Gossamer Gear Mariposa Ultralight Backpack, Initial Report

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Name: Carol Crooker
Age: 45
Gender: Female
Height: 5’ 10” (178 cm)
Weight: 160 lbs (73 kg)
Torso: 19” (48 cm)
Circumference over hip bones (where I wear a hip belt): 36.5” (93 cm)
Email: cmcrooker A.T. att D.O.T. net
City, State: Phoenix, Arizona
Date: November 19, 2004

Backpacking background: For the past 7 years, I've backpacked about 30 days each year. Most of my trips were three to six days long, and were in Arizona, the High Sierras, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Oregon, Utah, Pennsylvania and New York. My three-season base pack weight varies from 12 lbs (5 kg) to 6 lbs (3 kg). I use a tarp for shelter in all four seasons.

PRODUCT SYNOPSIS

The Mariposa is a very light (17.3 oz with all the options installed (490 g)), internal frame backpack. It is constructed of silnylon fabric with five mesh pockets including three side pockets, a large front pocket, and a pocket on the back panel for a sleeping pad. It is intended for loads of 40 pounds (18 kg) or less.

Manufacturer: Gossamer Gear
URL: http://www.gossamergear.com
Year of manufacture: 2004
MSRP: $129.95 USD

Manufacturer’s listed weight:
Pack, with all components installed – 17.2 oz (488 g)
Stripped pack – 14.6 oz (414 g)
Set of two foam shoulder pads – 0.4 oz (11 g)
Set of two foam waist belt pads – 0.3 oz (9 g)
Sternum strap – 0.6 oz (17 g)
Compression strap – 0.5 oz (14 g)
Set of two carbon fiber stays – 0.8 oz (23 g)

Weight as delivered for size medium pack:
All weights are as listed except that the stripped pack weighs 14.7 oz (417 g), which makes the loaded pack also weigh 0.1 oz (2.8 g) more than as listed by Gossamer Gear.

Manufacturer’s listed capacity and carry weight:
4200 c.i. (68.8 L) size medium - 2900 c.i. (47.5 L) main bag, 800 c.i. (13.1 L) extension collar, and 500 c.i. (8.2 L) pockets

Carry weight – up to 40 lbs (18 kg)

Fabric:
Silnylon, 1.3 oz/yd2 (44 g/m2), 40 denier Nylon, 4 oz/yd2 (136 g/m2), 210 denier urethane-coated nylon double wall ripstop

DESCRIPTION

The Mariposa arrived on November 12th. The pack, a set of foam shoulder strap and waist belt inserts, and an envelope containing a shipping invoice and a two-page (double sided) typewritten User Manual were included in the package.

The pack is an attractive blue color with black components. The main pack bag is silnylon. The waist belt and shoulder straps have a thin layer of soft foam which can be supplemented (through openings that are closed with hook and loop fasteners) with clothing or the provided closed cell foam pads. Both the shoulder straps and waist belt are lined with a mesh wicking material.

Pockets of an open weave, non-stretch mesh are edged with a silnylon casing. The large front pocket, left full-height pocket, and right half-height pocket have elastic inside the casing. The flat pocket above the half-height pocket does not have a stretch opening. The top of the lower right half-height pocket is slanted towards the back panel of the pack.

Note: I’m using the convention that the part of the pack against the user’s back is the “back,” and the opposite side is the “front.”

A bungee cord is strung through loops on both sides of the front panel of the pack ending at a loop sewn at the bottom center edge of the pack. A cord lock on the end of the bungee can be used to tighten the bungee.

The back of the pack has upper and lower pockets made of a thin, slightly stretchy material. A sleeping pad can be inserted into the pockets.

The main pack bag has a long silnylon collar which is closed by a bungee cord and cord lock. There is also a ribbon ‘Y’ strap that goes over the top of the pack with a side release buckle that snaps into its mate on the end of a strap that is sewn to the bottom center edge of the pack. The strap has a keeper at the top third of the main packbag to keep the strap from dangling.

An ice axe loop is sewn to the center bottom edge of the pack. Another loop at the top of the back panel is a haul loop.

Three additional loops are sewn into the seam where the side panel meets the back panel on each side of the pack. The instructions explain that these loops are for various uses including restringing the bungee cord to compress the full pack for small loads.

A simple silnylon pocket water bladder holder is sewn on the inside of the packbag against the back panel.

The pack has an adjustable (and removable) sternum strap with orange whistle side closure buckle.

At the upper edge of the back panel are two ports for a drinking bladder tube. These are finished slits with the top overlapping the bottom.

The stays are carbon fiber tipped with smooth metal end caps at both ends. The easily slide into and out of tubes sewn into the inside back panel of the pack. The tubes are closed at the top by robust looking flaps with hook and loop strips to keep the stays from working out the top.

IMPRESSIONS

I weighed the various components of the pack during my initial inspection and found that all the optional components weighed what Gossamer Gear claimed. The pack can be stripped to the bare essentials by leaving out the foam hip belt and shoulder strap padding, and removing the bungee compression cord, sternum strap, and stays. The stripped pack weighs 0.1 oz (3 g) more than the Gossamer Gear listed weight bringing the “fully loaded” pack weight to 17.3 oz (490 g). Impressive!

I’m impressed with the obvious care taken in the construction of this pack. Sewing is even and the construction is neat, with edges finished. Small details to make the pack more functional have been designed in.

The only glitch I found was that one end of the Y top closure strap is sewn upside down, leaving a twist in the ribbon. This does not appear to affect the function of the strap.

The User Manual, most of which is included on the web site, covers a lot in two, double sided standard size pages. It includes a packing list, explanation of components, recommendations for use, fit, care, customizing tips, and design insights. Any initial questions I had were answered after reading the User Manual.

The Mariposa is thoroughly and accurately described on the web site.

FIT:

The medium pack, which Gossamer Gear indicates fits torsos from 18” to 22” (46 – 56 cm), is the right fit for my 19” (48 cm) torso. The tops of the shoulder straps come just above my shoulders when the pack is lightly loaded.

The hip belt rests on my hips just right with both sides fully cinched. My circumference where I wear a hip belt (over my hip bones) is 36.5” (93 cm). Gossamer Gear has details of a modification to the hip belt on their web site (under User Tips) for people who don’t quite fill out the hip belt of their pack.

The shoulder straps with foam inserted feel like they may hinder my arm swing because of their width. The web site mentions that some people are more comfortable using socks in place of the provided foam in their shoulder straps, and that the foam can be trimmed for a personal fit. I’ll wear the pack with foam in the shoulder straps, with nothing, and with socks during field testing and report on my findings.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS:

The integral padding on the shoulder straps and hip belt is thin and softer than the foam used in the provided foam inserts. The combination of stiff foam insert with soft foam layer feels very nice with a light load in the pack.

The sternum strap is cleverly designed to be easily removable. Both ends are folded over and sewn to form a simple tab that can be pulled out of a slider attached to the shoulder strap. The sternum strap is adjustable since the slider can be moved up and down along a webbing strap sewn to the shoulder strap. The male end of the side release buckle on the sternum strap is a safety orange color and has a tiny whistle incorporated.

What I like so far:

• Beautiful looking pack.
• Web site information and provided documentation is through and accurate.
• Just over a pound (0.5 kg) with all the options including an internal frame!

What I don’t like so far:

• The aesthetics of a twisted strap on the Y top closure (function does not appear to be affected).

TEST PLAN

I’ll use the Mariposa for my backpacking trips and some day hikes over the next six months. I plan on about five backpacking trips, most or all of which will be in Arizona. The trips will be two to six days long.

The following are particular AREAS I'LL BE CHECKING OUT:

• Quality of construction.
• Fit and overall comfort.
• Do the wide shoulder straps interfere with my arm swing with foam inserts, without, with socks inserted?
• How does the pack carry without the foam inserts in the shoulder straps and hip belt? How about with socks in place of foam?
• Load stability with small and large volume loads.
• Ability to handle larger volume loads, such as for a winter trip.
• Can I successfully carry an ice axe and snowshoes on the pack?
• Ability to handle small volume loads, such as for day hiking or a summit push.
• Durability.
• How well does the 3D wicking fabric work on the shoulder straps and hip belt?
• How well does the Mariposa transfer the load to my hips with and without the removable stays?
• Can I use a stay as a support for the back end of a spinnaker fabric tarp?
• How well does the water bladder pocket work? As a woman, I like to carry the main weight of my pack low, whereas many men like the load to carry higher. If the internal bladder pocket holds my water higher than I’d usually carry it in the side pockets, is that an asset?
• What kinds/sizes of water bladders work in the various pockets?
• How easy is it to get a water bottle (both round and platypus type) out of the short side pocket while hiking?
• What kinds of pads work in the pad pocket?
• What items carry well in the small upper side pocket?
• How well does the Y top closure carry a Weekender Bearikade bear can? A rolled up sleeping pad?