In reply to Stuart the postie:
Yep - fair enough. I don't think my Berghaus Ice Star that I got in 1990 weighs any more than this, so lighter packs aren't a new idea.
> I have a Golite Jam pack, same size as the above, 700g or so, nearly half the weight.
>
> Berghaus also did something similar (Phantom 37L), again sub 1kg.
I guess those are pretty specialist light packs - my 'on route' pack weighs 280 grs (REI Flash), but I tend to carry that in a bigger more comfy pack that I leave at the base of a route in winter if we are abbing the route.
> I have a 16yr old Lowe Spire 40, tuff as f'k materials, still about 1kg!
Just sold a 15 year old Lowe Snowpeak which was also probably only 1.5 kgs and lasted superbly.
> I just don't understand why something, in todays 'fast and light', with materials and technology, can still weigh much more than 1kg?
I suppose materials haven't changed that much for an all-round pack. You still have two shoulder straps, a bit of padding in the back, a lid with a zipped pocket or two, etc. In fact one of the things I do like about the Centaur is how much it reminds me of my rather knackered Berghaus ice star from a time when the Soviet Union still existed! The Centaur isn't a super light pack - Marmot do this one
http://marmot.com/products/ultra_kompressor?p=119 (which I think is what Will Simm sees to be using for all his amazing Patagonian and Alpine routes), it's a decent all rounder.