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Simblissity UnSlack
Pack Initial Report
April 27, 2006
Thomas
Vickers
38 years old
Male
5 ft 11 in tall (1.8 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
redroach@pobox.com
Southeast Texas, Houston Area |
Tester Background:
I grew up in the piney woods of southeast Texas. Camping was a quick trip into the
mosquito-infested woods behind the house. My style has evolved and over the last 4 or 5
years, I have begun to take a lighter weight approach to hiking gear (I still use sleeping
bags and tents, just lighter versions). While I have flirted with lightweight hiking, I
feel that I am more of a mid-weight hiker now. My philosophy is one of comfort, while
carrying the lightest load possible.
Manufacturer Information:
Manufacturer: Simblissity
Website: http://www.simblissity.net
Colors available: Royal blue, Kelly green, white
Year Manufactured: 2006Weight:
0.8 oz (25 g)
MSRP: $21.95 US |
Information From Tester:
Weight: 0.9 oz (26 gm)
Color: Royal Blue
Height: 6 in (15 cm)Width (top):
5.5 in (14 cm)
Width (bottom): 3.5 in (9 cm)
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Expectations:
After visiting the Simblissity website I figured that I had a pretty good feel
for the UnSlack Pack. It was going to be an add on pocket that could be fitted on a
variety of packs for easy access to small items. Best of all, it was going to be
light weight and easy to use.
Manufacturer's Description:
An ultralight front-pack that attaches to your backpack's shoulder strap or hipbelt,
holding a camera, GPS, maps, water bottle, or other small essentials away from the body
yet close at hand.
Main compartment and separate mesh pocket keep you organized. Circumferential
Compression™ mounting system keeps both UnSlack Pack™ and its contents
motion-free.
Rugged 70 denier silicone-coated ripstop nylon with reinforced seams keeps UnSlack Pack
strong yet very lightweight, and low-friction for easy removal and insertion of items.
This is not your typical "ultralight tarp sil-nylon," which is 30 denier
material.
Arrival:
After tearing into the mailing container, I found a royal blue UnSlack Pack, two pages of
printed instructions for using/mounting the UnSlack Pack, and Hipbelt Kit.
Tester's Description:
The UnSlack Pack is an add on pocket for convientaly carrying extra items outside
of a pack in an easy to reach location. There are three basic parts to the UnSlack pack.
The first is the Circumferential Compression system which is used to mount the
pocket on a pack. This system consists of a length of shockcord that wraps around
the pocket (and the strap it attaches to on the pack) and is held in place by a tiny
cordlock. At the top of the UnSlack pack is a short loop of 1/2 in (1 cm)
webbing (with buckle) that is also used to secure the top of the pocket to a
pack. The idea behind this attachment system is that as the pocket gets filled, the
shockcord can be tightened to hold the contents securely and to hold the UnSlack Pack
securely to the pack.
The next portion of the Unslack Pack is the main pocket. This pocket is 5.5 in (14
cm) wide at the top and is held closed by a strip of Velcro or by a snap closure.
This is the largest part of the pocket and looks like it is the portion that will receive
the most wear and tear. I have already noticed that the top of this pocket is
reinforced, presumably to help with any wear issues associated with the metal snap.
The last portion of the UnSlack Pack is the front mesh pocket. This pocket is
secured by a very 'sticky' Velcro strip. This mesh pocket covers the entire front of
the UnSlack pack. Anything stored in this section of the UnSlack Pack is visible
without opening the pocket.
Also included with the UnSlack Pack was the optional Hipbelt Kit. This is a 38
in (97 cm) length of shockcord (with cordlock) and a 16. 5 in (42 cm) length of 1/2 in (1
cm) webbing (with buckle) that is sold as an add on product. It is designed to allow the
UnSlack Pack to be used with hipbelts that are greater than 8 in (20 cm) in
circumference.
TEST PLAN
More about the tester:
I use an after market pocket/attachment with all of my packs. The reason is that I like to
have certain things like snacks, gps, camera, and lip balm in an easy to access location.
The problem with my current situation is that 1) the add on pocket takes a great deal of
time to attach to a pack
2) it is a bit large for day packs.
Testing Location:
Southeast Texas
Altitude: Sea level to 250 feet (76 m)
Temperatures expected: 70 - 90 F (21 - 32C).
Testing Activities:
Geocaching
Day hiking
Jogging
Extended Hiking/Camping Trips
Packs I will test this item with:
Golite Gust
Golite Contiuum
Gregory Z Pack
Test Strategy:
Fit:
1. Does it attach easily to all my packs?
2. Does the Circumferential Compression™ mounting system hold the UnSlack
Pack secure in all locations? Are there areas on a pack that it doesn't hold
well? Does it live up to its promise of being 'bounce free'?
3. What is the largest circumference belt/strap that the UnSlack Pack can be attached to
without resorting to the Hipbelt Kit?
Usage:
1. How much can it hold? My goal would be to carry snacks, digital camera,
and gps in the UnSlack Pack. Is this possible?
2. How easy is it to access the contents of the UnSlack Pack while I am
wearing the pack it is attached to? Does it hold the contents securely?
3. Can I attach it to a belt and still access it and its contents? (waist belt, no pack)
Will it
hold my running supplies if I can wear it on a belt? (Music player, gps,
etc…)
4. Does it keep its contents dry? If the UnSlack Pack gets wet, how long
does it take to dry?
Durability:
1. How durable is the UnSlack Pack? Will it hold up to snagging and
pulling by branches?
2. How well do the closure system, attachment system, and any other
moveable/usable parts hold up to constant use/opening/closing? |
Read more reviews of SimBLISSity Ultralight gear
Read more gear reviews by Thomas Vickers
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