Packs FAQ

What is True Suspension?

In order for frameless packs to obtain enough rigidity to transfer weight from your shoulders to hips, they rely on achieving their rigidity through load compression. Many packs provide lots of straps that are designed to compress the contents of the pack into a solid mass. Others require you to insert your pad into the pack in an oval and then have you fill it with your gear. Both methods work to a limited degree. Plus, they require constantly tweaking with your gear, as you reduce your consumables, to achieve adequate support.

All of Six Moon Designs packs integrate your existent sleeping pad into the frame system. The Starlite and Comet packs have pad pockets designed to constrict the movement of your pad. With the Essence pack three internal compression straps keep your pad locked into place.

By locking the pad into place, you allow it retain its natural rigidity. This forms a suspension system that both effectively transfers the weight from shoulders to hips and isolates you from the load. As such, it acts much like a the True Suspension found in packs with frames.

The Starlite's pad pocket is so effective it's been independently rated at 35 pounds. With the Comet Pack we moved the pocket to the interior of the pack to facilitate a greater range of shoulder strap adjustment.

In addition to the pad pockets, both the Starlite and Comet packs offer optional stays to help with load transfer.

What is the difference between Base and Max Weight?

In most literature the maximum pack weights are listed without regards to what's actually carried inside of the packs. We've decided to change that by publishing both Max and Base weight numbers. But what are the number and what do they mean?

The Max (or Peak) weight is pretty obvious. It's the maximum recommend weight you carry in the pack. In general it's based upon what we expect will be a reasonably comfortable load. However you should note that comfort varies widely from person to person. So a pack loaded with forty pounds may be comfortable to one person and the same pack with twenty five pounds would be a nightmare to someone else.

The other factor we take into consideration is pack durability. Our packs are designed so that the average load is far lighter than the max or peak load. We take this into consideration when selecting fabrics and foam used in shoulder straps and hip belts.

If we expected that the max weight would be more of the normal weight carried then we'd need to use stiffer and heavier foam to stand the added stress. While you can push our pack up to to max weight and beyond, if you do so regularly you'll reduce the service life of the pack.

Base weight is the weight of your pack with out food and water. It's the weight you're pack should be near when getting back to town. To get the most benefit from our packs we recommend your Base Weight at or below the published Base Weight.

How do different sleeping pads effect load transfer?

Needless to say all pads aren't created equal. Clearly the more rigid the pad the more effective the load transfer. Personally I use a solid closed cell foam pad that I've cut into sections and taped back together like the the popular Z-Lite® pads. I find this configuration provides the greatest load transfer at the least weight. Pads like the Z-Lite are the next best choice of pad support.

The RidgeRest is also a popular pad, but it must also be cut into sections in order to fit within the pockets.

Many people enjoy using the ultralight inflatable pads such as the ProLife series from Therm-A-Rest. However, inflatable pads have one draw back, like the air in a balloon, it with shift when pressure is applied. So inflatable's will not transfer as much load.

What kinds of sleeping pads can I use?

The Pad Pocket is large enough to accommodate most light or ultralight sleeping pads. We've used both 3/4 and full length inflatable ® as the primary suspension. Simply deflate the pad and place in the Pad Pocket so the valve is positioned at the end of the pocket zipper. Close the pocket and inflate the pad to the desired firmness.

Z-Lite® up to 3/4 length fit well in the Pad Pocket are another popular sleeping pad. Closed cell foam pads such as Blue Foam or EVA Foam may also be used. Thickness of 3/8th inch and 50 inches in length will work ok. For these types of pads, I generally section them into 10 inch sections. They are then rejoined with duck tape or similar tape. This forms a wider Z-Rest type pad that will fold reasonably flat.

How do I pack my ultralight pack?

As with all packs, the positions of items in your pack will effect the comfort of the pack. Heavier items, such as food and water, should be packed higher and closer to the back. This keeps the center of balance of the pack closer to your spine.

The diagram at the right provides the recommended layout of gear that I've found works best when packing.

Where's my water bladder pocket?

Water bladder pockets are common these days especially in adventure racing packs. They keep the water centered near your center of balance. One of the downsizes of bladder pockets is that they are traditionally buried deep in the pack. This requires unloading half your pack when removing the water bladder for refill. Maybe it's not a problem for a short day hike, but it's a pain over a long hike.

I recommend storing your bladder horizontally at the top of your pack. Preferably wrapped in a fleece jacket (assuming the bladder doesn't leak). The jacket will serve to keep your water cooler for a longer period of time. Which is perfect when freshly filled from an icy mountain stream.

How durable is my pack?

With all of our packs we strive to achieve a good balance between weight and durability. We select fabrics that are designed to hold up over the long run with a minimum of care. Still it is important to handle your pack with care. If you feel the need to toss your pack over cliff faces or drag it over boulders, perhaps an ultralight pack isn't for you.