Field Report: Six Moon Designs Essence Pack
Date: June 20, 2006 Manufacturer Name: Six Moon Designs Website: http://www.sixmoondesigns.com	Product Information Manufacturer: Six Moon Designs Model: Essence Pack Year of Manufacture: 2006 Capacity: 3200 cu in  (52 L)    Main Bag: 2000 cu in (33 L)    Extension Collar: 350 cu in (6 L)    Top Pocket: 390 cu in (6 L)    Side Mesh Pockets: 410 cu in (7 L)    Belt Pockets: 90 cu in (1L) MSRP: $120.00 (US) Listed Weight: 13 oz  (370 g ) Measured Weight: 13.6oz  (385 g)

Tester Information & Background

Name: Andy Rad

Gender: Male

Age: 48

Height: 6 ft (1.83 m)

Weight: 165 lb (75 kg)

Email: aisrad at cableone dot net

I started backpacking 21 years ago.  Most were short three-day trips, but are now generally five-day.  By backpacking, I’m referring to summer/winter camping, and occasionally fall hunting.  About half my trips are lightweight solo and the other half with my family.  I used to own a llama, thus allowing me to continue backpacking with my small children.  In recent years I’ve substituted a collie for the llama. When I’m not with the family I tend to take less-traveled trails or bushwhack the hard mountainous terrain in and around Idaho.  The majority of my trips are in central Idaho, with a few into northern Idaho, eastern Idaho, and eastern Oregon.

Field Report

This is my first pack that is not a top loader, thus it took me a few trips before I appreciated the ability to open the pack and have access to all the goods.  On the flip side, I’m not able to “stuff” it as tight as a top loader.  At this point I still favor the top loader, but this is personal preference.

I’ve used several different sleeping pads with the Essence, and I find the Therm-a-rest Z-Lite™ fits best.  I have mine cut to 40 in (100 cm), thus it measures 1 3/8 x 10 x 20 in (3.5 x 25 x 51 cm) when folded and occupies 275 cu in (4.5 l).  The pad easily fits into the pack and is easy to secure with the retaining straps.  I also use a 3/8 x 20 x 48 in (1 x 50 x 122 cm) closed cell pad which occupies about 400 cu in (6.5 l) when loosely rolled and then compressed flat in the pack.  It takes a little experimentation and adjustments to get it folded between 10 to 11 in (25 to 28 cm), which is what fits inside the pack's retaining straps.  I have yet to try a Therm-a-rest inflatable in the field, but around the house I was not impressed as it provides little in the area of supporting the pack’s weight.  The maximum width of a sleeping pad that will fit into the Essence is about 20.5 in (52 cm).

My first trip was 25 lbs (11 kg) in the Snake River Canyon, and I found that my shoulders were carrying more weight than I desired, thus making the pack feel heavy.  By making up a sternum strap with some cord, it felt as though more weight shifted to my hips.  Upon returning home I made up a sternum strap from nylon webbing and a buckle.  Since the shoulder straps already have a vertical nylon web spot stitched over the padding, improvising was easy.  I tried going without the sternum strap on a subsequent trip into Central Idaho Mountains with 23 lbs (10.5 kg), and again found I prefer the strap.  I would recommend that Six Moons install a sternum strap, because the customer can always remove it if they prefer to go without.

I was unable to use the pack on some of my spring trips, because I couldn’t attach my small, lightweight spring snowshoes.  There were two issues attaching the shoes.  The first was protecting the light pack fabric from the crampons, and the second was finding a reliable means of securing the snowshoes without stressing the attach points.  I tried over packing the snowshoes in a nylon stuff sack and then attaching them under the weather flap that covers the opening.  There just was no secure means of attaching, and it shifted the weight so far back that the pack didn’t ride comfortably.

The size of the pack has proven to be adequate, especially when considering that approximately 400 cu in (6.5 l) is occupied by the sleeping pad.  All my trips thus far have been short three-day trips.  In anticipation of the size being too small to accommodate cool weather gear, I did purchase a 3 oz (85 g) Silnylon compression sack, but have not needed to use it.   

The top pouch is generous in size and the zipper works great.  Since the pack is a front loader with weather flap, access to the main compartment is inconvenient. Given that the top pouch is so large and the easy access to large mesh pockets on the sides, I seldom need to access the main compartment while on the trail.

The hip pockets are minimally adequate, and I would like to see them slightly larger.  It would add virtually nothing to the pack weight and make accessing items easier.  My digital camera, when in a thin neoprene case, will barely fit into the pocket.  This is due to the pocket being curved around my hips, thus reducing the volume.

During my initial review I was concerned that the mesh pockets were a little short and concerned that large bottles would work their way out.  This has not been an issue, and in retrospect my initial testing was flawed in that I was overstuffing the pack with materials that caused the pack to balloon and push the bottle up. 

Test Plan

Testing this pack during the next two months will likely be limited to shorter hikes, as I’m finding the pack uncomfortable when going over 25 lbs  (11 kg).  The following are all trips I would like to do in the next 2 months; a late June a 4 day trek through the Idaho Lost River Range, extended weekend trips into the Oregon Eagle Cap Wilderness, Idaho Sawtooths Wilderness, and central Idaho mountains.

I'll be paying special attention to the following:

·        Comfort (shoulder and hip pressure) over the longer trek (4 day Lost River Range)

·        Packing with different weights and preference of hiking with and without sternum strap

·        Pack weight arrangement (placement of heavy items in pack)

·        Capacity/volume adequacy with different sleeping pads

·        Durability of the material, buckles, zipper, and stitching

·        Strapping external items on the pack

·        Accessing items inside the main body and top lid