Six Moon Designs Fusion 65

[simonm]

Does anyone have personal experience using the Six Moon Designs Fusion 65 pack? They are currently available at a very good price as I believe a new model is due out.

http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/packs/80-fusion-65.html

[Avatar]

An undated review by Chris Townsend here - http://www.tgomagazine.co.uk/gearreview/review-fusion-65-backpack-from-six-moons-design

[simonm]

Thanks mate, I have read that review and quite a few others. Most reviews seem to indicate the colours are horrid, the side pockets a tad small but apart from that carries a load well.

I am very close to pulling the trigger.

[simonm]

Pack ordered.

[gbedford]

I will be very interested in your thoughts about the Fusion 65 after you have tested it. I am very interested in the volume. My experience American packs is that the listed volumes can vary significantly from my measured volume.

I have also looked at your Tier Gear website and I liked what I saw.

Gordon

[simonm]

Hi Gordon,

I will give some feedback when I get it. Luckily I got in before the price went back up. It was 50% off so it was hard to pass up. I am booked in for the Overland track in March so I am hoping to take the Fusion 65 on that walk and give it a good test.

Tier Gear is slowly getting there. I have a few more new pieces of hardware and different fabrics to add in the next month or so.

Cheers

[melinda]

Big thumbs up for the Six Moon Design Flight 40!
Awesome pack, carries beautifully.
Yah have to know that if Brian Frankle has had a hand in the design, it is going to be good!

[simonm]

Sounds good Melinda. I should have the pack soon.

[melinda]

Heh Simon,
Let us know what you think of it.
The white material on the Flight 40 is amazing. Still shiny white after numerous overnight trips.
Good luck with tiergear!
In the past I've had to order some of these products from overseas.
Much prefer to support a Tasmanian company!

[simonm]

The pack should be here Tuesday and hopefully I will be in the Walls of Jerusalem shortly after that or maybe Arm River Track or Lees Paddock. That's the only problem I have found moving to Tassie there are just too many choices!

[simonm]

The pack arrived today and I was not as offended by the colour as I thought I may be.

As expected the pack is well made apart from some less than perfect stitching along the roll top stiffener. The tension was not quite right but that is being picky.

The side pocket, which have been the subject of some criticism, are shaped so that a bottle would be easily retrieved and inserted on the move. However I can see that the bottle may not take much to come out as others have experienced after putting the pack down. The side pockets are made from a stretch fabric which may not prove too durable if scrub bashing.

There is a large front pocket which expands nicely and would accept quite a bit of gear.

The top opening is a roll top and seems easy to use and secure by the two side release buckles on each side.

Inside the pack is a zippered pocket and two loops but apart from that it is a simple clean bag, which I like.

I got the small hip belt and the fit seems good, I have a 32-33in waist. There are 2 decent sized zippered pouches on either side of the hipbelt and these should accept snacks, compact camera, etc.

I will provide more feedback when I get to use it with a decent load.

[simonm]

I discovered some other stitching issues with this pack but it was easily repaired. I did notify Six Moon Designs though just to let them know.

Fusion 65.JPG (63.04 KiB) Viewed 6703 times

Fusion 65 (2)_640x480.JPG (66.84 KiB) Viewed 6703 times

Fusion 65 resewn_640x480.JPG (60.6 KiB) Viewed 6703 times

Fusion 65 resewn1_640x480.JPG (76.96 KiB) Viewed 6703 times

I wasn't 100% happy with my original effort in those pics, so I unpicked it and resewed it.

I also headed up Quamby Bluff last week with the pack reasonably lightly loaded. The side pockets are easily reached when walking, the pack carried well, and felt very comfortable. The pockets on the hipbelt held my camera, phone, some snacks and a few other things. I need to load it up to do a real test though but so far apart from the stitching issues I am pleased with the pack.

[melinda]

Problem with stitching is very disappointing! Especially because more than one fault.
Have to say my Flight 40 is perfect!
Luck of the draw???
How did Ron Moak respond???

[simonm]

Problem with stitching is very disappointing! Especially because more than one fault.
Have to say my Flight 40 is perfect!
Luck of the draw???
How did Ron Moak respond???

Brandon responded to my email and did so promptly, and was apologetic. As I got it at 50% off I was not expecting them to do anything about it and I was happy to fix it myself.

I do have terrible luck when purchasing new items. I would say every large purchase of mine in the last 2 years has had some issue that required attention. The only exception has been my Tarptent Moment DW, which I can't fault.