Gossamer Gear G5

I tried this pack because I wanted to experiment with ultralight equipment and methods, having been experienced with general backpacking and mountaineering. I had been taking loads of 15-20 pounds and wanted to try going with half of that.

The usual range of my trips is the southern CA mountains and deserts such as Joshua Tree NP, the Sierra Nevada, and the Cascades.

I was able to accomplish loads in the 8-10 pound range incl food and water for 2-3 day trips using this G5 pack, and found that its feature set was appropriate to backpacking use where an ice axe and crampons were not taken.

Overall, it was excellent- I enjoyed dispensing with a sleeping bag stuff sack, finding that the pack was the right size for the items I selected and that I could customize the shoulder straps with padding (my sleep socks). The orange whistle doubling as the sternum strap buckle was a good thought. There was nothing extraneous about this pack.

The one thing which caused me to pause after several outings was the question of durability. This pack must not be handled the way that more substantial models can be, eg, set down carelessly or thrown around. To do that would risk blowing out the fabric.

I certainly would recommend the G5 to someone who would be careful with handling it and needed an extremely light, Spartan pack design. There is no provision for attaching ice axe or crampons and I would not advise using this pack in places such as the Cascades where there's more volcanic, abrasive terrain.

This is my favorite pack and I am so sad it isn't made anymore. It was replaced by the Murmur. I have been using the G5 since 2007 and it is holding up very well. When I know that I am going to be bushwhacking or rock scrambling I use the Gossamer Gear Gorilla pack because of the tougher material used.

The G5 gets used nearly every other weekend and I am happy with how well this 8oz pack has held up to the trail these past three years.