. . : : Bear Blog Carnival: My favourite frameless backpack : : . .
The Mountain Laurel Design Burn:
SPECS1
WEIGHT: 16.5oz | 467gm (Optional external bungee cord and sternum strap not included in base weight.)
EXTERNAL DIMENSIONS: 10″ Wide x 6″ Thick x 22″-28″ Tall || 25cm Wide x 15cm Thick x 55-70cm Tall
MAX COMFORT LOAD RATING: 25 lbs| 11.3**
The Max recommended for any frameless UL pack. Note: Pack strength is rated for 50 lbs.
WAIST BELT MIN. GIRTH: Small 27″/68cm || Medium + Large 29″/73cm
SHOULDER STRAP WIDTH: Small 2.75″/7cm || Medium + Large 3″/7.75cm
SPACE BETWEEN SHOULDER STRAPS AT NECK: Small 2.75″/7cm || Medium + Large 3″/7.75cm
TOTAL MAX VOLUME: 38L | 2300 CI (Using extension collar.)
TOTAL MIN VOLUME: 19L | 1200 CI (With compression bungees engaged.)
MAIN PACK VOLUME: 25L | 1500 CI
MAIN OUTSIDE POCKET: 3L | 200 CI
SIDE POCKETS: 2.5L + 2.5L | 150 CI + 150 CI
EXTENSION COLLAR: 5L + | 300+ CI
The Burn is a small, frameless backpack made by an ultralight institution, Mountain Laurel Designs (MLD). I've been hiking with a Burn since 2018 and it's by far my favourite backpack for 95% of three season long distance hiking. The above specs are the current ones on MLD's website. The Burn in the picture is my original one which is an older version I bought off another hiker. At the time it was common to order the Burn with custom shoulder straps and no hipbelt, which is how this one was set up.
It's a size small, which MLD currently have listed as having an 18" torso length. I have a feeling that at the time this pack was made the small had a torso length of 16", but I can well be wrong.
This pack has got probably around 8000 miles on it. I love it. I've hiked with it in a number of different countries and climates and it's just been a steadfast companion. When you're walking all day, everyday, for weeks, or months on end having a pack that suits you is so important.
Since a good number of pack makers have small volume, frameless packs as part of their line up, the Burn isn't that trendy or cutting edge. The material mine is made of is a bit out of date, gridstop is still a great material but not one get people excited about these dats. It doesn't have a bottom pocket, a stretchy easy access to pocket on the bottom of the pack where you can store maps, snacks, or other stuff you want easy access to while moving. There isn't tons of shoulder storage like you see on the packs that have running vest shoulder straps, something that has become incresingly popular over the last couple of years. It's a really straight forward bag. A tube, with three external pockets and big comfy shoulder straps. But there is something about the shape, it's taller and narrower than a lot of packs, and the way it sits on my back that is just perfect.
I've tried a good number of the other options, which all have their merits but none of them have worked as well as the Burn for me. Sadly while hiking the CDT in 2023 the pack in the picture ripping out where the back of the torso comes into contact with the waist line of my shorts. I could have done a better job of caring for the bag and washing it from time to time would have definitely help extend its life. Salt isn't great for many materials. However, I was really lucky and found an unused Burn from roughly the same era on ebay. This one is a medium, which initially felt huge, but it does mean I have an easier time reaching the side pockets. For some reason Ron, MLD's owner, also changed the top Y strap design. I'm not a huge fan of this verson of the Y strap but it's not the end of the world. Hopefully with a bit more care this time this pack and I will get to tramp another 7, 8, 9, even 10 thousand miles together.
Thanks to Kami for the topic, it's great to have an excuse to write about this pack!