Date: 2003-10-05
To: backpack - gear review
Miles today: 0.0

I ordered a 'gearskin' [www.moonbowgear.com] at Traildays '03. I didn't have a rush order and received it at the end of June. I didn't use it until I return from a month trip to RSA and after getting settled back to school in late aug..I've since taken the gearskin on two trips. Weekend One was in SW, Pa in Forbes State forest in Quebes Wild Run Area. Just around 12 ¢14 miles (I was with a newbie friend). Weekend Two was in Daniel Boone National Forest, in KY (under ten miles, it was a school retreat, I wasn¢t the planner [note: comment on trail running]). Both weekends I was carrying less then twenty pounds.Initial review.MATERIAL: 1.9 ripstop, 220? nylon reinforced bottom. one hip belt pouch made of 220 and I¢ve added stretch cord to the back. straps are made of nylon (FYI: nylon at the molecular level retains water , info courtesy of six moon's Ron ¢Fallingwater¢ Moak)WEIGHT: before stretch cord with pouch = PLUS minus 1 lb 6.45oz.comments on CONSTRUCTION:The pouch is removable. nice. I can carry compass, map and two power bars easily. My only wonder is why it wasn't made of ripstop.frame buckles have plenty of strap. Only one of my fame buckles was a different color. I haven¢t had any problems with being confused with the number of buckles (a total of ten plus one hipbelt buckle) but having different colors may have its benefits.WAIST BELT: simply put the gearskin has the greatest hipbelt and lower back feel of anything I¢ve ever carried (bora 80 (model 2000), wind river (1996), camptrail internal and external, Auspex (2002 model)One concern is that I don¢t have anyroom to lose weight (wishful thinking !?!?, not likely when I plan to thru-AT ¢04)Current packing techniques have included. a)The SGT Rock "pillow" [it feels like a pillow on my back]. It felt great to have dry back, this occurs because of the ripples created by the straps. I felt a pain in-between my shoulder blades but that may have occurred because of my dorking with trekking pole length. (note: when I carried my poles I didn¢t have upper back, also when I tacoed there was no pain maybe it was just a fluke)b) I've tacoed. Great. but my pad on its side didn't extend far enough over my shoulders to make the gearskin tight and lowered the quality of the vertical stabilizers [see comment / idea below]. Also I had to cross the top buckles. It rode fine even this way. I hope to get a 24" wide pad and see how it does.c) I last and have most enjoyed the "pita". it is similar the to a the 'pillow'. let me explain. I Fold my pad in thirds and have a double pad against my back. The last thirds wraps under my gear like the SGT Rock "pillow." My hope was to have a taller back. then a wider [i.e. taco].It would be my observation that the gearskin is designed to be tall and thin, not short and stout [ sorry all you trolls and dwarfs].VERTICAL STABLEIZERS ¢ There is plenty of straps and plenty of options for adjusting.My earlier concern with needing a tall pack raised this idea.I wonder if the top two outer (far from back) buckles could be lowered a few inches. This would (holding everything else constant) allow for the pack to not be packed as tall but keep the shoulder straps aligned with pack. (though I had oPACKING. I think the order which buckles are snapped and tightened can effect the ride. the best method I¢ve found so far is:1) start off loosening all buckles2) have my bag at the bottom and buckle the bottom four straps loosely. 3) Then to buckle the to / shoulder buckles to give the material fo the gear skin tension. 4)straighten / center pad to hip belt.5) start the remaining buckles6) tighten starting at the bottom and alternating side to side to slowly snug the pad and not shift it off center.TRAIL RUNNING. The final day in KY having my ¢gearskin¢ set up with the ¢pita¢ I was at the tail of the school group. We were spread out and I wanted the front to slow up. Yelling was not received. I took off sprinting a distance of .25 -- .33 miles with my pack on while wearing adidas running shoes as footwear and carrying poles. First, running on a trail is a rush. Second the GEARSKIN rode great with all my jumps, jaunts and leaps.I plan on contacting Jon McCue and asking about the waist belt concern. Also I would like to add another pouch and exchange / buy another ripstop pouch to use instead of my 200 pouch.God Bless.I received a given name over the weekend ¢wise wind¢ wonder if it will keep. I thought of myself as ¢running foul.¢ But whatever.