Golite Peak pack - roll top problem

[dclayw]

The Golite packs don't have a traditional lid, they just have cinch cord and a roll top secured by a buckle strap. I don't have much experiece with them but I would expect that even with the top rolled up fairly well the chances of rain getting inside would be fairly high. Anyway, there is a problem with the Golite Peak in that it has far less material to "roll" then most of the other Golite packs. Seems be a design flaw, although I don't know how they could have got it so wrong. Maybe it's designed that way, taking ultra lite to more of an extreme. The Golite Jam apparently has 30cm of material to roll up, which is quite a lot. My research led me to believe the Peak had about 17cm, nowhere near as good but probably adequate. Could always use a pack cover, which is probably what is needed anyway with all Golite packs if there is heavier rain. The problem with the Peak is well documented, even mentioned elsewhere in these forums.

I decided to buy 2 of these packs from Amazon UK (good price). I knew about the roll top problem but thought I could live with that as the pack had other features I wanted and was the size I was looking for. I bought a small one (for my wife) and a large one (for me). The small one is pretty much exactly as I expected. There is about 17cm of material to roll, measured from the top of the shoulder straps. Note also where the male part of the buckle is attached to the pack, just above the pack size label. This configuration is not the best, would be better with more material to roll, but it kind of does the job.

Golite Peak - small

IMG_7802.JPG (198.42 KiB) Viewed 6609 times

The large one is not what I expected. It has much less material to roll, about 13cm from the top of the shoulder straps. 17cm is barely enough, what makes them think 13cm will do? Note also that that the male part of the buckle on this large size is located differently. With this configuration (less material to roll and what appears to be incorrectly placed buckle) it is not only difficult to roll the top, it is impossible. In fact, it's rediclous. What you end up with is the top cinched up and a hole pointing towards the sky. Surely they couldn't get it so wrong.

So I'm a bit annoyed, it's what can happen when you buy stuff online. But I would have at least expected 2 packs with the same configuration.

Anyone else have a Golite Peak, what size, and what does it look like?

Golite Peak - large

IMG_7801.JPG (210.34 KiB) Viewed 6609 times

[Marwood]

Why not treat yourself a cuben fiber pack cover? Custom logo optional. They're so lightweight you won't be able to tell you're carrying it!

[dclayw]

30g for a packcover, that is light. I do have plenty of packcovers lying around. It's the fix for sure, but just thought I'd ask what others might have experienced with the Peak. There is clealry something wrong. I've emailed Golite to see what their take is on it.

[Orion]

I don't have a Peak, but here is a photo someone took of theirs and it shows the same buckle attachment point:

http://media.photobucket.com/image/golite%20peak%20pack/Cmogi10/_KMD4526.jpg

I've also read reviews that complain about the lack of material in the roll top.

The Golite packs are kind of heavy for frameless "ultralight" models. There are better alternatives although more costly. I looked at the Jam recently and wasn't too impressed. If you're even halfway handy with a sewing machine or even just a needle and thread you could modify your pack(s) to improve matters somewhat, at least with respect to the top closure. Those aren't load bearing points so you don't have to do a perfect sewing job.

The seams aren't sealed so I would still take some sort of cover if it rains a lot.

[cams]

I posted a thread here complaining about the exact same thing last year when I bought a large. Mainly got the pack because of the good price. That is very interesting about the placement of the buckle strap on the different sizes. I'll have to double check mine but I'm sure it would be the same.

I bought some ripstop nylon to make an extended collar but never got round to it. I have since used the pack alot. Mainly as a day pack but also for a couple of overnighters. Basically the closure issue is annoying but hasn't really been a problem for me. As mentioned the pack isn't waterproof anyway (although it probably would make it more spash proof having more of a roll). I just use a pack liner.

The other issue I had was the hip belt which I found was very uncomfortable with their placements of the buckles that attach the belts to the pack. So I retrofitted some hip belts from a BPL Absaroka pack which have been working well. More just for stability and to use the pockets on them rather than any actual weight bearing.

Overall though, I've found the pack to be quite comfortable and for the price I paid I'm fairly happy with it.

[ULWalkingPhil]

I own a Aarn Bodypack with a similar roll top closure. It's got plenty of fabric. I can't imagine trying to get a waterproof closure with such little material shown in the images posted here. Obviously a major design flaw. Thanks for the heeds up on this fault, as I was considering a ULA pack or a Golite pack for overnight trips. I'll scrap this pack of my list.

[sailfish]

Hi,

Surely the best course is to email GoLite and see what they have to say. There may be something either you or they are not aware of.

Regards,
Ken

[dclayw]

I don't have a Peak, but here is a photo someone took of theirs and it shows the same buckle attachment point:

http://media.photobucket.com/image/golite%20peak%20pack/Cmogi10/_KMD4526.jpg

I've also read reviews that complain about the lack of material in the roll top.

Yes that is the same buckle attachment as on my large Peak. But why is it different to the small Peak. The buckle is in a different spot and there is less material to roll on the large Peak. Eveyone talks about the design flaw with the Peaks but at least the top can be rolled and secured on the small Peak. Probably not as good as on the Pinnacle or Jam, but at least it can be done. It's impossible to roll the top on the large. I was thinking that maybe mine was just put together wrong or maybe there was a bad batch. Why would they take a defective design (small Peak) and make it worse in their larger size model.

[dclayw]

Hi,

Surely the best course is to email GoLite and see what they have to say. There may be something either you or they are not aware of.

Regards,
Ken

Yeah I've been dealing with Golite, as I indicated in my initial post. Emails back and forth a few times but all they have said is that the Peak is a day pack and maybe I've overfilled it, and I should consider a Pinnacle or a Jam. So far they have failed to acknowledge there is a DIFFERENCE between the small and the large Peak.

I bought these packs through Amazon UK and they are willing to exchange at zero cost to me. Not much point in doing that if I end up with the same thing.

[dclayw]

I just had a look online at some pics of Pinnacles and Jams. Looks like they all have the buckle in the same location as my large Peak, but there is a lot more material to roll on Pinnacle/Jam so it works pretty well. (There is only 5cm of material to roll on the large Peak).

So it looks like the small Peak I have is actually the odd one out, a case of 2 wrongs make a right maybe. The buckle location on the small Peak allows more of the material to be rolled and that's why it kind or works. It doesn't change the fact that my large Peak has LESS material to roll, irrespective of where the buckle is located.

I now think the buckle location on the large Peak is correct, just has a rediculously small amount of material to roll. Maybe they changed buckle location on the small so that at least it could be rolled, who knows. The problem with the buckle location on the small is that it stunts the pack quite a bit when it's rolled, looks like it has no top at all because the top of the pack is effectively the top of the shouder straps. This means less capacity, probably less then the specs say.

[sailfish]

I asked too, they seem to think it should be OK as long as the pack is not over filled.

The sizes refer to the harness, not the bag.

Is it simply the same size bags on different size harnesses so that the taller harness leaves less material above it to roll?


Ken

[dclayw]

It's not just the harness, the bags are different sizes. With the Peaks (S,M,L) capacities are 36l, 38l, 40l. The large looks quite significantly bigger then the small. Also have a look at the original pics I posted showing large and small, you can see that buckle placement on the large means it's just impossible to roll it, unless there was more material above the buckle, or the buckle was located lower (like on the small).

Look, this problem is solved somewhat with a pack cover, but unless it is p'sing down I don't like using pack covers, they just get in the way. The large Peak will not hold even a light drizzle out, because there is a hole open to the sky. That's not acceptable in my opinion and if the design is inadequate it needs to be addressed. Maybe they half addressed the problem by changing the buckle location, as on the small. But I'm yet to see a large Peak with the buckle located in the lower position.

[photohiker]

If the pack isn't intrinsically waterproof, why have a roll top anyway?

In this situation, I'd opt for a drybag liner and be done with it.

[cams]

If the pack isn't intrinsically waterproof, why have a roll top anyway?

In this situation, I'd opt for a drybag liner and be done with it.

Whether the bag is supposed to be waterproof or not, the roll top is a lightweight and simple way of closing the top without a lid. And it would be nice if it did actually roll so things couldn't fall in or out.

Golite's suggestion about having it too full is stupid too. Because if it isn't full to the brim the roll top strap is too long, when pulled all the way in, to do anything except just sit there.

I've just checked mine and the buckle is definitely attached at the higher point.

[photohiker]

Why not just move the buckle attachment point to the lower spot like the other pack?

I've got 3 packs with roll top. Two of them have drybag style tops on them, and they work pretty well as long as you don't overload the volume of the pack. The other one has the cinch cord (Mariposa Plus) and while it works ok, I'm not a great fan of cinching and then rolling but I can see it might save some weight.

[dclayw]

Yeah the buckle could be moved but that's more of a workaround then a fix. I actually think the buckle on the large is in the right spot. Main problem with the large Peak is that it has less material to roll when compared to the small, and the small doesn't have much, compared to the pinnacle and jam. The point is when you spend $100+ on something you kind of expect it to do what it advertises it does, without having to modify it. It doesn't always work out that way but having a pack that doesn't close off at the top is pretty ordinary if you ask me. Best way to fix the problem would be to add more material to the top of the pack. I'll probably do that or send it back. Main point of the thread was to see what other Peaks looked like.