Kim Coupounas
2003-12-24 19:55:48 UTC
Hi! And happy holidays! In response to Cerebus' email below, I thought I
should probably address GoLite's continuing commitment to ultralighters.
The "Unlimited" series of packs that we just introduced, including the 40
liter, 2lb 4oz Continuum pack mentioned below, were introduced for one sole
reason: to address the literally hundreds of requests we receive from
customers who desperately want to "go lite" but they are not willing to jump
all the way to one of our frame-less, top-loading sub-2 pound ultra-lite
packs.
These people are doing their best to lighten up the big items but until they
are willing to truly make the leap, but carrying their mid-range loads that
they're still attached to in ultra-lite packs is frankly uncomfortable (and
turns them off to the whole concept of going lite). We spent literally two
years trying to figure out how to build a lightweight pack that had the
structural integrity to carry heavier loads, for both people who are in
transition as well as for those who are going lite in the winter. We did it
by utilizing a thermomolded polystyrene framesheet (yep, the same stuff that
your mail carrier's mail bucket is made out of) with aluminum dowels. We
came to this solution after a slew of other interesting but failed
prototypes, using everything from titanium to sundry sorts of plastics. I
think we got it right in the new packs and they've been getting darned good
reviews from our customers and testers.
We want to help everybody to go lite, not just the folks who have already
figured out how to get to the edge. While we continue to introduce what I
consider some of the most innovative and lightest packs on the market to
meet the demand of informed readers like you guys (the Gust, Breeze, Dawn,
Jam, Speed, Team, Race, and Trek packs - plus many more to come in future
seasons), we also want to provide a bridge for people wanting to go lighter
but who don't know how to make it all the way to those packs. The Unlimited
packs (which were designed for lighweight four season backpacking) have an
ultra-lite framesheet built in, meaning that they can carry far heavier
loads comfortably while the packs themselves are really still quite
lightweight (all well under 3 pounds for 50L, 40L, and 30L packs). These
packs may not be the right packs for the ultra-litest among the BPL
readership, but they are ideal for someone wanting to from a pack that
weighs 6 or 7 pounds by itself to a better way --i.e., a 2.5 lb pack.
I hope that makes sense, and while I'm not putting this forth as some sort
of justification, I just wanted you guys to know that GoLite continues to be
committed to ultra-lite. We're also committed to lite, and we want to do
what we can to build a bridge for people to come our way.
Happy holidays to all!
Kim
GoLite
Boulder, Colorado
Message: 13
Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2003 16:04:44 -0000
From: "Tim" <cerebus_i_i-/***@public.gmane.org>
Subject: Re: Go-Lite Continuum Pack
have to wonder how much longer they will continue to serve the needs
of ultralighters.
-- Cerebus
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should probably address GoLite's continuing commitment to ultralighters.
The "Unlimited" series of packs that we just introduced, including the 40
liter, 2lb 4oz Continuum pack mentioned below, were introduced for one sole
reason: to address the literally hundreds of requests we receive from
customers who desperately want to "go lite" but they are not willing to jump
all the way to one of our frame-less, top-loading sub-2 pound ultra-lite
packs.
These people are doing their best to lighten up the big items but until they
are willing to truly make the leap, but carrying their mid-range loads that
they're still attached to in ultra-lite packs is frankly uncomfortable (and
turns them off to the whole concept of going lite). We spent literally two
years trying to figure out how to build a lightweight pack that had the
structural integrity to carry heavier loads, for both people who are in
transition as well as for those who are going lite in the winter. We did it
by utilizing a thermomolded polystyrene framesheet (yep, the same stuff that
your mail carrier's mail bucket is made out of) with aluminum dowels. We
came to this solution after a slew of other interesting but failed
prototypes, using everything from titanium to sundry sorts of plastics. I
think we got it right in the new packs and they've been getting darned good
reviews from our customers and testers.
We want to help everybody to go lite, not just the folks who have already
figured out how to get to the edge. While we continue to introduce what I
consider some of the most innovative and lightest packs on the market to
meet the demand of informed readers like you guys (the Gust, Breeze, Dawn,
Jam, Speed, Team, Race, and Trek packs - plus many more to come in future
seasons), we also want to provide a bridge for people wanting to go lighter
but who don't know how to make it all the way to those packs. The Unlimited
packs (which were designed for lighweight four season backpacking) have an
ultra-lite framesheet built in, meaning that they can carry far heavier
loads comfortably while the packs themselves are really still quite
lightweight (all well under 3 pounds for 50L, 40L, and 30L packs). These
packs may not be the right packs for the ultra-litest among the BPL
readership, but they are ideal for someone wanting to from a pack that
weighs 6 or 7 pounds by itself to a better way --i.e., a 2.5 lb pack.
I hope that makes sense, and while I'm not putting this forth as some sort
of justification, I just wanted you guys to know that GoLite continues to be
committed to ultra-lite. We're also committed to lite, and we want to do
what we can to build a bridge for people to come our way.
Happy holidays to all!
Kim
GoLite
Boulder, Colorado
Message: 13
Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2003 16:04:44 -0000
From: "Tim" <cerebus_i_i-/***@public.gmane.org>
Subject: Re: Go-Lite Continuum Pack
Little more than 2,000 CI (+ 400 in pockets) and 2 lb 4 oz?! That
sounds like specs for a cordura day pack, not a backpack from
an "ultralight" company.
GoLite seems to be targeting climbers and runners more and more. Isounds like specs for a cordura day pack, not a backpack from
an "ultralight" company.
have to wonder how much longer they will continue to serve the needs
of ultralighters.
-- Cerebus
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