Shimano PRO Carbon rigid fork

[ekibike]

Any opinions out there regarding the use of this fork for bikepacking?  Or any carbon rigid as compared to a steel rigid?  Any favorite rigid forks to recommend?  Thanks!

[Damnitman]

Black Sheep Ti Unicrown...Everything (trail, a/c) is the perfect fit on my early gen Ti Fatback...

[ekibike]

Anybody else?  Since posting I have narrowed my selections down to either the PRO fork or a Kona P2 steel fork.  Any experience out there with the P2 if no the PRO?

[Damnitman]

what sort of load do you plan on carrying on your front end?  How do you plan on carrying it (rack? Revelate system?)?  What are the capabilities of the forks you are looking at?

[boddunn]

I've got a modern triple butted P2 and it's fine; weighs 980 grams but a fork's a fork, unless it's really noodly, as far as I'm concerned. I've also used Pace carbon rigid forks and some Surly rigid forks; only difference was the Surly ones weighed a ton and made the bike front heavy if you got any air. There's a whole load of Konas out there with 20 year old P2s so the design must ok in most respects.

[ekibike]

what sort of load do you plan on carrying on your front end?  How do you plan on carrying it (rack? Revelate system?)?  What are the capabilities of the forks you are looking at?

Lighter stuff up front, things like sleeping system and small bits in a revelate style bag.  I may try to make my own system or just us a dry bag strapped to the front for the time being.  Definitely no racks.  If by capabilities you mean what I absolutely need the fork to do then:
1. fit 26" wheels
2. take v-brakes
3. be lighter than a 2001 Mars CL (1260 grams) and more precisely steering (its like a wet noodle and I don't weigh much at all!)
4. take a wide tire

Also, boddunn, its good to hear that you like your P2.  I am leaning towards the steal because I worry about investing in a "breakable" part like a carbon fork.  I have never owned carbon anything for any kind of bike and I am a bit nervous about starting there, but I also want it lightweight and I may be getting a pretty sweet deal on it. 

Thanks again all! 

[boddunn]

Yeah,
 I broke my carbon bars a few weeks ago and now I've got scabs all up the left side of my body, crashing at 40mph on to tarmac isn't fun. Still can't work out what caused it, I check them fairly regularly and only did it a few days before it happened.
 Having said that they were 3 years old and have several 10's of thousands of miles on them which is about right for carbon from what the Ritchey website says.
 

[ekibike]

Well, you may have just made the decision for me.  I like all my skin and teeth remaining in one place, and I am no where near as fastidious as you when it comes to checking parts for wear.  It should work forever!  HAHA 

I would still love to hear from anyone else and find out I am wrong to worry about carbon or whatever.  Anybody?

[boddunn]

Don't get me wrong, I still have a carbon seatpost and shaving 400 grams off the front of the bike would make a big difference to the handling and weight but I ride a lot and I'd rather have reliability over weight saving any day. It's not so much of a problem in the UK but I wouldn't fancy breaking a part of my bike in the middle of nowhere somewhere like the US or Australia; it'd be a bloodly long walk to hospital!

[ekibike]

With any luck I get to find myself in a place that would cause me to have a bloody long walk home.  I cannot wait to get really "out there."  Thanks again for the advice.  I will pose some pics once the set up is complete.