Nashville Pack Cutaway

“It's always a game of compromises. I love me some running vest pockets -- and I'm having a hard time finding ones better than the UD Fastpack's -- to the point where I put those straps onto a Nashville Cutaway, but for fastpacking, you're wanting to go like sub 8lbs baseweight anyways, so the need for sensational storage up front is negated by the fact that you don't need sensational storage *at all*. That low of a base weight doesn't need some excellent forward/rear weight balancing. The other issue is sweat. My back sweats because there's a pack on it. If you put more storage up front -- more area being covered by pockets -- now my back AND front are going to sweat. And fastpack-style packs are nice because they ride so high. My lower back sweats a ton, so having that out open-ish to the world at large is a huge plus. I don't want a hip belt at all because the pockets cover so much area. Kinda like a lot of things in UL, the answer should first be, can you live *without*? And of course I have running vests that are designed to almost look like flack jackets. And it's nice: lots of storage of up front, but they're not going to be as breathable as even running-vest style jackets. And getting them on/off -- that starts to become bothersome. Ever get hit in the head by your waterbottle you stow up front?”