Help me find the right pack and water system please !!!!

Ok, since all my gear was stolen last March on the OHT, I have been slowly replacing all my gear. I have been looking at a few packs; The Gossamer Gear Mariposa Plus, the Osprey Atmos 50, the Macpac Amp Light 35, and the ULA Conduit. I really like the Mariposa Plus and the Conduit, but I tried the Osprey and the Macpac today and really liked them. My thing against the Osprey and the Macpac is their weight, which I won't mind if they disperse and carry the load well, and that is where you all come in.

I also need a new water cleaning system. I have been using tablets for now, and I use to have a Steripen adventurer. I do not think I will go back to the Steripen because it will not work in PowerAde bottles, and I want something that works without batteries. That said,I have been looking at gravity filters like this one by Antigravitygear. I also found this UVC purifier and they call it the mUV Water Bobber, I know it takes batteries, but it weighs nothing. I think Lew or UL had a gravity filter at the Tarp and Hammock Clinic, and I really liked it.

Now, let me know what all think, and what works best for you. As you can tell I like lightweight, and I only get to hike for maybe 3-4 days at a time. Thanks in advance,

Dwight

I would go with the Conduit and he makes a the Amigo gravity filter. I don't own the Conduit yet but I plan to... I do own the filter and like it

Lew

Thanks Lew, I found the Amigo after I posted this, and thought it would be just as good as the other, plus the filters are easy to get. If I go with the Conduit I will get the Amigo just to save on shipping, But with ULA I have to wait till December. I like the Mariposa Plus because it is on sale right now for $135, but the Conduit looks more rugged and form fitting. OHHHHH the choices.

Dwight

Preacha:
I would recommend waiting for the Conduit. I have one and love it. I would also try calling ULA and see if Brian is there. It may be possible to get one before December. I know that he's back from his Idaho trip, so its worth a try.
I actually own both the ULA Conduit and Amp. The Amp is a great 2-3 day pack if you're going fairly lightweight. It can hold up to 20 lbs, but I would recommend not much over 10-12 lbs. The Conduit is rated up to 30, but I've never had mine much over 13-15 lbs. On my last BRT trip, my starting total pack weight was just under 13 lbs, including 3 days of food, and I felt like I hardly had a pack on.
For a 3-5 day hike, you shouldn't have any problems with the Conduit.
BTW, the Conduit is going to be much more durable than the Mariposa, due to Conduit's use of Dyneema, which is as strong as Kevlar. The Mariposa uses a lot of silnylon material in its construction.
Hope this helps,
UL

I'm going to throw my vote in for either the Gossamer Gear or ULA bags. That being said, I have the Atmos 50 and really like it. The weight is extreamly easy to carry, but you do add the weight of a frame with two bars.

For water filters, AquaMira makes a filter (I think its called the Frontier) that can be used like a trad'l filter or screwed on to a bottle and used like a sport bottle. They're pretty cheap too.

Thanks guys, I am going with the Conduit and the anti-gravity gear gravity filter. The filter uses the Aquamira frontier filter attached to a silnylon bag. That and some platypus style 2L bags and I am set I think. UL, I agree with you and think the Conduit will hold up better than the gossamer gear bags, some places I go can be pretty wearing on my pack.

Dwight

Preacha:
Glad to hear of the choice in packs. I don't think that you will be disappointed.
UL

Yeah for me, I found a ULA Conduit at Mount Rogers Outfitters, and they are shipping it out today. I had them add a hydration sleeve, and since it is over $100, shipping is free. Thank you all for helping me with this, now I will need a trip to test it out.

Dwight

TrailMonkey and I are heading to the Buffalo area the first or second weekend of December. I am hoping for the first weekend, because after being cooped up taking care of my kids and my wife with a broken back, I am ready to get out there! You should join us. We are gonna base camp and do some day hikes, at least until I get my pack weight and belly weight down some more.

Speaking of pack weight, I am probably going to get a ULA pack for Christmas. Haven't decided if it will be Catalyst, Conduit, or Circuit yet. I did order my Contrail Tarptent, which is going to save me around 3 pounds in tent alone. I can shed several more pounds depending on which pack I get.

I think I will head out to Kyles landing this Sunday Evening and then do the Indian Creek Trail again with my neighbor. If we get there early enough we will hike to the mid point of the trail and spend the night in the cave, and then maybe make it to hemmed in hollow on Monday. I will do some begging to see about making it with you guys too.

Dwight

OK, I didn't get to go to Kyles this last weekend, but I did get my new ULA Conduit in today. It is so awesome, and it doesn't even feel like I have a pack on . Thank you for all of yall who steered me this way. Mount Rogers Outfitters are really great to work with. I called them Friday, and not only did they have it, they shipped it that day. I had a hydration sleeve added, and they didn't charge me shipping. I hope that I can get over to Kyles this next week or weekend after this coming one. By then my new gravity filter will be in.

Thanks Again,
Dwight

Preacha:
That's great. I know you will love the Conduit. I couldn't ask for a nicer pack for a multi-day hike. It does require a pad to be used as the frame, preferrably a ThermaRest pad. I'm curious that since you use a hammock, what are you going to use for a pad, or do you use a pad in your hammock set up?
UL

I use an underquilt with my hammock, but that is why I ordered it with the hydration sleeve. I plan on using my 2L Hydration bottle close to my back, and stuffing the rest. I tried it out before I had to leave town and it works really great for me. I loaded it up entirely like I normally would, minus food, and I could hardly feel a thing. We will see how it really performs in the next couple of weeks I guess, but the construction is great.

Dwight

Yeah again, I just got back from Oklahoma and my new Anti-Gravity Gear gravity filter was here. It is great!!!!!!!!!!!! It is a Sil-Nylon bag that is connected to an Aquamira Frontier. It has a tube that runs from the filter to my new 2L Evernew collapsable bottle. The tube also doubles as the hydration tube too! All together the filter and the bottle weigh around 6oz.

I already have it all ready to go, I just need Amanda to make me a new down quilt set. She told me that she doesn't feel like sewing, but she gets 900fp Down, and it is really light and warm. 2 of her quilts with 3 inch baffles would have 24 ounces of down, and would only weigh maybe 30oz. !!! I think that is very good, and they compress into hardly nothing. Maybe if I sweet talk her alot she will order the down and get to sewing. I better stop talking and help her with the kids hahaha.

Hope to see yall on the trail soon,
Dwight