Ohm Backpack - Functional & Ultralight Suspension

FEATURES

FEATURES

Description:

A full featured, full suspension (active) ultralight pack that offers exceptional load control, on-trail functionality, and full body compression.

Combining a 1.2 oz carbon fiber/delrin active suspension hoop and exceptional compression, the Ohm maximizes load control, load transfer, pack compression, and overall pack rigidity in an ultralight package.

1.9 oz ripstop nylon, Dyneema Gridstop, and ULA's proven construction methods insure the Ohm is built to last despite its minimal weight.

Bottom Line? A full featured, ultralight performer.

Reviews:

by Andrew Hendrichs	by Nancy Griffith
by Shawn Wakefield

Standard Features:

Removable

Hydration Sleeve (~1.4 oz)
Internal Mesh Pocket (~1.1 oz)
Water Bottle Holsters (~0.8 oz)
Handloops (~0.8 oz)

Integrated

Suspension Hoop
Internal Pad Holster
Contoured Padded Hipbelt
Hipbelt Pockets
Contoured Shoulder Straps
Front Shock Cord
Front Mesh Pocket
Dyneema Side Pockets w/ Elasticized Top
Non-Stretch Compression Cordage
Top Compression Straps
Ice Axe/Pole Retention Loops
Drawstring Extension Collar
Dyneema Gridstop

specifications:

General Guidelines

Rec'd Max Load: 30 lbs or less
Rec'd Base Weight: 12 lbs or less
Weight* (Torso-M, Hipbelt-M): 22.6 oz

* excludes removable components

Volume Breakdown

Main Body: 2,100
Front Mesh Pocket: 500
Side Pocket: 400 ea
Ext. Collar: 500
Hipbelt Pockets: 30 ea

Total Volume: 3,960 cu in

OPTIONS

Available Options:

Internal Stash Pocket

5 X 8 removable zippered mesh pocket for stashing valuables --- car keys, personal identification, etc.
Adds: ~1.1 oz / $5.00

Hydration Sleeve

Removable internal hydration sleeve. 9" X 17". Accommodates all 2 L bladders and most 3 L bladders. Drinking Tube exit ports on both sides of the Ohm allow for easy tube management.
Adds: ~1.4 oz / $5.00

H20 Bottle Holsters

Shock cord/barrel lock attachments threaded to shoulder strap. Right or left, both removable. Works great with tall n' skinny 1 liter bottles. Nalgenes NOT recommended. Bottles not included.
Adds: ~.40 oz each / $2.00 each (Bottles not included)

Handloops

Removable 3/4" webbing loops for resting hands. Nice for folks who do not use trekking poles.
Adds: ~.80 oz pair / $2.00 pair

Hipbelt Pockets

Removable hipbelt pockets. Provide easy access for snacks, camera, and other essentials. Zip Closure. 3 points of attachment insure stability. ~4" (h) x ~5" (w) x ~1.5" (d). ~30 cu in apiece.
Adds: 1.2 oz / $12 each each

Internal Backpad

Removable 1/4" foam backpad positioned in the interior pad sleeve. Provides additional comfort, and handy if you use the Ohm for dayhiking. Does not enhance load transfer.
Adds: ~1.1 oz / $5.00

Trailname Embroidery

Custom embroidery to label the Ohm as your own with your unique, and possibly irksome trail ID.
Adds: $15.00

SIZING

To accurately measure your torso length for a correct pack fit, grab a buddy and follow the steps below...

1- Standing upright, tilt your chin to your chest. Locate the largest lump on the back of your neck. This is your #7 vertebrae. It should be located close to the base of your neck proper.

2- From the #7 vertebrae, measure (with the flexible tape) down the length and natural curvature of your spine to the crest of your hipbones (iliac crest). This measurement in inches is your torso length.

Ohm Pack Torso Length Guide

Small: 16-18"
Medium: 18"-21"
Large: 21"-23"

Ohm Pack Waist Belt Guide

Medium: Less than or equal to 35"
Large: Greater than 35"

Frequently Asked Questions - Ohm Pack

Q: What does Rec'd Base Weight mean?

[Answer]

A: Recommended Base Weight refers to the total weight of all gear carried (including the weight of your ULA backpack). This includes water bottles and food stuff sacks but not water and food as this will vary during each trip. Knowing your base weight will help you determine which suspension system can best handle your on the trail load.

Q: Can a water bottle fit in the side pockets? If so, can I reach it?

[Answer]

A: Personally, I prefer to carry a smaller 20 oz bottle in the Ohm. The shorter height is more secure in the ~6" tall pocket, and is easier to reach than a taller 32 oz bottle. In general most people can reach back and retrieve a bottle, drink, and return the bottle to the pocket without removing the pack. The top of the side pockets are angled for easier access, and are keep under tension with non-adjustable 1/2" elastic.

Q: How do I use my sleeping pad in conjunction with the Ohm? What pads work the best?

[Answer]

A: Just about any lightweight pad (foam or inflatable) will work as a 'frame' inside the Ohm. 3/4 and full length pads that can be folded (as opposed to rolled) work the best. If you are using an inflatable mattress, deflate, then fold it into 1/3's or 1/5's before inserting.

Q: What exactly is the Variable Compression System (VCS) and how does it work?

[Answer]

A: The bane of many SUL Packs is lack of adequate compression. They work great when they are stuffed full (and therefore relatively stable in terms of load control), but truly suffer when the total volume is not packed. The Variable Compression System allows the entire pack body to be compressed no matter the overall volume of gear you have. In addition, by simply re-threading the compression cordage, you can effectively reduce the packable volume by 2/3, while still retaining access to the side pockets for on-trail necessities. Just be sure to distribute your gear along the length of the interior of the Ohm before reducing the total volume.

Q: That looks like a lot of cordage to tension. How easily can you compress the pack bag?

[Answer]

A: The cordage is suprisingly smooth to pull due to the use of 2 mm nickel grommets which act as 'cordage guides.' The grommets also maintain the position of the cordage while ensuring a smooth pull when compressing the pack body.

Q: Why did you use non-stretch cordage for the compression?

[Answer]

A: Non-stretch cordage is the best to use in active compression systems because it maximizes the effective compression. Stretchy cordage is fine for passive applications, but does not perform as well for overall load stability. Lastly, non-stretch cordage is much more lightweight.

Q: What is the suspension hoop? How does it work??

[Answer]

A: The suspension hoop used in the Ohm is a minimal solution in helping you transfer load between shoulder and hip. If you imagine an upside 'U' you get a sense of how the hoop is positioned and how it functions. The upper arch of the 'U' ties into the shoulder straps, while each leg of the 'U' ties into the hipbelt. These points of contact allow for a range of suspension flexibility while being rigid enough to support loads up to 30 lbs. In addition, because the suspension is located to the periphery of the pack body, the backpanel is 'soft.' This results in a pack that can handle a load and does not dictate your body's movements --- but rather responds to how you move.

ORDER

TORSO Size: (what's this?)

S: 16"-18" M: 18"-21" L: 21"-23"

Hipbelt:

LG: > 35" MD: < or = 35"

Pack Options:

Trailname Embroidery *	0.0 oz	$15.00
* include trailname in order comments
* returns not accepted

Pack Total:	oz	$