[pct-l] Front Packs

[Kelly Cohoe]

Thanks for your response steel-eye.  I agree that the syncpack seems like 
overkill.  I like the idea of a modified fanny pack (I think that is the 
same as a butt pack).  Does anybody else have any suggestions about how to 
carry your snacks, camera, deet and other miscellaneous items in front for 
easy access?

Kelly Cohoe
"Equipping the Church for works of service."
www.gcfportland.org
"And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us,
And establish the work of our hands;
Yes, establish the work of our hands." (Psalm 90:17)

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steel-Eye" <chelin at teleport.com>
To: "Kelly Cohoe" <kellycohoe at comcast.net>; "PCT e-mail forum" 
<pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 5:59 AM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Front Packs


> Good morning, Kelbud,
>
> Most hikers carry gear in front, with the variables being the amount of 
> gear
> carried and how.  For an ultralite hiker the most weight-efficient carry
> means is a simple sack on one's back.  Any addition of pockets, pouches,
> patches, zippers, straps, and handy doodads increases the convenience
> somewhat, but it increases the pack's weight and cost disproportionately.
> Adding a front pack does seem to improve balance and weight distribution,
> but at a weight penalty:  Seldon does the back-pack compensate by becoming
> lighter when capacity is moved to the front.  The Syncpack Frontpack has
> significant capacity - more than I would ever need - and there is an
> unfortunate tendency we all have to obey the backpacker's corollary to
> Parkinson's Law, i.e. "The amount of junk expands to fill the available
> space."
>
> I do use a "front pack".  It is a lite, contoured, 150 cu. in. modified 
> butt
> pack with a thin belt.  I wear it around my waist in front.  It weighs 3.7
> oz and I resent even that much.  I use it because I hike in thin nylon
> athletic shorts that have no pockets, and my back-pack has no belt upon
> which, or in which, I can carry small items such as my little camera with 
> an
> extra chip and battery, ChapStick, a knife, a pinch-light, a small 
> notebook
> and pencil stub, my wallet, and - situationally - a small container of
> Clorox, DEET, sun-screen, snacks, bandanna, etc.  It is independent of my
> pack and about the only time I remove it is to sleep.
>
> In times past I've worn cargo-pocket hiking shorts, but they weigh more 
> than
> the athletic shorts/butt pack combination, and I find the stuffed pockets 
> to
> be less comfortable.
>
> About the only thing ridiculous out there on the trail are items that you
> seldom need, and/or items which are not the lightest that are reasonably
> available.
>
> Steel-Eye
> http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Kelly Cohoe" <kellycohoe at comcast.net>
> To: "PCT e-mail forum" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2008 9:23 PM
> Subject: [pct-l] Front Packs
>
>
>> Hello,
>>
>> I was wondering what people think of carrying a smaller front pack like
>> the Syncpack Frontpack.  I like the idea of easy access to water, snacks
>> and a few other items, but wonder if carrying something like that in 
>> front
>> of me is either uncomfortable or ridiculous.  Any input would be
>> appreciated.
>>
>> Kelbud
>> _______________________________________________
>> Pct-l mailing list
>> Pct-l at backcountry.net
>> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>


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