AARN packs

[wildernesswanderer]

Aarn packs = too heavy

I really have to question the mentality of these types of comments, useless towards the discussion of the product. The pack my wife is looking at is 1.6kg, if thats to heavy, join a gym. I can understand that some like to travel ultralight weight and good for those guys, if it works for you as well great, but to some, myself included we shop differently and ultralight weight is not the highest priority. My pack weight 2.1kg, I must have been crazy, but I'm 43, 77kg and fit so my pack is lightweight to me for the comfort, and durability I get from it.

[southbank]

Question away. 2.1 kg is too heavy for me. That's an extra 1.1kg on my pack. 1.1kg is a sleeping bag or a tent or two days food

[wildernesswanderer]

Like I said you shop on weight, I don't and I'm sure plenty others don't either. My comments are to point out that comments such as your original post are useless to the discussion No reasoning no explanation on why you think that way. You second post shows how you think and why you think they are to heavy, makes sense if you hike the way you do, and no problem with that. I think you would die if you picked up my pack then when my gear is in it.

[southbank]

I think I would

[wayno]

perhaps the comment should be

Aarn packs = too heavy for ultra light hikers...

[Wolfix]

I think we all know to treat each comment as an opinion only and to weed out those that are useful or otherwise.

Having just watched Andrew Skurka's AtGoogle Talk on Youtube, I feel like carrying my Aarn pack and my tent is a bit of a compromise when I really could go lighter, but I do like the comfort of the Aarn pack (and tent) and am not so concerned with pace like Skurka is so I prefer to build up my strength while cutting down my load to find a happy medium between types of comfort.

I'm not interested in becoming a Skurka-like Ultimate Hiker right now. If I was, I might ditch Aarn packs for something less anatomically moulded but now they serve my purpose perfectly; they carry the load I take, they are adaptable, they balance the load so I can maintain a better posture, they protect the load from the bush and me from the load and they conform to my body.

[wayno]

i dont think ultra lighting is everyones cup of tea, you have to be willing to compromise on comfort to go ultralight long distance. you can shave teh weight but you might miss the comfort of your normal gear if you do. i have gear that is on teh light side but not ultralight, i have no interest in going any lighter, what i have is a good balance for me of weight versus comfort

[Onestepmore]

My other pack is a Gossamer Gear Mariposa, which is a pretty light one at 729g, BUT, there will be times when I wish to take a more substantial pack for a) longer walks b) colder weather (ie Downmat7 instead of a neoairXlite, a -5 rated sleeping bag and a liner, instead of a +7 one) c) when I am on a walk where I want to take a few 'luxury' items eg a platypus filled with wine, music speakers, a book, comfy camp shoes etc. 'Too heavy' without any qualifications doesn't help anyone here with gear selections. I'm 45, work out at the gym 4 x a week, try to go out walking each weekend and am reasonably fit, and I think that I'll be fine with this pack. As Wayno says it's 'a good balance between weight versus comfort'

[GPSGuided]

Joining the love here. Just acquired a Peak Aspiration in L and a set of Expedition balance packs in R. Tried a series of mass market brands with their heavily padded hip belts but surprisingly none as comfortable as Aarn's thinnish belt padding. Looked at the Guiding Light initially but a stiff loop kept on touching the back of my head. Further, With Peak Aspiration's 45L + Expedition 15L, the combined 60L is more than sufficient for my needs. The smaller PA at 45L would also be more convenient and versatile by itself. Can't wait to try them out in the field. Particularly looking forward to the balance/chest packs and no more fumbling with my camera lenses.

[Pongo]

I've got to say I love my Aarn pack, it's soooo comfortable. The downside for has been some poor stitching in some places which almost saw the hip belt fail on my last hike. The webbing on the rear of one of the balance pocket has also started to come away. Now before I use it again, I will have to spend an evening repairing two-three separate sections of the pack.

[GPSGuided]

Yes, read about some of the quality issues experienced by some. Sounded like it came at a particular phase. I closely examined my potential purchase and didn't find any faults. I trust it's one of the manufacturing QA issue that can be associated with changes in their processes. Trust that the latest stock (mine) has eliminated all that.

[slparker]

I have an AARN daypack, which is excellent except the setup is so complicated I'm not at all sure that I have it set-up right. nevertheless it is very comfortable - especially the independant movement of hip and shoulders.

I'm pretty sure that I'm heading towards getting an AARN rucksack... might need a degree in engineering to put it together though..

[Picaro]

I have an AARN daypack, which is excellent except the setup is so complicated I'm not at all sure that I have it set-up right. nevertheless it is very comfortable - especially the independant movement of hip and shoulders.

I'm pretty sure that I'm heading towards getting an AARN rucksack... might need a degree in engineering to put it together though..

Watch the videos ( on the Aarn site ) a couple of times and take your time setting it up. Its well worth it.

[GPSGuided]

I'm pretty sure that I'm heading towards getting an AARN rucksack... might need a degree in engineering to put it together though..

Can't be serious! It's no more complicated than many of the other "feature rich/technical" trekking packs. And if it's comfortable, then the objective has been reached.

[wildernesswanderer]

I just bought a Liquid Agility with the Pro Photo pockets. I hate normal photo backpacks and I've tried a lot of them from Lowepro, Tamrac, F-Stop to name a few and they are all uncomfortable with nowhere to carry extra stuff so I'm now trying a Aarn pack with the pockets so I can do day walks and take the stuff I want to. Off to NZ in 6 weeks so will see how it goes. If it goes really well I may look at a bigger pack for hikes so I can carry my camera gear the same way

[slparker]

I'm pretty sure that I'm heading towards getting an AARN rucksack... might need a degree in engineering to put it together though..

Can't be serious! It's no more complicated than many of the other "feature rich/technical" trekking packs. And if it's comfortable, then the objective has been reached.

thanks for the comment but I've never had a ""feature rich/technical" trekking pack"... unless you count a 23 year old berghaus in that cohort.

[GPSGuided]

thanks for the comment but I've never had a ""feature rich/technical" trekking pack"... unless you count a 23 year old berghaus in that cohort.

Very unfortunate you've found the Aarn so difficult. Unfortunately, I'd say 80% of quality modern trekking packs have numerous many feature adjustments that you'll find similarly difficult. Aarn's design is not difficult, just a few logical steps to optimise the settings. If it's already comfortable, then there's no need to touch anything.

[magichat]

Can't speak enough about how good I think my Aarn pack is. I hike with my young kids and so end up having to carry more weight.. But now I just use my Aarn pack by default.

Like a lot of brilliant things it is a simple idea implemented well. The main thing to get my head around was the paradigm shift involved in carrying the weight on my front. After my first walk that was forgotten, the difference in how I felt at the end of each day lugging my stuff around the Victorian Alps was all I needed. The number involved in the weight is irrelevant. The reason ul hiking exists is to make hiking easier by making the load lighter. This concept does that in another way.

I also can't speak highly enough about the support (before and after sale) from Backpacking Light in Melbourne. These guys believe in their product and stand by it. I forget the owners name but he talks to Aarn about his products all the time too and they help refine the designs.

I've got to the point of buying stuff of him rather than online purely because I want businesses like that to exist and be successful.

[GPSGuided]

Using Aarn pack reminded me of my army cadet days of old, when we had to use those antique harnesses with magazine pouches in front of the chest. Whilst they got the weight balancing idea right, the waist belt is no modern day hip belt.

[matagi]

Using Aarn pack reminded me of my army cadet days of old, when we had to use those antique harnesses with magazine pouches in front of the chest. Whilst they got the weight balancing idea right, the waist belt is no modern day hip belt.

???? The bigger capacity Aarn packs do not have a waist belt, they have a hip belt designed so the weight is balanced on your hip bones.

Or were you referring to the waist belt on your old army pack?

[GPSGuided]

Or were you referring to the waist belt on your old army pack?

Yes. I was referring to those 2" wide old army waist belts, one that we were asked to polish with boot black and Brasso. The balance packs on the Aarn reminded me of those large magazine pouches, like in the photo below.

[Franco]

If weight was the only criteria for a backpack we all would go around carrying plastic shopping bags.
I bag = 5g ,good enough for 3kg.

Very simply after 8 hours with 12-15kg or so, my 1.6 kg Featherlite Freedom feels a lot lighter than other 1kg packs with the same weight inside.
Again walk around holding 8kg with one hand then split the weight to 4kg per hand and see what happens...(yes use those 5g shopping bags fior this)

[Gusto]

Aarn's latest Catalog makes a brief mentions about Cuben Fiber. It also has a picture of one being tested.

http://www.outdoordesigncoalition.com/app/download/5793044371/Aarn+Design+Catalogue+2013.pdf

[Onestepmore]

I've had no quality issues with mine - a Natural Balance. I love the built in dry bags, I've not had any problems with a sore back etc even when I've been carrying my kids's stuff as well as my own for several days, up in the Snowy Mountains, Nattai, Blue Mountains. And I like the fact that there aren't a heap of straps and do-dads hanging off the back.

I admit they do look kind of funky with the 'boob packs' (our name for the front packs) but due to the way the straps are configured you get really good airflow, and I've not had problems getting overly hot etc, which was one of the things I was initially a bit worried about. I don't use hydration pack with the Aarn, but store water containers (in soft Platys or similar) in the front, along with all my heavier small stuff, some food etc. It's nice to have items like sunnies, snacks,sun lotion, wipes, camera in the easliy accessed front bags. I have problems reaching around to side pockets in my other packs for a drink bottle etc

My only negative is actually getting it on - I have had frozen shoulder bilaterally (at separate times thank goodness) and despite a lot pf physio and ongong stuff I do at the gym I do have esidual restricted range of motion in my shoulders, so I usually need a bit of help loading up - 'bad' arm in first. Often when we stop I don't bother to take my pack off as it's so comfortable, whereas if I have my Osprey or whatever, it's the first thing I do if we have a break. It does take a bit more time to get on and get strapped in than with other packs, a fact that my impatient hubby just has to deal with! I don't know if any other women have this problem (please don't laugh) but I have to do up the waistband snap by feel (or get someone else to do it) as I can't see it due to having a bust in the way....

[matagi]

I don't know if any other women have this problem (please don't laugh) but I have to do up the waistband snap by feel (or get someone else to do it) as I can't see it due to having a bust in the way....

Yep, I can relate to that, but then I can't see my feet if I am standing straight anyway, the balance pockets just add a whole new dimension of "frontal prominence"

[Onestepmore]

Hence the term 'boob bags'

[joshman]

Hey all,
My AARN guiding light arrived in the mail today. And my first impressions are simply, WOW. I've got a small marathon magic for small day-hikes, so getting another AARN pack was a bit of a no-brainer. and after an hour or so of fiddling with it i'm loving it - It's a great, big, (very) comfortable bag to wear. I've done a preliminary fitting, and as soon as i can find a helper to bend the aluminium back frame to suit, i plan on putting some load into it and going for an extended walk to settle it down and get it fitting proper. I got it with the Photo balance pockets, cause I'm a photography nutter.

I've only noticed one slightly concerning thing about it - the aluminium back stay protrudes through the bottom of the pack, meaning that its pretty easy to pull out and it seems to slip out as i wear it around the house and sit down wearing the pack etc. The little plastic cap at the top of the Aluminium frame has cracked and slips on and off with great ease, would a dab of sikaflex to hold that cap there fix my concerns?

is there a fix or a mod i can do to secure this?

thanks.

[Miyata610]

Call Tim Campbell at Wildside and/or backpackinglight in Melbourne 03 9670 5144

[Joomy]

Aarn packs = too heavy

This is my feeling. 2kg for a 60L pack is just not very impressive to say the least. I understand that the point is to get the balance packs and then you are more... balanced... but then you're even more weight. My strategy is simply to ensure my pack is a manageable weight (i.e. under 15kg). Can I say I also really don't like the styling. They look ugggly.

[GPSGuided]

This is my feeling. 2kg for a 60L pack is just not very impressive to say the least.

They have different weight serieses in their range of packs.