ZPacks.com Custom Ultralight Backpacking Gear by Joe Valesko
Backpacks Accessories Materials FAQs Payments About/Photos Bargain Bin
- June 15th, 2009 Important Notice-

The store is closed!

I am currently doing a southbound Continental Divide Trail thru-hike this year! I expect the trip to take about 5 months, and the store should reopen in December 2009.

Thanks everyone and I hope you have a great hiking season!   -Joe Valesko
ZPacks™ "Blast" Backpacks


Features:

  • Convenient draw cord closure keeps your gear dry and secure. A cord lock secures through a loop near the base of the pack (much like a button through a button hole) and then can be cinched tight. This also shrinks down the volume when carrying less gear.
     
  • Side pockets fit up to a 2 liter platypus or 1 liter soda bottles. They are designed to be easy to reach into without removing your backpack.
     
  • Large front pocket is great for quick access items. All pockets have grommets to drain rain water.
     
  • Super light, frameless design allows you to use your foam sleeping pad as both padding and an internal frame. Just wrap it around the inside and pack your gear into the center!
     
  • Shock cord near the top of the pack adds compression, allows you to stand trekking poles in the side pockets, and provides a convenient place to clip small items or wet clothes.
     
  • Waist belt, sternum strap, and other features are OPTIONAL and can be added from the backpack options page. Note that the blue pack is pictured with an optional wing-belt w/ pouches, shock cord lashing, and sternum strap.
     
  • See the Frequently Asked Questions page for more information.
     
  • The packs are now BLUE not white as shown.

About the Material:

These packs are made entirely from a heavy duty 1.5 oz/sqyd variety of Cuben Fiber fabric. This is NOT the thin material that is used in our stuff sacks.

  • Ridiculous tensile strength. A 1" wide strip of this material can suspend over 120 lbs of weight.
  • Excellent tear, puncture, and abrasion resistance. Rocks? Thorns? Branches? No problem! At least twice as durable as sil-nylon.
  • Excellent UV light resistance. The light color also keeps the pack cooler in the sun.

Read Customer Reviews of this backpack at BackpackingLight.com!

Additional Pictures in this Review by Roman Ackl from Germany

ZPacks Blast 26 Makes the News via Mike Chipman's PCT thru-hike (video)!

This item is sold out.

Blast 18
Perfect for day hikes or short trips with minimalist gear. (Identical to the Zilch other than material)

Weight: 3.3 ounces / 94 grams
Body Dimensions: 5 x 11 x 24
Total Volume: 1,800 cubic inches / 29.5 liters
 		 $105
Blast 26
Enough space for any length trip with minimal gear. (Identical to the Z1 other than material)

Weight: 3.9 ounces / 110 grams
Body Dimensions: 5.5 x 12.5 x 30
Total Volume: 2,600 cubic inches / 42.6 liters
 		 $115
Blast 32
Try this size with a thicker sleeping pad-frame, or with bulkier cold weather gear.

Weight: 4.3 ounces / 123 grams
Body Dimensions: 6.5 x 13 x 31
Total Volume: 3,200 cubic inches / 52.4 liters		 $125

Don't forget to add a waist belt, sternum strap or other desired features on the backpack options page!

 
Click for larger image
*2,600 c.i. size shown in the photos

Joe Says:
"I carried a single Blast 26 backpack my entire PCT thru-hike (2,663 miles). I carried a base weight of around 5 lbs (gear list), and generally 12-20 lbs with full food and water.

At one point I carried 35 lbs for an 11 day stretch without re-supply through the High Sierras of California. My shoulders weren't happy about that much weight, but the pack took it like a champ! (Under 20 lbs is a more comfortable weight with frameless packs)

By the end of the five month trip the pack was quite a bit frayed and beat up, but still in very usable condition. Not bad for a sub 5 ounce backpack!"


Shipping is always just $3.45 in the U.S. and $9.95 for Global Orders!