Sold Granite Gear Virga 2

[Gadget]

Got this pack two years ago, from @paul of this parish. It's done good service, but I'm selling it on. It's always been a little short in the back for me.
Looking for £75 posted.

It's a regular (18 - 21" torso), in Tiger/Moonmist (orange and grey for the non-poncy).
Originally 54 litres and 524g
More specs,
https://www.granitegear.com/outdoor/backpacks/multi-day-backpacks/men-s-backpacks/virga-2.html
and
https://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.c.../granite-gear-virga-2-54-litre-rucksack-p8245

Done a couple of improvements (which I can get rid of, if not desired).
Now 553 + 32 = 585g

• Sewed a pouch on to the waistbelt,
  
  
  
  
  
• and added a 32g carbon fibre internal frame (in the style of the ULA Ohm II),
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Improves the shape and transfers some of the load to the waistbelt.

Some wear and tear,

• On the bottom,
  
  
  
  some pilling and a few mildew spots
  
  
• On the sternum strap,
  
  
• more faint mildew marks and a very faint red mark (permanent marker I think) on the stretch front pocket,
  
  
• Some threads pulled on both side pockets,
  
  
  
  
  

 

[EM-Chiseller]

@Gadget what's your torso length? I'm around 21.5 but I maybe going too low down my back with the tape.
I keep coming back to look at this pack, but can't quite drop the hammer...
What does it cary like when not stuffed? Maybe around 6-7kg weight?
The side pockets are the other make or break... That's why I'm falling out with the ula relay and still love my ohm 2. But I don't like the closure on the ohm and sometimes get strap squeeze.
For the side pockets I want a pack where I can draw out my water bottle or evernew soft flask with ought straining.... Yoga? More yoda lol
Cheers

 

[Gadget]

I'm 5'11" with a 23" torso.
This is a video worth watching (maybe not for the right reasons),

I just got a Large Ohm 2, better fit for me. I toyed with just getting the Virga 2 in long, but I'd been hankering after the Ohm and the extra litres won't go amiss on longer trips.

I will get some more pics up in a bit, to show what it's like (phone needs charging).

Before I decided to sell this one, I was thinking of converting the top closure, to a combined joker-hat/load-lifter combo, like on KS R-50,

(at 1m35s)

It will be interesting to see how I get on with the cinch top on the Ohm.

 

[Gadget]

Here ya go Chis,

It's been my "everything pack", so used it a lot compressed right down.

 

[EM-Chiseller]

Cheers for that, I'm pulling my beard... The side pockets look like they might be too high for my recovering shoulder.... Arrrrgh... I'll have to think harder.. I do like the joker hat idea... On the ks. Looks like with a lot of rain it might get messy on the shoulder tops with the webbing drawing water.
Good choice of sizing video too... I could have woke up to worse lol. Cheers

 

[EM-Chiseller]

I'm going to pass for the moment thanks... I reckon we're about the same size, torso and height ant them side pockets would do my napper in with this gammy shoulder.... Cheers for the time

 

[KVerb]

Sorry for going off-topic, but I was wondering how you made the frame and where you got the gear. Also, does it only help keep the shape of the pack or does it really shift weight to the hips?

 

[Gadget]

The original build can be found here,
http://www.trek-lite.com/index.php?threads/the-what-have-you-made-today-thread.1733/

But to repeat,
here's a hoop frame I made for my frameless Granite Gear Virga 2
5mm carbon tubes, 3mm fibreglass rod and a bit of webbing, only adds 25g to the pack.

===================================================


That was mark I.
I found the 3mm fibreglass rod was a bit delicate and split after some abuse.
So, on the second iteration I covered it with heatshrink tubing, two layers over the whole (exposed) length, with extra short bits to act as end stops, see here,

The materials were all sourced from eBay,

• 1m - 5mm OD (3mm ID) roll wrapped carbon fibre tube
• 1m - 3mm pultruded fibreglass rod
• small amount of 1" webbing
• 2 cable ties
• 4.8mm 2:1 shrink heatshrink tubing
• insulation tape

I used the cable ties, threaded through a hole (hot nail) poked in the bottom webbing pocket, to keep the tubes from popping out.

The weight transfer was limited by the minimal nature of the pack's waistbelt, rather than the frame.
It certainly did transfer weight, you could slack the shoulder straps right off and take all the load on the belt, without the pack slumping like a regular frameless pack would.

 

[KVerb]

Sounds awesome, I've been snooping around the forum to find out where you got the materials, but I'm unable to find a source for the fiberglass... Care to share please?

 

[KVerb]

Sounds awesome, I've been snooping around the forum to find out where you got the materials, but I'm unable to find a source for the fiberglass... Care to share please?

Just to clarify, I did read that you got it off eBay, I just can't find it myself..

 

[Gadget]

It seems the trader who was selling the 3mm rod isn't any more.
It is available on Aliexpress, but with hefty shipping.
You are probably better off getting the sturdier 4mm rod, which is easily available (Roman blind rod) and getting 6mm o/d CF tube (with 4mm inside diameter).
The 4mm rod will bend to that radius OK, and will be more robust (with only a small weight penalty).

 

[KVerb]

Alright thanks for your feedback once more! I'll see if I can find some fiberglass in a local store.

 

[Gadget]

I'll send you a rod if you want.
It's this stuff,
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fibreglas...hash=item33d4addf20:m:mSMfyqi26BdnfOzuC7BezDw
but I have 3m lengths.

The CF tube is this,
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Carbon-F...hash=item1a342f3b49:m:mnCGd_f6tUFCzgylLYOHJ6w
get roll-wrapped not pultruded.

 

[KVerb]

Wow so generous, awesome! I'm just afraid that shipping might be costly as I'm at the other side of the North Sea...