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Our UL Alpine Packs are famous for their simplicity, failsafe ruggedness, and outstanding performance level. They have been used on many Expeditions around the world over the last 30 years and have adapted well to general backpacking. McHale Packs are Custom Made entirely in Seattle Washington. Dan Mazur at SummitClimb.com gets a kick from his McHale Packs.

If you insist on minimum pack weights, McHale Packs offers these ultra-light packs. You may be able to find even lighter packs, but consider the mechanical advantage McHale Packs offer. Our packs comfortably carry more weight per cubic inch of volume and per ounce of weight. People that go out regularly year after year know that pack performance trumps pack weight. These are not fragile packs. They are made from our standard selection of tough US made and quality imported fabrics ( we tear test all of our fabrics to make sure they meet our standards ) and are built to our reliable high standards. Back in the mid 80s we called our climbing rucksack 'rocksac'. This is were the acronym SARC came from: Super Alpine Rocksac

An 80s Rocksac at left Photo; Jim Nelson and Mark Bebie in the North Cascades near Eldorado Peak in 1992 with Super-Sarcs. In 1989 Jim and Mark climbed the 2nd ascent of Mt. Forakers ' Infinite Spur ' using S-Sarcs, the very same packs in the photo as a matter of fact! Mark's pack was made for the climb and weighed 4 lbs total, which explodes the myth that McHale Packs of that time were ' Heavy '. Typically, packs were as tough or heavy as customers wanted them. For instance, Mark's pack was a relatively light construction and used 500 D cordura. His previous McHale S-Sarc was 1000 D. Jim's pack on the other hand was made of a relatively heavy 'medium weight' truck Tarp vinyl like that used in Big Wall haul bags but he saved weight by not having a frame system in the pack. Click photos for larger images. Dan McHale photos. Customer Gallery Testimonials

Get a handle on figuring pack volumes Secondary Menu Index - see pack volumes - go figure (click)

Prices are on the detail pages after you click the thumbnail images below.

New; All pack prices include a Full Spectra rim and bottom. This is 6 oz/yd 1000 D Full Spectra and is quite tough as armor for the most vulnerable part of the pack. The actual weight of the Spectra bottom piece is 9/10 of an ounce and overlays a 'normal' piece of pack fabric. A lighter 4 oz /yd weight Full Dyneema bottom costs extra in situations where we have to match fabrics for dye.

http://www.dsm.com/en_US/html/hpf/applications_textiles.htm

Click on the images below for detail pages - Until the features page is reinstituted please understand that even though we show 'models' of packs, the way the customizing really works is; Everything you see is an option and can be mixed and matched on any volume of pack. It is far easier to start with examples like those below and add or subtract features from them. Any feature that is seen on one pack can be applied on any other pack with few exceptions. P&G Bayonet Frame Extensions - example photo click here

Merkebeiner LBD - Little Big Daypack

Above: LBP 36, 37, 38 , LBP P&G 37, 39 click images or numbers - LBP 34, NEW LBP 35

Subpop
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Windsauk view Details

Sarc-chasm
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Popcan - Vzip style view details

 

Chasm
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under construction
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UnLtd S- SARC P&G (S-Sarc+1",+2"....)
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S-SARC P&G
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S-Sarc P&G
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Black Dyneema Grid

Black Byneema Grid & dyed Full Dyneema

Above: Click color examples above of Dyed/painted Full Dyneema packs. Click below for DYNEEMA info.

Critical Mass Packs;

Although we sell mostly the lighter Sarc Series packs above, we sell a surprising number, in these days of 'UL', of the CM packs below. If you truly need a pack to carry loads that are 60, 70, 80, 90 lbs and above, do yourself a favor and try one of these amazing packs. They do not have that oppressive and strangling feeling like many other big internal frame packs and are more like what people wish internal frame packs AND external frame packs were like. They are a very different machine and the best big load packs on the market, as well as the lightest.

Bypass Harness Information Critical Mass Frame Strength Information Hip Belt Info

Critical Mass Lumbar Pad Information

Critical Mass II
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Super Critical Mass II Bayonet
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MB Critical Mass II Bayonet view details

Inex Critical Mass II Bayonet
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Above: Second and third row photos: A Dyed Full Dyneema CMII, a Dyed Full Dyneema CM Bayonet Panel Loader, and a 420 CM Bayonet Panel loader, a Twin Zipper MB-CMII, and finally a CM Top Load Panel Load Bayonet.

"Big load, long trail & hard climb, all eliminate by my Critical Mass Alpine II Bayonet. I just focus to climb until summit and safety down. A great success on Mt. Yari with my friends and McHale Pack. Thanks a lot, Ben" (click image for blow-up)