physical shops, you cant compete with the likes of kathmandu if you're not going to match their range and pitch to the general population of outdoors people. back packers and tourists....

[Strider]

he seems to want to show a commitment to being a technical company by making that statement but since he had only just taken teh job when he said it

teh strikes again!

It is common for new execs to made outlandish statements not long into a new role - presumeably they think it makes them appear more in control of a bad situation?

[blacksheep]

he seems to want to show a commitment to being a technical company by making that statement but since he had only just taken teh job when he said it

teh strikes again!

It is common for new execs to made outlandish statements not long into a new role - presumeably they think it makes them appear more in control of a bad situation?

or to curry favour with the audience. c'mon...this is obvious stuff

the same week the facebook page was changed to this image ,
a little later they announced the search for models .
no, definitely not moving in any direction other than hardcore gear...

[wayno]

make people think they are a more technical company, people want to buy anything associated with "the more technical company" ? like some of the big sporting brands that make hard core sporting gear and bucket loads of casual gear....?

[GPSGuided]

Didn't one of this forum's member recently receive an appointment as a Macpac Ambassador?
http://lotsafreshair.com/2013/07/29/hello-macpac/

[Gusto]

On a more positive note. Based upon web photos and information I actually think it's quite a sensible pack for macpac to add to it's range. As mentioned it has similar specs to an Exos. The Exos is a popular pack and liked by many. One difference may be in the size. Many of the Macpac packs I've seen are usually larger than other brands for the same literage.

[casey79]

Hi All

The tasman pack does have a hydration bladder pouch and hole for the hose.

See photos

photo 1.JPG (121.19 KiB) Viewed 11023 times

photo 2.JPG (127.24 KiB) Viewed 11023 times

[wayno]

awesome, dude, looks like you've shot that in a showroom, the pack hasnt been unravelled properly, if you're afiliated with macpac, you should put that in your profile if you're involved with any organisations to do with the outdoors for the sake of openeness.

rule three in the forum rules

Members who have an association with a commercial organisation related to a bushwalking products or services must make their association clear before making any posts that discuss their own or competing products or services. This must be done by either:
including the name of those organisations or products within their username. Existing members would need to contact a site administrator to have their username changed. Eg, if a user who works for "Walks R Us", but wants the username "Brass Monkey", they could have a username such as "Brass Monkey (Walks R Us)". This option is only for brand names well known to most Australian bushwalkers.
including the name of those organisations or products in the "Associated Organisations" profile field (see the "User Control Panel" - link near top-left of forums pages).
This applies to employees of such organisations as well as to people who are not directly employed, but who have some other association with an organisation, product or service being discussed, including financial gain or other incentives.
Compliance with this rule does not provide an exception to the advertising rules. Any content which appears to have been posted in order to promote the member's products or services will be considered advertising and subject to the advertising rules. If in doubt, please contact a moderator before posting.

[casey79]

Yes I work at MP but Im not selling anything Im just showing that it has the bladder pouch.

Where I work is not relvent in this coment it was unbiased and all it showed was a feature that was being debated by people who have never seen the bag in real life. I thought I was helping you all out im sorry in future I will not interject.

In the long run the bag has a bladder pouch. End of story.

[wayno]

yes if you work at MP you need to put that in your profile because you're affiliated with them... as per site rules.

[wayno]

your comments appreciated and very helpful. so no probs

you just put it in the "Associated Organisations" in your profile...

[Lindsay]

well that gives you so many options for hydration

Clearly a feature!

BTW, do other UL packs have dedicated hydration facilities? Never thought those hydration systems with all the heavy plumbing etc are consistent with the UL philosophy.

I have a Gossamer Gear Mariposa Plus that has a bladder sleeve, however the pack feels noticeably awkward and unbalanced when it is used, compared to its excellent balance and comfort without. I think it was an afterthought because so may people want this feature, even if the pack actually works better without it.

[Strider]

well that gives you so many options for hydration

Clearly a feature!

BTW, do other UL packs have dedicated hydration facilities? Never thought those hydration systems with all the heavy plumbing etc are consistent with the UL philosophy.

I have a Gossamer Gear Mariposa Plus that has a bladder sleeve, however the pack feels noticeably awkward and unbalanced when it is used, compared to its excellent balance and comfort without. I think it was an afterthought because so may people want this feature, even if the pack actually works better without it.

+1 for my Golite Quest and Osprey Talon. Bladder pockets never seem to work well for me.

[Avatar]

Macpac Clearance have the 1240g Amp Race 40 pack for $130. The size 3 may be 45l (?)
That's $140 less than the advertised new Tasman pack price for an extra 140g weight.

[KANANGRABOYD]

Didn't one of this forum's member recently receive an appointment as a Macpac Ambassador?
http://lotsafreshair.com/2013/07/29/hello-macpac/

Seriously, what are Macpac thinking?!

[Mark F]

I expect the new pack is a replacement for the Amp 40. I have an Amp 40 for longer trips when I am carrying more than about 8kg and really like it - still debating whether to remove the bladder pocket.

[wayno]

i doubt it, the amp series was designed for adventure racing, hence the generous outside pockets and use of lighter fabrics in places.
the tasman looks more like a run of the mill tramping pack design..

[Mark F]

Wayno - I based my assumption on the fact that the Amp 40 is no longer shown on the Macpac website so I assume discontinued. The Tasman is 140g lighter and about the same capacity. The Amp 25 and 12 are still there. May be there is an as yet unreleased pack that will fill in for the Amp 40. I just checked the web site and the Tasman is classified as a Trek pack rather than Endurance.

[wayno]

i think they might have dropped the amp 40 a while ago from the range... my guess was simply lack of demand,,
i've got a 35 litre lightweight pack they used to make and discontinued a long time ago without replacing it with anything similar, squeakiest pack i've ever owned.... possibly because of the neoprene waist belt moving around....

[GPSGuided]

Seriously, what are Macpac thinking?!

Are you jealous?

[Lotsafreshair]

Didn't one of this forum's member recently receive an appointment as a Macpac Ambassador?
http://lotsafreshair.com/2013/07/29/hello-macpac/

Seriously, what are Macpac thinking?!

Yep. That's me! It's all early days (for both Macpac and me), but one of the things that I found encouraging about the relationship is that they want me to be honest. If I don't like something about a product, I say so. If something is great, I say say.

[Lotsafreshair]

Just to let everyone know, I am in the middle of writing a new blog post of a gear review on this Tasman 45 pack.

I took it down to Ettrema/Morton NP over the long weekend and gave it a serious workout with thick scrub (classic Ettrema stuff), rock scrambling, dragging it through narrow rock slots and all the usual good stuff that Morton has to offer.

I'm going to be posting it soon... standby for that one!

[GPSGuided]

I'm going to be posting it soon... standby for that one!

[Joomy]

Didn't one of this forum's member recently receive an appointment as a Macpac Ambassador?
http://lotsafreshair.com/2013/07/29/hello-macpac/

Seriously, what are Macpac thinking?!

Yep. That's me! It's all early days (for both Macpac and me), but one of the things that I found encouraging about the relationship is that they want me to be honest. If I don't like something about a product, I say so. If something is great, I say say.

I can't think of a single brand ambassador that hasn't said something along these lines. Not that I don't believe you but it's a bit of a cliche. Presumably they already know that you are enthusiastic about Macpac gear or they wouldn't have approached you for the role. And clearly they are confident that you will do your best to find the best points about their gear and that if something is not to your liking you'll be far less scathing about it than an impartial reviewer (i.e. people on this forum).

[wayno]

see if ent will test macpac gear.....

[GPSGuided]

I can't think of a single brand ambassador that hasn't said something along these lines. Not that I don't believe you but it's a bit of a cliche. Presumably they already know that you are enthusiastic about Macpac gear or they wouldn't have approached you for the role. And clearly they are confident that you will do your best to find the best points about their gear and that if something is not to your liking you'll be far less scathing about it than an impartial reviewer (i.e. people on this forum).

Joomy, with sceptical views like that, company marketing directors will never pick you to represent their company.

Seriously, I think MacPac has found a good ambassador here. Lotsa is clearly a very good communicator and with positive and enthusiastic messages in her past videos. I can see how she can be an ideal candidate. Otherwise I agree, conflict of interest can exert subtle influences on anyone. As such, I am not a very good candidate either.

[GPSGuided]

see if ent will test macpac gear.....

Are you a stirrer?

[wayno]

the thing is an ambassador uses the gear of the company they are an ambassador for. they arent going to have such a negative view that they arent going to use the gear, then they can't be an ambassador.... and why would you be scathing about a product you are reviewing and can get for a discount or for free.... you cant really rely on a totally objective review...
and how free are they to use as many rival products as they like? or are they using the sponsors product because they cant afford to pay full price for another brand?

[GPSGuided]

Fact is, not too different to most consumers who have limited experience and are easily influenced by subjective parameters. For a start, it takes a brave person to fully admit one's poor choice over a triple to quadruple figure purchase. Ambassadors are marketing tools and nothing wrong with that. Powers to anyone who has the goods to be chosen.

[Lotsafreshair]

OK. Here it is then...

My review of the Macpac Tasman 45.

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