I have over 30 years backpacking experience, starting with Scouting as a youth. I am currently the High Adventure Leader for a Scout Troop. I try to get out once or twice a month, plus at least one week-long trek each year. My trips are of two types. First, I am hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in sections, and generally use a lightweight approach on these typically solo trips. Other trips involving family involve more traditional backpacking equipment. Terrain varies from sea level to 14,000 feet (4,300 m), desert to mountain, and trail to cross country, occasionally including snow travel.

This is the last of three reports of the Integral Designs Silcoat Backpack. The first report described the product in detail. This report builds on the second report.

Product Description:

Integral Designs Silcoat Backpack
http://www.integraldesigns.com)
A stuff sack that doubles as a small day pack
Received May 20, 2005
Integrated stuff sack doubles as an inside pack pocket
MSRP US $50
Silicon-impregnated ripstop nylon with back of 200 denier pack cloth
Top drawstring closure
18 inches (46 cm) tall
Width 9 inches (23 cm)
Stated capacity 25 liters (1,500 cu in), with a limit of 12 pounds (5 kg)
Shoulder straps of 2-inch (5 cm) nylon webbing with ladder-lock adjustments
Removable 1-inch (2.5 cm) nylon web belt with a buckle
Stated weight 4.5 ounces (125 g), measured weight 4.6 ounces (131 g) with the belt and 3.6 ounces (104 g) without
Integral Designs Silcoat Backpack. The cover is loose to show flap inside.

Test Conditions

Testing included two extended-weekend backpacks along the Pacific Crest Trail between Yosemite and Lake Tahoe. Elevations ranged from 7,000 to 10,500 feet (2,100 to 3,200 m) including river valleys, forest, and barren ridgetops. Separate camps were made each night at about 8,500 feet (2,600 m). Daytime temperatures ranged from 50 to 70 degrees F (10 to 20 C), with low temperatures each night around 35 degrees F (2 C). Conditions varied from calm in the valleys to strong ridge-top winds with heavy rain and hail during the day and light snow overnight.

Additional testing was done on various short day hikes in Southern California, mostly below 1,000 feet (300 m) elevation, with temperatures between 60 and 85 degrees F (16 to 29 C).

Field Test

First things first (worth repeating from my last report): This is not a backpack for overnight use, nor is it for a long day hike. Rather, it is intended as something lightweight to throw in your big backpack for occasional use on side trips. Its biggest benefits are low weight and small packed size. This is offset by a lack of padding on the straps and on the back, and a weight limit of 12 pounds (5 kg).

I started out using the Silcoat Backpack as a stuff sack for my sleeping bag. I expected the pack would keep my sleeping bag dry. I planned to use it for short trips away from the main trail - a short side trail to get water, a trip to the restroom, and so on.

The Backpack made a nice stuff sack for my sleeping bag (although not entirely waterproof because of the drawstring closure). Practicality, however, quickly reared its head. First, my top-loading pack fits best when I carry my sleeping bag at the bottom of the pack, so I had to empty my pack completely to get it. Then I had to remove the sleeping bag from the pack and put it in a plastic bag while I was on my side trip. I soon decided a change in style was needed, and used the Backpack instead to carry my essentials, including a light jacket. This way the Backpack could be more accessible in my large pack, and already be packed with most of what I would carry anyway.

Since my last report: This clever mix of a backpack and a stuff sack is a bit of an enigma for me: very cool, but not often used.

The Backpack rides so high on my 22-inch (56 cm) torso that I quickly removed the belt and never used it again. Packed carefully, using a jacket as padding, it was reasonably comfortable with up to 8 pounds (3.6 kg). However, my gear did not fully fill the pack, so jostling on the trail quickly had it not-so-carefully packed. Still, it worked well for short jaunts of up to a mile (0.6). Beyond that, I longed for a true hip belt that could take the weight off my shoulders to relief the pressure on my back. Still, at this low weight, I could also just toss it over one shoulder for short periods.

Capacity. The volume of the Backpack is probably determined more by the need to make the physical dimensions of the Backpack fit the typical hiker rather than to provide 25 liters (1,500 cu in) of space. In fact, there is enough volume to easily load more than the recommended 12 pound (5 kg) limit.

Waterproofness and Durability. The Backpack shows no signs of wear or damage, in spite of being carelessly tossed around in camp and subjected to a bit of bushwhacking on my day hikes. The silnylon fabric is very waterproof. The top closure is a simple drawstring closure backed with a flap.

Summary. Used for its intended purpose, the Silcoat Backpack offers an easy way to carry a day pack inside a backpack with very minimal extra weight. I especially appreciated it at a hiker hostel, using it between the bunks and shower. I found it too small for me to be comfortable for more than an hour.

I thank BackpackGearTest and Integral Designs for the opportunity to test this day pack.

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