转自：http://www.backpackgeartest.org 作者：Andrew Mytys
Reviewed By: Andrew Mytys
Email: amytys (at) backpacker (dot) com
Date Published: March 3, 2003
Update History: None
Product Information: Manufacturer: Granite Gear (http://www.granitegear.com)
Item: Vapor Trail 3600 Backpack
Year of manufacture: 2002
MSRP: $145 (all sizes)
Listed Weight: 2lbs (0.9 kg)
Weight as delivered: 2lbs, 1oz (0.9 kg)
Rated load capacity: 30lbs (13.6 kg)
Note that the information in this Long-Term Field Test Report of the Granite Gear Vapor Trail backpack is to be taken in addition to my previously published Initial Review and Field Test.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Observations:
During the last four months of my test period, I have used the Granite Gear Vapor Trail primarily for winter day-hikes - either from my car or from a base-camp while on multi-day trips. As the terrain was covered with snow, I could not continue to test the pack's material in terms of abrasiveness. On the other hand, I was able to gain new experiences with the Vapor Trail that were not included in either of my previous reports.
To begin with, packing the Vapor Trail for day-hiking, even with the additional gear required during the winter season, never had me utilizing the full capacity of the pack. I found myself cinching down the load using the side, rear, and top compression straps. The compression straps did a good job of keeping the pack adjusted around my gear in a nice, tight, package, even when using just a fraction of the pack's available space. When used in this fashion, I found the Vapor Trail to be a comfortable carry.
I also continued to use my 2-liter Platypus Big Zip Hoser during my winter excursions, even when temperatures barely made it into the teens (-8 C). As in earlier tests, I placed the reservoir in the space between the pack and the framesheet. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this space provided enough insulation to keep my water from freezing. In fact, placing a "key-ring" analog thermometer into this area showed the temperature maintained within to be about 20-degrees (11 C) warmer than the air temperature around me. Of course I still had to insulate the drinking tube itself, using an optional accessory sold for the Platypus that is designed especially for such conditions. Thinking back to my early experiences with the Vapor Trail, I can safely say that, in the warmer months, this space also serves as a refuge from the heat and sun.
Comfort:
Simply put, the Vapor Trail is the most comfortable pack I've ever hiked in. This is really an amazing statement, considering that this pack only weighs 2 lbs (0.9 kg) and lacks suspension features such as struts, stays, ferrules, suspension rods, head-rails, etc. The engineers over at Granite Gear should be congratulated on a job well done... and move onto something else. Really! The pack causes no discomfort whatsoever, even after exceeding the rated carrying capacity by 30%, hiking for 20+ miles in a single day, and leaving the pack on during most rest breaks. With the exception of looking into materials that would perform equally, yet weigh less, I say "hands off the suspension".
Not only does the pack feel good in terms of padding, but the "S" shape of the shoulder straps makes them comfortable when worn in a number of positions. Using the pack's sternum strap to regulate the tension between the shoulder straps and adjust their placement, I've worn the straps close to my neck, on the tips of my shoulders, and everywhere in between. The straps felt comfortable in all positions and, using the sternum strap, I was able to simply adjust the shoulder strap positioning as I hiked, keeping my shoulders completely free from fatigue.
I also can't say enough about the padding, padding, and padding that this pack comes with. There is a massive amount of padding on the hipbelt and back panel, more than I've seen on packs weighing up to 4-times as much. On one occasion, I even forgot to secure the hip belt when putting the pack on after a lunch break. The pack was so comfortable that I didn't even notice until after a few miles of trail had been hiked. Ultralighters take note - if you're carrying less than 25-pounds in the Vapor Trail, just leave the hipbelt at home and save yourself another 6 ounces (170 g) of weight.
Size/"Packability":
The BGT Lab measured the Vapor Trail's volume and came up with a rating of 2571 cu/in (42 l) for the main body and another 1307 cu/in (21 l) of capacity in the extension collar, filled to a point where the collar can still be cinched closed. While this seems like an ample amount of room, remember that the pack does not have a top pocket. While you could pack a lot of gear into the collar, doing so would result in an additional 14 inches (35 cm) of height to the pack, above the top of the shoulder straps.
Granted, there is a top center compression strap, in addition to a side-to-side compression strap, that can be used to press the load down and gain some stability. However, the length of these compression straps is such that you can only use about half of the extension collar. Any more and the straps will not reach around the load. So, in terms of "useable" volume, the collar is good for about 650 cu/in (10.5 l). This puts the pack's usable volume at about 3231 cu/in (52.5 l).
Those really needing space can use the extension collar to its maximum volume, however doing so leads to a few problems. As the extension collar is simply cinched closed, the contents of the pack would be exposed to the elements. Also, a fully packed extension collar makes for a pack that sits 6 to 8 inches (15-20 cm) above the height of the wearer. So, you would have to take into consideration your newfound height when moving down a poorly maintained trail, or one that had low-hanging branches above you. Finally, depending on what's packed in the collar area, the pack is either slightly or very unstable and tends to list from side to side. You can see these concerns outlined in the photo. The extension collar is so pronounced that it looks like I have one pack piggy-backed on top of another.
By using only half of this extension collar, you can close the pack by cinching the main opening closed and rolling down the unused portion of the collar in a drybag fashion, then securing it with the two top-side compression straps that will now, just barely, connect around the half-used pack extension. Using the extension collar in this manner will protect the pack contents from the elements. It will also keep the top of the pack below the top of your head, and the fastened top-side compression straps will keep the top of the pack from listing to one side or another.
It must be stressed that this is not a large pack. The numbers as presented can be deceptive. Certainly, this pack could be used for weeklong outings, but, without resupply, it would take a true "Ultralight" backpacker to pull such a task off. Customers who are true minimalists, those who find themselves hitting the trail with a quilt, tarp, and a stove that nests in a small cooking pot, will have few issues with the Vapor Trail.
When using the Vapor Trail for multi-day trips, I didn't necessarily have to think like an "Ultralight" backpacker in terms of pack weight - the suspension certainly kept me happy at even 40 lbs (18 kg). However, I did need to make sure my gear did not take excessive amounts of space in the pack.
I've been able to get away with using this pack for 5-days, without resupply, and was able to pack a tent, camera outfit, and tripod to boot. I did this by strapping the tent under the rear compression straps, and had the camera bag strapped to the top of the pack until I had consumed a few days of food. However, I carried no extra clothing with me, save for a poncho, an insulating fleece layer, a change of socks, hat, gloves, and some Capilene leggings. On top of this, my sleeping bag was of the sort that could be compressed into a Nalgene bottle. I also used a Therm-A-Rest Ultralight 3/4 length sleeping pad - while not a weight savings, it was a huge savings in terms of pack space, especially when compared to a closed-foam pad such as a RidgeRest.
If I had to pack a synthetic based sleeping bag, a canister stove, a closed-foam sleeping pad, or simply wasn't versed in lightweight backpacking, there's no way I could get away with using this pack for more than a weekend jaunt. Even for a weekend, I could be pushing it.
Convenience:
The Vapor Trail is designed to hold all your gear in the one large pocket. Yes, there are two additional side pockets on this pack. However, if you pack the inside of the Vapor Trail to capacity, the pack will stretch out and render the side pockets useless. It would be a vast improvement to the design of this pack if the bottoms of these side pockets were sewn out from the pack so that, even if the main pack was busting at the seams, you could still count on having two external pockets that extended an inch (25 mm) or so to the outside of the pack. Implemented correctly, these pockets could hold anything from wide-mouth Nalgene bottles to tent poles. Today, you can fit these items into the side pockets, but only if the main pack isn't filled to capacity.
This pack also comes with left and right side compression straps, as well as compression straps in the front of the pack. What's interesting is that the side compression straps have their ends finished with a fold on the end, so that they can't be fed completely through the corresponding ladderlock and swing free, while the front compression straps do not have this fold, and can be easily freed. I found that I liked the ability to free my compression straps. I used a stuff sack with an integrated daisy-chain as additional storage and, because I could loosen the front compression straps entirely, I could feed these over my stuff sack, through the daisy-chains, and secure them to the adjoining ladderlock buckle. I never did have an issue with these straps coming loose in the least bit and thus have no worries with losing gear that's connected to these straps, so long as the main pack itself is packed to near capacity.
Features:
The Vapor Trail really doesn't have any "features". Outside of the bare minimum characteristics that make up a backpack - a sack with two shoulder straps attached - this pack comes with a removable hipbelt, load lifters, a "D-Ring" on each shoulder strap, delta straps, hand loops, side, rear, and top compression straps, a pack haul loop, sternum strap, and two side pockets.
It is because of this lack of features that Granite Gear was able to bring the Vapor Trail to market weighing in at 2 lbs (0.9 kg). Any features added would have to stay true to this weight, otherwise the pack would risk falling into a different market segment altogether.
This said, I think that Granite Gear could improve on the design of the side pockets as I listed in the "Convenience" area, without changing the weight of the pack itself. In fact, if the spandex-like material used today were changed to a heavy-duty mesh, pack weight would come down. This savings could be used to construct a vertical pocket behind the rear compression straps. Such a pocket, dovetailed with more "usable" side pockets, would go a long way in addressing the space concerns I have with the Vapor Trail. I could see the usable volume of this pack going up by 400 cu/in (6.5 l).
| 
发表于 2006-9-18 09:52
| 
发表于 2006-9-18 10:21
| 
发表于 2006-9-18 12:06
|