Initial Report: Six Moon Designs Essence Pack
Date: April 18th, 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 dotnet

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 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.

Initial Report

My first impression of the Six Moon Designs Essence Pack was that of indifference, and degraded from there as I began loading it.  Fortunately, after an hour of experimentation, I found that I was looking forward to using the pack, and liked many of the pack’s attributes.  That being said, I would have passed up this pack at a retail outlet, and missed out on what appears to be a fine pack.  The manufacturer's web site does a good job of describing the pack, and is reiterated in the instruction booklet that accompanies the pack.  Not having used a front loader before, I was just taken back by the task of loading the pack for a short while.

My initial reaction was heavily influenced by the inconvenient method of loading the pack.  The main body entrance is achieved by unbuckling five quick-connect buckles on the cover flap, and then through a draw-string entry.  Since there is no zipper entry, this allows the body to expand by means of what Six Moon Designs calls an extension collar, and then a protective cover/flap to contain the collar.

The pack lacks a formal frame, therefore requires using a closed cell sleeping pad as the integrated frame.  This concept has proven functional on my other packs, but there are drawbacks.  First, corrugated sleeping pads do wear out as the corrugation collapses after use, and using it as a pack frame accelerates the degradation.  The other drawback is that the ground pad causes the center of gravity to shift away from your body by the distance of the pad.  On the positive side, it makes for a solid pack frame, is light, and multi-functional. Since this pack is for ultra light use, the center of gravity issue should be insignificant. 

 

There are three straps holding the sleeping pad in place, which are easy to access when the pack is empty.  When using a Therm-a-rest Z-Lite™, I questioned their necessity, but it became evident they are required when utilizing a non-folding closed cell pad.  A flat closed-cell pad requires rolling into a 7 in (18 cm) roll and securing with the straps.  The pack contents pushing against the roll causes it to flatten against the back.  

At first, I thought it was going to be an inconvenience gaining access to the pack for routine items, such as a jacket, food, and miscellaneous.  Then I started looking at the top pocket and realized that the size is large, and when used in combination with the large full length side mesh pocket all my frequently used items would be close at hand.

  

As per the photo above, there are also two small side mesh pockets that make me nervous as to their adequately of holding a 32 oz ( 1 L) bottle.  When the pack is stuffed tight, the bottle is forced up from the bottom of the pocket, because the mesh gathering/bellows are pulled tight.  Field testing will consist of using several different bottles and determining if this is a warranted concern.  The lower pocket is angled forward, and is accessible while wearing the pack.

The hip belt is not padded, has an integrated zip entry pocket on each side, and appears to be truly functional.  Not some small novelty as I’ve seen other manufactures try to integrate.  Additionally the hip belt is small enough it accommodate a 26 in (66 cm) waist.  I would have preferred to see the fabric wedge an inch (3 cm) longer, thus a minimum 28 in (71 cm) waist.  As it is now, the fabric wedge to nylon belt are joined right on top of my hip bones.

The shoulder straps are well padded, contoured, and without a sternum strap.  The straps have nylon webbing sewn in that could accommodate a sternum strap, but none is supplied.  

I own several pieces of light weight (30 denier) silnylon gear, in the form of tents, garments, and backpacks.  This is my first introduction to medium weight (70 denier) silnylon fabric and it definitely has the appearance of being durable.  The back panel (section against the user) and hip belt are constructed of what appears to be medium weight polyurethane coated nylon.  The bottom is constructed of an even heavier polyurethane coated nylon that resembles that of light weight pack cloth.

As for construction and workmanship, the pack is excellent.  Stitching is top notch with almost everything being double stitched, overlapping seams, little exposed fabric ends, and reinforced areas like in the hip belt.  The instructions are also an easy read, with suggestions on how best to position light, medium, and heavy items.  It is amazing that this pack is only 13.6 oz (385 g) considering the use of heavier weight fabrics.

I mentioned at the beginning of this report, that I gained an appreciation of the pack after experimenting with it for an hour.  I put about 20 lbs (9 kg) in it and found that it fit my 20 in (50 cm) torso well.  My bone structure/frame is on the small side, as I generally wear medium shirt and 32 in (82 cm) waist pants.   I had my wife, of 5 ft 3 in (160 cm), try it on and her torso was definitely too short, as the shoulder straps were too high and the pack tended to fall away from her. 

Test Plan

Testing during the two month field portion will consist of some low elevation hiking in the Salmon river canyon, at least two weekend trips into the Snake river canyon near Boise, Idaho, and a weekend in the Oregon Owhyee river canyon.  I was hoping to use the pack on my late May to early June weekend trips into the lower Idaho Frank Church wilderness, Idaho Sawtooths, or Oregon Eagle White Caps, but I'm concerned there is no way to strap light snowshoes on the pack in the event the snow pack has not firmed up or is too low.

 

I'll be paying special attention to the following:

·        Is there ample room for more than light weekend trips, as a portion of the 3200 cu in (52 l) is consumed by the sleeping pad

·        How do different sleeping pads fit inside (both inflatable and a different closed cells) and yet support the pack

·        Is there a way to strap a full length or thick sleeping pad on the outside for when sleeping on snow

·        Is there an issue with the mesh pockets retaining larger bottles

·        How comfortable is the pack with 30 lbs (13 kg) as this is the manufacturer’s recommended maximum weight (a function of shoulder straps, hip belt, and choice of sleeping pad)

·        How do the shoulder straps perform without a sternum strap