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Does anyone out there have experience with Granite Gear's "Nimbus Great Northern" canoe pack?  [See:   (You need to Login or Register ]  Is it worth the money?  As I know I can knock $50 off the listed price, would it be worth $269?

OR, would GG's Superior One, the BWJ's Extra-Wide Super Pack (or whatever Stu calls it), or the Kondos or Duluth Pack or Ostrom or the CCS Hybrid equivalents of the Nimbus Great Northern be a better canoe pack?

I just recently "retired" my two ancient Granite Gear packs & I'm looking a BIG comfortable pack to slide in the middle of my SR17 for my typical 8-12 day expeditions.  I'm really not interested in immersion packs, either.  Also, its not really a question of money.  Mainly, I want a top-flight, easy-to-wear & handle, tough-wearing canoe pack (maybe with a few bells & whistles but not necessarily loaded) that will last me the rest of my canoeing days (figure 15 years for sure but I fully expect to recalibrate that horizon in the year 2025).

I welcome all recommendations & thoughts on the matter... and, if you own one of these Nimbus Great Northerns, please weigh in!

Thanks!

Jimbo   8-)

I'll play a little " Devil's Advocate" here ;)
Since you brought up the rest of my day's thing, do you/we really want a BIGGER pack, which by Murphy's law, will allow you too bring even MORE stuff?
I have a 20 year old Camp Trails portage pack, which they no longer make. It's very similar to the regular size BWJ/Kondo's packs in size.
Early on, I felt it was a "little" cramped when loaded my gear, and I hate too dig in a pack when I need something.
I found two side pockets, similar to these:   (You need to Login or Register
 I put all my ropes, 2 fuel bottles, trowel, and any other items that I might need during the day. Along with my Granite Gear food pack, a small day pack/dump bag, I have everything I need and still room to spare.
 Just something too consider.
All those packs you listed are good, but I saw a guy with the Ostrum pack, and while pricey, it was the Mercedes of packs.

solotripper wrote on Aug 28^th, 2009 at 5:07pm:

All those packs you listed are good, but I saw a guy with the Ostrum pack, and while pricey, it was the Mercedes of packs.

ST,

What makes it so?  Extra features?  High quality materials?  The bikini-clad lass from Thunder Bay who jumps out of the pack?

Jimbo   8-)

 The construction was first rate. Materials as well. I didn't try it on, but the first thing that caught my eye was the hip belt/shoulder straps.
Similar to the high end internal packs for backpacking/mountaineering.
The NUBILE lass from Thunder Bay must be an "Add -on" ;)
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I don't know if this was the pack, the pack I saw had a hip belt, but that's an option, so it might of been another model?
You read the material list, plus it's built for your body type, the 3/4 shoulder straps, expensive but you get what you pay for.
 Only problem is unless you go there for a look see, once you commit and they build for your frame size, it's a done deal ;D
Might have too do a road trip to Thunder Bay  ;)

Jimbo, Check out CCS too. I got a Pioneer size. It holds all I need,,,carries nice,,,well made too. Both CCS and Ostrom are home grown, not off shore. You can talk to the guys that make'm. They're comparable in quality, just depends on the cdn/us exchange rate at the time to which is cheaper.

I have a Nimbus and I think it is a top of the line pack to carry. It can be a little confusing as it has a lot of adjustments, but once you get it set up right I am not sure you will find another pack that carries as well.

It is not as wide as the Superior from Granite Gear but carries noticably better and the Superior is a nice pack too.

I also have a CCS Guide that i am very impressed with. I would assume the Pioneer form CCS would be a very close second to the Nimbus for comfort and maybe be better as far as quality and durability.

T

Thanks for the replies!  I'm evaluating the value of the "internal frame".  The options seem to be: the Nimbus Great Northern & Ostrom's "Algonquin" & "Wabakimi".  IF I decide to go with internal frame, those are my choices.  Having said that, I'm not altogether keen on the notion of GG's Chinese labor & possible use of 12 year-old's doing the sewing.

On the other hand, putting aside internal frame offerings, the top-of-the-line options seem to be Ostrom's WiniskIII and CCS's Guide Pack.  I'm in the process of evaluating the difference in value between the two.

Ostrom's stuff IS expensive.  Maybe it's worth it.  I'm trying to sort that out.  I've sent an e-mail to Dan Cooke asking him to elaborate on materials, etc..  I have absolutely NO question re: his workmanship on CCS products (I already own a canoe spray skirt AND a screened-in lean-to shelter & they are great!).  Ostrom packs his website info with tons of material info.  Dan offers less info on his website so I'm asking for more.  IF materials are equal or close, I'll go with the CCS product since I am quite comfortable with workmanship.

Unless, of course, I decide the value of the internal frame overshadows other considerations.  In that case, it seems to be a Nimbus Great Northern versus Wabakimi (Ostrom offering) choice.

Thanks, again, for the inputs.  I'll keep you posted re: my choice.

Jimbo   8-)

Does CCS offer the NUBILE portage lass as an option ;D
On a serious note, you being a tall guy, I could see how having the option of the 3 sizes Ostrum offers being a nice feature IF that's a problem?

Portage lass OR portage monkeys... for the price they're asking for gear, one or the other ought to be forthcoming in the bargain!

Jimbo   8-)

Superior One all the way !!!!

Jimbo wrote on Aug 31^st, 2009 at 1:59am:

Portage lass OR portage monkeys... for the price they're asking for gear, one or the other ought to be forthcoming in the bargain! Jimbo   8-)

THEY must be tuned into the
'its not really a question of money" customers ;)

Jimbo, I think the internal frame idea is for the guy who doesn't know how to pack. How many of those long legged birds does one need anyway? The CCS Pioneer has plenty of room for me. I probably bring too much myself. Good thing it isn't bigger. I'd wouldn't stop till it was full. I know a guide who carries the big Ostrom internal frame pack, he know Ostrom too. Email me and I can cc: you guys together if you like.

I have come to really dislike the "floating lid" concept.  I have that setup on 3 of my mid-sized packs (a Mountainsmith, and two Gregory packs).  The damned top is always falling off the back whenever I just want to open the main pack for a second or two.  It is also a nuisance to readjust the lid attachments when you change the load.

Givel me an old fashioned sewn on flap top anyday.

A bag is a bag - a lot of what you would be paying for with that Nimbus is all the buckles and D rings that stick out all over - a nice addition if you will make use of them, but otherwise, just useless added weight and cost.  Looks like a nice comfy hipbelt and shoulder straps - sew on the lid, cut off most of the excess attachment points, and I'd like it.

I need to do some "test-driving" still.  However, I've been digging deeper into materials, construction, etc., & found myself zeroing in on Ostrom & CCS products.  Last night Dan Cooke of CCS was kind  enough to give me 20-30 minutes of his time providing me with a feature-by-feature comparison of the non-internal frame models mentioned.  [I'm just not sure my portage habits and occasional bushwhacks really warrant the internal frame feature.  I got to think about that some more.]  Setting the question of internal frames aside, however, I am about sold that I couldn't go far wrong by picking up CCS's Guide & Explorer packs.

I appreciate all the comments.  Again, the jury is still out until I do some test-driving.  Sooner or later some of my targeted equipment will go on sale & then I might make like an active fish, take the bait, and see if I get hooked.  Meanwhile, I'll just sort of let it dangle out there.  I'm not in my annual feeding frenzy just yet.....

Jimbo   8-)

I have this pack, have had it for 2 years and I love it.  Costly but worth it.  Good luck in your search.  It really is personal preference, we really are lucky to have so many choices......Kim  8-)

The internal frame is not for those who don't know how to pack. It helps transfer weight from your back/shoulders to your hip.

I have tried an Ostrom Wabakimi and have to say it is worth every cent. Made by a canoeist for canoeist. He does not have a shop in Taiwan or Shanghai to make these. They are made here in North Western Ontario.

Well, I appreciate all the comments here & inputs I have received via PM's.  I decided that I wanted to try an internal frame pack because of periodic pinched nerve issues that I have with my back.  That decision quickly narrowed the field down to Granite Gear's "Nimbus Great Northern" and Ostrom's "Wabakimi".  

Both bags are pricey.  I'll agree w/Red Lake Rob & state that the Ostrom Pack is clearly the better made bag of the two.  HOWEVER, I wasn't sure it was really worth the price difference.  The Wabakimi retails in excess of $475 American versus the generally listed price of $319 for the Nimbus (which only this week went on sale for $255 w/free shipping from MooseJaw).  Well, I've made my decision about that value differential & I'll get around to sharing my selection in a second.  First, though, I want to share the key thoughts that kept ringing around my head in advance of my decision:

Mad Mat:  "A bag is a bag".

Ranger (via IM):  "I'd find it tough to pay almost $500 for a pack. One way to think of it is: you could almost buy TWO Nimbus packs for the price of the Ostrom. Are their useful lives going to be that much different? Is their respective utility going to be that different?"

Tooth Fairy: "I have this pack [Nimbus], have had it for 2 years and I love it.  Costly but worth it."

Yes, you've guessed it.  I went with the Nimbus Great Northern, after all.  That special sale on gear through MooseJaw put me over the edge.  The price differential was just too much to ignore, so my new Granite Gear bag is on the way.  Hopefully the internal frame concept will help with my back issue.

I suppose I am somewhat at risk of having buyer's remorse when I amble past the Ostrom display at CanoeCopia next year & eyeball their primo Wabakimi bag with all those doodads & its superior construction.  Red Lake Rob is right; it's TRULY top-of-the-line.  Nevertheless, MM's profound sagely advice - "a bag is a bag" - haunted me back into fiscal responsiblity... and that ain't easy to do when it comes to my free-spending ways with canoe gear.

Next on the agenda: a good pack for my solo canoe.  Of course, this one is easy... CCS's "Explorer Pack" all the way!

Again, thanks for all the advice!

Jimbo   8-)

You will be happy with your choice.

Enjoy

Tim

Man I would like that big old snapper in the pod shell side down with the Nimbus...Quetico is the one for me, or the solos. Quality is a bit different from 15-20 years ago, though, IMHO