Field Report: Six Moon Designs Essence Pack
Date: August 30th, 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: 49

Height: 6 ft (1.83 m)

Weight: 165 lb (75 kg)

Email: arad1 at yahoo dot com

I started backpacking 22 years ago, most were short three day trips, but are now generally four or five day.  I'm in the backcountry year round with early spring trips requiring snowshoes over the passes, summer, late fall into snow, and winter camping on snowshoes or skis.  About half my trips are lightweight solo and the other half are with my family and friends.  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 with the family. 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.

Long Term Report

As I mentioned in my field report this is my first pack that is not a top loader, and I was finding the inability to stuff the pack a disadvantage.  I’ve used the Essence pack on a few more trips since then, and still maintain that I prefer a top loader.  Of course the ability to find items in a front loader is convenient, but my personal preference remains with a top loader.  Stuffing a top loading pack tight tends to make the pack more rigid, and can hold more without the need to organize/stuff the contents into smaller stuff sacks as in the case of the sleeping bag.

One of my trips involved going into the 10,000 ft (3000 m) Lost River Range in Idaho for 4 nights with snow and freezing nights.  I ended up with a 28 lbs (13 kg) pack due to packing a warm sleeping bag and clothing.  This was definitely pushing the upper limits of the pack in both weight and volume.  The pack felt a little short for my 20 in (51 cm) torso and it pulled on my shoulders more than I desired.  I was unable to adequately transfer the weight to my hips, and this was while using a Z-lite™  as my sleeping pad and pack frame.  I also had the pack compressed to keep the weight in close, but this also resulted in a flap buckle popping loose twice.

As I noted in my field report I made up a sternum strap and again found that it definitely helps to pull the weight off my shoulders and pull the pack in close.  It wasn’t until the pack dropped to 23 lbs (10 kg) that I found less need for the sternum strap.

On one trip into the Idaho Frank Church Wilderness, I used an inflatable Therm-a-rest™ instead of a Z-lite or closed cell.  It worked okay, but my preference is the Z-light, as it occupies less space then a rolled up closed cell and provided a more ridged pack which helped transfer weight to hips instead of riding on shoulders.  When hiking with less than 20 lbs (9 kg), I wouldn’t have a preference.

I did have the flap buckles pop loose twice in all my trips, and in both cases it was due to over compressing and was evident with a loud pop when it happened.

When carrying approximately 20 lbs (9 kg), this pack performed well on all accounts.  Over 25 lbs (11 kg) I found it uncomfortable as it pulled on the shoulders.

Pros:

• Low weight

• Adequate size for short three or four day trips

• The top pouch is generous in size and the zipper works great

• Generous side pockets and top pouch allows keeping frequently accessed items close at hand

• The hip pockets are convenient, but could be slightly larger

Cons:

• Lack of sternum strap