SUBSCRIBE | NEWSLETTERS | MAPS | VIDEOS | BLOGS | MARKETPLACE | CONTESTS
TRY BACKPACKER FREE!
SUBSCRIBE NOW and get
2 Free Issues and 3 Free Gifts!
Full Name:
Address 1:
Address 2:
City:
State:
Zip Code:
Email: (required)
If I like it and decide to continue, I'll pay just $12.00, and receive a full one-year subscription (9 issues in all), a 73% savings off the newsstand price! If for any reason I decide not to continue, I'll write "cancel" on the invoice and owe nothing.
Your subscription includes 3 FREE downloadable booklets.
Or click here to pay now and get 2 extra issues
Offer valid in US only.
Canadian Subscriptions | International Subscriptions
CLOSE WINDOW

BACKPACKER PHOTOS

Email this page RSS feed
User rating:
-
Digg Delicious Yahoo Facebook Reddit StumbleUpon Google Newsvine Facebook Twitter

Ribz Front Pack

The Ribz vest can help hikers, kayakers, bikers, and backpackers distribute gear evenly along un-used portions of the body where you can reach it!
Photos and text by Joe Flowers.
«
  • The Ribz Front Pack (a.k.a. a vest) comes in two sizes, ultralight (11 oz., top) and regular (13 oz., bottom).
  • It made easy access of maps, lighters, gps, cell phones, first aid kits, cameras and...flasks. You won't have to stop to fish items out of your pack, and I personally enjoyed having free pockets without items banging on the sides of my hips.
  • The small Ribz Vest did not detract from a normal backpack setup and did not get in the way of shoulder or even bulkier hip straps during a hike in Mt. Rogers State Park, VA.
  • With Almonds, GPS, a lighter, and a whistle, I felt more confident when I dropped the pack to explore a trail off shoot or a possible water source with the Ribz holding important items tight to my body.
  • These things can hold a lot of stuff! All of this gear fit on one side of the smaller Ribz vest (400+ cu. inches). It is no wonder why this pack is a hit among Search and Rescue operators and fishermen.
  • This is the small Ribz vest with all the gear pictured before, stored on one side. The pack didn't protrude, nor was it excessively bulky during a hike.
  • Both Ribz vests are fully adjustable, and I found myself making it loose during general hiking, but snugged it up when I was acting like a spider monkey jumping up crags.
  • The inner zippers are compartmentalized so you won't have a pile of stuff at the bottom of the pouch. On one side of each vest there is a smaller zippered pocket. Each vest is constructed of ripstop nylon and is lightweight and pliable.
  • <b>The Specs:</b><br> Ultralight<Br>$64.95<br> 11 oz. <br><Br> Regular<br> $64.95<br> 13 oz.<br>www.ribzwear.com
>
»
The Ribz Front Pack (a.k.a. a vest) comes in two sizes, ultralight (11 oz., top) and regular (13 oz., bottom).
Image 1 of 9

The Ribz Front Pack (a.k.a. a vest) comes in two sizes, ultralight (11 oz., top) and regular (13 oz., bottom).

READERS COMMENTS

Page 1

I used a Jansport waist-pack in addition to my older - now retired - Chouinard backpack for a multi-day trip. The two side mesh pockets and two zippered compartments were easily accessible and very handy. It was an excellent working solution. The only drawbacks were (1) an extra step for loading/unloading the packs, and (2) adjusting the waist-pack buckle so it's out of the way of the backpack's belt.
— A.K.


POST A COMMENT

Your Name:
Comment:
My Profile Join Now

Most recent threads

Trailhead Register
The Day I Found the Letter
Posted On: Mar 21, 2013
Submitted By: BradMT
Trailhead Register
True or False
Posted On: Mar 21, 2013
Submitted By: City Man

Most viewed Most emailed Top Rated

  1. The 10 Essentials

    The 10 essentials packing list was designed to ensure that hikers could a) ...

  2. How to Fit a Week's Gear into a Weekend Pack

    Don't own a massive pack for your big annual adventure? Here's how to make it ...

  3. How to Make a Survival Bracelet

    In an emergency, you can use paracord for lashings, tourniquets, shoelaces, ...

  1. Hiking to Grand Canyon's Royal Arch

    Join photographer Elias Butler on this trek to one of the Grand Canyon's hidden ...

  2. How to Make a Survival Bracelet

    In an emergency, you can use paracord for lashings, tourniquets, shoelaces, ...

  3. 2010 Reader Photo Contest

    Your best shots: BACKPACKER readers have been to some spectacular places and ...

TIP 9: Check the Weather

Most weather reports don't apply to backcountry or mountainous terrain. Gather specific information by calling ranger stations, checking guide books, and researching monthly climate trends.

Special sections - Expert handbooks for key trails, techniques and gear

Fall/Winter Gear Guide
261 reviews and camping tips

Boost Your Apps
Add powerful tools and exclusive maps to your BACKPACKER apps through our partnership with Trimble Outdoors.

Carry the Best Maps
With BACKPACKER PRO Maps, get life-list destinations and local trips on adventure-ready waterproof myTopo paper.

FREE Rocky Mountain Trip Planner
Sign up for a free Rocky Mountain National Park trip planning kit from our sister site MyRockyMountainPark.com.

Follow BackpackerMag on Twitter Follow Backpacker on Facebook
Get 2 FREE Trial Issues and 3 FREE GIFTS
Survival Skills 101 • Eat Better
The Best Trails in America
YES! Please send me my FREE trial issues of Backpacker
and my 3 FREE downloadable booklets.
Full Name:
City:
Address 1:
Zip Code:
State:
Address 2:
Email (required):
Free trial offer valid for US subscribers only. Canadian subscriptions | International subscriptions