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Moonbow Gearskin |
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Weight (manufacturer): 16-28oz depending on options Weight (tested): 28.0 oz Pack Cloth, 22.4 Sil-Nylon. Capacity: Adjusts from 2500 to 6500 cubic inches (41 to 106.5 liters) Frame type: none Price: $125 (varies according to options) URL: www.moonbowgear.com E-mail: info@moonbowgear.com - preferred method of contact. Phone: 1 (800) Moonbow (1 (800) 666-6269) - LEAVE A MESSAGE! Most weight carried: 50 lbs Owner height/weight: 68"/155# Some pictures courtesy of Moonbowgear This review was done as part of a test by Backpack Gear Test.
In April 2002 I started looking at buying a new backpack. I had come to the conclusion that I would probably not get my pack weight below 20 pounds and the mesh backpack was not very comfortable when carrying over 25 pounds for long periods. Which is what I would most likely carry on hikes. The prime candidate was the Mountainsmith Ghost, which only weighs about 38 ounces and has a capacity of 3100 C.I. My main problems with getting the Ghost were the $200 price tag and the 3100 C.I. capacity which I would have trouble living with. Although I have been very successful at dropping pack weight, for some reason my bulk is still in the 4500 C. I. range.
Then one day I got an e-mail from Rosaleen about letting Jonathan McCue of Moonbowgear use my rock/stake bag idea, and also about this cool pack that he had called a Gearskin that she intended to hook into a Hennessy Hammock. I immediately jumped to the site and was quite impressed by the pack design, as well as many other lightweight tents, tarps, bags, sacks, etc. The funny part is I almost never got the message because of an e-mail error. Fortunately Rosaleen decided to send it again or I would never have found this pack. So I approached Jonathan McCue about getting one of his packs as a test model, which he very graciously agreed to, and even made sure I got the custom options I wanted instead of just sending me an old model sitting around the place. Talk about your service! Later I did an owners review as part of a Backpack Gear Test official test. Note however this was not a review as an official tester but rather a review as an owner.
The material of the one I tested was black "pack cloth" which I suspected was Cordura nylon but turns out is a tough nylon, but not actually Cordura. I chose the pack cloth instead of sil-nylon because I was worried about the durability of the sil-nylon version. I trust myself to take care of a sil-nylon backpack while trail hiking, but sometimes I will go cross country in rugged terrain and will also occasionally use my gear at work (the Army), so I decided to get a pack cloth version for abrasion resistance. The only added option I asked for and got, was a mesh pocket on the back for packing my wet tarp and water bottle in. After using the pack, I found that the pocket might not have been necessary because I could have hung the tarp on the pack by stuffing it under a couple of straps, and strapping the water bottle in with one of the side straps like a water bottle holster. Weights listed on the Moonbow site are "about a pound" but mine was 28.0 ounces, I suspect the 16 ounce version would be for a sil-nylon model without additional pockets. To answer that, Jonathan McCue said this: "It really depends on the materials used, the size of the harness and any extra pockets. The weight I give of about a lb. is a sil/nylon version with a less generous sized harness that works for me just fine. However I'm not a very big guy and some folks like a larger harness for comfort because they are carrying more weight." Another point that should be mentioned in this section is that every one of these "packs" is custom made. They build the Gearskin to fit your body, which for a skinny guy like me is a bonus. Many times I try a pack, I'll tighten the hip belt is all the way and I still don't have a good fit around my waist. When you receive a Gearskin, it will only need minimal adjusting to the different straps to fit it perfectly to your body. And think - $125 for a custom pack - you can't beat that! But, since it is custom made, you need to allow a few weeks for them to get it made and shipped after you order it, don't expect it the same week. I also asked Jonathan McCue about warrantees, and this is what he said: "As far as returns we haven't had to deal with that till now. We want people to know that if they are not happy with the Gearskin they can send it back, no problem, if it is in good condition they can send it back to us and we will give them their money back. We will also guarantee our quality and workmanship. In some cases we may be able to offer a loaner, rental or demo for people to use. We have an instructional video that people can get for $10.00 that we will refund if they buy a Gearskin. People need to realize also that this is custom made gear and that they have to be aware that it will take our resources to restock and should not take lightly the decision for them to have us make a custom piece. So for now we will give a 100% satisfaction guarantee or their money back. In the future if this gets out of hand for some reason (not that I think it will) we may have to work it a little different. The bottom line is we are willing to go the extra to make the customer happy." **Update 21 November 2002** I received my pack Cloth version and there are some slight differences. Mainly the sil-nylon version has the changed side strap arrangement (see below), has a larger mesh pocket, and has a new Moonbow Gear Tag. I know in the review of the Pack Cloth version I said I didn't need the pocket, but I figured it was convenient and didn't weigh that much, so I got one added. The sil-nylon is sewn into a double layer for durability and strength. There is a small patch of nylon inside two layers where the hip belt is sewn through for better strength. The major differences between the pack cloth version and the sil-nylon version is the weight and breath ability. With the sil-nylon panel against my back, there was a noticeable build up of sweat.
To pack the Gearskin, think of it as a taco with compression straps. Instead of stuffing your sleeping bag and rolling up your pad, just fold up your gear inside your bivy, tent, ground cloth, or whatever shelter you carry. Then fold the shelter with the gear inside it down to the size of the sleeping pad. You can even put your clothing and food bags inside, or lay them on top of your shelter after you fold it up. Then center that bundle on top of the gear skin and fold it over like a taco shell. Clip the top and side clips loosely and compress them until the bundle is all tight. With your pad, and all that other gear under tension, the entire bag acts like a single piece of gear - no stay or frame needed. If you have a few odds and ends like rain gear, fleece, hat, etc. just stuff it in between the shelter and the Gearskin for quick and easy access. After packing the Gearskin a couple of times, I can see the benefit of having the pack and shelter permanently or semi-permanently attached like the Powerpack system incorporates. If your thinking of getting a Gearskin, look into a Powerpack system first. Packing with the Hennessy Hammock In initial tests I used the Hennessy Hammock as a part of the pack, but when I started using the Snakeskins, I had to change my pack slightly. Here is my method:
It may seem very complicated, but it isn't. With the heaviest Item (the food bag) at your waist and strapped directly there, the rest of the pack feels like a pillow on your back. Since I no longer use my shelter as a part of the "pack", the pad and the Gearskin are the only truly exposed part of the load which makes it very durable - important if you fear for your sil-nylon tent's safety. You may also note that everything is triple protected from rain - a sil nylon bag, inside a trash compactor bag, with a sil-nylon pack cover. This isn't specific to the Gearskin for me, I'm just paranoid about getting my gear wet. Slack Pack This is a special section I added after making the original review. A reader asked how to pack if you just want to carry a water bladder, some food, and maybe a rain jacket. It is an important question since there wouldn't be enough stuff to make the Gearskin compress on the gear, thus holding it in. Important if you may want to leave your camp up and make a side trip for a nice site, a re-supply, or whatever. The solution is very simple. When the volume of gear is so low, simply cross the side straps to their opposites across the "front" of the pack. With such a small load you could walk almost forever without fatigue and without worry of anything falling out the sides.
30 Pound Test
To test it, I added water to get the weight to 30 pounds for my first trail evaluation. The temperature was 75° F. with 90% humidity. At one point I got about 5 minutes of very light drizzle. The pack rode exceptionally well with 30 pounds, way better than my mesh pack would at just 25 pounds. Initially I started the pack strapped evenly to my body. But, after about 1.5 miles I moved the hip belt up a little to where it was just above my hip bone, then loosened up the shoulder straps for better air flow. It was very comfortable when carried that way, and I never changed it after that.
40 Pound Test I loaded it up to 40 pounds by adding a five pound tent, two liters of water, and another pad. I did this to also add bulk and see if a change in the load configuration as well as weight would influence the packing capabilities. The temperature was about 75° F. with 90% humidity and mostly cloudy. The forecast called for thunderstorms but I never got any.
The only downfall (sort of) was at this amount of gear, the Gearskin's bottom buckles become useless. They are so close to the fold at the bottom that they slip off when trying to put on tension, but it isn't a show stopper because there are plenty more of the straps to do the job. Another thing I found - I hate carrying more weight than I have too, and at 40 pounds - I am doing just that. But this is for science man!☺ 50 Pound Test
For this test the temperature was a steamy 81˚ with 92% humidity and some fog. There wasn't any chance of rain, and the fog slowly burned off as I walked. Amazingly the Gearskin handled 50 pounds very well. I was actually expecting to make it a mile or two then quit because such a load would be too much trouble. But I hiked the entire trail without taking a break. Of course a 50 pound pack slowed me down and made hills a little harder (ok, twice as hard) as when I hike with a 25 pound load. But in the area of comfort and load carrying the Gearskin measures up even to internal frame packs. Something else odd I found was the bottom straps that didn't do much (see 40 pound test) actually were needed with this big bulky load. there seems to be a middle ground between 30 and 50 pound loads that makes some difference. Maybe it was how I packed the 40 pound load, but I can't see how because I always have the same food bag at the bottom. As I was walking, I pondered on this: Why does a pack without any frame or stays handle loads like it does. Basically this is what I came up with: 1. The U shaped "skin" is like a bridge arch. In a frame or stay system, the load is strapped to the body, and then all the load is strapped to the stay or frame. This means the frame/stay is carrying the load all on a single line along your back, like a slab bridge. But the U shape transfer the weight all across the pack like an arch bridge - evenly distributed top to bottom. I may be way off on this I realize, but it sort of makes sense. Maybe an engineer could tell me I'm full of it, or on the right track. 2. The compression system takes a slack load and makes it into a single unit. Instead of stays or frames, the entire pack becomes it's own rigid suspension system. I think works with the U shape mentioned above. 3. Unlike a lot of ultralight packs, the Gearskin has load lifter straps, these make a difference. In case you don't know what load lifter straps are, they are straps on top of your shoulder pads that pull the load up and make it ride more on top of your shoulders rather than pulling away from your back. 4. The suspension system uses real padding and wide straps, not ultra narrow straps like off a kid's book bag, or straps that use something like socks for padding. Even at low weights the pack feels a lot better than may ultralight packs I've tried (or made). 5. The pack seems to pack best wide and flat to your back, which makes the load feel like a natural part of your body. Even at 50 pounds the pack didn't throw off my center of balance. I believe I could actually pack an even heavier load than 50 pounds comfortably in the Gearskin, but I'm not going to even try, 50 is way more than I ever plan to carry in it. Trail Test
Initially I fit the pack with 26.5 pounds, but the second day I took on some extra weight, which bumped my pack up to 27 pounds, but no problems with making room or with carrying the weight. The following day I had to carry some more of another person's gear and my pack weight went over 30 pounds - still no problems at all. The fourth day I had to carry water over mountains (steep like Appalachian Trail steep) because of some dry streams, so I was up to 35 pounds and doing great! Even though I was eating food every day, my pack weight kept going up until the last mile of the last day when I was able to cut back to 23 pounds. One thing I did find was that at lower weights I preferred having a tight waist belt and loose shoulder straps for better ventilation; and at weighs above 30 pounds I preferred to have the shoulder straps tightened as well as the hip belt to help take the load and keep me better balanced. I found that daily I would totally re-pack my Gearskin from scratch but using a standard load plan. In the evenings I would totally unload my pack and actually roll it up and put it in an empty stuff sack until the morning. I also found that the lighter the load, the looser it was - but that was OK; the heavier the load, the more rigid I could get it which was also a good thing. After years of trying frame packs, internal frame packs, Army ALICE packs, and rucksacks I've found that I prefer a pack that doesn't carries a lot of weight above your shoulders. The Gearskin definitely does not do that. The pack fits so close to your back and can be packed very flat and wide so that it has very little pull to your back. This made the pack ride so well, there were times the first two days I could barely tell I had a pack on for purposes of keeping balance over rough terrain and water crossings. During this trip I hiked with three other people carrying about the same or
less starting weight, but all using internal frame packs. On the third day I had
the opportunity to carry two of their packs for a while (a few miles). By this
time all three of their backpacks weighed less than my Gearskin, but I can honestly say that somehow
the Gearskin carried weigh better than the other two backpacks I tried. These packs were a Peak1
and a Lowe. I'm not sure why it carried weight better. Maybe it is the way the
entire pack becomes a unit, maybe it is the versatility in how you load it,
maybe it is the low profile or wide body, maybe it is a combination of all the
above, or maybe it is something completely different. All I know is after
carrying one of the other packs a mile, I yearned for my Gearskin even with it's
heavier load. I mentioned this before, but the pack allows you access to EVERYTHING while your on the trail. Any situation that arose, I was able to reach a piece of gear without digging through everything in the pack. The mesh pocket turned into a convenient pocket, but was totally unnecessary because I ended up putting my water bottle right on the side for easy access, and everything else ended up getting slipped between the "load" and the Gearskin. With the top and sides open, I was constantly worried about letting something slip out, but it never happened even with the pack flip method of donning my backpack. For you that are unfamiliar with the pack flip method:
Something else I should mention that I intended to try was attaching the Gearskin to my Hennessy A-Sym Hammock. I couldn't really find a good way to make this work, and to top it off, I ended up getting the Snake Skins which would have made the two totally incompatible, so having a separate Gearskin ended up being the very best option for me. This way I can use the Gearskin with any shelter I choose for whatever weather and terrain I'm going to. I highly recommend this pack. This design deserves some sort of an award for original thinking, similar to the Hennessy Hammock. For $125 you get a custom made pack for your body made by a real backpacker, and for just 28 ounces (or more likely even less) weight you get a state of the art suspension system while keeping the pack weight itself to a minimum. And most ultralight packs are delicately made with ultralight materials, but you can order a Gearskin as tough as the best Army ALICE pack and still have it weigh less than 2 pounds. Think about it. The big problems with most ultralight packs are they either have a crappy suspension systems and don't handle heavy loads. Some ultralight packs are just a bag with straps that don't organize well, and if you add features on to make them organize better, the weight goes up. With the Gearskin the organization is limitless. You can sandwich, stuff, strap, and place gear everywhere. And to top it all off, while most ultralight packs really can't handle loads over 20 pounds, the Gearskin can be your all purpose ultralight pack from a minimal 8 pound pack all the way up to a 50 pound load! If I had to list my dislikes about the Gearskin, well they would be very few: First, Moonbowgear is a small company that is overworked. I would love to see them grow and be able to handle bigger volume, but don't let that stop you from ordering, because by doing so you help fix that problem. Second would be the bottom set of straps, they are so low on the pack that unless you carry a load under about 25 pounds, the serve little purpose. And even at a low pack weight I didn't see them doing much good. I would recommend moving them up just an inch or two, and positioning the rest of the straps up a little higher to keep them evenly spaced. According to Jonathan, my pack must have been made off an older pattern for this part. All new packs have just this change and he offered to fix mine free of charge. My sil-nylon version has this change made. If that is all I have to complain about, that isn't bad. I plan to pay Moonbow for this excellent pack and keep it for myself. They deserve the money, and I love the pack. And my second idea is to go ahead and get a sil-nylon version without the mesh pocket when I finally get ready to do my thru-hike in 2007. What better endorsement can you give than to say you want to buy two of them yourself?
Although I don't normally cover a gear manufacturers in detail, I think Moonbow deserves some special attention. In my dealings with what I initially thought was your standard gear company, I found Moonbow to be a grass roots hiker oriented/operated business. Instead of a company with a lot of hired workers in a factory somewhere - Moonbow is located right beside the Appalachian Trail in Glencliff NH and is run out of the Hikers Welcome hostel by Jonathan McCue who also thru-hiked the AT himself in '94. Jonathan and Rhia do most of the work themselves, but sometimes use contracted workers that are often hikers or climbers as well. Rosaleen actually helped make mine.
And all it cost me was $100, it would have been $60, but the extra material I needed to make the crosswise seam and the sealable neck ran the price up. Seam sealed this poncho/tarp only weighs 10.6 ounces! If your interested in once, contact Moonbow. Because they are small, are hikers themselves, are very talented at what they do, and are basically good people, the customer service is excellent. They prefer you use e-mail to contact them, but if you decide to call - LEAVE A MESSAGE!
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