Ideal for Yosemite High Sierra Camp Trekking

By micweb Ranked #1143 - Weekend Packs (3000-4500 cu in) December 21, 2008

This pack is best suited to lightweight hiking where you don't need a bear canister and don't need to carry more than 2-4 quarts of water (water is heavy).

My Jam has been ideal for trekking between the tent cabins on the High Sierra Camp loop at Yosemite.

It's not so big it's clumsy, hot, or heavy, but I can still carry a warm synthetic fill sleeping quilt so I don't have to use the fairly nasty blankets provided by the camps, and there is also enough room room for a puff jacket or thermal fleece for cold evenings and mornings at camp.

Best of all, since I don't need some of the stuff that regular hiker needs (like tent or tarp, cooking gear, food) I don't have to "stuff" my quilt or jacket which extends their life.

I also like being able to use either a hydration bladder with tube, or external water bottle.

The outside pouch provides some basic organizing, but this isn't a pack with a million secret pockets. The main compartment, two side slash pockets, and front pocket are plenty, though.

I consider my self a lightweight hiker, and this bag is more than ample for my summer hikes with "comfort" clothing (I like to stay toasty), snacks, and emergency overnight gear. But this pack is also a favorite of ultralight hikers with 1 pound bags, alcohol stoves, and other stripped down, streamlined gear.

It kills me when I see hikers on the High Sierra Camp circuit weight themselves down with much heavier packs for the light duty hiking required for the High Sierra Camp circuit. On the other hand I'm flabbergasted by those who just carry a daypack and look miserably cold because they didn't bring a really warm sleeping bag or really warm jackets, etc. The Jam strikes the happy middle ground, bigger than an oversized daypack, much lighter than most backpacks you see on the trails.

This review is based on ownership and extensive use of the first generation Jam, and inspection of the second generation model (the Jam2 offered here). I will purchase the Jam2 in summer of 2009 since I like the improved shoulder straps with Brock foam much more than the first generation straps (no padding to speak of).

Also the compression straps on the new model add a lot more versatility - without compression straps (lacking on the old model) I pretty much need to fill the pack or my gear will sag or shift around.

Generally, though, the Jam2 is an evolutionary and not revolutionary upgrade over the original Jam.

View Details: GoLite Jam 2 Pack - 3000 cu in

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