This is a review of some of the Zpacks accessories I used on my 2015 thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. Z Packs are a small cottage backpacking company based out of Melbourne, Florida. They make all their gear from Cuben Fibre (recently renamed Dyneema Composite Fabrics or DCF). They’re known for innovative ultralight gear aimed at the ultralight backpacking community and thru-hikers. In the Ultralight Backpacking community, DCF Is the material of choice for shelters, backpacks, and accessories for several reasons.
DCF Advantages
- Waterproof – 100% waterproof although anywhere there is a seam water can, in theory, get in
- Lightweight – Lighter than all other materials used in the backpacking industry
- Durable – Very good tensile strength making it suitable for shelters, backpacks, and accessories
DCF Disadvantages
- Not great abrasion resistance
- It tends to be more expensive than other materials on the market
On the Appalachian trail, I used several Z Packs accessories
Roll Top Blast Food Bag
The Roll Top Blast Food Bag is a dry bag with a roll-top closure. It’s used to store your food inside your backpack and hung appropriately to stop critters getting at your food. It has a couple of features that set it apart from the average dry bag.
The reason I picked up the Roll Top Blast Food Bag is its shape. The version I ordered is the Rectangular shape and it’s designed to fit vertically inside smaller ultralight packs. When backpacking, packing your bag correctly is a skill in itself. The food bag fits snugly inside my ULA Ohm 2.0 in the middle of the pack. Lighter gear like my quilt and puffy jacket go on the bottom and medium weight stuff goes on top of the food bag.
Roll Top Blast Food Bag
The stuff sack has a larger opening than most stuff sacks on the market. This makes organising your food much easier and it makes it easier to find that stray snickers bar that’s lurking at the bottom.
As well as the normal clips seen on this type of stuff sack it also has velcro to help keep the bag sealed securely. It’s one of my favourite Zpacks accessories.
Velcro Closure
Although my food bag did last for my entire thru-hike and is still useable it has several holes and is definitely not 100% waterproof anymore. I think that Cuben Fibre’s abrasion and puncture resistance leaves something to be desired. I found the bag was easily punctured when lowering the bag down from a bear hang. Many people had the same issues with the thinner sil-nylon stuff sacks so I’d recommend using a thicker dry bag and just dealing with the extra weight.
I’d like to see Zpacks accessories like the food bag use a thicker DCFmaterial. I’d also like to see more companies make stuff sacks that are shaped to fit backpacks vertically and have larger openings.
Shop the Roll Top Blast Food Bag Here
Backpack Shoulder Pouches
Now, these little babies rock!
When getting all my gear together before the hike I was a little worried that my Ohm 2.0 was going to be too small. Browsing the Zpacks accessories I saw the Backpack Shoulder Pouches and was sold immediately. They are designed to carry extra gear or small water bottles and give easy access to gear on the go.
Zpacks Backpack Shoulder Pouches
They attach by feeding each shoulder strap through the loops on the back of the pouch and lock in place using a cinch cord. This is much easier to understand visually in the video below. I thought this was going to be a sketchy way of attaching the pouches but it held well and I never had any issues with the pouches.
You don’t feel the pouches on your shoulder straps even if they are quite full or heavy. I don’t recommend stuffing them too full as it can become uncomfortable. I tried small water bottles and it was an immediate no for me. It was just too much weight and the pockets would bounce around.
I used one of the pouches for storing my iPhone six in. Having it close made it easy to pull out and snap photos or check the guidebook. The other pouch was for snacks on the go. Rather than taking the pack off I preferred just eating on the move and keeping the momentum going. There’s enough space in the pouches for 3 or 4 candy/granola bars.
Each pouch has a small elasticated mesh pocket on the front, great for small items like chapstick, etc. It’s not the most secure spot though so I wouldn’t put anything too precious in there.
Mesh Pocket is super useful
Quite early on in the trail, I did have the synch cord pull out from one of the pouches and after a few attempts I gave up trying to thread it back through. For my snack pouch, it wasn’t a big deal although granola bars would fall out sometimes.
Aside from that issue, the pouches are still going strong and I will use them whenever I go backpacking. When they eventually give out I’ll pick some up as quickly as possible, they are that good.
Shop the Shoulder Pouches Here
Wallet Zip Pouch
Years ago I stopped carrying traditional bulky wallets in favor of thin coin purse style wallets. I found that when I had a large wallet that I’d fill it up with useless points cards and garbage I never used. I’d end up with an inch thick, cumbersome wallet in my back pocket that made sitting uncomfortable.
The problem with these coin purse type of wallets is they tend to be cheaply made and fall apart after six months. Meaning I constantly needed to keep an eye out for new wallets that would fit the bill.
Again I stumbled across the Wallet Zip Pouch when browsing all the ZPacks accessories. That fact that it’s pretty much waterproof would make it perfect for a six-month hike.
Zpacks Wallet
The build quality is excellent, it holds everything I need it to and nothing more and it’s so slim I forget it’s in my pocket. I expected it to be wrecked after my Thru-Hike but it’s still going strong and I’ll be looking to pick up one or two the next time I’m in the US.
Shop the Wallet Zip Pouch Here
Passport Zip Pouch
Being a Brit on the AT meant having to carry my passport with me at all times. I wanted it to be protected from the elements so I used A leather case for the passport and then put it in the Passport Zip Pouch for waterproofness. Yes, I probably could have used a ziplock bag but I wanted something more durable. I did its job well and I’ll continue to use it on all my future travels.
Passport zip pouch
Shop the Passport Zip Pouch Here
Conclusion
Right now I think Z Packs is one of the most innovative and forward-thinking gear companies in the ultralight backpacking market.
I’d like to do some further testing with DCF backpacks and shelters as my mind isn’t completely made up on the material but I do understand why it’s so popular right now.
Head on over and check out some more of the ZPacks accessories, you won’t regret it
Thanks so much for rechecking out this review and be sure to leave me a comment below with any questions or thoughts.
Thanks for stopping by, PIE
For more of my backpacking gear reviews click here.
Check out my video review of the Zpacks gear here
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