Click to view our Accessibility Statement or contact us with accessibility-related questions
abela
523
Mar 25, 2018
I have some more pictures of the AR2 and additional thoughts over on my website.
https://hikelighter.com/2018/03/03/vargo-exoti-ar2-backpack/
And here are some pictures of the "BOG", with all of the different pieces:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/HikeLighter/photos/?tab=album&album_id=682227415234418
Hopefully they can help answer some of the questions that some of you have!
idoc72
1181
Mar 25, 2018
abelaThanks so much for the additional info, as there's not much out there on the AR2 and BOG yet. For most of my summer outings I use a small, no-frills, frameless pack to go UL for a few days - but I do have a larger internal frame pack for trips that necessitate hauling greater volume/weight. My "big" pack is getting pretty worn, so the AR2 and BOG look like interesting options for replacement. The AR2 looks like a blast from the past (the very functional packs I used in scouts decades ago) and is probably the more "refined" design, but the BOG presents some interesting options. Any further thoughts on the two?
MrxMrp
29
Mar 25, 2018
idoc72Hi, I had an old school REI and Carson 90 external frame. The nice thing about those external frames was that i could hang all kinds of stuff off those frame. My Vargo Ti-Arc is the same with an improved suspension/harness and the integrated lumbar plate is unbeatable for comfort.
abela
523
Mar 27, 2018
idoc72>> Any further thoughts on the two?
I am not a rafter, so the BOG is something that I just do not "get"... I suppose much in the same way as I have a lot of love for the Six Moon Designs 'Flight 30' backpack, but utter do not "get" their drybag 'Flex Pack' backpack. It is just a product that it outside the scope of any experience, I guess.
I think, living here in the rainforest of the Redwoods of Northern California, it might seem logical for me to put some education/use into a dry bag style backpack, to help keep my gear dry. Something that I have certainly thought about in the past, just have not done yet.
For me, the serious excitement, again, just for me, in these two new bags is the 3/4 length AR2. It really was the cool part of the previous Ti-Arc, and now combined with the ExoTi frame that lacks the antenna (issues) of the Ti-Arc, is really exactly what it was myself and others were hoping for.
I still think the harness system (shoulder straps) need an epic amount of rework, been saying that since day-one, but slide on a couple of those Zpacks 'Shoulder Strap Pads' (~$20) and a bit of additional padding can be added to the Vargo straps.
Anyway, I wish I could give you some further thoughts/feedback on the BOG @idoc72 but at this point, I just have been so happy about the AR2 being released that I have not really put any focus on the BOG.
I would think, unless you very specifically need a (near) dry bag bag, if you really want the volume of the BOG, just got with the ExoTi 50, which will give you more external pockets, more bag-to-frame connectivity, and another 10'ish liters of volume.
gmorphis
21
Mar 27, 2018
abelaMan I'm torn between the 2, the 50 or that AR2. I've seen your videos on both and it seems like you favor the AR2? I hammock camp specifically, you think the 50 for the little extra volume would be better for me?
idoc72
1181
Mar 27, 2018
abelaThanks! I'm in on the AR2.
abela
523
Mar 27, 2018
gmorphis@gmorphis - Yep, I 100% prefer the AR2 over the 50. I utterly have no use for a 50L backpack... the vast majority of the time I use a 20L or 30L backpack, so the AR2 in the 40'ish range (granted, high 40 range) just works better for me, plus the ability to put my shelter under the pack, just super sweet for me. Helps me keep my constantly wet shelter out of my pack.
MrxMrp
29
Mar 27, 2018
gmorphisGet both keep the one that works best and sell the other one on ebay. At this price i doubt you'll lose any $ at all.
gmorphis
21
Mar 27, 2018
MrxMrpI would but I bought a zpacks arc haul recently. I'm tempted though to get one.
MrxMrp
29
Mar 29, 2018
gmorphisJust need 1 more for the lower price point.
abela
523
Mar 29, 2018
MrxMrpDid it reach the lowest price point?? Hope so guys!
idoc72
1181
Mar 29, 2018
abelaGood question - I committed at the lowest price, and got an email from Massdrop stating that I, and 5 others, had made the drop successful (they needed 6 to reach lowest price) - but then they upped my billing by $20 to the higher price. Don't know what's going on, so I'm sending a message to customer support. Wonder if anyone else had the same issue?
MrxMrp
29
Mar 29, 2018
idoc72I received the same notice. I too sent customer service an inquiry, will wait and see.
idoc72
1181
Mar 30, 2018
MrxMrpThey got back me relatively quickly (thank you MD) - sounds like someone pulled out of the drop at the last minute, so we lost the lowest price point, but my order was processed anyways. They are going to make it right and refund me the extra $20. If you're in the same boat, hopefully, they'll do the same.
MrxMrp
29
Apr 22, 2018
idoc72Hi, MD did right by me also and refunded the $20. All's good, thank you MD. Pack arrive about 1 week ago. Looks good, haven't had a chance to do anything with it other than unpacking and inspection. I'm going to like the top loader configuration, the brain and the back pockets are a big plus. I have to check closer but the side pockets might be slightly smaller the the Ti-ARC side pockets.
idoc72
1181
Apr 22, 2018
MrxMrpMy AR2 looks good, and feels/fits well loaded up - like that lumbar support. Just need some free time to get it on the trail, then I'll drop an update. A couple initial observations I'll need to check out - back pockets are smaller than the "shove-it" pockets I'm accustomed to, side water bottle pockets are quite wide (will hold sizable gear / cook kit, but will narrow water bottles move around too much?), and lid looks like it might wear on the upper corners of the frame.
MrxMrp
29
Apr 22, 2018
idoc72Hi, the lumbar plate did it for me too. I use the large 32oz. Nalgene bottle and it fits perfect on the Ti-arc should be the same on this pack, the 40oz. is too tall. The other pocket holds my cook kit perfectly. I'm going to do the Hetch Hetchy loop in early June, will probably do a short weekend trip before to shake sown the pack, but based on my observations this pack will probably work better than the Ti-arc.
abela
523
Apr 22, 2018
idoc72Yeah, those side pockets are crazy wide... for me, I think they are actually *too* wide for my likes. Still, loving the 3/4 length and if the wide of the side pocket is the only thing that is annoying me, that is hella awesome!
kyuss80
98
May 29, 2018
abelaThanks for the info, I am seriously considering the AR2.
I'm assuming it should fit someone 6" tall, 34 in waist fine? There aren't sizes and it's an external frame. I know my Trekker 65 is super adjustable.
This would replace the Atmos 65 AG I bought due to all the talk... itjust doesn't seem to fit me well at all for some reason. Initially I thought I loved it. But I didn't actually try loading it out for a few months cause I was lazy. Wearing it at my home for about 5 minutes I went "this isn't comfortable" -- I can't imagine how it would feel after 10+ miles a day.
MrxMrp
29
May 29, 2018
kyuss80Hi, I'm 6'2", 34 waist and the pack fits me perfect. I have a short torso, 18.5 inches so I have the harness set at the low end of the adjustment range. I too moved from the Atmos AG. I had the 65L and I couldn't get it to sit on my waist. I think it had the slipping hip belt problem. Gave it to my son and went out and purchased the same pack in the smaller volume 50L hoping that the smaller pack with less carrying weight would solve the problem but it too would slip off my hips. I loved the AG system but could not get it to work for me, I don't have much in hips. This pack with the lumbar plate stays fixed to my hips.
kyuss80
98
May 29, 2018
MrxMrpAwesome, good to know. Thanks for sharing! Not let's see how I justify this $240 credit purchase to myself...
(FYI: I feel like the Atmos AG didn't fit me the same way kinda -- it just felt... off. Like it doesn't sit close enough to your lower back or something. I felt like I was carrying all the weight on my shoulders and that the hip belt was kind of the same. I've never considered that I might not have hips, so who knows. It was funny cause when I put it on empty originally I thought it felt great. Loading it out later when I was prepping for my next trip is when I discovered my incompatibility with it
I know my Kelty Trekker 65 fits me great, and the Osprey Exos 38 also fits me pretty darn well. I think it's just the AG system. I read a lot more accounts of people saying it just doesn't fit everyone well, which is understandable. I just wish I had discovered that before I dropped $125 on a season-end clearance deal that was an impulse buy.)
MrxMrp
29
May 29, 2018
kyuss80Osprey didn't change the 65 as much as they did the 50, you should be able to get most off your $ back.