ULA Equipment 'Epic' backpack (harness around a dry sack)

[Son of a Beach]

Anyone seen these before? Anyone tried them?

ULA Epic looks like a novel idea. It's a full backpack harness with no real sack built in, but is designed to be used with a dry sack (and ships with a s2s dry sack). Looks like the aluminium bars are removable, for a very light weight pack.

The weight is listed as 32.5 ounces (0.9 kg), but it's unclear to me if that includes the dry sack or the optional aluminium frame.

It seems like a good idea, but I'd be curious to hear from anyone that's used them in the wild. Ie, is the harness any good, etc?

PS. I like the disclaimer below the picture: ALPACKA Raft not included

* I am about to add them as an advertiser here

[ollster]

Well, that's interesting. Wouldn't want to use a silnylon bag.

Would be alright for easy stuff with no scrub like the OLT/Frenchies/Walls I guess.

[Franco]

Originally that was made for the Backpackinglight boys two or three years ago.
However there was a local version made before that, possibly by Andrew King (?)
Franco

[Son of a Beach]

Interesting info, Franco. I would like to have seen the original Aiking one. I wonder if he'll revive it for One Planet one day, or if he decided it didn't have a viable market (and if so, has the market changed enough to revive it now?).

[HitchHiking]

Looks like a less extreme of One Planets polar pack http://www.oneplanet.com.au/polar/polar-pack.html or maybe its a beefed up one of the old aiking one then.

[Son of a Beach]

Looks like a less extreme of One Planets polar pack http://www.oneplanet.com.au/polar/polar-pack.html or maybe its a beefed up one of the old aiking one then.

Nice, I hadn't seen that one before, either. Anyone used this (on a polar expedition or otherwise)?

[cams]

There is a review of this on BPL released today for members. From the pictures it looks to me as though it hangs away from the back alot and sits very low. Dosn't look that comfortable, but the reviewer gave it a recommended rating. He also said that the 32.5oz is just the frame.

[FWD]

NRS makes a similar set-up for about USD $220 less than the Epic. I have no affiliation with NRS, but $275 for what is essentially a pack frame seems a bit steep.

http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product.asp?pfid=2933

[Son of a Beach]

Thanks FWD. That price certainly looks a LOT more attractive if that's the kind of pack system you're after.