THE HYPERLIGHT MOUNTAIN GEAR EXPEDITION PACK

Mar 23, 2013

I wrote some manprose on the HMG Expedition Pack back in November 2012. HMG have sinced changed the name to ‘4400 Porter Pack’. Expedition Pack was better. Regardless, these are my final thoughts and conclusions on this thing for carrying stuff on your back.

Before buying this pack four months ago I had not seen hybrid cuben fiber polyester material first hand. It sounded pretty cool on the internet though. Rationally it was the simple and adaptable design that appealed and I was pretty sure it’d be right for what I wanted to use it for, but it was a risk. Shipped to Australia with a couple of optional extras it was a USD $432.75 risk. That’s a lot of US rupees, but in AUDs it converts to about two vegemite sandwiches and a pint of Coopers. The price is in fact about on par with similar volume canvas packs from Aussie manufacturer One Planet (they make excellent gear, including gear for Antarctic exploration, and are the only remaining Australian outdoor gear manufacturer).

Since November in the twenty twelves I have used this pack for 15 days and about 300km of walking in various conditions. The pack has seen use through Victoria’s hottest day in 100 years, 4 days of constant rain, two of which were in an alpine area with winds of 50-100kph. It has been dragged through the Viking Chimney and through 12km of jungle like bushfire regrowth where there was no discernible track to follow. The pack has also endured many kilometers of your standard Australian scrubby singletrack and footpad. Possibly only because it was flipping drafting me on my back the whole way like a road cyclist on the brink while I blazed the trail, but maybe also because of its own attributes. Make your own mind.

This is expedition mode. The water bottle carrier on the side with the blue dry bag behind it was custom made by Chris from Zimmerbuilt. Highly recommended – the carrier is tough, light and very reasonably priced. He also made the shoulder strap pockets – also good.

Looking back over the last four months, it’s clear that I have abused this pack. I’ve filled it beyond its recommended load which I think is about 18kg. I had 23kg in it at one stage, including 9 days food and 4L of water. I treated this pack like a heavy duty canvas pack in spite of its lightweight cuben fiber construction. I was often too exhausted to care where I dropped it or what kind of abrasive rock or jagged stick I dragged it through.

So, while this pack started off as a cool toy from the internet, in its first days of use it became a tool.

Researching and talking about gear is just a way we give our blunt adult imaginations a hardline to the wilderness. I don’t know about all the well adjusted people out there, but thinking about manventurer equipment leads me to daydreams about the possibilities and capabilities that it affords. Often this is a hazardous pastime in the corporate environment because even the imagined mountains, a pale and inaccurate iteration of the real thing, are more immediate and direct than the purposeless back and forth played out in the suffocating and meaningless corporate miazma.

But I stand by my assertion. An internet toy earns its status as a tool when it is employed for its intended purpose and is forgotten among the other enabling equipment carried. A trip ‘testing gear’ is no manventure and if you’re thinking about your equipment in the mountains it’s either pissing you off or broken.

Anyway. The HMG Expedition Pack:

What are its capabilities?

The HMG Expedition is a lightweight (881g) high volume cuben fiber pack with external daisy chains that allow external pockets and accessories to be added. It is rainproof as HMG claim, with a roll top that also allows it to hold loads between about 40L and 75L. This means you can use it for an expedition or an overnighter with almost no weight penalty (about 20g over the smaller version).

Regardless of weight, the pack is durable. Australian bushwalking forums are often critical of cuben fiber, apparently arguing that the Australian bush is so much harsher than anywhere else in the world. Ridiculous. The HMG hybrid cuben fiber is a suitable material for the Australian bush and while I won’t get a lifetime of hard use from it, I’m expecting it to take a few years of my abuse. Considering the 2+ kilogram weight saving on a canvas pack, it’s impressive.

The HMG Expedition is light, versatile and durable. And this means by the ‘light, durable, affordable – pick two’ rule you’d expect it to be expensive, and it is. Like I said, it’s many, many USDs, but for that hard earned lettuce you get a quality pack that’s made in the USA and backed by what in my experience has been good customer support.

What are its limitations?

The optional hip belt pockets, for me, are a pain. I find them difficult to open and close and I need to use two hands to do it. This ends up in some cross body pirouetting barber’s pole maneuver just to close the zipper. The hip belt pockets on the Gossamer Gear Mariposa are far better.

However, for storing infrequently used gear they’re ok. During the day I keep a torch, a buff and sunscreen in them. I added two zimmerbuilt shoulder strap pockets for stuff I want ready to hand like my GPS and knife.

I contacted HMG before writing this review and they’re aware of the hip belt pocket issues and agree the pockets are hard to use. They’re working on a redesign with stiffer pockets that they say should help in opening and closing.

The sternum strap buckle [update - all sorted now]. The buckle did not engage correctly with the strap as shipped causing the strap to slip through the buckle during use. This was frustrating. I mentioned the problem to HMG and they got back to me with video on how the strap should be threaded through the buckle. Now it’s easy to see how it should go and it’s sorted.

The stitching near the top compression strap isn’t holding well. The holes are enlarging and although I think it’ll be a long time before this causes issues, it could be addressed by modifying the design or stitching. HMG are looking into this and now use spectra for the side seams. HMG let me know that a pack that fails because of design or materials would be repaired or replaced. Remember though, that I have taken this pack beyond the loads it was designed for, so this issue may not be encountered by everyone (and I wouldn’t make a warranty claim because it could be my fault).

Stretching – being addressed by HMG

A small puncture from a sharp branch, I’m surprised there’s only one – it’s not going to cause any problem.

Some wear on the bottom of the pack. There are multiple layers of cuben fiber here.

The pack gets dirty. This might be an issue for some people, but I don’t mind it. The fading blood stains are a reminder of trials past. You can wash it in a front end loader if you need to.

Conclusion

The HMG Expedition pack is rad. It does have some issues that I hope are addressed by HMG but even as it stands it’s one of my most satisfying pieces of kit because of its durability, versatility and weight. Once the hip belt pocket and stitching issues are addressed the HMG Expedtion pack will be a contender for the Basijet Academy of Manventurers Seal of Manproval.

Yerp – shit gets real, toys become tools and it’s beautiful in retrospect.

*applause*

Basiljet

BIRTH AND BORN OBJECTS

Mar 23, 2013

It’s autumn in Canberra, a week before the Easter Long weekend celebrating the Christian myth of the death and resurrection of Jesus. It is a solemn time, because many people are preparing to leave Canberra for the coast. They hope to steal for themselves one last parcel of summer under the impending threat of what I hope will be a bitter and dark winter. In their absence the Real Canberrans play.

Playtime is subject to your wills and drives but regardless of its form, playtime necessitates the manipulation, maintenance and abuse of high end materials and components.

For these things make up our toys.

In this season of year and at this hour there may be no place in the Territory more suitable and equipped for the preparation and refinement of toys for racer boys than the Wranch.

Rider X builds its new toy.

At some nexus of use and purpose a toy becomes a tool, but this is a discussion for another time and place where there is more whiskey and less sunshine.

*applause*

Basiljet

FRIDAY CX KAZAKHSTAN

Mar 8, 2013

Dawn cyclocross on an empty stomach and caffeine deficit. Once you’re there it beats the pants off breakfast television political commentary.

Thanks to Phil and Erin for organising such a rad way to start the weekend (yep, the weekend starts on Friday morning if you want it to).

POW!

Mar 5, 2013

Sometimes love just aint enough. Sometimes front flipping off a cliff without a flashmob of tree skiers is a hollow achievement. Cue this:

THREE GOOD DEEDS FOR THE DAY

Feb 25, 2013

Firstly, if you haven’t yet, read Ed McDonald’s thrilling account of the Rocky Trail 100 earlier this month.

“Half delirious, half scared to death, I rolled around the lap, mentally ticking off the climbs as they went by, and peering over my shoulder expecting to see Jason come whirring past. Climbing Heart Breaker for the final time, the XT drivetrain – flawless so far – went haywire. I looked down to see the cause: my rear skewer had come loose[...]“

Secondly, read this article about one of the first groups to ski from Kiandra to Kosciusko in July 1954:

“At this stage we chose a site for camp No. 3. This was to be a foxhole between two granite rocks, perched on such an angle that one only had to trip to fall hundreds of feet down. All our equipment was still sodden, as the heat generating from our bodies melted the snow falling on out backs. Even with our tent pitched over the opening we still had insufficient room for the three of us. This necessitated having to take turns about of hourly intervals during the night. One would crawl into the hole and try to sleep against the wet moss covered rock, another would stroke and choke over the fire, whilst the third would sit outside the tent in the falling snow. By this stage we were so exhausted that we even slept during part of the night”

Thirdly, check out Darren M’s blog for some rad trips: kite skiing, packrafting, sea kayaking and an epic Kiandra to Kosciusko.

“Sea kayaking doesn’t produce the raw, intense adrenaline fueled highs that paddling whitewater does, instead a steady flow of contentment and constant awareness that the ocean is a special place. Much like the mountains….. go forth with respect and you shall receive.”

Take it sleazy.

*Applause*

CANBERRA

Feb 6, 2013

Lazy days lie between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Long, scarce dry oven days and hot December nights. This kind of climate is not a cause for joy and frolicking for those with thick Scandinavian blood. And so with thoughts of the alpine wilds and the nourishing company of bearded manventurers a call was broadcast out summoning those of like mind. It was the height of the festive season and one alone was keen for the journey. Stan from Monkey Wrench Cycles (The Wranch).

Let us pause and be thankful for we live in the AC of T, the mountain bicycle cycling Capital of the Nation, the bible belt of bike, the bush Capital and we are naturally able to arrange ourselves into the mountains in quick order. While the New South Welshmen and the Victorians tie their horses to the idea that Canberra is a dull place full of paper pushers and meddling politicians, those of us in the know thrive below this superficiality, in the underground, sleeping on the undergrowth.

This ride is Canberran. Leave after a lazy lunch, drive a bit and go up and into the Australian Alps on bikes, proper mountains more than one thousand meters above sea level, it cannot be so easily replicated from the grime of Sydney or the swank of Melbourne.

A ride like this will sate your hankering for a compact and alpine mountain bicycle outing that contains among its organs and gizzards a long heinous climb in an afternoon, the being in the natures, camping, and a long fast magic carpet descent almost all the way to the car the next day. Incidentally, it was recently proven that a long mountain bicycle cycle descent through alpine air is the most effective hangover cure known to man.

It takes 30mins to drive from Canberra to one of many suitable launch pads in the foothills of the Brindabellas. You may choose to complete this journey in a specialised off roading vehicle like a Toyota DeathStarlet, or you may choose a lesser road going car or SUV, or you may choose to ride it on your mountain bicycle cycle. All of these are options and options are what keeps Mother Russia glorious.

For this particular Manventure we of course opted for the world’s most capable overland vehicle, the Toyota DeathStarlet. From our base station vehicle we craned our necks looking into the mountains. We took only photos and drank only whiskey and some apple juice. Observe:

The Toyota DeathStarlet and two fargo payload.

Just eight graphic designers were harmed in the making of this photograph.

A yellow gate marks good water during the 1300vm of climb.

In the wilderness, good camouflage is rarely seen.

You don’t need a highly customised singlespeed mountain bicycle to access the joys of alpine riding in the Nash Cap, but let it be said that they do go over well with the ladies.

Some firetrails are not so bad to ride. From a perspective unrelated to the fighting of fires and more concerned with selfish recreation: attempting to power yourself up or down a Victorian firetrail will convince you in that moment that they are the work of the devil and must be shunned from the earth in favour of gradual trails with switchbacks and erosion mitigation measures.

Cyclists who don’t wear a helmet are more likely to take risks. Or is it that cyclists that take risks are more likely not to wear a helmet? This person wasn’t wearing a helmet, but he only takes heroin recreationally and on Wednesdays.

The light fades, but the vertical meters accumulate and we are pleased.

The impression of speed comes about by the powers of the photographer rather than the any velocity in reality at the time.

We stopped in on an old hut, it was wooden and had a bolt across the outside of the door.

Ian Yam 14/5/75

The subsequent addition of ‘AND TINY’ is ominous.

Heavy with capability.

Green on Blue

This picture juxtaposes a top tube, wood chippers and gravel.

NFS

FIN.

*applause*

BATTLE FARGO

Jan 11, 2013

2009 Salsa Fargo, confirmed specifications:

Fluid Capacity: 4250ml
Range: 270km
Top Speed: 87kph
Ceiling: 1624m
12hr Vertical Ascent: 5000m

The Basiljet Academy of Manventurers: Necessary Equipment for Getting Dirty Overnight Part One

Jan 10, 2013

To the casual outdoorsman the information superhighway can appear to be saturated with reliable information about bikepacking and bushwalking. Fair dinkum, anyone can google themselves up an encyclopedic knowledge of ultralight gear, techniques, trip reports and wanky photography. And sure, citations might be lacking but well researched paid journalism is in decline like a schoolies kid with a bottle of tequila near a balcony.

This is not to say that the Manventurer cannot harvest some useful information from the information superhighway, it’s just that anything useful usually relates to the study of the habits and ways of the opposite, same or ambiguous sex. None of the gear reviews on web logs or in the tedious back and forth of bulletin boards is of any real use to the Manventurer because like the Viking and the Ninja the goals of the Manventurer are not defined temporally or spatially. The Manventurer’s mission is not kilometers or times but all the while the white noise of the information superhighway is wholly made up of descriptions and metaphors of distance and other boundless meaningless data.

To the naive observer the goals of the Manventurer will always remain obscured by what may appear to be the outward manifestations of emotional dysregulation.

“Possible manifestations of emotional dysregulation include angry outbursts or behavior outbursts such as destroying or throwing objects, aggression towards self or others, and threats to kill oneself. These variations usually occur in seconds to minutes or hours”. Wikipedia

But this is merely the naive observer witnessing the Manventurer’s focused and voluntary outrage about allowing themselves to be observed by a naive observer. This gives a glimpse of a portion of the Manventurer’s mission: either solitude or worthy company.

Fortunately there is an important piece of equipment for the Manventurer that can, if needed, provide both. Whiskey. Irish whiskey, and rather than fuck around with some contrived and meaningless comparison between 25 whiskeys in some shootout where I ride each of them around the block once and spit, I acted on the advice of a fine upstanding Irish girl and acquired two bottles of Bushmills 10 year old single malt Irish whiskey and drank the living daylights out of them in a back alley and in other near and far locations.

As a sports recovery drink Bushmills Irish Whiskey is one of the most satisfying and lightweight. When in the backcountry it can be used as an emergency cooking fuel and substitutes well for an engineering degree and internet connection. It soothes the existential angst of all thinking men and indeed, it eases the gentlemanly exchange of scientific and geographic information so essential to our way of life.

Bushmills Irish Whiskey, it’s fucking good. Out of five stars I give it ‘yes’ and I have bestowed Bushmills the the honour of opening up a spot on my schedule of future sponsors.

Adam Basiljet’s Schedule of Future Sponsors:

Cooper Brewery Limited
Bushmills Irish Whiskey

The AAWT

Jan 10, 2013

In November-December 2012 I set out to walk from Walhalla to Canberra on the AAWT. After 10 days, 250km and a prevailing shitstorm of type 3 fun I made it to Mt Hotham and returned to Canberra by means other than walking. A full account will be included in my forthcoming book Manventuring and the Art of Beard Maintenance. I will say no more here, other than to state that my sacrifices are now made to Nrethus and on other nights the Rhinemaidens.

CARBON, CUBEN AND THE HYPERLIGHT MOUNTAIN GEAR EXPEDITION PACK

Oct 31, 2012

Carbon Fiber in the world of cycling was a cutting edge material in 1975 when custom frame builder Rodriguez was building graphite (also known as carbon fiber, graphite fiber, carbon graphite or CF) frames. 1975 was before magazines had colour photos, but carbon bike frames had been around for a while. Along with space age intrigue, the early carbon fiber frames developed a reputation for being flimsy. While advances in production techniques improved the durability of carbon frames, the mystique surrounding them remained. As did the fears of catastrophic frame failure.

Image from Bicycle Paper – in an article with some history and information about carbon frames

There are terabytes of online discussion on cycling forums about the durability and characteristics of carbon frames. It all comes down to one question: ‘is this newfangled material worth a fistfull of my hard earned lettuce, and if I do buy one will it crack if I leave it in the sun for 20 minutes or don’t park it in my bedroom facing Taiwan on all days other than Tuesdays in July? Oh, and will it shave 4 seconds off my 42km time trial and feel like i’m sliding down a river of fairy floss when I ride singletrack? Is it laterally giving me a stiffy?

That’s more than one question, but everyone knows that in the world of cycling forums answering one question is just an invitation to the original poster to ask another even more inane and detailed question about the orientation of the fiber strands in relation to the resonance of flip knows. This is done to avoid ever having to ride a bike – such is the fear of newfangled carbon fiber.

Although, that’s not really true today. People are no longer afraid. In the puntersphere carbon fiber went through a denial, anger, dismissal, critique, acceptance and explosion. Now it’s everywhere. It has even been reported by entrenched correspondents in Canberra’s south that former 24 Hour Solo Single Speed National Champion Erin Zimmer now rides a carbon road going performance bicycle from the Great Carbon Road Going Performance Bicycle Company. Finally, carbon’s resistance to beer froth and apple juice will be tested.

In Australian bushwalking circles carbon fiber has its equivalent in cuben fibre, although bushwalkers are a few steps back on the newfangle material acceptance scale. Remember: denial, anger, dismissal, critique, acceptance and explosion – they’re somewhere between denial and dismissal.

Rucksacks (backpacks) in Australia are generally made of one or more layers of ~390gsm canvas and weigh more than 2kg (4.4lbs). Tough reinforced canvas provides years of durability against abuse in Australian scrub. We call it bushwalking because we’re often walking in the bush, not on formed trails. In NZ they call it tramping because, ah…

Canvas packs are an investment piece, they’re generally well priced for what you get and they last. At smaller pack volumes you’d have to be a roadie going paniagua (on bread and water, off the EPO and testosterone) to complain about carrying an extra 700g of canvas and fortitude in your overnight pack. For longer expeditions though, it’s tempting to try and leave more weight at home. This is where a material like cuben fibre can make sense.

In preparation for a stroll along the Australian Alps Walking Track I obtained by means nefarious (I had to pay for it) a Hyperlight Mountain Gear Expedition Pack to carry all my crap from Walhalla to Tharwa. It’s an untested pack in Australian conditions, and a risky choice that could pay off. I received the pack this week and after looking it over and taking a few short walks with a half payload I’m confident it can prove suitable. Once I’ve put a few more kilometers into this pack I’ll update. For now though this is what I like:

- It’s gi-bloody-normous (72L) but the extension collar rolls down like a dry bag to (generous) overnight pack volume. The six side compression straps then make this pack a possibility for most trips of varying length and locomotion (expeditions, overnighters, packrafting).

- The cuben fiber is coated in nylon to make it more durable, and it does indeed feel durable.

- It weights just under 900g and has no external pockets to snag on scrub, and only one small internal pocket.

- Daisy chains allow external pockets to be added if needed, and removed if you’re walking through scrub.

- It has back padding and shaped stays, and so far it’s comfortable.

- It’s rainproof without a pack cover or liner.

- In comparison to Australian made canvas packs the price is reasonable (but the durability of canvas is sacrificed).

- It looks the flippin’ business

There’s only one issue so far – the hip belt pockets are annoying and also useless. I had a pack with hip belt pockets ages ago and they too annoyed me, and I swore off them. After using the excellent hip belt pockets on a 2012 Gossamer Gear Mariposa I was keen on the idea again. Unfortunately the HMG hip belt pockets are set further back towards the pack and rub against my massive manventurer arms. This might not be a problem for everyone though (skinny faced roadies and their ilk for example, might be fine).

Annoying pockets might be forgivable if they weren’t difficult to open, impossible to close one handed and very difficult to close even with two. They’re a $10 option on the pack and I’d leave them off next time. For now I’ll see if the zippers wear in and if not i’ll cut them off.

This is almost the smallest possible volume - the top side compression strap is under the rolled top

The pack open – it’s larger in real life.

This is the removable fromt pocket (optional). Doesn’t add much weight, and will probably be good for keeping packraft paddle blades, layers and beer in.

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