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Field Report:
During Field testing stage I have used the Granite Gear
Stratus Latitude on a seven day walk
in the Fitzgerald River National Park, on a weekend walk in the Julimar
Conservation Reserve and a short "car-camping" trip to 37 Mile Break in the
Avon Valley National Park, a total of 11 days of walking. I also had the
Stratus Latitude loaded up on the Fitzgerald River National Park, some days
easily coming within the recommend maximum load weight of 50 lb (23 kg) if
not exceeding it, as I carried a full food load for the week (no food drops)
and on some days had up to carry nine litres of water (9.5 qt). Also the
Fitzgerald River National Park walk was through harsh terrain and scrub
which on some days had me wearing long pants (I always walk in shorts in
gaiters) and gardening gloves. The pack was put through its paces, that is
for sure.
My second outing with the Stratus Latitude was in the
Julimar Conservation Reserve. This was a 30 km (19 mi) bushwalk consisting
of a mix of track and off-track walking through Wandoo country (fairly open)
and areas of scratchy dryandra. The pack was used to carry a autumn (fall)
gear load, two days of food and 3 litres (3 quarts) of water each day. I had
no significant issues with the pack, just found that I am not still not
packing the pack as well as I would like (see my Initial Report for my
initial views on my packing style versus the Stratus Latitude approach. My
note to myself at the time of the walk was that "I feel that if the
bladder holder was not being used I would get better use of the capacity."
One other aspect that I experienced on this walk, was that with the top straps loosened off, and the pack leaning out from my back,
I tended to pick up lots of Dryandra leaves which have a very nasty
habit of pricking me in the back ... nothing worse, as one has to often drop
the pack to get rid of the leaves. To reduce this happening, I pulled the
pack in tight against my back and the dryandra was less trouble, but I did
find it was not sitting as well on my hips, generating a notable tension on
my shoulders. A bit of a trade off was required ... dryandra leaves or sore
shoulders.
 My
third outing with the pack during the Field testing stage was a short but
steep walk down to the Avon River at 37 Mile Break in the Avon Valley
National Park. This was a 2.5 km (1.5 mi) walk carrying a minimal overnight
load (dinner, breakfast, water, autumn (fall) camping gear). I had no issues
with the pack on this walk.
In terms of weather conditions, no significant rain was
experienced, however, on the Fitzgerald River National Park walk I did have
to undertake a pack swim across the Fitzgerald River Inlet Channel. I am
pleased to report that the Stratus Latitude when used in conjunction with a
nylon pack cover both stayed dried and did a very good job of floating.
Moving on from the trip reports and referring back to my
Initial Report, I noted my intention to test the following aspects. My
Field testing experiences have been added.
- Carrying capacity and packing style required with this front loading
pack design:
In the Initial Report, I made the
comment that "my initial impression (later confirmed when I
packed this pack for the second time before heading out the door) was that
my loose packing style is not really suited for this pack, rather that I
need to make much greater use of stuff sacks or dry-bags to
compartmentalise my gear." My experience to date has confirmed this
belief. At the last moment, before embarking on the Fitzgerald River
National Park walk, I hit a local outdoors retailer to get some additional
stuff sacks to better pack my gear in this pack. Whilst my initial
experiences were not that great, I have over the three trips found myself
getting better at packing the Stratus Latitude. I do find I that I make
extensive use of stuff sacks now, compartmentalising my gear and that my
packing is now about layering those stuff sacks in horizontal layers in
the pack. The more I use the pack, the more comfortable I come with this
new style of packing and the happier I am with the design of the pack. I do
like the easy access the front stretch panel provides; however, I do
dislike, or rather I am getting used to not having a sack in which to pack
into. I find that I need to lay the pack down initially to pack it moving
to an upright position my packing progresses. This is in contrast to
my normal approach of packing an upright pack.
- Durability of the Cordura material to with stand harsh
environments:
The Stratus Latitude's durability was put
to the test on the Fitzgerald River National Park walk, one the harshest
walks in Western Australia, particular in terms of the amount of off-track
walking (read walking/pushing/fighting) one's way through dense and very
aggressive scratchy bush. As I noted early, I am a shorts and gaiters
walker all year round. This was the first walk that has seen me donning
long-pants and gardening gloves to go walking! I am pleased to report that
the Stratus Latitude come through this experience much better than me (my
bleeding arms and legs attest to this) and shows no signs of damage or
wear.
- Durability, functionality and water-resistance of the
stretch panel zips:
As mentioned early I have not
experienced any significant rains whilst walking with the pack (we are
experiencing a very dry winter), but have had to swim the pack across the
Fitzgerald River Inlet Channel. For this pack swim a nylon pack cover was
fitted to the pack. In this combination no evidence of water getting in was
noted.
Overall I am very happy with the
durability of the stretch panel zips. They have stood up to some serious
pack loads which have seen the panels stretched severely.
In respect to the functionality of the
panels I am, as I mentioned above, still coming to grips with the new
packing style required with this pack. That said I do appreciate the
ability to open the pack up from either end, providing good access to all
of the pack without having to unload lots of it to get to something packed
too far down from the top. This is something that I need more
experience with I feel.
- Functionality of the hydration bladder sleeve
and outlet:
I like this hydration bladder sleeve. Even though the
bladders are stored upright, the use of the stretch cord over the bladder
ensures sufficient pressure is applied to the bladder to ensure continued
flow of liquid until the bladder runs dry. I have used
Platypus 3 L Hoser bladders and a
MSR CloudLiner bladder in the pack. Both have worked without any
issues. I have found outlet location to be fine, not causing me any
issues.
My only negative is that with the Platypus
3 L Hoser in particular, I I find that the full bladder imposes into the packing space,
creating a lump running down the centre of the pack. This lump is is hard to
pack around.
- The functioning, comfort and load carrying capacity of
the framesheet will be re-examined in the context of this larger capacity
backpack:
This test focus relates to my early testing of the same
framesheet design with the smaller
Granite Gear Nimbus Ozone. As with the early test, I am very impressed
with the framesheet design. I have found that it handles the heavy loads
inherent with the Stratus Latitude quite well. My only negative in this
respect was my experience when walking in Julimar Conservation Reserve,
where I found that due to bits of the prickly plant, Dryandra, getting
between my back and the pack and pricking the hell out of me, that I had
to pull the pack in hard against my back. When I did this I found it
didn't sit as well on my hips, causing some shoulder pain to develop.
- The comfort of the back pad, its water resistance and
ability to dry quickly:
I really haven't experienced sufficient
rain to comment on the water resistance/dry quickly aspect. On the comfort
front, I have found the pad to be supporting and comfortable. Definitely
no issues from that perspective.
- Based on my Nimbus Ozone experience I ordered the
Stratus Latitude with the same sized shoulder straps and hip belt. Their
comfort and functionality will be tested further:
As reported above in respect of the framesheet design, I
am happy with the shoulder straps and hip belt. Other than the small
problem when the pack was pulled in hard against my back, I have found the
straps and belt have worked fine, being comfortable and supportative.
- Usefulness of the top pocket:
I have found the top pocket quite useful. I put in the
pocket all things I want quick and dirty access to such as my rain jacket,
pack cover, sunscreen, headlight etc. It seems to swallow-up a lot gear
making it easy to get to without having to fully open up the pack. I also
like the way the pocket unclips allowing it to be easy stored in the tent
for example.
- Usefulness of the side pockets:
I find the side pockets handy. I tend to use them to
hold snacks on one side and my dunny spade on the other. There are
plenty of straps over the pockets to ensure everything is held in well. I
don't recall losing anything.
Overall I am very happy with the Granite
Gear Stratus Latitude so far on the test and look forward to another two
months of testing.
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