This style of pack was a first for me, and I wasn't sure if I would like it or not. I used it for the first time last week on a quick 10-miler with 2700' of gain, and LOVED it! The pack design is incredibly versatile and functional, and I got full use of all the pockets and the quick-access pole holder. I didn't use a bladder with it this time, but the chest pockets for 500ml bottles worked great! The pack is incredibly light, might be the most comfortable I've ever worn, and can hold far more than would ever be needed for even an extended day-hike (I had layers with me as I started in early morning cold and ended in full sun). It was easy to fit with the adjustable back, harness and load adjusters. The hipbelt and lumbar panels felt secure and the entire pack distributes loads well. So why 4-stars, here are the issues I found: 1. The reach-in access for the side pockets is a great idea, and bottles were secure, but still came out with relative ease. Putting them back in required a bit of patience (and flexibility). 2. When full, the zipper on the hip pocket can be hard to pull closed. 3. The Airscape back panel is in full contact with your back, and while it breathes well, I was moving fast (the point of this pack) and sweating heavily under it. 4. The DWR finish didn't seem to do its job. I found that sweat soaked into the pack fabric, and while it dried quickly, objects in the hipbelt pockets did get wet (some paper I had in there got ruined). This may not be an issue in dry, desert climates, but is one in more humid climes. I would absolutely recommend a cover for this pack if you have any chance of rain as moisture soaks right through it (so much for the DWR treatment). Otherwise, I would fully recommend this pack. I'm looking forward to using it on ALL of my fast-pack hikes!
Read More
