Aussie made ultralight mountain climbing pack
On the high finish of Katoomba Avenue, there’s a serious-looking post-war constructing anchored to the Blue Mountains retail panorama. It’s dwelling to native outside retailer, Summit Gear, staffed by path runners, climbers, and canyoners, it shares the standard suspects of Icebreaker, Patagonia, La Sportiva, Mont, Out of doors Analysis, Salomon, and so on.
At first look, you possibly can be forgiven for considering Summit Gear is like each different gear store. However go searching and also you would possibly begin to discover one thing totally different. Hear more durable and all will grow to be clear…
Native Design and manufacture
What you gained’t discover on this store are partitions laden with backpacks from Osprey or others. THIS is what makes this little-Mountains-business-that-could, totally different. Oh and after I say pay attention, I imply it. In a quiet second on this former financial institution constructing, you would possibly hear sounds leaking from above of stitching machines, room-filling chopping machines and the scratching of chins of passionate outside people making an attempt to design higher, smarter gear. Or because the tagline of their new sub-brand, Whippa, reads:
Lighter, Stronger, Higher.
Whippa, 2024
Pack Design + Bespoke to order
Summit Gear has been making its bomber cordura packs for yonks. Common with hard-core-ish, off-track, crusty bushwalkers and canyoners, they’ve a popularity for near-indestructible building in a paired-back, no-frills design.
Look carefully on the packs worn by NSW Ambulance, CareFlight, NPWS and different emergency companies and also you’re prone to see the Summit Gear brand behind their designed-for-task smarts. Summit Gear have labored direct with companies and different industries designing fit-for-task packs, satchels, pouches and numerous equipment for the office.
Their operation is agile sufficient to sketch up concepts, run collectively mock-ups and take a look at n’ tweak for a various vary of purchasers with very explicit wants.
Recognising a altering market, the necessity to produce lighter weight and ultralight packs and the authorized challenges they could encounter in the event that they tried to register the Summit Gear model internationally, they launched a brand new sub-brand, Whippa, in Might 2024. I’ve been testing their Overland 60L Ultralight mountain climbing pack for 2 months.
Overland 60L Ultralight
First Impressions
Visually, the Whippa vary attracts on the straightforward, streamlined design of Summit Gear’s conventional packs: one giant high load compartment and an uber-generous entrance pocket. The bells and whistles of this child aren’t apparent on the surface, however humble, properly thought out design and use of recent, light-weight but strong supplies and a body sheet imply the music and dance is within the 940 grams and a snug carry underneath load.
Supplies
Design & Development
I really like a roll-top pack and that is no exception. The approx 26 cm of throat is simply one of many choose-your-own-adventure* components within the 60 litre ultralight type I examined. Add or subtract to your load, shrink down as you eat meals or develop to hold surprising extras (like taking over further water for dry stretches), I examined the pack in quite a lot of methods, together with as a day pack when guiding (40L would been sufficient for substantial group first support equipment, thermos, poo equipment, radio, private gear, and so on) and overnighters.
Match and Adjustment
The 10mm closed cell foam padding (with sneaky weight-saving and respiration holes) supplies simply the correct quantity of consolation for the 6cm shoulder straps and 9.5 cm hip straps. I like the selection of a forward-tightening belt buckle and snazzy minimalistic buckles that work tremendous when sporting gloves. Load Lifters, teamed with the full frame-sheet are key to getting a comfortable and well-distributed carry with the Whippa Overland. Try the BTS video with Rob Inshaw as he describes how this works.
Consolation
In weight and cargo checks, I discovered (oddly) that it was extra snug when packed as a full, streamlined load, as a substitute of a half-empty day pack. When half empty, it felt as if it pulled away from the physique, no matter adjusting load lifters, shoulder straps and hip belt. It was as a full load, round 12-14 kg, that it actually felt evenly distributed and was at its most comfortable.
Hip Belt Pockets
Beneficiant hip-belt pockets have been designed to carry even the most important smartphone (circa 2024), giving easy accessibility for pictures or navigation apps. Using the robust UltraStretch material is wise with its 4-way stretch and tear/abrasion resistance. That and the additional pleats means there’s nonetheless house for all these snacks, lip balm and hanky (sure, hanky folks).
Again Pocket
The again pocket of the Whippa Overland is without doubt one of the apparent locations the design strays away from the traditional stretchy mesh exterior pocket, as seen in ultralight opponents Z-Packs, Hyperlite or Durston. I’ve walked behind many pals carrying these (and what’s left of the mesh these manufacturers use) testomony that they weren’t designed with hauling packs by thick banksia, hakea and different wonders of the Aussie Bush.
Taking out that challenge, Rob’s group have used the identical major material (both Dyneema or Extremely 200x), with a cosy becoming storm flap, offering a beneficiant (about 27 cm x 15 cm x 37 cm) stow all, fast-access pocket.
This provides considerably to the general capability and is ideal for moist objects like rain jackets or tent fly. Oh, and it matches a 14″ laptop computer (not that I take a kind of with me into the bush!).
Aspect Pockets
UltraStretch material (which was so robust their machines struggled to chop it and so they wanted to make use of graphite shears to complete the job correctly) and partially hidden compression straps (with G-hook attachments) guarantee your 1L bottle stays comfortable. Placement and stitching meant I didn’t must dislocate a shoulder to take a swig.
Webbing (Straps)
It’s essential to notice that the webbing (straps) they’ve used all through are significantly robust and don’t slide by the clips like conventional webbing can. This would possibly take a little bit of getting used to as it is advisable put some oomph into tensioning them.
Behind the Scenes with Whippa
I headed above the store in Katoomba for a BTS chat with Rob Inshaw to be taught extra about Whippa and the Overland 60.
I didn’t take a look at them, however Whippa provide a couple of fries with that for those who’re after further capability with an 8 litre Ultralight Expedition Hood (removable mind) with weatherproof zipper. There’s additionally a helmet internet that works with the 35L and 55L variations of the pack and unsurprisingly, Whippa’s Canyon pack sequence. Made potential by the small attachment loops, it’s also possible to use these in your personal DIY attachments.
Below Testing – My expertise
How I examined it – I used the Whippa Overland 60L for two months earlier than penning this evaluate. I used it for no less than 2-3 brief hikes (1-3 hrs) every week with <7 kg, 4 full-day walks (8 hrs, 8 kg) and an overnighter (12 kg). To check consolation underneath weight, I additionally over-loaded it with 20 kg for one of many brief walks.
What I appreciated
- Robust light-weight materials that look like as strong as they declare
- Again pocket – the characteristic I assumed I wouldn’t like… however beloved. It held all the things that I’d usually put right into a pack mind/hood and extra. I like that I didn’t lose issues in it like I generally do within the awkward form of a zipped mind pocket as a result of the way it wraps/bends across the high of a pack.
- Weight – <1kg for 60 litres in a sturdy bundle
- Construction – the inner body sheet provides the pack construction that always isn’t present in ultralight or light-weight packs. No one likes a floppy pack ;).
- Simplistic Massive Bucket high loader roll-top with G-clip
- It’s a tidy pack with streamlined attractiveness
- Distinctive customer support from native Australian small enterprise
Issues to think about
- Regardless that the material is waterproof (Whippa describe the pack as ‘weatherproof’) and the seams have been taped sealed (what does that imply?), when utilizing it in Tassie drizzle I discovered that whereas the objects inside stayed largely dry, moisture received in across the base after I put the pack on the bottom throughout breaks. In future I’d merely use a water-proof pack liner or dry luggage (as I do with my different packs).
- The stiff webbing straps took a little bit of getting used to
- Value – As at June 2024, the pack prices $619 AUD
Conclusion
Should you’re trying to lighten your multiday pack and enterprise into the land of ultralight gear (and have the price range), the consolation delivered by the framesheet and cargo lifters, will make a simple transition.
Providing the selection of Ultra200x (as a substitute of Dynmeema) for the principle material is a good possibility for folks who do numerous off-track/scrub or rock scrambling.
It’s essential to know that it’s nonetheless an funding and like all gear, it is advisable care for your equipment, not actively trash it.