Kullaberg63
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The search didn't show much about Seek Outside, but I might not be using that function optimally.
We run a small gear company in Moab (Nunatak), and nearby Grand Junction is home to another, the tent and pack maker Seek Outside. Recently they paid us a visit at our shop to deliver one of their Unaweep series packs as part of an informal trade of gear, ideas and inspiration.
The cottage pack manufacturers field is legion, literally 'packed' with upstarts, hopefuls and success stories. Most of these companies are indistinguishably similar, following the vein of taking a stuff sack, attaching straps and claiming an ultralight epiphany. Throwing in the word Dyneema, making sure the main color is blindingly white, and enlisting a few hitherto unknown hikers as ambassadors usually ensures some level of success.
One might wonder where the true innovation lies in this field. For an item where pioneers like Dana Gleeson and Wayne Gregory created involved technical load haulers of great complexity, the opposite idiom, the UL scene, has made pack manufacturing very garage friendly. Perfecting these glorified stuff sacks into suitable long distance packs must take an admirable knack for adequate minimalism. Some do end up as subtly engineered wonders. And others of seemingly similar design, truly suck!
I feel the winners still cling to some aspect of a frame, however far removed it might be from a Terraplane Overkill. Even 10 lbs carry better with the addition of a smart one lb structure of some rigidity stuck in the pack body somewhere.
Seek Outside has a product I feel is radically different from the HMG's of the pack world. Being unique is great for exposure, but that alone will obviously not work. Just look at the kick starter mistakes of 'all terrain' wheeled packs converting into camp chairs, and similar desperate attempts at carving out your place in the biz.
There are a few manufacturers making external frame packs with an UL approach. And of the ones that do, only Seek Outside uses a U-shaped frame with a simple pivot at the base mid-piont of the U. Choosing the lightest options they offer in terms of fabric, features and frame material creates a 60 liter very capable all round pack at right around 3 lbs.
While Seek Outside packs are not truly UL, the fact is not many of us go full-on UL. We like to talk about it, but practically speaking our pack weight is usually a bit above the Ray Way. Purchasing a frameless cuben sack from upstart Z might not be the smartest move for many of us.
So, at three pounds the Unaweep is claimed to be able to haul impressive loads with unmatched comfort (hunters carving up elks and carrying them out), yet it is 4 lbs lighter than the dusty old Gregory in my backyard shed, and half a pound lighter than my stripped down Arcteryx Khamsin 50, my go-to lightweight pack for years - but which was always lacking a bit in the comfort department when max'ed out. Plus it was too small when employing packrafts on longer trips.
Quite excited about trying the Unaweep this summer. Nothing about the initial inspection gives me any reason to doubt the manufacturer's claims, and the quality of construction seems top notch.
I'll be back to this thread with field reports. Sorry about the despicable cell phone pics.
IMG_1136 by jan nikolajsen, on Flickr
IMG_1141 by jan nikolajsen, on Flickr
IMG_1139 by jan nikolajsen, on Flickr
IMG_1143 by jan nikolajsen, on Flickr
IMG_1144 by jan nikolajsen, on Flickr
IMG_1145 by jan nikolajsen, on Flickr
We run a small gear company in Moab (Nunatak), and nearby Grand Junction is home to another, the tent and pack maker Seek Outside. Recently they paid us a visit at our shop to deliver one of their Unaweep series packs as part of an informal trade of gear, ideas and inspiration.
The cottage pack manufacturers field is legion, literally 'packed' with upstarts, hopefuls and success stories. Most of these companies are indistinguishably similar, following the vein of taking a stuff sack, attaching straps and claiming an ultralight epiphany. Throwing in the word Dyneema, making sure the main color is blindingly white, and enlisting a few hitherto unknown hikers as ambassadors usually ensures some level of success.
One might wonder where the true innovation lies in this field. For an item where pioneers like Dana Gleeson and Wayne Gregory created involved technical load haulers of great complexity, the opposite idiom, the UL scene, has made pack manufacturing very garage friendly. Perfecting these glorified stuff sacks into suitable long distance packs must take an admirable knack for adequate minimalism. Some do end up as subtly engineered wonders. And others of seemingly similar design, truly suck!
I feel the winners still cling to some aspect of a frame, however far removed it might be from a Terraplane Overkill. Even 10 lbs carry better with the addition of a smart one lb structure of some rigidity stuck in the pack body somewhere.
Seek Outside has a product I feel is radically different from the HMG's of the pack world. Being unique is great for exposure, but that alone will obviously not work. Just look at the kick starter mistakes of 'all terrain' wheeled packs converting into camp chairs, and similar desperate attempts at carving out your place in the biz.
There are a few manufacturers making external frame packs with an UL approach. And of the ones that do, only Seek Outside uses a U-shaped frame with a simple pivot at the base mid-piont of the U. Choosing the lightest options they offer in terms of fabric, features and frame material creates a 60 liter very capable all round pack at right around 3 lbs.
While Seek Outside packs are not truly UL, the fact is not many of us go full-on UL. We like to talk about it, but practically speaking our pack weight is usually a bit above the Ray Way. Purchasing a frameless cuben sack from upstart Z might not be the smartest move for many of us.
So, at three pounds the Unaweep is claimed to be able to haul impressive loads with unmatched comfort (hunters carving up elks and carrying them out), yet it is 4 lbs lighter than the dusty old Gregory in my backyard shed, and half a pound lighter than my stripped down Arcteryx Khamsin 50, my go-to lightweight pack for years - but which was always lacking a bit in the comfort department when max'ed out. Plus it was too small when employing packrafts on longer trips.
Quite excited about trying the Unaweep this summer. Nothing about the initial inspection gives me any reason to doubt the manufacturer's claims, and the quality of construction seems top notch.
I'll be back to this thread with field reports. Sorry about the despicable cell phone pics.
IMG_1136 by jan nikolajsen, on FlickrIMG_1141 by jan nikolajsen, on FlickrIMG_1139 by jan nikolajsen, on FlickrIMG_1143 by jan nikolajsen, on FlickrIMG_1144 by jan nikolajsen, on FlickrIMG_1145 by jan nikolajsen, on Flickr
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