Not at all. I have used these packs to go up multiple passes, including Muir Pass, Glenn Pass, Bishop Pass, Kearsarge Pass among many. The bags probably will not allow you to scramble uphill in technical climbs. That is the one downside. I have not tried this yet.
Thanks for your post. Just back from 16 days of walking in NZ's south. You striked a chord a couple of times. Used a PD clip for a Z6:2 carrying the 24-200mm in the pack and a new 14-30mm on the camera with the lens pointing at my cheek. Slipped crossing the base of a waterfall and dipped in the front of the lens. Condensation occurred for a day and possibly some water ingress. The following tracks I stored the 24-200mm, 2 camera batteries off track and the weight saving was immediate. Had one an Aarn with the camera in the pocket I would have had no issue, I guess.
My pack was an Osprey 100lt - large and nominatively 2.9kg but a few straps and unnecessary bits cut off. (I carry a reasonable amount of wife's gear in addition to tent, cooking etc.) I really need a lighter weight pack with an excellent hip belt/frame setup as good as the Osprey and your description of the Aarn's made me look into them. You made a really good narrative regards the setup. I saw the hip belt had bilateral straps that almost? sort of? allowed the hip belt to form better around the iliac crest by creating a a lateral fold.
My question is with their larger packs around the 66lt mark if you didn't have the front bumps and just the back pack aspect itself, is the fit still great to excellent. (i.e. it goes without saying the whole design is based around the front bumps balance however one way of judging the backpacks efficacy in terms of its frame is as a standalone pack.) And the inevitable question, how has it fared over these years and do you still have it.
About the hip belt, the entire belt is removable. It is velcroed (very strong velcro) both up and down. You can move the belt inside or outside (for increased / decreased length) and tilt it one way or the other (almost all of us have interesting hips) till it sits just right on your Iliac crest.
You can also get a different sized hip belt. I did buy a different sized hip belt, but since the current hip belt is so well settled and perfect, I am lazy to remove it and swap the belts and go through the adjustment process again.
I should mention that it took me about 50 trail miles before I dialed in the pack correctly for my body. There are a LOT of adjustments you can do.
I continue to use Aarn packs. I now have the pro version (dyneema) of this pack. I would not buy this pack if you do not use the balance pockets in the front. The bags will not be comfortable if you load everything in the back. There is not enough support in the pack to load everything in the back. For starters, there is no way to carry a water pouch.
Everything in this backpack is designed to move the dense and heavy stuff to the front. The only way to carry water is to keep it in the front.
The whole backpack is designed so that the weight in the front works to pull the backpack from the back to over your shoulders so they float just above your shoulder.
When I balance the weight back and front, the bag seems to float over the body. Also, when you move weight to the front, the quads work a lot more than just the hamstring. Different leg muscles get used.
The PD clip is very hard to carry such a heavy lens + camera like the Z62 and 24-200. It would have moved a lot of weight on one side and that shoulder would have taken a beating. The Aarn works very well for dense / heavy gear like this. I now carry my Z72 and 24-120 f/4 S in one of the pockets (along with water and food).
I don't see me using any other backpack in my life.
Thank you for taking the time to write up your experiences. Especially the pro comment insisting the front bumps are required to balance off. Thank you again.
I have had the featherlite freedom pro for about 18 months, with the balance bags it is a vast improvement on the other brand I have. Frankly as a young bloke of 72 and a solo hiker it is a bit of a mission getting the packs on and off from an aging body with the attachments and necessary adjustments. While it is a comfortable pack for sure I am yet to get to a happy medium of equal weight distribution in each of the packs. At this stage the balance bags I carry 2L water, map, bum pad, snacks and other things I'd use through the day for which I'd need quick access.
Nice review, thanks for the info. Do the front pockets obscure the view of the path/your feet at all?
Not at all. I have used these packs to go up multiple passes, including Muir Pass, Glenn Pass, Bishop Pass, Kearsarge Pass among many. The bags probably will not allow you to scramble uphill in technical climbs. That is the one downside. I have not tried this yet.
Nice review.
I through-hiked Te Araroa in New Zealand with an Aarn Featherlite Freedom, and the weight penalty over lighter packs is well worth it.
My ultralight backpack is gathering dust in a closet ...
Congratulations on your hike.
Yeah. I have been able to go back to slightly-heavier items again and carry a chair now :). Definitely preferring comfort over weight now.
Thanks for your post. Just back from 16 days of walking in NZ's south. You striked a chord a couple of times. Used a PD clip for a Z6:2 carrying the 24-200mm in the pack and a new 14-30mm on the camera with the lens pointing at my cheek. Slipped crossing the base of a waterfall and dipped in the front of the lens. Condensation occurred for a day and possibly some water ingress. The following tracks I stored the 24-200mm, 2 camera batteries off track and the weight saving was immediate. Had one an Aarn with the camera in the pocket I would have had no issue, I guess.
My pack was an Osprey 100lt - large and nominatively 2.9kg but a few straps and unnecessary bits cut off. (I carry a reasonable amount of wife's gear in addition to tent, cooking etc.) I really need a lighter weight pack with an excellent hip belt/frame setup as good as the Osprey and your description of the Aarn's made me look into them. You made a really good narrative regards the setup. I saw the hip belt had bilateral straps that almost? sort of? allowed the hip belt to form better around the iliac crest by creating a a lateral fold.
My question is with their larger packs around the 66lt mark if you didn't have the front bumps and just the back pack aspect itself, is the fit still great to excellent. (i.e. it goes without saying the whole design is based around the front bumps balance however one way of judging the backpacks efficacy in terms of its frame is as a standalone pack.) And the inevitable question, how has it fared over these years and do you still have it.
Thanks for your write up.
About the hip belt, the entire belt is removable. It is velcroed (very strong velcro) both up and down. You can move the belt inside or outside (for increased / decreased length) and tilt it one way or the other (almost all of us have interesting hips) till it sits just right on your Iliac crest.
You can also get a different sized hip belt. I did buy a different sized hip belt, but since the current hip belt is so well settled and perfect, I am lazy to remove it and swap the belts and go through the adjustment process again.
I should mention that it took me about 50 trail miles before I dialed in the pack correctly for my body. There are a LOT of adjustments you can do.
I continue to use Aarn packs. I now have the pro version (dyneema) of this pack. I would not buy this pack if you do not use the balance pockets in the front. The bags will not be comfortable if you load everything in the back. There is not enough support in the pack to load everything in the back. For starters, there is no way to carry a water pouch.
Everything in this backpack is designed to move the dense and heavy stuff to the front. The only way to carry water is to keep it in the front.
The whole backpack is designed so that the weight in the front works to pull the backpack from the back to over your shoulders so they float just above your shoulder.
When I balance the weight back and front, the bag seems to float over the body. Also, when you move weight to the front, the quads work a lot more than just the hamstring. Different leg muscles get used.
The PD clip is very hard to carry such a heavy lens + camera like the Z62 and 24-200. It would have moved a lot of weight on one side and that shoulder would have taken a beating. The Aarn works very well for dense / heavy gear like this. I now carry my Z72 and 24-120 f/4 S in one of the pockets (along with water and food).
I don't see me using any other backpack in my life.
Thank you for taking the time to write up your experiences. Especially the pro comment insisting the front bumps are required to balance off. Thank you again.
Yes that is my thinking as well.
Thank you
I have had the featherlite freedom pro for about 18 months, with the balance bags it is a vast improvement on the other brand I have. Frankly as a young bloke of 72 and a solo hiker it is a bit of a mission getting the packs on and off from an aging body with the attachments and necessary adjustments. While it is a comfortable pack for sure I am yet to get to a happy medium of equal weight distribution in each of the packs. At this stage the balance bags I carry 2L water, map, bum pad, snacks and other things I'd use through the day for which I'd need quick access.
I would try moving food to the balance pockets. The heavier you move to the front, the better the bag is on the shoulders.
Thanks for writing.