Re: [at-l] Kelty Cloud & Vapor packs

[tmcginnis@ucclan.state.in.us (Thomas McGinnis)]

     (Sorry for jumbled answer. This is a brain dump.) These packs run 
     $350-$400. Spectra is about the lightest known fiber for its strength 
     -- and is in fact so dense that it can't be died or durabley coated 
     with urethane, hense the "white" packs. It is used for hand protection 
     gloves by police forces and in packing plants (and actually, if you 
     have access to one of those cool kitchen stores, you can buy one for 
     home use, for about $20). As you can imagine, ordinary pattern cutting 
     methods are not very effective with Spectra (it LAUGHS at my 
     scissors), although the actual sewing is somewhat easy because the 
     individual fibers are so "slippery." That and that the fabric is 
     between 2.5 - 3 times the price of any nylon is what raises the price. 
     A Spectra vest offering the same protection as a Kevlar/aramid vest 
     will weigh about 20% less. Spectra will stretch/deform a goodly bit, 
     though, hence the webbing "cage" on the Kelty packs. Spectra also has 
     a melting point of around 200*F -- don't use your pack as a "pot 
     cozy", or you'll really have a bad day. Spectra is not materially 
     affected by ultraviolet radiation. Kevlar has a higher melting point, 
     doesn't stretch, isn't quite as strong/weight, and degrades when 
     exposed to sunlight. BTW, "Technora" (WILD THINGS "AT" frameless 
     rucksack: 5000ci, 2.25 lbs., $255) is a nylon/kevlar ripstop blend 
     (ArcTeryx is using something similar, too), which MAY be woven to 
     sheild the kevlar from sunlight, much as do Spectra/Kevlar climbing 
     ropes, using Kevlar (minimal stretch) in core and Spectra (maximal UV 
     life) as sheath. Oddly, racing sailors use Kevlar sails for longer 
     races and Spectra for sprints -- the UV degradation is "outweighed" by 
     "stretching" circumstances, I guess.
     
     For my own purposes, I am building a (2.2oz/yd) Spectra frameless with 
     top and bottom access and field replaceable suspension padding that I 
     expect to bring in at 2.0 pounds for a 5000ci pack. Testing this 
     summer. Stay tuned. If the Keltys are coming in at 1-1.5 pounds 
     though, I think I'll have to get a new catalog and check 'em out! $400 
     beaners is pretty steep, though....Would probably require a 4 to 5 day 
     trip to justify the weight savings. (That's a funny, you.)
     
     Hope this helps.
     
     Sloetoe'79


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: [at-l] Kelty Cloud & Vapor packs
Author:  Brody Dittemore <brody@saber.net> at ima
Date:    4/5/99 8:41 AM


Hey, does anyone out there have any experiences with Kelty's Cloud or Vapor 
packs? I was noticing in their catalog that both packs weigh extremely 
little (right about 1 pound before you add on anything). They are bit 
"modular" so that you can add on the features that you need, such as side 
pockets, different waist belts, a framesheet, back pad, even a frame 
system. Everything is made out of this fancy spectra/kevlar material that 
is supposed to be superduper lightweight. But its probably superduper 
expensive too, eh? I've yet to see anything but pictures of the packs 
(they're white too..), so I'm really intrigued by it. So has anyone seen 
one, played with one, or owned one? What do you think..?
     
Brody.
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