After finishing sewing my Ray-Way pack I finally got a chance to test it out! And guess what? I have mostly all positive things to say about it.
First off you need to be aware of a few things, this is a extremely light weight pack, and is made for light weight gear. If you enjoy bringing along a lot of luxury items, or heavy gear it's probably not going to work very well for you. Secondly, no matter what pack you choose if you don't allow time for your body to adjust to carrying a load, and walking all day with it you are still going to be sore. I can't express how important the training portion of a hike is. It gives you a chance to get in shape, test out gear and practice your skills. There are enough things to take care of while on a long hike, starting off out of shape is just one more potential thing that could lead to giving up(due to discouragement or injury), and ending your trip.
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| Taking advantage of the large pockets on the Ray-Way Pack! |
One of the first parts you make when sewing the Ray-Way Pack is the shoulder straps. These are made of nylon casing and some thick foam that provided much more padding than my Golite Jam. While I never had a problem with the Jam's shoulder straps I was happy to see the thicker straps on the Ray-Way because of it's lack of a waist strap(there is a option to add one)
Plenty of Pockets
The back and sides of the Ray-Way pack are covered with 3 large mesh pockets, which I love! This was my first time hiking with a pack that had such a large amount of external storage. At the time I was not using my trekking poles and without the waist strap it was so easy to swing the pack onto one shoulder and retrieve whatever I want out of one of the pockets. I was able to store everything outside the pack that I knew I needed for the day, as well as clothing that I was either taking off, or planning to put on.
In addition to just storage, the mesh makes a very good option for drying any wet gear while on the move.
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| In addition to the large pockets, notice the black horizontal straps near the top, Ray calls these "Sock-hanger Straps". In addition to socks, they can be useful for securing an umbrella, collapsable trekking poles or other items. |
The Cargo Hold
I'm not sure exactly how to describe this, but it has a good vertical feel to it. I don't like packs that protrude to far from my back. Everything feels close and I feel like i have a good center of gravity with it. Again, its not huge(although Ray does sell different size packs) but with the proper gear and planning its large enough for almost any trip.
So What's Bad?
Like most light weight gear, you must treat it with respect. This can be a little difficult if you get off the trail and are bushwhacking. While exploring around the foot hills trail I managed to put a hole in the extension collar. I knew at the time I was doing something that was risky, and I can now say that I know how to patch silnylon! It's very easy, and I will try to post some of my thoughts on it later.
Also, I'm a little concerned about the big mesh pockets that I love so much, there is a chance those could snag on some brush.
These are actually very small concerns and as long as you mind your surroundings there should be no problem.
Final Word
I'm thrilled with my Ray-Way pack! The construction was a learning experience and very rewarding and each time I take it out I build a little more confidence in it's strength and my ability to sew. I give it 5 out of 5!
For a little more info, be sure to check out my Ray-Way Pack construction page!
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