I've looked around the site but couldn't find what I was looking for. I was wondering what kind and sizes of ultra-lite packs people where using. Also, if you don't use an ultra-lite what kind of light weight pack do you use? After my trip to Mt. Assiniboine I'm looking for ways to lighten the load for myself and my wife and I thought a lighter pack might help that a bit.

I haven't used any of this stuff, but there seems to be a lot of gear for those ultralight hikers out there.

www.golite.com

I have heard a lot of people complain about serious durability issues with GoLite.

This guy has an ultralight line , his packs are the best IMO
http://www.mchalepacks.com/

In perspective, even a heavy pack weighs about 5 or 6 lbs. and a light one weighs less than 2. So you can save a maximum of about 4 pounds by using a super lightweight pack. Its what you choose to bring in the pack that determines how heavy your trip is, not the weight of the pack itself.

Dru were the problems with the shoulder straps or the bag.

The McHale packs look interesting robert cramer. Do you own one? I have to admit that a pack that's custom made for me is appealing.

Any other lines of packs out there I haven't considered please let me know.

holes in fabric, stitching tearing, straps detaching from pack.

my old MEC '70s external aluminum frame pack (sally ann, $5) is less than two pounds, and i am glad i don't have an extra two or three pounds of pack along for the hike when i am trying to get my packweight down below 18 lbs for a three or four day trek with a lot of miles.

here is a very nice light list, though my tent would come in at 2 lbs, and not the tarp weight here of 9 oz
http://www.hikingwebsite.com/gear/lists/light30f.htm

Try this site. I have one and love it.

http://www.lowealpine.com/Products/SearchMenu.asp?ProductTypeID=18

Gossamer Gear makes some amazing Gear!!! They have a line of Customizable Ultralight Packs, as well as my SuperUltralight 3.7oz Whisper Uberlight Pack!!!

Have Fun!
Ken
http://bpmaniacs.com/phpbb2/

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Another thing to consider is how well your ultralight packpack of choice will carry the load for you; especially if you do multiday hikes. I'd much rather have a 5 lb backpack with a good suspension than a 3 lb backpack that's just a glorified bag with straps. Ultralight packs have thinner straps and less padding, which may be fine for a less than 20 lb load, but would be killer on a multiday trip.
I'd recommend taking a look at the Aether line of Osprey packs. They're considered as "ultralight" but the suspension and padding is still very good, and they're well made packs. I own an aether 75 and I love it!

I second the Osprey Aether recommendation. I have an Aether 45 (which I don't think they make anymore) that's perfect for light trips and simple overnighters. It rides amazingly well for such a light pack.

Yeah, it depends on what you want to carry. For multi-day excursions, I have the Gregory Z-Pack which holds 65L and weighs only 1500g. For shorter trips I use a 30L frameless rucksack, but it won't carry more than 20lbs without becoming terribly uncomfortable.

In hindsight, I wish that instead of the Gregory Z-Pack, I'd have bought the Osprey Aether 60L, but the price difference was huge. I will replace my 90L Serratus Aplinelite (2.3kg) with a 90L Osprey that weighs 2.4kg. That's about as light as you can get for a 90L pack with a good suspension system and decent features. While I usually travel pretty light (week long pack with food and fuel under 40lbs) I need a 90L pack for some mountaineering excursions and winter trips.

Back to the Z-Pack, I've been pretty impressed with it. For $169 it's pretty good value. I thought the materials and construction looked pretty flimsy, but they've held up to over 400kms of backcountry travel this summer including some tough-on-packs mountaineering trips with bushwhacking and getting drug over rock during climbing.

I LOVE the idea of the GoLite packs, but the materials look just to whispey for me. For through-hiking on trails, they probably work very well, but for those of us that beat the crap out of our packs, I'd be concerned.

I also have the Gregory Z-Pack and have found it to be an excellent pack. And it can hold weight comfortably. I would have no problem recommending this pack.

Thanks all. You have given me some great choices to think about.