Reviews > Packs > Frameless Backpacks and Day Packs > Integral Designs Silcoat Backpack > Laurie Corbin > Long Term Report

Long Term Report–Integral Designs Silcoat Backpack

Date: December 6, 2005

Personal Information:

Name: Laurie Corbin
Age: 41
Gender: Female
Height: 5' 6" (1.69 m)
Weight: 135 lbs (61 kg)
Email: mslimpsalot@yahoo.com
City, State, Country: Cumming, GA USA


Backpacking Background:

In the last four years, I have returned to backpacking and hiking.  Although I took 18 years off, the woods kept calling.  I have been a three-season backpacker but recently ventured into winter backpacking and truly enjoyed it.  My three-season pack weight is about 20 pounds total (9 kg).

Product Information:

Manufacturer: Integral Designs
Manufacturer’s website: www.integraldesigns.com
Listed Weight: 4.5 oz (125 g)
Actual Weight: 4.4 oz (125 g)
Volume: 1500 cu (25 l)
Size of pack as received-filled: 11 in x 16 in x 5 in (27 cm x 40 cm x 13 cm)
Color: Grey silnylon packbag/black straps and backing.
MSRP: $50.00 US per website

Durability:

I have continued to use the pack as my primary pack for dayhikes and trail maintenance trips. It has continued to perform well with light wear and tear mostly on the outside of the packbag. The manufacturer states that it should not be used to carry sharp objects or dragged against rocks. On maintenance trips, however, the pack was usually hauled a few yards and tossed onto the side of the trail while I carried out my step building or water bar cleaning. Afterward, it was picked up, carried a few yards and tossed again. The pack did manage to get a small tear in the outside of the bag from one of these tosses. It was only a small tear and easily repaired with a little sealer. I would not however carry this pack on a scrambling or bushwhacking trip. The pack is not waterproof. The silnylon itself will not soak through but the seams are not sealed and water can enter this way. I found this out on a maintenance trip when I accidentally tossed it onto a wet area. I had not seam sealed the stitching and the contents of the pack got a bit wet. My peanut butterr sandwich was a bit on the soggy side but otherwise no real harm was done. I have since sealed the seams and don't expect the problem to recur.

Comfort:

I found the pack to be comfortable up to 9 or 10 pounds and then the shoulder straps began to dig uncomfortably into my shoulders. This was mainly an issue in warm weather when I was wearing a very light shirt. In cooler weather, a jacket provided some padding and I did not notice the straps as much. I did not use the waist strap and found it unnecessary. I do not think I would need the waist strap unless I was carrying 20 pounds (9 kg) or more and this pack is not designed to carry that weight anyway. To me the waist belt seems to be a pointless feature. Even when I did carry more than the recommended weight (15 lbs/5 kg), I suffered much more than the pack. There was no obvious pulling of the stitching or tearing of the straps. I also found that I need to use some sort of padding against my back in order to carry water bottles or other pointy objects. I usually carry a cheap Wal-Mart plastic placemat as a sit-upon and found that by placing it between my back and the contents of the pack made the day easier. I could also wrap the offending items in a jacket (when carried in cooler weather) to achieve the same goal. In addition to the other uses of the pack, it has been used as my stuff sack for my sleeping bag and a very comfortable pillow (stuffed, of course) in the evenings.

This pack has been well used for hiking and, in the past two weeks, it has taken up second duty as general carry-all for me while I recover from ankle surgery. I can't carry much on crutches and have found the pack ideal for hauling everything from the mail to nalgene bottles to and from the kitchen. It has been used to carry everything I can't. So although I haven't been testing on trail for a couple of weeks, I've managed to find more ways to use this nifty little pack. I won't be hiking for quite a few more weeks (unless someone invents four-wheel drive crutches) but when I do get back out I'll certainly be carrying this little pack. It has earned a place on my regular gear shelf.

My thanks to the BackpackGearTest editors and the folks at Integral Designs for allowing me to test this pack.

Reviews > Packs > Frameless Backpacks and Day Packs > Integral Designs Silcoat Backpack > Laurie Corbin > Long Term Report