Hey guys,

I have a UGQ Zeppelin, it's great, but it's a space hog. I'm going to be buying my gf a similar setup soon and a new top quilt for each of us. My concern isn't weight, down insulation is awesome. But how the hell are we going to pack all those?

Some guys crush their quilts, I have a stuff sack that works but I like to just cram them in around all my other crap after I've loaded almost everything in my bag. I barely have room for my underquilt.

I've planned on adding a Granite Gear Quetico or CCS Pioneer bag to my arsenal, 5000 ish CCs of space. Should I up for the huge Guide bag to ensure I can load all this sweet weightless warm quilts? I'm afraid that'd be a gigantic bag lol.

I have the Pioneer and the Guide, you can cinch the Guide down but you can't make the Pioneer bigger.

I put my hammock, tarp (if it's dry), and quilts in their own e-Vent bag, and compress the heck out of them. Compressed only hours at a time, I've noticed no loft problems, and it all takes up a shockingly and pleasingly small chunk of pack space.

quote ISRO: "I have the Pioneer and the Guide, you can cinch the Guide down but you can't make the Pioneer bigger."

This is the reason I went with the Guide. It's a big pack but my (not so big) wife can still portage it without much difficulty.

I went with the Guide under the philosophy ISRO expressed, and it's true, but MAN the Guide is huge. It's a great pack, and the hip belt goes a long way toward making it easier to portage. It's super easy to over pack though. If you can check one out in person, I suggest doing so. The Pioneer is probably plenty big if it's the two of you.

quote ISRO: "... you can cinch the Guide down..."

Famous last words. Think of it this way... the larger the garage you build, the more stuff you put in it. The Guide is one big pack.

Two Pioneers will serve you extremely well.


Two Pioneers for an eight-day trip for two people.

One reason to put your quilt in a stuff sack is that it also keeps your quilt dry from any other wet gear.

quote ParkerMag: "I put my hammock, tarp (if it's dry), and quilts in their own e-Vent bag, and compress the heck out of them. Compressed only hours at a time, I've noticed no loft problems, and it all takes up a shockingly and pleasingly small chunk of pack space."

Occurs to me I spoke to an issue you mentioned, but didn't weigh in on your actual question - sorry about that. Jackfish's post rang a bell for me - likewise, when tripping with two, it's always just two pioneer size hybrid CCS packs for us.

Have you considered packing the expected gear in a duffel and bringing it to Midwest or to Dan himself and repack into a pioneer/guide to "test"? Then you have your answer with zero risk of a wrong decision.

I have both and prefer to bring the pioneer. While you can sinch the guide down, I think the pioneer carries better with a similar load. It certainly is easier to get in and out of the canoe. I do use the guide when there is a lot of group stuff (3+ people). One carries the heavy food pack, one the big but light gear pack and one the canoe with a small pack. Tandem trips, the pioneer is great as a food/heavy gear pack or as a lighter gear/cloths pack with the canoe.


John

I have both the Guide and the Pioneer packs. I use the Guide when tripping with my son in law and grandsons. Other times I use the Pioneer.

The Guide is huge and yes it can be cinched down, but when you do, it will ride lower on your back. For that reason I prefer the Pioneer unless I can adequately fill out the Guide.

Go with the Pioneer pack. It should be plenty big for everything that you bring.
I pack my UGQ Zeppelin top quilt in a 7L sil-nylon compression dry sack and it gets down to something between a softball and a football. Likewise my Hammock Gear Incubator bottom quilt packs down equally small.

I bought the pioneer instead of the guide so I wouldn't pack too much stuff : )

All really great posts and exactly what I needed to hear. I've always dreamt of having a Pioneer and a Granite Bay Quetico bag, so Jackfish I hear you about 2 pioneers being perfect for 2 people. I think I might be getting some compression sacks while I'm at it

By the way, I don't know where you live but when I was in Midwest Mountaineering for pint night I saw they have both the Guide and the Pioneer on sale for 20% off right now, presumably for end of season.