Kelty Vs. Jansport
Catgirl68
Hi! Well I think I made a semi decent choice on my pack. I orginally
bought an external frame Jansport d-5 series. Then later I saw a kelty
tioga. After trying it on, I decided to go with the kelty. Being a
newcomer at the backpacking experience, I'm not sure if I made the best
choice for my price range. I like the kelty because it's more
comfortable, it's a toploader, and it seems a little more user friendly.
however, the jansport comes with a lifetime warranty, costs a little less,
and since it's a front loader, it will help to keep me from over packing.
Also, the Jansport had these metal things that come out on the sides of
the belt that goes around your hips. What for? They didn't seem to
contribute to the support of the pack at all. Any comments or suggestion
on my kelty or the jansport i plan to take back would be helpful. Thanks!
Oh yeah......I got a Eureka! Prism for $50.00. Did I get a good deal?
I think i did.
thanks,
kelly :)
Wayne Spence
I own both. You definitely made the right decision with the Kelty. Your
back will thank you after a mile or so.
Jeffrey Olson
On 6 May 1996, Wayne Spence wrote:
> I own both. You definitely made the right decision with the Kelty. Your
> back will thank you after a mile or so.
This just goes to show how opinion based all this stuff is. I owned a
Kelty Supertioga for five years before getting a Jansport D-3, mostly
becasue it was on sale for $44 in the REI basement. I tried it once and
never looked back at the Kelty. The Jansport is infinitely adjustable,
holds the weight much closer to my back, and hence is less "tipsy". I
notice the pack less when I wear it, after I got rid of the squeaks. The
belt actually distributes weight all the way around my waist while the
Kelty concentrates it on the hipbones and area right around them. That
cut off feeling and generated a deep ache after a couple days of hiking.
Lots of shifting and groaning "to get it right", which after an initial
shakedown, the Jansport D-3 didn't need. It was heaven in comparison to
wear. Also I like the back load style. Stuff is more accessible. But,
the radial frame on the Kelty may get rid of the hip pain...
Downside stuff. I broke the Jansport frame once, mostly because I had to
throw it across a very deep but narrow stream just off the Highline Trail
in the Winds. But it broke just above one of the wings, a stress spot
anyway. On another trip I broke one of the little waist bars because I
bent it to the shape of my hips once too often. In both cases the company
gave me new equipment. While hiking part of the PCT I ran across a guy
wearing a D-3 who didn't use the waistbelt. I asked him why, and he said
he just never had. He kept the waist belt folded away behind him. I've
also seen packs that weren't adjusted, and hence extremely uncomfortable.
The key is getting it fitted. My girlfriend bought a D-5 from Wilderness
Sports in Bellvue and they did a great job selling us, but when it came
time to fit the pack, they kind of acted busy and shunted us out the door,
after we'd dropped $400 on gear. Insist on your rights, whatever pack you
buy.
Also, I pulled the stitching out of the belt and spent a couple hours
sewing over the course of a week staying ahead of the unraveling. Again
Jansport gave me a new belt, no questions asked. IN contrast, the Kelty
is bulletproof. Other than pinching nerves in the front of my hips
because most of the weight on the hips hangs there, I only broke one fo
the tie downs of the top flaps. It simply isn't as comfortable/adjustable.
I still would rather carry the Jansport than Kelty, despite replacing
everything but the sack. It's so individual...
Jeffrey Olson
Seattle Washington...
Nihil
Catgirl68 wrote:
>
> Hi! Well I think I made a semi decent choice on my pack. I orginally
> bought an external frame Jansport d-5 series. Then later I saw a kelty
> tioga. After trying it on, I decided to go with the kelty. Being a
> newcomer at the backpacking experience, I'm not sure if I made the best
> choice for my price range. I like the kelty because it's more
> comfortable, it's a toploader, and it seems a little more user friendly.
> however, the jansport comes with a lifetime warranty, costs a little less,
> and since it's a front loader, it will help to keep me from over packing.
> Also, the Jansport had these metal things that come out on the sides of
> the belt that goes around your hips. What for? They didn't seem to
> contribute to the support of the pack at all. Any comments or suggestion
> on my kelty or the jansport i plan to take back would be helpful. Thanks!
Whoa! I had to do a double take when i read the thing about the Jansport having a lifetime
warranty, I own a Kelty Spuper Tioga and an MG convertible (a little day pack), both have
lifetime warranties. Personally I've always found Jansport stuff a bit lacking in the durability
/construction department, but then again I really don't have a lot of experience with Jansport,
but I definetely like the Kelty products I've used (even their sleeping bags). The only pack I
would consider over a Kelty (as far as exrternals go) is a Gregory, but they tend to cost about
twice as much.
Nihil
David Gillespie
On 6 May 1996, Catgirl68 wrote:
> Hi! Well I think I made a semi decent choice on my pack. I orginally
> bought an external frame Jansport d-5 series. Then later I saw a kelty
> tioga. After trying it on, I decided to go with the kelty. Being a
> newcomer at the backpacking experience, I'm not sure if I made the best
> choice for my price range. I like the kelty because it's more
> comfortable, it's a toploader, and it seems a little more user friendly.
> however, the jansport comes with a lifetime warranty, costs a little less,
> and since it's a front loader, it will help to keep me from over packing.
> Also, the Jansport had these metal things that come out on the sides of
> the belt that goes around your hips. What for? They didn't seem to
> contribute to the support of the pack at all. Any comments or suggestion
> on my kelty or the jansport i plan to take back would be helpful. Thanks!
I have had a Kelty super Tioga for 10 years, and found it to be
bulletproof. While I havn't actually shot the thing with a gun, it has
outlasted many of my friend's packs (Camp Trials, Jansport, REI). Also, I
recently noticed some wear on the crossbar where the verticle support
bars attached, and sent it in for repair... Kelty replaced the entire
frame, as well as patched several holes in my pack and recoated it whith
waterproofing, (which I did not ask for) for free! (part of that lifetime
warranty thing...) I would go with the Kelty, but that's just my $0.02.
David L. Gillespie \ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ Lab:
dg...@hydra.unm.edu |\ /||\||\ /||\||\ /||\||\ (505) 277-5774
University of New Mexico \||\||/ \||\||/ \||\||/ \| FAX:
Dept. of Biochemistry \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \ (505) 277-5389
www.unm.edu/~dgill
kerry erickson
No experience with Kelty, however can say a few things about Jansport
backpacks. Several of the boys and adults in our scout troop have them
and we (myself included) have experienced several problems with the D
series. 6 broken frames (5 sheared off at base, 1 separated at side)
and 1 hip belt metal attachment joint broke; also zipper and strap
breaks. The break rate was 1 per year except last year 3 broke, 2 on
same 7-day trek. Most packs get used about 15 days per year. Jansport
did repair those we sent in, but its not very comforting when you are
on the trail. Carry a few repair items including tent stake or tube
that fits inside the frame tube, saw/knife for cutting, pliers,
tape... Next break I'll switch to something more durable.
dmo...@cts.com
<<snip>>
For what it's worth, in the mid 70's at A16 in San Diego I was torn
between a Kelty Tioga and a Jansport. Actually, had sold myself
on the Jansport because of the options it had. But...the salesman
couldn't put the thing together in the store and I sure wasn't going
to be caught outside in the same situation. Anyway, I took the Kelty.
Best pack I've ever used. Hanging in my garage right now waiting
for July. Never a problem with performance. Comfort level high.
John P. Kiljan
Kelty that I own. It looks and wears like something that I will be
able to pass down to my grandchildren. [Unless I bend the frame while
holding up the car to fix a flat :-) ] However, I was disappointed to
see the Super Tioga get such a low rating in the field test review in
the August issue of Backpackpacker where it had low rankings across the
board by the test team. None of their testers found it comfortable or
easy to adjust. So what's wrong with me? It is so comfortable, I feel
guilty--like I should be suffering more when carrying a heavy pack.
Adjustments take seconds and I like being able to get everything INSIDE
the pack instead of having to hang it on the outside. Maybe the answer
is in the test team. They were mostly small people and I am big--190
lbs and 6'-1". Still, the article has made me think about recommending
the pack to smaller friends.
-- John Kiljan
richard hihn
John P. Kiljan (jpki...@ix.netcom.com) wrote:
: holding up the car to fix a flat :-) ] However, I was disappointed to
: see the Super Tioga get such a low rating in the field test review in
: the August issue of Backpackpacker where it had low rankings across the
: board by the test team. None of their testers found it comfortable or
: easy to adjust. So what's wrong with me? It is so comfortable, I feel
: guilty--like I should be suffering more when carrying a heavy pack.
: Adjustments take seconds and I like being able to get everything INSIDE
: the pack instead of having to hang it on the outside. Maybe the answer
: is in the test team. They were mostly small people and I am big--190
: lbs and 6'-1". Still, the article has made me think about recommending
: the pack to smaller friends.
I own one, and had the same reaction to the article. I love mine,
find it comfortable and easy to adjust. Depending upon the trip, I
sometimes do have trouble getting my North Face bag (with old
Polarguard) in it with sufficient room to spare, but that's the bag's
fault, I assume. I am 6'1" and about 180. Even my wife liked it and
she's only 5'6"! I have two friends who each own one, one is 5'9" or
so, and they both love it. So much for magazine ratings.
Dick
Nihil
John P. Kiljan wrote:
>
> In <4n1ieh$1...@news2.cts.com> dmo...@cts.com writes:
> >
> ><<snip>>
> >
> >For what it's worth, in the mid 70's at A16 in San Diego I was torn
> >between a Kelty Tioga and a Jansport. Actually, had sold myself
> >on the Jansport because of the options it had. But...the salesman
> >couldn't put the thing together in the store and I sure wasn't going
> >to be caught outside in the same situation. Anyway, I took the Kelty.
> >Best pack I've ever used. Hanging in my garage right now waiting
> >for July. Never a problem with performance. Comfort level high.
> >
> For what it is worth, these are also pretty much my thoughts on the
> Kelty that I own. It looks and wears like something that I will be
> able to pass down to my grandchildren. [Unless I bend the frame while
> see the Super Tioga get such a low rating in the field test review in
> the August issue of Backpackpacker where it had low rankings across the
> board by the test team. None of their testers found it comfortable or
> easy to adjust. So what's wrong with me? It is so comfortable, I feel
> guilty--like I should be suffering more when carrying a heavy pack.
> Adjustments take seconds and I like being able to get everything INSIDE
> the pack instead of having to hang it on the outside. Maybe the answer
> is in the test team. They were mostly small people and I am big--190
> lbs and 6'-1". Still, the article has made me think about recommending
> the pack to smaller friends.
I own a super Tioga, and let me tell you IT'S AWESOME. Did you see the picture of the tester in
Backpacker with his pack on? No pack on the planet would be comfortable the way he had it
fitted. There does seem to be a few differences in the S. Tioga I have (1993 model, I think) and
the one they tested in the magazine, so there may a few fit differences, the pack frame does look
different. I was also surprised by their low rating for the Gregory pack, I've never heard a bad
word about Gregory products in my life and it certainly looks like a comfortable pack. Just for
info, I'm 6'0" and a mere 140lbs, I have a lot of trouble getting hip belts to fit me (29-30 inch
waist) but the S. Tioga is a great fit. Kelty makes the S. Tioga in a small and large so if some
one has fit problems they've probably bought the wrong size.
It's a critics job to give bad reviews, that way you can get pissed off and find out for yourself
:)
Nihil
Catherine & Lew Middaugh
In article <4n6kjf$h...@dfw-ixnews6.ix.netcom.com>,
jpki...@ix.netcom.com(John P. Kiljan ) wrote:
[snip]
> For what it is worth, these are also pretty much my thoughts on the
> Kelty that I own. It looks and wears like something that I will be
> able to pass down to my grandchildren. [Unless I bend the frame while
> holding up the car to fix a flat :-) ] However, I was disappointed to
> see the Super Tioga get such a low rating in the field test review in
> the August issue of Backpackpacker where it had low rankings across the
> board by the test team. None of their testers found it comfortable or
> easy to adjust. So what's wrong with me? It is so comfortable, I feel
> guilty--like I should be suffering more when carrying a heavy pack.
> Adjustments take seconds and I like being able to get everything INSIDE
> the pack instead of having to hang it on the outside. Maybe the answer
> is in the test team. They were mostly small people and I am big--190
> lbs and 6'-1". Still, the article has made me think about recommending
> the pack to smaller friends.
John, I think you hit the nail on the head. Most tall people like the
Kelty, but I can't see how it fits short people unless they are VERY
long-waisted.
I bought a Kelty Sherpa (same frame as the Super Tioga) based on a
Backpacker review that said it was adjustable from 16 t0 25 inch torso.
I'm 5 6" and have a 16 1/2 inch torso, and I can't get the darn thing to
fit at all. I can tighten the soulder straps until my arms go numb and
the pack still slides down until the entire weight is on the hips. This
makes the hip belt slip, and I'm constantly hitching it up about every 1/4
mile. I also can't seem to tighten the hip belt enough to keep it from
slipping. I tighten it until I can hardly breathe and it still goes down.
My temporary solution was to stick a couple of pairs of socks under the
shoulder straps to raise them. Then everything seemed to ride a lot
better. But, my conclusion is that this is no pack for short people.
OTOH, I love the pack itself, so I keep fiddling with the frame.
BTW, I tried several Jansports before settling on the Kelty. As bad as
the Kelty fits, the Jansport was a lot worse. Even in the store it just
felt a lot more awkward.
Regards,
Catherine
Charles T. Faulkner
On Wed, 8 May 1996, kerry erickson wrote:
> No experience with Kelty, however can say a few things about Jansport
> backpacks. Several of the boys and adults in our scout troop have them
> and we (myself included) have experienced several problems with the D
> series. 6 broken frames (5 sheared off at base, 1 separated at side)
> and 1 hip belt metal attachment joint broke; also zipper and strap
> breaks. The break rate was 1 per year except last year 3 broke, 2 on
>
That's why those in the know call them "Junksports".
Kelty and Camptrails set the standard for external frame packs. You can't
go wrong with either of those brands.
Terry Schofield
In <Pine.SOL.3.91.960514...@UTKUX1.UTK.EDU> "Charles
Sorry, but this is not universally true...I carry a Jansport dating
from 1976...no problems and I've used it to carry upwards of 55 pounds.
SA...@smiths.mayo.edu
Jansport D-3 that worked great for many years until I changed to
an internal. Never one failure and during that time I saw alot
of Kelty's with hip belt problems. Loaned several
of them needle, thread, and cord to try to keep them together
long enough to get back to the trail head.
>>CTF wrote
>>
>> That's why those in the know call them "Junksports".
>>
who knows and he said he has never heard anybody in the
know call them junksports. Maybe you don't know the right people in
the know, or many you belong to the wrong know chapter, I don't
know . :)
(couldn't resist Chuck, sure hope you are not a professor
at UT Knoxville since our daughter is a student there, and by the way she
is in the know and uses her D-5 we gave her for her 12th birthday, every
weekend in the Smokys, and every year in Yellowstone, where she
spends her summers. It has never failed her.
Of course she is asking for a Dana for graduation.
Ex know member
Sandy
Charles McGarry
In <4naq88$a...@dfw-ixnews7.ix.netcom.com> sch...@ix.netcom.com(Terry
Schofield) writes:
>> That's why those in the know call them "Junksports".
>>
>>Kelty and Camptrails set the standard for external frame packs. You
>can't
>>go wrong with either of those brands.
>
>Sorry, but this is not universally true...I carry a Jansport dating
>from 1976...no problems and I've used it to carry upwards of 55
pounds.
I have to speak up for my Jansport Nepali as well. It's the most
comfortable pack I've ever owned and remarkably rugged.
Charles
Cathy Mancus
Catherine & Lew Middaugh wrote:
> I bought a Kelty Sherpa (same frame as the Super Tioga) based on a
> I'm 5 6" and have a 16 1/2 inch torso, and I can't get the darn thing to
> fit at all. I can tighten the soulder straps until my arms go numb and
> the pack still slides down until the entire weight is on the hips. This
> makes the hip belt slip, and I'm constantly hitching it up about every 1/4
> mile. I also can't seem to tighten the hip belt enough to keep it from
> slipping. I tighten it until I can hardly breathe and it still goes down.
Catherine, you're about my size (not sure what my torso
length is, but I'm a pretty averagely-proportioned 5'6"), and I just
thought I'd mention that I am very happy with my Gregory Palisade+ (small).
I have had a few minor problems--I routinely hike with the load lifters
tightened all the way down, not at the 45 degree angle everyone recommends.
I think a medium would have fit my height better, but the medium left
a big gap between the pack and the small of my back for some reason,
and I was concerned that this would put more weight on my shoulders.
The small hugs my back snugly.
Either way, I'm pretty happy with the pack's fit. I leave
the load lifters tight and use the shoulder strap adjustments to move
weight on and off my shoulders over the course of the hike, which
works very well. If I have a significant complaint, it's that the
one-night trips we've been taking fill the pack to the brim even with
my thermarest and tent poles left outside. I don't know how I
am going to manage the multi-night trips we have planned. If I were
doing it over again, I might get a Wind River instead just for the
extra volume.
--Cathy Mancus <ca...@zorac.cary.nc.us>
David Gillespie
On 14 May 1996, Catherine & Lew Middaugh wrote:
> I bought a Kelty Sherpa (same frame as the Super Tioga) based on a
> Backpacker review that said it was adjustable from 16 t0 25 inch torso.
> I'm 5 6" and have a 16 1/2 inch torso, and I can't get the darn thing to
> fit at all. I can tighten the soulder straps until my arms go numb and
> the pack still slides down until the entire weight is on the hips. This
> makes the hip belt slip, and I'm constantly hitching it up about every 1/4
> mile. I also can't seem to tighten the hip belt enough to keep it from
> slipping. I tighten it until I can hardly breathe and it still goes down.
>
> Regards,
> Catherine
I have an older Kelty Super Tioga (11 yrs.) and found that drilling some
extra holes to move the hip belt up worked wonderfully. I have also
retro-fitted the new straps and belt from the latest Kelty radial frame
on my older model- took some self-manufactured 8" clevis pins, but it
works great. I have carried 90-100 lbs. in it for 3-5 miles several
times, and felt just as comfortable as with 40 lbs. If anyone has an
older Kelty frame and would like to do this, just e-mail me and I'll tell
you how- pretty simple, if you are good with a hack saw and drill.
There has been some discussion on the low ratings of the Super Tioga
in this month's issue of Backpacker, and how all of the testers were on
the small size. I am 5'10", 190 lbs., 21" torso, and I think the Kelty is
very comfortable, but I have very broad shoulders, and narrow frames tend
to dig into my shoulder blades. While it is less adjustable than the
other packs tested, it is one pack that I think fits larger people very
well, and has the most carrying capacity in its price range. The lifetime
warranty service is also very good. I previously posted about how I sent
in my pack because of excessive wear on one of the verticle support bars
(probably those 100 lbs. loads...). Not only did I get a new frame, but
they sewed on new pockets (the waterproofing was wearing off) and patched
several holes (from wear, chipmunks and marmots) without being asked.
Great service for free!
Tim Knecht
dmo...@cts.com wrote:
><<snip>>
>For what it's worth, in the mid 70's at A16 in San Diego I was torn
>between a Kelty Tioga and a Jansport.
Guys, this sure sounds like a "What's the best backpack?' to me. The
"best" backpack is the one that does the job for you: does it fit and
ride well, does it carry what you want it to, does it suit your
budget, will it stand up to the rigors of YOUR trips, and, even, do
you like the color?
I've used K-Mart, Kelty, Camp Trails, and Jansport E-frames. I've
found the Jansport comfortable, realiable, nand easy to handle. Does
this mean I'd recommend it to everyone? NO.
The first thing I teach in my beginner's backpacking classes is that
backpacking is a sport, an art, and a craft, all in one. As such, it
is highly individual: you've got to find what works FOR YOU!
How? Read. Talk to people. look at stuff. Read some more. Talk to some
more people. examine more stuff. You can feel pretty confident of
three things, however:
1) Manufacturers blow their own horns, and almost never tell you the
downside; learn to read between the lines.
2) People love to justify their own purchases, rarely admit to making
purchasing judgement errors, and feel superior when you take their
advice.
3) Your own experience will modify your needs and wants, so until you
gain that experience you have to make the best buying decision you can
based on product explanations and reviews, and peoples' opinions, all
taken with a grain of salt.
Any pack that's been on the market for a long time has something going
for it, or people would have stopped buying it. You've just got to
find the one that suits YOU.
Have fun.
Tim
Richard Hall
: >> That's why those in the know call them "Junksports".
: >>
: >>Kelty and Camptrails set the standard for external frame packs. You
: >can't
: >>go wrong with either of those brands.
: >
: >Sorry, but this is not universally true...I carry a Jansport dating
: >from 1976...no problems and I've used it to carry upwards of 55
: pounds.
: I have to speak up for my Jansport Nepali as well. It's the most
: comfortable pack I've ever owned and remarkably rugged.
I also have to speak up for the Jansport D-2. I've had the pack since '85 and
have used it to carry rediculous weights. Once my wife sprained her ankle
7 miles in and I carried her pack (Strapped on top of the D-2) all 7 miles out.
My pack weighed around 45 pounds. Hers weighed around 35. I have had zero
problems with it. It even fits my back. I am 5'6" and the pack still fits well.
Paul J. Smith
Charles T. Faulkner wrote:
>
> On Wed, 8 May 1996, kerry erickson wrote:
>
> > No experience with Kelty, however can say a few things about Jansport
> > backpacks. Several of the boys and adults in our scout troop have them
> > and we (myself included) have experienced several problems with the D
> > series. 6 broken frames (5 sheared off at base, 1 separated at side)
> > and 1 hip belt metal attachment joint broke; also zipper and strap
> > breaks. The break rate was 1 per year except last year 3 broke, 2 on
> >
>
> Kelty and Camptrails set the standard for external frame packs. You can't
> go wrong with either of those brands.
Well, in defense of Jansport, I carried one for nearly fifteen years with no
problems. However, I must say that just last year I switched to a Gregory internal
frame and it is much more comfortable to carry.
Toby S Berk
: see the Super Tioga get such a low rating in the field test review in
: the August issue of Backpackpacker where it had low rankings across the
: board by the test team. None of their testers found it comfortable or
: easy to adjust. So what's wrong with me? It is so comfortable, I feel
: guilty--like I should be suffering more when carrying a heavy pack.
: Adjustments take seconds and I like being able to get everything INSIDE
: the pack instead of having to hang it on the outside. Maybe the answer
: is in the test team. They were mostly small people and I am big--190
: lbs and 6'-1". Still, the article has made me think about recommending
: the pack to smaller friends.
I am 5' 6" and 145 lbs. I carried 58 pounds in the Brooks Range last summer
with a Super Tioga and found it extremely comfortable. Incidentally, I am 52
years old with about 30 years of backpacking experience. This is the best
and most comfortable pack I have ever used. I run and am in pretty good shape,
but no superman. I love this pack.
Toby Berk
--
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Toby Berk be...@fiu.edu (305)348-2367
School of Computer Science Florida International University Miami FL 33199
Mary Malmros
Charles McGarry (cmcg...@ix.netcom.com) wrote:
: In <4naq88$a...@dfw-ixnews7.ix.netcom.com> sch...@ix.netcom.com(Terry
: Schofield) writes:
: >> That's why those in the know call them "Junksports".
: >>
: >>Kelty and Camptrails set the standard for external frame packs. You
: >can't
: >>go wrong with either of those brands.
: >
: >Sorry, but this is not universally true...I carry a Jansport dating
: >from 1976...no problems and I've used it to carry upwards of 55
: pounds.
: I have to speak up for my Jansport Nepali as well. It's the most
: comfortable pack I've ever owned and remarkably rugged.
It may have to do with when it was purchased. I solicited a lot of
opinions on Jansport, and the consensus seemed to be that they used to be
quite good but are now basically in the campus bookbag business.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Mary Malmros Very Small Being mal...@id.wing.net
If...you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be
a horrible warning.
- Catherine Aird
RICKY D VAN MATRE
> warranty, I own a Kelty Spuper Tioga and an MG convertible (a little day pack), both have
> lifetime warranties. Personally I've always found Jansport stuff a bit lacking in the durability
> /construction department, but then again I really don't have a lot of experience with Jansport,
> but I definetely like the Kelty products I've used (even their sleeping bags). The only pack I
> would consider over a Kelty (as far as exrternals go) is a Gregory, but they tend to cost about
> twice as much.
>
repaired, used quite a lot till recently. My friend has a Jansport and
likes that little alum thing around the hips-his pack will stand up in
camp by itself. Big deal! Kelty used to be the state of the art for
anybody serious-now there's so many packs around, people forget. You'll
never regret your Kelty. km
Charles T. Faulkner
On Thu, 16 May 1996, Richard Hall wrote:
>
> : >> That's why those in the know call them "Junksports".
> : >>
> : >>Kelty and Camptrails set the standard for external frame packs. You
> : >can't
> : >>go wrong with either of those brands.
> : >
> : >Sorry, but this is not universally true...I carry a Jansport dating
> : >from 1976...no problems and I've used it to carry upwards of 55
> : pounds.
>
>
> : I have to speak up for my Jansport Nepali as well. It's the most
> : comfortable pack I've ever owned and remarkably rugged.
>
> I also have to speak up for the Jansport D-2. I've had the pack since '85 and
> have used it to carry rediculous weights. Once my wife sprained her ankle
> 7 miles in and I carried her pack (Strapped on top of the D-2) all 7 miles out.
> My pack weighed around 45 pounds. Hers weighed around 35. I have had zero
> problems with it. It even fits my back. I am 5'6" and the pack still fits well.
>
I have seen too many Jansports with blown out seams, and frame
that failed because of those ingenious flex joints to not believe that these
are exceptions to the rule. Also, what purpose does the frame
around the hip belt serve other than letting the pack stand upright when
you take a break?
**********************************
* Charles T. Faulkner * "If enough good people don't know about
* Univ of Tennessee, Knoxville * a beautiful place, chances are it won't
* (ctfau...@utk.edu) * stay that way much longer".
**********************************
Ansel Adams, quoted by
Mack Prichard, TN State Naturalist
Jeffrey Olson
On Mon, 20 May 1996, Charles T. Faulkner wrote:
> Also, what purpose does the frame around the hip belt serve other than
> letting the pack stand upright when you take a break?
The aluminum wing/arms to which the waistbelt is attached allow the pack's
weight to be distributed evenly around the waist. They also allow the
hiker to pitch the pack differently, dependently on weight carried and
terrain being walked. The SuperTioga on the other hand, (w/o radial frame
with which I'm not familiar) puts most of the weight on the front
hipbones. If you use the little side straps to "cinch" the waistbelt in,
all you're doing is increasing pressure on the front hipbones.
The key to comfort for the Jansport is using the wing/arms correctly and
keeping the bar to which the shoulder straps are attached high enough no
more than 5% of the pack's weight rests "on" the shoulders. I also
replaced the nylon backpads with a mesh screen/backpad that made the fit
even more heavenly.
I used a Kelty SuperTioga for five years before getting a D-3. In 1992 I
hiked 30 days on the PCT with the Kelty and spent much of my hiking day
fidgeting and moving the pack around to find a place where I felt
comfortable. In 1994 I hiked 35 days with a D-3, which never needing
adjusting. In my experience, correctly adjusted, the D-3 is far superior
in comfort to the Kelty. For this reason, even though it is more fragile,
I choose to carry it rather than the Kelty.
Jeffrey Olson
Seattle WA...
Charles T. Faulkner
On Mon, 20 May 1996, Jeffrey Olson wrote:
> On Mon, 20 May 1996, Charles T. Faulkner wrote:
>
> > Also, what purpose does the frame around the hip belt serve other than
> > letting the pack stand upright when you take a break?
>
> The aluminum wing/arms to which the waistbelt is attached allow the pack's
> weight to be distributed evenly around the waist. They also allow the
> hiker to pitch the pack differently, dependently on weight carried and
> terrain being walked. The SuperTioga on the other hand, (w/o radial frame
>
Thanks for clarifying this. I have never been able to figure it
out, and some of my friends with Jansports have never been able
to adequately explain it or demonstrate it for me.
ctf
Terry Schofield
> I have seen too many Jansports with blown out seams, and frame
>that failed because of those ingenious flex joints to not believe that
these
when
>you take a break?
OK, so I guess I'll just have to be content with my exception to the
rule...by the way, has anybody explained this rule to all of the
people who swear by Jansport?
Last weekend I borrowed a friend's Kelty and let a backpacking neophyte
buddy of mine use the Jansport...right now I'm nursing a sore left
shoulder and two welts where the hipbelt hung...maybe it should be
renamed to "Welty".
Everybody's experience is different and there are adherents to pack
makers, as well as boot makers, tent makers, and so on. The only
thing that counts is how the pack feels on you, how it is designed to
carry a typical load, and how sturdy it is. For me (and my money) I
prefer the Jansport on all counts over the Kelty. Your mileage may
vary...
But, if you want to know, those aluminum outriggers on a Jansport are
there to set the load over your hip joint, rather than just hang
wherever ala Kelty. Another purpose is to adjust the cant of the pack
relative to your back...off of the upper back when going uphill and off
of the lower back when going downhill...intent is to ensure that the
weight stays over the hips. Later designs made this a much easier
adjustment to make. Setting the pack upright is convenient, but I've
also found those outriggers to be just perfect for hanging a Nalgene
bottle without banging into the front of my thigh.
Kemasa
In article <Pine.SOL.3.91.960520...@UTKUX1.UTK.EDU>,
Charles T. Faulkner <ctfa...@utkux.utcc.utk.edu> wrote:
>...
>Also, what purpose does the frame
>around the hip belt serve other than letting the pack stand upright when
>you take a break?
Ever take a physics class? Look under the topic of leverage. Most
packs are attached only at the back which makes for a nice twisting
attempt, but this allows for the weight to be down through the
center of mass, rather than offset.
It is also a nice feature to allow it to stand upright.
The only problem I had with my Jansport is that a rodent form
ate through the side pocket.
--
Kemasa.
Just because the Net makes it easy to be obnoxious without feeling the
consequences doesn't mean we should give in to the temptation to be
rude!! - April H. Olberding