Nashville Pack - Adventure Ultralight
Summary
Nashville Pack is an up-and-coming ultralight pack maker. Based on testing it in the red rocks of Nevada and the Grand Canyon, it is a comfortable, light pack that I will definitely use again and again.
Pros:
Weight is a top priority and they make some of the lightest packs around
Durability is great for a pack that is made with lightweight materials
Custom shoulder strap options make it for a great fit that was even good while running
A good range of size options makes it easy to find what you need for each adventure
Cons:
Not great for traveling due to the lack of interior pockets and zippers which are excluded for the sake of weight
I haven’t yet found a soft water flask that fits well in the shoulder strap pockets.
Check Out Nashville Pack here:
Nashville Does It Again
Nashville is no longer just the greatest city in the US. It also is the home of one of the best up-and-coming handmade ultralight pack makers.
Nashville Pack was founded by Levi "Bedhead" Morton and Grant "Gusha" Leonardi in their garage. For those who are wondering about their funny middle names, those are their trail names which all thru hikers are given by others hikers. You don’t get to pick your own. These guys and the rest of the Nashville Pack team are hardcore hikers who have been there and done that. All of those experiences go into making light and functional packs.
Being from Nashville myself and a gear junkie, it was only natural that I reached out to meet the Nashville Pack crew. From the first conversation we were geeking out on the best trails and holding packs up to the Zoom camera to show our favorite features. The guys agreed to hook me up with a Bridge pack for my upcoming Grand Canyon Rim2Rim2Rim trip.
The Bridge by Nashville Pack. Dog added for cuteness factor.
The Bridge model is what I would call the utility player of the Nashville Pack lineup. Coming in at 20-24L depending on the torso length you choose, it is a great day pack that can stretch to an overnighter if needed. The special sauce for Nashville Pack is the choices in torso length and strap length. When you order a Nashville Pack you first choose between 16” to 20” torso length depending on the model. You then select one of their Hybrid Vest Straps that range from 16” to 20.5”. The straps buckle to the pack so that they are interchangeable. Since I was traveling for a total of 5 days, I could have used the space of the larger Cutaway pack that is designed for multi-day efforts, but I didn’t need all that space for the day hikes across the Grand Canyon. The smaller 15L Tiempo pack may have been the best for the day in the canyon, but I was never going to get all my other stuff in it for traveling.
The final options for my Bridge pack were an 18” torso made of VX07 soft material and straps that were 19”. The guys also sent a set of 20.5” straps that made the pack sit too low and bounce on my rump. They also sent me a set of compression straps to help hold the pack snug when it was light and moving fast in the canyon. The compression straps didn’t turn out to be a big advantage since the roll-top strap pulled everything snug.
The trip started with me packing everything I needed for 3 days of travel and 2 days in the canyon in the pack. It was a snug fit for sure.
The Bridge pack loaded for travel.
In the travel mode, the pack felt great on my back. I hopped on and off shuttles and even had to run through an airport. The pack was steady through it all. I will say that the large top loading design is not the best for digging out your sweatshirt when you get cold on an airplane, but the team has wisely exchanged extra zippers and compartments for weight. It is also important to plan what items you put in the vest strap pockets as those are the only items you will be able to reach without taking the pack off.
Using the Bridge pack to navigate the airport.
Adventure Mode
Over a couple of days at the house with the rest of the support crew for this trip, I used the pack as a glorified purse for trips to the grocery store and, of course to REI for last minute needs.. I did take it for a 6 mile hike/run in the red rocks of Nevada. It was great, but when it wasn’t weighted down the stitching at the top of the straps did rub my neck. This wasn’t a problem when I got more than a few pounds loaded in it.
Living large in the red rocks of Nevada.
The real test was the 2 days we spent adventuring in the Grand Canyon. We went from the south rim to the north rim on the first day and stayed at the North Rim Lodge that night. We then returned north to south the next day. For these days on the trail the pack performed really well.
Soaking up the sunrise on South Kaibab trail in the Grand Canyon
With all of my own food and water and extra items like a radio and medical kit, I had about 20 lbs in the pack. It felt really secure, and I never felt like I needed a belt strap. Like most people when they start a Grand Canyon crossing we were moving fast down the South Kaibab trail. The pack didn’t bounce around, and I even had the thought that I have running packs that move more than this.
I started with one 0.5L soft flask in the middle strap pocket, but the pocket wasn’t really big enough to hold it. The top was hanging out and flopping around until I drank a bit. For the sake of weight balance, I kept my other 0.5L flask in the side pocket and two 1 L bottles in the main compartment. Later in the day, I tried the 0.5L flask in the lower strap pocket. It fit well but was too low for me to just lower my chin and take a drink. Perhaps with a straw it would have been a good fit. When I got home I tried my long slender water flask and the diameter was a good fit, but it stuck out almost 2 inches. The only real complaint I have is that the front pockets aren’t big enough to hold a water flask. As someone who is more into fastpacking rather than thru hiking, I hate sloshing water bottles. I just need a good spot to hold them on the strap.
In terms of durability the pack held up well. Granted this was only a few days of travel, but I took a couple of spills and the pack was dropped on the ground at least 50 times throughout the trip. None of the stitching or material is showing signs of breaking loose.
The Bottom Line
If you are doing any multi-day hiking and want to go ultralight, Nashville Pack has great choices for you, and I think you can probably fit all in the Bridge pack!. What you give up in convenience of interior storage pockets is well worth the weight tradeoff, and the exterior mesh pockets and bum pockets are a good alternative. If you are fastpacking, I would give thought to what hydration system you want. As for myself I am going to try some different water bottle options and maybe straws to make the Bridge pack work for me. All of the great benefits really make a Nashville Pack an outstanding choice for a wide range of adventures.
If you read this far and want to learn more, check out the Nashville Pack website here:
About The Author:
Dave Smithey is the owner and a guide for Top Out Adventures. His happy place is in the mountains with friends and his dog, Penny.
Contact Dave at DaveS@TopOutAdventures.com