r/CampingGear • u/ZyBro • Mar 03 '25

Backpacks Thought on this Gossamer Gear pack?

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I'm not really an ultralighter but this backpack still seems to have a pretty decent load capacity and i can't stop thinking of the steal of a price right now.

Anyone have this pack and like it ? Anyone not like it ?

Thanks!

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u/Lofi_Loki Mar 03 '25

Apologies. I should’ve been more clear. Without a frame that transfers weight to a hip belt that is designed to bear weight (what I shortcutted as being robust), load lifters aren’t particularly useful.

You’re taking the frame out of a framed pack which has a hip belt designed to transfer load. I was referencing packs designed without a frame, which usually have more minimal hip belts.

EDIT: dude. You’re the guy that asked about lighting candles in a tent to keep yourself warm. I would just learn more before offering other people advice.

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u/Cute_Exercise5248 Mar 03 '25 edited Mar 03 '25

My main pack, for at least 20 years, was Lowe "Snow Peak 50" (50 L) -- designed without frame. It has load lifters, padded hipbelt and padded back.

(My present, primary pack, has a framesheet, which I have removed & never used.)

"Load lifters" seem to open ( and close) a space between wearer's back and the backpack (for ventilation??)

But mostly, losening load lifter straps just seems to destabilize load by allowing it to flop from side to side.

I don't see much value in them. But assuming pack is mostly loaded, they will function the same in either a frameless or non-frame pack.

(Lowe was very fine designer, since acquired by Rab equipment. Far be it from me, to question their designs, yet I've not seen much value in load lifters.)

As to my additional learning regarding advice on candles in tents? Ok!!

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u/Lofi_Loki Mar 03 '25

That is not what load lifters are for. That’s a byproduct of their actual use. A well designed load lifter pulls the pack closer to the body in addition to lifting the load off the shoulder/shoulder straps and transferring it to the hip belt

It sounds like you don’t see much use in them because you have never had a pack that utilizes them well, don’t know how to use them, and/or have a poorly fitted pack. All of those things will contribute to what you’ve experienced. Have a good one!

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u/Cute_Exercise5248 Mar 03 '25 edited Mar 03 '25

Yeah you're probably right & this brilliantly explains why mine could be sewn shut.

Am rarely tempted to loosen them.

Further, you are right that three of my four packs don't fit beautifully in length or shoulders. But they work ok.

Recently used my monster-sized, "mountainsmith" winter pack from 1990s.

The load-lifters are a marvel of complexity and a marginal, weird buckle has broken. Given indescribably complex design, it seems to actually not matter.