Owner Review of the GoLite Speed Backpack

Tester Bio

Name: Mark Orton
Age: 27
Gender: Male
Height: 5'7" (1.70m)
Weight: 175 lbs (79kg)
E-mail: Backpkrmn at aol dot com
City: Vacaville
State: California
Country: USA
Date: March 1, 2004

Backpacking Background: I have been hiking and backpacking my whole
life. Backpacking became a serious hobby for me in the mid 90s. I
have hiked several sections of the AT, taking on 100+ mile (160+ km)
sections at a time. I have also hiked 100 miles (161 km) along the
Vermont Long Trail. Living in California gives me access to some
great backpacking opportunities out here, such as the PCT. I try to
get out at least once a month on an overnight backpacking trip and at
least once a week on a dayhike. Once a year I plan an extended trip,
a trip that is at least 100 miles (161 km) long and will take the
better part of two weeks.

In the past couple years I have begun converting to the ultralight
way of backpacking. I am known amongst friends as a gear head, I
always have the latest and greatest lightweight gear. I now have a
basic pack weight (without food or water) of under 10lbs (4.5 kg).


Product Information:

Manufacturer: GoLite
Model: Speed Pack
Year of Manufacture: 2002
Manufacturer Website: www.golite.com

Listed Weight: 1 lb, 10 oz (737 g) (Size M)
Actual Weight: 1 lb, 15 oz (879 g) (Size L)
Internal Volume: 2600 cubic inches (42.6 L)
Pocket Volume: 800 cubic inches (13.1 L)
MSRP: $139 US


Product Features:

- SilLite HG™ body and floating top lid with pocket and extra-long
compression strap
- Arrowhead Cordura® ripstop nylon bottom
- Webbing hip belt with 2 gusseted pockets
- Contoured air-channel mesh back
- 3-Liter (3qt) TFO®, a division of NALGENE®, TPE Big Bore Tanker with
BiteMe™ valve
- Reflective shoulder strap water bottle holders
- Neoprene helmet holder with Arrowhead Cordura® reinforcements
- Daisy chain Tool retention strap
- Contoured shoulder straps
- Sternum strap
- Hourglass shape for free elbow swing
- Haul loop
- 2 grommet drain holes in bottom
- 5 external mesh pockets
- For up to 30 pound (13.6 kg) loads


Field Information:

Locations where tests were conducted: I have used this pack while
backpacking along the Appalachian Trail in Virginia, the Pacific
Crest Trail in California, and many other overnight excursions
throughout California.

Description of Locations: The locations in which I have used this
pack have ranged from humid moist environments at near sea level, to
dry arid environments at around 10000 feet (3048 m). I have carried
the pack on well maintained trails for approximately 400 miles (644
km). I have also carried this pack off trail on a three day trip.

Weather Conditions: This pack has been used in a pretty broad range
of weather conditions. Temperatures which I've carried the pack have
ranged from the mid 30s F (0 C) to over 100 degrees F (38 C). I have
carried it on both dry, sunny days and overcast and foggy days. I
have also carried it through light rain and mist, but never through a
true downpour. I have never carried it in snow.

Backpacking Experience with this Product: I have used this backpack
exclusively for overnight and extended backpacking trips. I have
never carried it on any daytrips.

Style: A fully-featured adventure racing pack, big enough for
expedition-length races and also great for multi-day backpacking
trips for those who want to travel fast and light.

Field Report:

A little over two years ago, I was out on a backpacking trip with a
friend of mine. We were in Vermont hiking along the Long Trail. We
were passed by two guys carrying what appeared to be small daypacks.
We assumed that they were dayhikers and dismissed their speed as
being because they were just out for a few miles dayhiking. That
night when we arrived at the shelter and found the same two guys
lounging in their sleeping bags, we knew they had a secret that we
needed to find out about. They were carrying lightweight loads of
fewer than 30 lbs (13.6 kg). My friend and I looked at each other in
amazement, was it actually possible to travel both safely and
comfortably with such a light load? By comparison, our loads were
each pushing the 50 lb (22.68 kg) mark.

It was at that point, on that trip, that both of us decided that we
were going to start converting to the lightweight method of
backpacking. I have since pushed it a little further and now
consider my load to be ultralight.

While shopping for a lightweight backpack I tried on several models
at the local REI store. None of them really felt all that good with
my gear loaded into them. On a short overnight trip in Virginia I
ran into a guy wearing the GoLite Speed pack. He offered to let me
try his on; I fell in love with the feel as soon as it hit my back.
I had to have one of these backpacks. As soon as I returned from
that trip I placed my order with Golite.

I have now had my GoLite Speed pack for a little under two years.
Since purchasing the backpack, it has accompanied me on every
backpacking trip I have taken. It has been in the Sierra along the
Pacific Crest Trail and in Yosemite National Park, it has been on the
California coast at such places as Point Reyes National Seashore and
Ventana Wilderness along the Big Sur Coast. It has also traveled
with me to the east coast for a 100 plus mile (161 km) hike along the
Appalachian Trail.

The GoLite Speed pack is a frameless backpack; it gets its support
only from a small amount of foam on the back of it. It is fit for
loads of less than 30 lbs (13.61 kg). I have carried no more than 25
lbs (11.34 kg) in the pack on any of my overnight trips. I was
concerned with the lack of support when I received the pack in the
mail. However, after loading the pack and wearing it as I walked to
work the first few days I owned it, I found that there was sufficient
support for such light loads. The feel of the pack was great, it
didn't droop or ride too high, it felt perfect.

I experimented with carrying less of a load in the pack. It seems
that it would not be suited to dayhiking or anything that wouldn't
require the use of all, or nearly all, the internal volume. The lack
of compression straps on the body of the pack saves weight, but also
limits its usage to that of an overnight backpack. For those trips
which don't require as much equipment as it takes to fill the
backpack, I have found that unrolling my sleeping pad inside of the
pack, forming a cylinder on the inside takes up much of the unused
space and provides more rigidity to the backpack.

There are two features of this pack that I will probably never use,
one was the helmet holder on the backpack and the other are the
pockets on the hipbelt. At first I thought the hipbelt pockets were
a good idea, however, once I tried to use them I found how useless
they truly are. They are so small that only the smallest of items
could fit in there, something like my keys, or possibly a small
energy bar. The problem is that once I have put something in this
pocket, it is pushed against my waist by the hipbelt. There is no
padding between me and the pocket, as there is no padding on the
hipbelt at all. It seemed a logical place to put my keys, until I
put on the pack and realized that my keys were now stabbing me.

As for the helmet holder, its function is understood by me. I know
that this pack was designed and used for the GoLite adventure racing
team. It is essential that all their gear be with them, including a
bike helmet or a climbing helmet. For an adventure racer this
feature would come in very hand. I am not an adventure racer;
therefore, the feature is useless to me.

I love the mesh pockets all over the outside of the pack. They allow
me to store wet clothes, a wet tent body or anything else I don't
want mixing with the dry gear inside my pack. They also allow for
quick access to things I'll need on my hike. I use mine to carry
my alcohol for my stove, so that if a rupture in the container
occurs, it will keep the alcohol from my clothing and sleeping bag.
I also use it for my windbreaker/rain gear so that if the rain starts
coming down I don't have to open the pack and expose all my gear to
the precipitation.

Another feature that I really enjoy is the large hydration bladder
that is included. The version I own came with the Platypus Big Zip 3
Liter (3 qt) bladder. This is normally a sufficient amount of water
for me for the entire day's hike. It especially comes in handy on
those dry sections of trail. The only downside to using the
hydration bladder with the GoLite Speed is where it's located on the
pack makes it difficult to refill on the trail. With my pack
completely full, I found it necessary to unload some of my gear to
get the bladder out of the backpack to fill. The sleeve for the
bladder is right against my back as I hike, which tends to cause my
water to heat up. On cool days that's not so bad, but on the hot dry
days, warm water just doesn't refresh you the way cooler water can.

Many people have questioned me concerning the durability of the
GoLite Speed backpack. I have used this backpack off trail for three
days; it encountered many downed trees and tree branches, with no
sign of any damage. I have not seen any wear or tears on my backpack
after two years of use and probably over 500 trail miles (805 km).
The silnylon fabric has performed beautifully for me, resisting the
saturation that occurs with normal backpacks when walking through
drizzly fog.


Summary:

Throughout the past two years I have subjected this backpack to many
tests. I have yet to be disappointed by its performance. It is a
comfortable and functional backpack. For a lightweight backpack,
intended for carrying lightweight loads, I've not found a better
backpack than the GoLite Speed.