""I've been day-hiking on stretches of the AT for 40 years and I've witnessed first hand the incredible improvement in gear during that time. As God is my judge, if you handed this pack to a through-hiker in 1975, he would have passed out. And when he came to, you would have had trouble convincing him that he hadn't died and (however improbably) gone to Heaven. This is a HUGE pack, but it's so light-weight (a hair over 4lbs) and well-designed and adjustable that even a small/medium-sized hiker can use it comfortably.
I'll admit that wasn't my first impression. I slipped it on and thought, "If I was 6'6" instead of 5'6", this would fit me just right." Then I figured out the adjustment system, which is the greatest piece of engineering since the Aswan Dam. There are two metal strips that run the entire 28" length of the pack. That sounds uncomfortable, but you never know they're there. The shoulder strap/upper back pad assembly "floats" on those two metal rods and can be adjusted with the wide blue webbing strap and buckle that fits under the lower back pad. You'll have to experiment, but once you figure it out, you can adjust it easily and quickly. And once you get it adjusted to fit, it stays in place.
The reason that a pack fits (or doesn't) is the length of your torso. The waist belt must fit around your waist and rest on your hip bones. The top of the shoulder straps must match the top of your shoulders. By sliding the shoulder strap/upper back pad up and down on the metal rods, you can get a perfect fit and then it locks into place and stays there. At the smallest adjustment, the bottom of the wide waist belt is 19 3/4" from the top of the shoulder straps. At the largest adjustment, that measurement is 25 1/4". It doesn't sound like a huge difference, but it accommodates almost all but the super short or the super tall. I don't think someone under 5'3" would be comfortable with this pack. It's just too big for them.
I'm 5'6" and it fits me at or close to the smallest adjustment, but I have a high waist and a short torso. It's not only your height that this pack adjusts to fit, but also the length of your torso.
I've concentrated on the adjusting feature of this pack because I think it's the single most important feature. It doesn't matter HOW good a pack is if it doesn't fit you. I think that many hikers would be afraid to even try an 80L pack for fear it would swallow them alive. I'm not saying I'd fill this pack with bricks and start up the mountain, but I'm astonished at how comfortable it is filled with a reasonable amount of gear. And I'm convinced that being able to adjust it to fit your body size is the key to that carrying efficiency. On a long, hard hike, how MUCH you can carry is secondary to the strain that the pack makes on your body. I've seen too many hikers turn around and give up after a few hours not to know that.
Other than the adjustment system, it's a fine pack. The shoulder straps are wide, curved, thickly padded and lined with absorbent wicking fabric to prevent sweat build-up and the chaffing it causes. The upper back pad and the lumbar pad are ergonomic and padded and lined with the same wicking fabric. The padded parts of the wast strap (that ride your hip bones on either side) taper from 6" to 3 1/2" and have the same thick padding and wicking lining. The front waist strap is 1 1/2" no-roll webbing with a big, sturdy buckle. It adjusts on both sides with quick-release fasteners and there are elastic loops on both sides to keep the extra straps from flapping around. It's the little things that drive you nuts on a long hike.
There are strong, reinforced handles on both ends of the pack. When you're exhausted, even getting a grip on your pack is a monumental task. At times like that, you need all the help you can get. There are big mesh pockets on either side and long, slim zippered compartments on both sides. The main compartment runs the length (28") and width (13") and depth (up to 8") of the pack and there's a pocket in it for a 2L hydration bladder and a special hole for the tubing to come out. Staying hydrated on the trail is the difference between success and failure (And sometimes between life and death.)
There are two big zippered compartments on the front of the pack and two more on the lid. All the zippers are top-quality, with strong metal pulls and long extenders. There are compression straps on the side of the pack so you can adjust it to your load and large compression straps on the bottom of the pack to hold a tent and/or bedroll. There's a chest strap of narrow webbing and you should use it. It's comfortable and it equalizes the load. There's an elaborate arrangement of stretchy straps on the front of the pack to hold rain gear or to stow your jacket when you need to peel off a layer.
The pack itself is water resistant. I put some clothes in it and sprayed it lightly with my hand-held shower for 30 minutes to simulate the effects of walking in a light drizzle and everything inside stayed dry. There's also a stretchy water-proof covering that's stashed in the lid compartment. Cover the pack with that and even a heavy rain won't soak through. Actually, that big, bright neon-yellow cover could come in handy to make yourself visible in some situations. Gear that "multi-tasks" is worth the space in your pack.
If the designer of this pack forgot anything, I can't figure out what it would be. It will be going on a month-long camping/hiking trip in September and I'll have more to report then. As of now, we're totally impressed. It's not cheap, but you're getting value for the money. The design, materials, and workmanship are all first-class.""
I'll admit that wasn't my first impression. I slipped it on and thought, "If I was 6'6" instead of 5'6", this would fit me just right." Then I figured out the adjustment system, which is the greatest piece of engineering since the Aswan Dam. There are two metal strips that run the entire 28" length of the pack. That sounds uncomfortable, but you never know they're there. The shoulder strap/upper back pad assembly "floats" on those two metal rods and can be adjusted with the wide blue webbing strap and buckle that fits under the lower back pad. You'll have to experiment, but once you figure it out, you can adjust it easily and quickly. And once you get it adjusted to fit, it stays in place.
The reason that a pack fits (or doesn't) is the length of your torso. The waist belt must fit around your waist and rest on your hip bones. The top of the shoulder straps must match the top of your shoulders. By sliding the shoulder strap/upper back pad up and down on the metal rods, you can get a perfect fit and then it locks into place and stays there. At the smallest adjustment, the bottom of the wide waist belt is 19 3/4" from the top of the shoulder straps. At the largest adjustment, that measurement is 25 1/4". It doesn't sound like a huge difference, but it accommodates almost all but the super short or the super tall. I don't think someone under 5'3" would be comfortable with this pack. It's just too big for them.
I'm 5'6" and it fits me at or close to the smallest adjustment, but I have a high waist and a short torso. It's not only your height that this pack adjusts to fit, but also the length of your torso.
I've concentrated on the adjusting feature of this pack because I think it's the single most important feature. It doesn't matter HOW good a pack is if it doesn't fit you. I think that many hikers would be afraid to even try an 80L pack for fear it would swallow them alive. I'm not saying I'd fill this pack with bricks and start up the mountain, but I'm astonished at how comfortable it is filled with a reasonable amount of gear. And I'm convinced that being able to adjust it to fit your body size is the key to that carrying efficiency. On a long, hard hike, how MUCH you can carry is secondary to the strain that the pack makes on your body. I've seen too many hikers turn around and give up after a few hours not to know that.
Other than the adjustment system, it's a fine pack. The shoulder straps are wide, curved, thickly padded and lined with absorbent wicking fabric to prevent sweat build-up and the chaffing it causes. The upper back pad and the lumbar pad are ergonomic and padded and lined with the same wicking fabric. The padded parts of the wast strap (that ride your hip bones on either side) taper from 6" to 3 1/2" and have the same thick padding and wicking lining. The front waist strap is 1 1/2" no-roll webbing with a big, sturdy buckle. It adjusts on both sides with quick-release fasteners and there are elastic loops on both sides to keep the extra straps from flapping around. It's the little things that drive you nuts on a long hike.
There are strong, reinforced handles on both ends of the pack. When you're exhausted, even getting a grip on your pack is a monumental task. At times like that, you need all the help you can get. There are big mesh pockets on either side and long, slim zippered compartments on both sides. The main compartment runs the length (28") and width (13") and depth (up to 8") of the pack and there's a pocket in it for a 2L hydration bladder and a special hole for the tubing to come out. Staying hydrated on the trail is the difference between success and failure (And sometimes between life and death.)
There are two big zippered compartments on the front of the pack and two more on the lid. All the zippers are top-quality, with strong metal pulls and long extenders. There are compression straps on the side of the pack so you can adjust it to your load and large compression straps on the bottom of the pack to hold a tent and/or bedroll. There's a chest strap of narrow webbing and you should use it. It's comfortable and it equalizes the load. There's an elaborate arrangement of stretchy straps on the front of the pack to hold rain gear or to stow your jacket when you need to peel off a layer.
The pack itself is water resistant. I put some clothes in it and sprayed it lightly with my hand-held shower for 30 minutes to simulate the effects of walking in a light drizzle and everything inside stayed dry. There's also a stretchy water-proof covering that's stashed in the lid compartment. Cover the pack with that and even a heavy rain won't soak through. Actually, that big, bright neon-yellow cover could come in handy to make yourself visible in some situations. Gear that "multi-tasks" is worth the space in your pack.
If the designer of this pack forgot anything, I can't figure out what it would be. It will be going on a month-long camping/hiking trip in September and I'll have more to report then. As of now, we're totally impressed. It's not cheap, but you're getting value for the money. The design, materials, and workmanship are all first-class.""
Thanks Kathleen (Whistlers Mom)
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