Re: GoLite Packs

I have 2 GoLite packs plus some of their clothing (ummmm, correction - I have 1 GoLite pack and my spouse has 1 GoLite pack, and the clothing is also split between us). Anyway, the Breeze(14 ounces - which Jim S refers to) is really nice as a day pack, and I have used it for light overnights. Since it doesn't have any sort of pad/frame or a waist strap, it is pretty much restricted to very light weights (<20 pounds or so). I get around the lack of a frame by folding my "blue foam" pad and putting it against my back (actually stiffens the pack quite a bit). The Breeze is a real "RayWay" pack, and if you are going ultralight, works quite well.

The Trek (2 pounds) is a larger capacity pack with waist belt and top pocket. I have carried up to 35 pounds in it, but I find that I have to pack it somewhat carefully, since the back pad isn't all that thick. Also, I find that unless the Trek is fairly full, the top pocket never seems to sit quite right.

The very light fabric (Dyneema) looks scarey light to some people, but I find it is quite durable. For a lot of treks, though, I prefer my Kelty Cloud 4500. The suspension fits me better, and the modular accessories allow me to carry a load into the backcountry, then strip them of for a day of peakbagging. On the other hand, the Breeze rolls up very small to shove in a bigger pack to then use as a summit pack, and the Trek has a pretty large capacity at a smaller weight than the Cloud.

I have looked at the Granite Gear packs, but not tried them. So no comment, except that I find the GG superlight AirLine compression stuff sacks to be nowhere near as good as the Integral Designs SilCoat (ID has been in that game for a number of years). GG has taken some shortcuts (to cut weight) with the stuff sacks that hurt their utility, and I saw what I suspect are similar shortcuts with the packs. GoLite has been making light gear for many years and has a lot of field experience in that area that GG does not have. But I will have to try their packs before making a real comment.