Gourdon Reviews

A quick report on the camping in Wales - my 30L Gourdon was the envy of everyone else - they were all carrying big packs, most not waterproof. I was able to get all my kit in and I used it to extend my 3/4 sleeping mat at night.
In the past I have suffered with lower back pain after carrying a conventional backpack, I’m sure the weight carried was similar but I didn’t have any pain at all !
The only things I really missed were some kind of external pockets. Adding the Phud buckles to the straps solved the slipping issue.
Roll on v2.0 !

I was given a 30L as a gift - so far I’m really impressed ! I used to use a Craghoppers sack which had a built-in liner but it was so much bulkier and all the extra pockets just meant I took too much stuff !
Now I am really choosy about what goes in - the real test will come in March - an all-day hike with an overnight wild-camp in Snowdonia, will I manage to get the tent in ?
Issues so far are as previously reported - straps loosening when walking, hydration pocket is upside-down and seat-pad fights back.
Suggestions for improvements:
Slip-free straps.
Ice-axe/walking-pole loop and strap on one or both sides.
Invert the hydration pocket.
Add some loops to the front of the shoulder straps for clipping small accessories to.
My workaround: I have clipped wire-gate accessory karabiner to the shoulder strap (at the bottom) and run a length of accessory cord with a strung toggle through the loop formed when closing the roll top - the end of my walking-pole sits snugly in the karabiner and the top is held in place by the accessory cord. Vary rarely does the pole jump out of the karabiner - you know when it does because it pokes you in the leg !
I’ll be keeping an eye out for the new models.

Purchased 25L Gordon to go skiing – experienced similar problems with the straps that said, it’s a great little piece of kit which is worth purchasing once those teething problems have been sorted out.  I think I’ll try the phud buckle idea -  thanks for the tip.

I _would_ remove the padded back and use it as a seat if it weren’t so hard to get in/out. I’ve replaced my back pad with a bit of old sleeping mat, which isn’t quite as nice, but a good deal lighter.

does anyone remove the padded back as a seat or could this be sewn in, maybe a little stiffer?

Cheers

Nick

Hi Thomas
You beat me to it, i had been thinking about a quick fix wih those buckles.
Nice thinking!!!

Cheers
nick

I’ve mounted a couple of phud buckles below the original buckles on the shoulder straps of my generation 1 Gourdon. It works a treat in stopping them coming loose; it’s comfy and doesn’t add significant weight!

Nick from Alpkit

New slightly updated batch will be in for March (FINGERS CROSSED)

Any idea when the 25lt sac will be in? Bright colours all sold out.

nick at alpkit

my “N” doesnt seem to work very well,

Better luck ext time
soz