Description of Granite Gear Latitude Vapor Backpack - 3800cu in:
Most lightweight packs are basically sacks with straps. At 2lb 10oz the Granite Gear Latitude Vapor Backpack rivals the weight of those no-fun, no-feature bags, but gives you easy access for ease of use and enjoyable travels. The ingenious panel access system can be opened from the top or bottom, allowing you to get to every inch of your pack, so you can quickly find your headlamp as the sun is setting. Internal compression straps keep your gear from moving around, and the stretchy zip panel lets you stuff the Vapor to the brim. The Latitude Vapor's frame and suspension system allow you to carry up to 30 pounds comfortably and it's the perfect size for day hikes or an ultralight weekend trip. Finally, a pack that lets you go light but doesn't take away all the features you want.
Bottom Line: The Latitude Vapor is a light pack that's heavy on features.
My 15 year old son has been backpacking for 5 years now and he has been transitioning to ultralight gear. I bought him the GG Latitide last fall and he has used it on two trips so far. One two night trip and one four night trip.
It has performed exceptionally well. He says it is very comfortable to wear and it holds just enough stuff. He did have to learn to plan his trips and what he takes much more carefully than when he brought his other pack. He particularly likes the stretchy panels.
His other pack (a Kelty Yulkon 2900) is more forgiving since you can strap stuff to the outside. That pack weighs twice as much, though. It was great for a beginner backpacker since it was sturdy and very adjustable to fit growing boys.
I wouldn't recommend the Granite Gear Latitude for beginner Boy Scout backpackers but if you have the itch to switch to ultralight, this pack is a really great choice.
My boy whistles down the trail with a smile on his face and a light, comfortable pack while his companions trudge along with tons of stuff on their backs.
I bought this pack to replace a similarly size Golite that was starting to wear down. I knew I wanted to try a panel loader, and this one offered the best bang for the buck. I took it on a three day excursion and loaded it down with slightly more than the rated amount of weight. It was remarkably comfortable; the Golite couldn't even compare (and I really liked my Golite), and this bag doesn't weigh that much more. The panel design made it easy to find thing anywhere in the bag. The compression straps did their job, but I'd prefer them in different locations. My only real gripe is that I wish it had more exterior storage. Overall, it's light, comfortable, and easy to organize. I really love it.
I used this pack two weeks ago hiking the AT through the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. This backpack is the perfect size, especially for you light packers. I think you could do a week-long hike with this thing easily if you had a down sleeping bag and minimal sets of clothing, etc. The bag is extremely comfortable and extremely well made. It has instantly become my favorite of all the packs I've used previously. Great job Granite Gear! If you haven't checked these guys out, you need to!
