User Review: Granite Gear Vapor Trail

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

Reviewed September 17, 2009 by Scott Etienne

Rating:
Design: top-loading internal
Size: 3600 cu in.
Number of Pockets: two
Max. Load Carried: 31 lbs
Height of Owner: 5'11"
Price Paid: $170

I took the Vapor Trail on a 3-day, 27-mile trek in Shawnee National Forest. Trail-ready weight was 31 pounds. During the entire trip the suspension really held up well and for the most part, I felt like the pack was gently hugging my torso.

I've been replacing old, heavier gear with lighter gear, and after five years have reduced my dry pack weight from 40+ pounds to under 25. I am not a pure minimalist, because I believe in safety and comfort, so always have a spare change of clothing, a two-man double-wall tent and an extra liter of water.

A note about an earlier review, after leading backpacking trips for 15 years, I don't know why you would need to get your sleeping bag out of your pack before you setup camp. I think this pack was unfairly criticized for not having a special sleeping bag compartment. I really think that the reviewer made a poor decision to purchase this pack if this was important to him.

I would say I have found the perfect pack for almost every trip I care to do and then some. I still have three or so pounds I can get rid of when I replace more gear, and expect to get my dry-pack weight down to 22 pounds.

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