Chase Gruszewski
2003-11-25 18:08:39 UTC
Osprey Ceres 70
Bio
Name: Chase Gruszewski
Age: 20
Gender: Male
Height: 60 (1.83m)
Weight: 165lbs (74.84kg)
Email address: garhreth-***@public.gmane.org
City, State, Country: Annapolis MD USA
Date: November 19, 2003
Backpacking Background:
I grew up near the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia and have been
backpacking since I was about ten years old. I generally can only spend
weekends on the trails, but occasionally head out for week long trips. In
conjunction with hiking, I also do some trail running and rock climbing, so
I look for lightweight and technical aspects in my gear. I am also on a slim
budget, so price tends to factor into my decisions.
Product Info
Manufacturer: Osprey
Manufacture year: 2002
Web site: http://www.ospreypacks.com
Listed Weight: 4lbs, 9oz (2070g)
Delivered Weight: 4lbs, 12oz (2150g)
Product Description
The Ceres 70 is a large, internal-frame pack designed for mountaineering.
It is toploading with no side or front zippers to access the middle of the
pack. While it is difficult to reach objects in the center of the pack, the
absence of zippers makes the pack more durable since zippers tend to be the
first points of failure on any piece of equipment. It utilizes Ospreys
StraightJacket compression system which is good at varying the pack size
from fully loaded to completely empty. It has a built-in, hipbelt and an
anatomically curved harness with a survival whistle on the sternum strap.
The Ceres style pack comes in three volumes, 38 liter (2300 cu in), 50 liter
(3000cu in), and 70 liter (4200 cu in). Within these volumes you can
purchase size small, medium, large, or x-large to fit your torso.
The official uses, designated by the owner instructions published by
Osprey, for the pockets included skis, snowboard, crampons, water bottles,
rope, protective rock climbing gear, ice axes, and still a few left over,
miscellaneous. Owners should note that just because the owners manual says
ski strap or snow-shovel pocket does not mean that any other piece of
equipment will fail in this location. Your own packing skills are the only
limiting factor. Personally, I use the snow shovel pocket to carry trail
food, books, and sometimes rope; I use the ski straps to carry binoculars,
cameras, and cord; I put water filters and wet socks in the crampon pouches
and I am a huge fan of my ball cap retention system on the top of the pack.
After losing my tent and pad on one trip I tied some cord from the tent to
climbing gear loops on the front of the hipbelt so I would know if it had
come loose. This pack can carry anything and everything.
The pack only comes in one color, Arson Orange (a.k.a. dont shoot me, Im
not a deer orange). While there has been quite fuss over the color of this
pack, to me the functionality is more important than the fashion. The color
orange has its uses during hunting season, or when trying to find your pack
after ditching it for a quick side journey, or trying to signal a helicopter
of your location. Besides, the orange is unusual, which means cool in my
book.
The Field Test
I have taken this pack on one week-long trip and multiple weekend trips in
the Appalachian Mountains. I have used it to carry weights ranging from
25-55 lbs (11.3kg-24.9kg) on trails, on rock, and off route. Activities it
has been involved in include camping, climbing, hiking, and falling (just
the pack, dropped about 20 ft or 6.1 m). I have used it in each of the four
seasons and in weather including rain, snow, and sun.
I must admit, my greed for a few extra cubic inches (deciliters) caused me
to order a size large pack online. On Ospreys web site they fit a size
medium pack to an 18-20.5 (45.7cm-52.1cm) torso and a size large pack to a
20-22.5 (50.8cm-57.2cm) torso. I have 20 torso (honestly its about 19.9
(50.5cm) so I figured both option were open to me and I chose a large in
order to carry a few extra Power Bars. I discovered that a size medium would
have probably been more ideal. After a few days on the week-long excursion,
I finally found the proper adjustments to comfortably carry the weight, and
while its a little tight around my chest, the fact that I can get an
incorrectly sized pack to distribute the weight correctly says something
good about the suspension system.
When scrambling over rock, new adjustment are necessary due to the weight
shifting around with the sudden movements. The straps are very easily
accessible, and after some tinkering I found the sweet spot. I could jump,
skip, crawl, and climb across the rock the same as any other day.
On the week-long trip, it rained every single day. This was an unfortunate
way to discover that the pack was not waterproof. Every piece of clothing
and gear in my pack was damp at the end of each day. Rain covers are
available at various retailers, and highly recommended for this pack.
I have used this pack to carry enough food for 6 people (canned food),
climbing gear for two top ropes, clothing for 30 degree Fahrenheit (about
zero degrees Celsius) weather, 2 engineering textbooks (not light), and a
few other miscellaneous extras in one trip. On the other end of the
spectrum, I have carried only one sleeping bag, a tent, and a freeze-dried
dinner for myself. The pack performed very well in each scenario, having
plenty of room when space was needed, and using its StraightJacket
compression to shrink down when little gear was carried.
Summary
This is an excellent multi-purpose pack.
After a year of hard use, the pack shows little sign of wear and tear. I
expect it will last a good ten years before retirement, not a bad investment
as far as packs go. I continue to find new uses for its various straps and
pockets. I highly recommend this pack to anyone who is considering doing
something more than just hiking on their trips to the outdoors, but if you
are just a hardcore hiker you might want to look for something simpler with
fewer bells and survival whistles.
_________________________________________________________________
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Bio
Name: Chase Gruszewski
Age: 20
Gender: Male
Height: 60 (1.83m)
Weight: 165lbs (74.84kg)
Email address: garhreth-***@public.gmane.org
City, State, Country: Annapolis MD USA
Date: November 19, 2003
Backpacking Background:
I grew up near the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia and have been
backpacking since I was about ten years old. I generally can only spend
weekends on the trails, but occasionally head out for week long trips. In
conjunction with hiking, I also do some trail running and rock climbing, so
I look for lightweight and technical aspects in my gear. I am also on a slim
budget, so price tends to factor into my decisions.
Product Info
Manufacturer: Osprey
Manufacture year: 2002
Web site: http://www.ospreypacks.com
Listed Weight: 4lbs, 9oz (2070g)
Delivered Weight: 4lbs, 12oz (2150g)
Product Description
The Ceres 70 is a large, internal-frame pack designed for mountaineering.
It is toploading with no side or front zippers to access the middle of the
pack. While it is difficult to reach objects in the center of the pack, the
absence of zippers makes the pack more durable since zippers tend to be the
first points of failure on any piece of equipment. It utilizes Ospreys
StraightJacket compression system which is good at varying the pack size
from fully loaded to completely empty. It has a built-in, hipbelt and an
anatomically curved harness with a survival whistle on the sternum strap.
The Ceres style pack comes in three volumes, 38 liter (2300 cu in), 50 liter
(3000cu in), and 70 liter (4200 cu in). Within these volumes you can
purchase size small, medium, large, or x-large to fit your torso.
The official uses, designated by the owner instructions published by
Osprey, for the pockets included skis, snowboard, crampons, water bottles,
rope, protective rock climbing gear, ice axes, and still a few left over,
miscellaneous. Owners should note that just because the owners manual says
ski strap or snow-shovel pocket does not mean that any other piece of
equipment will fail in this location. Your own packing skills are the only
limiting factor. Personally, I use the snow shovel pocket to carry trail
food, books, and sometimes rope; I use the ski straps to carry binoculars,
cameras, and cord; I put water filters and wet socks in the crampon pouches
and I am a huge fan of my ball cap retention system on the top of the pack.
After losing my tent and pad on one trip I tied some cord from the tent to
climbing gear loops on the front of the hipbelt so I would know if it had
come loose. This pack can carry anything and everything.
The pack only comes in one color, Arson Orange (a.k.a. dont shoot me, Im
not a deer orange). While there has been quite fuss over the color of this
pack, to me the functionality is more important than the fashion. The color
orange has its uses during hunting season, or when trying to find your pack
after ditching it for a quick side journey, or trying to signal a helicopter
of your location. Besides, the orange is unusual, which means cool in my
book.
The Field Test
I have taken this pack on one week-long trip and multiple weekend trips in
the Appalachian Mountains. I have used it to carry weights ranging from
25-55 lbs (11.3kg-24.9kg) on trails, on rock, and off route. Activities it
has been involved in include camping, climbing, hiking, and falling (just
the pack, dropped about 20 ft or 6.1 m). I have used it in each of the four
seasons and in weather including rain, snow, and sun.
I must admit, my greed for a few extra cubic inches (deciliters) caused me
to order a size large pack online. On Ospreys web site they fit a size
medium pack to an 18-20.5 (45.7cm-52.1cm) torso and a size large pack to a
20-22.5 (50.8cm-57.2cm) torso. I have 20 torso (honestly its about 19.9
(50.5cm) so I figured both option were open to me and I chose a large in
order to carry a few extra Power Bars. I discovered that a size medium would
have probably been more ideal. After a few days on the week-long excursion,
I finally found the proper adjustments to comfortably carry the weight, and
while its a little tight around my chest, the fact that I can get an
incorrectly sized pack to distribute the weight correctly says something
good about the suspension system.
When scrambling over rock, new adjustment are necessary due to the weight
shifting around with the sudden movements. The straps are very easily
accessible, and after some tinkering I found the sweet spot. I could jump,
skip, crawl, and climb across the rock the same as any other day.
On the week-long trip, it rained every single day. This was an unfortunate
way to discover that the pack was not waterproof. Every piece of clothing
and gear in my pack was damp at the end of each day. Rain covers are
available at various retailers, and highly recommended for this pack.
I have used this pack to carry enough food for 6 people (canned food),
climbing gear for two top ropes, clothing for 30 degree Fahrenheit (about
zero degrees Celsius) weather, 2 engineering textbooks (not light), and a
few other miscellaneous extras in one trip. On the other end of the
spectrum, I have carried only one sleeping bag, a tent, and a freeze-dried
dinner for myself. The pack performed very well in each scenario, having
plenty of room when space was needed, and using its StraightJacket
compression to shrink down when little gear was carried.
Summary
This is an excellent multi-purpose pack.
After a year of hard use, the pack shows little sign of wear and tear. I
expect it will last a good ten years before retirement, not a bad investment
as far as packs go. I continue to find new uses for its various straps and
pockets. I highly recommend this pack to anyone who is considering doing
something more than just hiking on their trips to the outdoors, but if you
are just a hardcore hiker you might want to look for something simpler with
fewer bells and survival whistles.
_________________________________________________________________
Has one of the new viruses infected your computer? Find out with a FREE
online computer virus scan from McAfee. Take the FreeScan now!
http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963
------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-->
Buy Ink Cartridges or Refill Kits for your HP, Epson, Canon or Lexmark
Printer at MyInks.com. Free s/h on orders $50 or more to the US & Canada.
http://www.c1tracking.com/l.asp?cid=5511
http://us.click.yahoo.com/mOAaAA/3exGAA/qnsNAA/V4TolB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------~->
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
BackpackGearTest-unsubscribe-***@public.gmane.org
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/