User Review: Granite Gear Vapor Ki

Granite Gear Vapor Ki
Above: The current Vapor Ki, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed June 6, 2006 by Sandra Lewis

Rating:
Design: top loading internal "frameless" pack
Size: 3200 cu
Number of Pockets: 4 outside, one hydration pocket inside (barely useable)
Max. Load Carried: 20 lbs
Height of Owner: 5 ft 3 in
Price Paid: $160

As an ultra-lightweight backpacker who prefers lumbar packs over traditional backpacks, I searched for a lightweight backpack that is light enough on its own to qualify for my inventory of light-light-light gear, to use on a group trip where they insisted on us using full packs (shudder!).

I used this pack for a three-day, three-night trek on the Loyalsock Trail in World's End State Park, Pennsylvania. First of all, I'm short-waisted and thought I should buy the short torso version of this pack. I was wrong. The regular size might have fit my shoulders better and not been such a drag on my shoulders and spine.

I carried my normal gear of a Hyper-Lite Hennessey Hammock shelter system secured outside of the pack using the compression straps in the rear (1 lb, 8 oz). I used a Therm-a-rest 3/4 length women's version inside the pack for additional support inside and for sitting/resting in camp. Inside that I stuffed my 1 lb sleeping bag and my silk liner and bivy sack (10 oz) to make up my 3-season sleep solution. Under all that was packed my fleece inner clothing, extra shorts, pants, shirt, undies, and socks.

On top of the Therm-a-rest and sleeping gear I packed a 3 lb bag of food and stove (Esbit), two cup titanium pot (6 oz), paper cups, plastic spoon, bear bagging rope and pouch, Katadyn Hiker Pro water filter and extras (11 oz), rain gear (pants and hooded jacket), solar shower, book, medical kit, and a 3 liter hydration bladder in between the outer pack and the back padding because it wouldn't fit inside.

In the outside upper pockets I stuffed gloves, knife, and rope on one side, and snakebite kit, hygiene kit, and folding shovel in the other side. I carried two 32 ounce Nalgene bottles in each outside water pouch, plus map, compass, and snacks in the larger outer pockets. I carried a titanium frying pan in one of the outer pockets, too. I only filled my water containers enough to have 4 lbs of water (1/2 gallon), but I felt pretty overloaded at that point. I'm not used to having so much hanging on my shoulders. My packweight was only 22 lbs including a tummy pack I wear with all the misc stuff I need easily accessible (tissue, vaseline, bug net, bug spray and lotion, quick first aid, meds, snacks, camera, binoculars, etc.).

I did 33 miles on a typical Pennsylvania rocky kick-butt trail and well before the end of the trek I was not happy with the way this 3200 cu pack handled the load. I was hot, my back ached, it was an utter chore to climb with the straps digging in at my neck, shoulders, inner arms, and goodness knows where else. I actually thought it was meant as a torture device. I don't think this pack was ever meant to carry more than 10 lbs of anything. I'm sorry I bought it and I plan to seriously trim some of the extra fluff off of it before I ever try to use it again, or pawn it off on some unsuspecting person who doesn't know anything about packs.

It was hard to pack and unpack, it's like a dark cave in there and you can't see a darned thing. The neck opening is too small to be useful and you have to roll, roll, roll, roll it to close it up. The center of gravity is all wrong, wrong, wrong. It should be at my hips not in the middle of my back. My trek mates and I adjusted and fiddled and adjusted and fiddled until I was ready to dump everything and give up. I will never use this this thing for an overnight trip again, for sure!!!

The next week I went back to my Kelty MG lumbar pack (1000 cu) and carrying 17 lbs felt like I didn't have anything on my back or waist. The only things I didn't carry on that overnight backpack were my titanium frying pan, hydration pack, and the extra pants and shirt. Everything else was exactly the same. I think I could have carried everything the Vapor Ki did in just my Kelty MG without a problem. Maybe you will have a better time with it if you are used to being uncomfortable and miserable with a pack on your back. It is probably less miserable than other packs.