To help celebrate their 25th anniversary, Minnesota's Granite Gear added a new ultralight backpack to their multi-day pack collection. A revamp of the cult classic Vapor Trail, the new Crown V.C. 60 takes advantage of the Vapor Current Suspension technology to create a functional ultralight backpack that offers all day comfort.
The Crown 60 is a single compartment, top loader pack with a sealed roll top closure for both weather protection and easy access. To save on weight, the backpack does not include a lid, but if you want some extra storage space, the Crown 60 is compatible with Granite Gear's LineLoc lid accessory.
The 2 lb. 2 oz. ultralight backpack body is made from 100 Denier sil-nylon hybrid Cordura fabric, so is not only light, but extremely durable. Granite Gear added some 210 denier Cordura as reinforcement in key areas, such as the bottom of the pack, to provide some extra strength.
Details on the ultralight backpack include LineLoc compression straps that cut out unnecessary weight from normal webbing. A huge front stretch mesh pocket allows you to stuff in wet clothes, maps, or other easy access items. Two stretch mesh side pockets will fit two full size water or fuel bottles, while a stretch mesh pocket on each shoulder strap is useful for storing your phone, GPS or earbuds.
The ultralight backpack is hydration compatible with a sleeve to house your reservoir and hydration ports on both the right and left sides. The padded hipbelt has attachment points for adding the Granite Gear pocket accessories if you want an accessible place to store your camera, snacks or chapstick.
The Crown 60 employs Granite Gear's Vapor Current Suspension system. A cushy back pad features molded ventilation channels to allow air to circulate over your back from bottom to top. Beneath this back pad sits a full length frame that supports loads up to 30 lbs. The frame can easily be removed to drop the pack weight even further down to 1 lb. 13 oz.
The Granite Gear Crown V.C. 60 ultralight backpack comes in both a men's and women's specific version and in 4 different sizes: short and regular for women, regular and long for men. The Crown V.C. 60 retails for $199 and will be available Spring 2012.
