Backpacks come in many sizes and designs for a reason: so do backpackers. Some of us need a pack for moderate loads, some for heavy loads, and others, increasingly, for lightweight or ultralight backpacking. Some prefer a minimalist pack, others a range of features and access. Everyone wants the best possible fit and comfort, and almost everyone has a budget. But no matter which type of backpacker you are, this review covers the best packs in each of those categories.

Each of my picks for the 10 best backpacking packs stands out for different reasons. I also point out two excellent packs for kids and small adults (at the bottom of the Gregory Paragon/Maven review). My judgments draw from many thousands of miles and more than three decades of backpacking and a quarter-century of testing and reviewing gear—including the 10 years I spent as the lead gear reviewer for Backpacker magazine and even longer running this blog. Few reviewers have lugged as many packs around the backcountry as me.

Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Join The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here for my e-books to classic backpacking trips. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip.

I’m confident at least one of these packs will be perfect for you—plus you’ll find the best prices for them through the affiliate links to online retailers below. Purchasing gear through my affiliate links supports my work on this blog. Thanks for doing that.

I’ve listed the pack reviews below in order by weight because that’s the metric that most defines and influences a pack’s design and functionality. The ratings admittedly tend to favor more-featured packs, which are heavier, and that may not meet your needs; use the ratings as a comparison with packs of similar weight. The pack you ultimately choose may depend partly on weight, but also on design and on your budget. Each pack review in this article links to that pack’s complete review at The Big Outside.

Not sure what type of pack you need? Start with my “5 Expert Tips For Buying the Right Backpacking Pack.” See also my picks for “The Best Ultralight Backpacks.”

The comparison chart below offers a quick look at stats and features that distinguish these packs from one another.

If you have a question for me or a comment on this review, please make it in the comments section at the bottom of this story. I try to respond to all comments.

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The 10 Best Backpacking Packs

Tough, Waterproof Ultralight

Hyperlite Mountain Gear Windrider
$395, 1 lb. 15 oz./879 g (55L)
hyperlitemountaingear.com

When the Windrider was delivered to my house, the box looked much too small to contain a backpack. Like the best sub-three-pound, ultralight packs, the Windrider handles 30 to 35 pounds well, but weighs anywhere from a half-pound to nearly a pound less than those competitors. It has the capacity for going several days between resupplies. Its tough Dyneema Composite Fabrics is fully waterproof. The fixed suspension comes in four sizes—more than offered by most high-end pack makers—and the simple harness system works.

Three big, external mesh pockets add nearly 10 liters of capacity, and the roomy, zippered hipbelt pockets offer convenience. A top-loader with a roll-top closure, the Windrider is noticeably bereft of features found on many other packs. But its minimalist design, durability, capacity, comfort, and low weight will appeal to many backpackers who prefer hiking over simply hauling.

The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest ($395, 55L/3,400 c.i., 2 lbs., four sizes) is virtually identical to the Windrider except that it replaces the durable, tearproof mesh used in the external pockets with a more durable, Dyneema Hardline fabric—same as used in the zippered hipbelt pockets on both packs.

Read my complete review of the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Windrider.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking either of these affiliate links to purchase a Hyperlite Mountain Gear Windrider backpack at hyperlitemountaingear.com or a Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest backpack at hyperlitemountaingear.com.

Want an ultralight pack with more total capacity than the Windrider and seven external pockets, that weighs and costs less? See my review of the Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60.

Plan your next great backpacking trip in Yosemite, Grand Teton,
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Ultralight With Extras

Gregory Focal 58 and Facet 55
Gregory Focal 58 and Facet 55
$270, 2 lbs. 11 oz./1.22 kg (Focal 58)
gregorypacks.com

Backpackers who are willing to accept a reasonable weight penalty for some organizational features of traditional backpacks and the support to carry up to 35 pounds will like the top-loading men’s Focal and women’s Facet. They sport six external pockets, including two on the hipbelt and a large, stretch-mesh front pocket, and useful features like good compression and attachments for trekking poles or an ice axe. And they’re made with recycled fabrics.

Gregory’s attention to comfort in its ultralight backpack is evident in the aluminum perimeter wire frame with a fiberglass cross-stay and an HDPE framesheet that lend the pack substantial rigidity, distributing most of the load across the hips. The tensioned, ventilated back panel allows air movement across your sweaty back. That support and comfort kept me smiling on strenuous days of hiking up to 12 miles with over 7,000 feet of cumulative elevation gain and loss—including seven very steep off-trail miles—backpacking for six days in the Grand Canyon. These are well-designed, comfortable packs for ultralighters who want some organizational features of traditional backpacks.

Read my complete review of the Gregory Focal 58 and Facet 55.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s Gregory Focal 58 or Focal 48 at rei.com, backcountry.com, or gregorypacks.com, or a women’s Gregory Facet 55 or Facet 45 at rei.com, backcountry.com, or gregorypacks.com.

Planning your next big adventure? See “America’s Top 10 Best Backpacking Trips”
and “Tent Flap With a View: 25 Favorite Backcountry Campsites.”

Ultralight Classic

Osprey Exos 58 and Eja 58
$285, 2 lbs. 14 oz./1.3 kg (Exos 58)
Exos 58: backcountry.com
Eja 58: osprey.com

On a nine-day, nearly 130-mile hike through the High Sierra, mostly on the John Muir Trail, I found the updated-for-2022 Exos 58 keeps what has made it a classic since 2008 while getting even better. Now with improved comfort, thanks to an adjustable suspension with a four-inch fit range, and made with 100 percent recycled materials, the Exos and Eja come in two torso sizes and three capacity sizes. As before, the LightWire perimeter frame carries 30 to 35 pounds comfortably, while the perforated-foam hipbelt and shoulder straps distribute that weight nicely. And the trampoline-style back panel provides great ventilation across your back.

Made a bit more durable through little design improvements, the redesigned Exos 58 and Eja 58 have the capacity for weeklong trips and ultralight thru-hiking. At under three pounds, they have smart features like a removable, floating lid with two pockets, spacious pockets on the front, sides, and hipbelt, Z-style side compression, and a handy trekking poles attachment on the left shoulder strap. The Exos and Eja also come in 48-liter ($240) and 38-liter ($220) versions.

Read my complete review of the Osprey Exos 58 and Eja 58.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase any men’s Osprey Exos backpack at osprey.com, backcountry.com, or rei.com, or any women’s Osprey Eja backpack at osprey.com, backcountry.com, or rei.com.

See my review of another outstanding pack with the same price, weight, and basic design, though differences, the Gregory men’s Focal 58 and women’s Facet 55.

Be comfortable on your hikes. See “The Best Rain Jackets For Hiking and Backpacking.”

Comfort and Low Weight

Deuter Aircontact Ultra 50+5
$285, 2 lbs. 15 oz./1.33 kg
backcountry.com

Among similar, mid-size, ultralight backpacking packs, Deuter’s Aircontact Ultra 50+5 distinguishes itself for the adjustable, comfortable fit and smart design details that make a difference in your experience carrying it. I found the Aircontact Ultra 50+5 comfortable with up to about 35 pounds inside on hikes of three days on southern Utah’s Owl and Fish canyons loop and six days on the Grand Canyon’s Gems Route—and I severely overloaded it on the first day of my Grand Canyon trip without it leaving me feeling destroyed, which says something.

Credit for its comfort and stability going up and down very steep, loose trails on both trips goes to a spring steel wire frame that balances slight flex with structural support, plus hipbelt fins and shoulder straps that rotate to absorb your body’s movement, steadying the pack while hiking. Spacer mesh in the back panel, lumbar pad, shoulder straps, and hipbelt deliver nice ventilation and cushioning. This top-loader fit my gear, food, and often extra water for six days in its spacious main compartment, augmented by six external pockets including a large stretch-mesh front pocket as well as side and hipbelt pockets. Light but reasonably tough, 175-denier polyamide fabric makes it as durable as many backpacking packs in this weight class.

Read my complete review of the Deuter Aircontact Ultra 50+5.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a Deuter Aircontact Ultra 50+5 backpack at backcountry.com, or any model in the Aircontact Ultra series at backcountry.com.

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Uniquely Adjustable Fit

Granite Gear Perimeter 50
$250, 3 lbs. 3 oz./1.4 kg
backcountry.com

When I loaded the Perimeter 50 with about 12 pounds of water on the first day of a 45-mile backpacking trip in Yosemite—bumping the pack’s weight over the 40 pounds that Granite Gear rates it to handle—I was pleasantly surprised at its comfort. That seems like a bonus for a backpack with a customizable fit and high functionality that carries a modest weight and price.

Granite Gear’s Perimeter series packs feature adjustability for both torso length and shoulder width, easily accomplished by resetting the position of a clip behind each shoulder strap. A spring steel rod lends the pack an ergonomic shape plus rigidity along the vertical axis and some horizontal flex, while a PE board cone disperses weight. A top-loader, it has eight external pockets, including a removable, floating lid pocket and a bottom zippered flap that can also carry a sleeping pad, and tough, Robic high-tenacity nylon fabric.

Read my complete review of the Granite Gear Perimeter 50.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a unisex or women’s Perimeter 50 at backcountry.com, or a unisex or women’s Perimeter 35 at backcountry.com.

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Most Versatile

Granite Gear Blaze 60
$300, 3 lbs. 4 oz./1.47 kg
backcountry.com

How many pounds can a lightweight backpack carry comfortably? At just a half-pound heavier than some ultralight packs, the Blaze 60 hauled 40 pounds comfortably on a rugged, six-day, 74-mile backpacking trip through the Grand Canyon, and up to 35 pounds on a four-day, more than 40-mile backpacking trip that crossed four passes near and over 11,000 feet in the Wind River Range.

The Air Current framesheet flexes slightly, allowing the pack to move with your torso, especially in steep or difficult terrain. The ventilated back panel fits closely but has channels for air circulation and the Re-Fit hipbelt felt great even on long, arduous days. It has the capacity and support for long trips and the compression and low weight for short trips, plus super access with a wide top-loading mouth, a zipper into the main compartment, and six external pockets. It comes in three unisex and two women’s sizes, all adjustable, and the fabric is bombproof. The Blaze 60 ranks among the top all-purpose backpacks.

Read my complete review of the Granite Gear Blaze 60.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s Granite Gear Blaze 60 backpack at backcountry.com, or a women’s-specific Granite Gear Blaze 60 backpack at backcountry.com.

Hike all of “The 10 Best Backpacking Trips in the Southwest.”

Excellent Fit, Features, and Durability

Mystery Ranch Radix 57
$299, 3 lbs. 11 oz./1.67 kg
backcountry.com

With the Radix 57, Mystery Ranch asks backpackers: How light is just right? I pondered that question carrying the Radix 57 on backpacking trips in Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains, southern Utah’s Buckskin Gulch and Paria Canyon, and two classic New Zealand hut treks, the Routeburn Track and the Milford Track, and found much to like and a couple of quibbles.

Mystery Ranch prioritized fit, features and functionality in a design that seems a hybrid of traditional bigger and ultralight packs, including six external pockets; zippered access to the main compartment; wrap-around compression that’s removable if needing repair; attachments for trekking poles or ice axe; a removable 7000 series aluminum frame and hipbelt; highly durable materials and construction; plus an unusually big range of four adjustable sizes each in men’s and women’s packs. On the downside, I found the hipbelt’s comfort limit was just a bit over 30 pounds—which seems low for a pack this heavy.

Read my complete review of the Mystery Ranch Radix 57.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s or women’s Mystery Ranch Radix 57, Radix 47, or Radix 31 at backcountry.com or rei.com.

Score a popular permit using my
“10 Tips For Getting a Hard-to-Get National Park Backcountry Permit.”

Quiver of One Backpack

Gregory Paragon 60 and Maven 58
$300, 3 lbs. 12 oz./1.7 kg (Paragon 60)
Paragon 60: backcountry.com
Maven 58: backcountry.com

When Gregory rolled out the 2025 update of these popular packs, I took the Paragon 60 on a four-day, 40-mile walk in the Grand Canyon that included humping up the brutally steep Boucher Trail—which convinced me that the fully featured Paragon 60 and women’s Maven 58 still offer everything that many backpackers want for every kind of trip they take.

These packs have support for carrying at least 35 to 40 pounds comfortably, thanks to an alloy steel perimeter frame with a fiberglass cross-stay and Gregory’s cushy FreeFloat Suspension System. Adjustable for torso length in two sizes, both have Gregory’s Air-Cushion mesh back panel, consisting of 90 percent air, which helped cool my back on hot afternoons in the Grand Canyon. Their excellent organization includes a zipper providing access to the main compartment, six external pockets—and new for 2025, a stretch-mesh pocket on the left shoulder strap that’s sized to hold a Garmin inReach Mini or inReach Messenger device.

Read my complete review of the Gregory Paragon 60 and Maven 58.

BUY IT NOW  You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s Paragon 60 at backcountry.com, gregory.com, or rei.com, or a women’s Maven 58 at backcountry.com, gregory.com, or rei.com. And see all Paragon models at backcountry.com, gregory.com, or rei.com, or all Maven models at backcountry.com, gregory.com, or rei.com.

Get the right tent for you. See “The 10 Best Backpacking Tents”
and my “5 Tips For Buying a Backpacking Tent.”

Ultimate  Comfort

Osprey Atmos AG 65 and Aura AG 65
$370, 4 lbs. 11 oz./2.1 kg (Atmos AG 65)
Atmos AG 65: ospreypacks.com
Aura AG 65: ospreypacks.com

These packs feel very different, in a good way, the first time you put one on, and that positive first impression bore out as I carried the Atmos AG 65 on a five-day hike in The Maze District of Canyonlands National Park, when I was often carrying 8.5 to 14.5 pounds (four to seven liters) of water; on a four-day family hike (bearing some of my family’s gear and food weight) on the Rockwall Trail in Canada’s Kootenay National Park; and on two treks in New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park as well as other backpacking trips. The Anti-Gravity suspension feels more like putting on a jacket than a backpack. Consisting of a panel of lightweight, tensioned mesh extending from the top of the back panel to the hipbelt, it fully wraps around your back and hips while delivering ample air movement.

Adjustable for fit, including the hipbelt, they carry 45 to 50 pounds with supreme comfort and come loaded with features like nine pockets, a convenient trekking poles attachment on the left shoulder strap, and an integrated cover panel to replace the removable lid. Weighing well under five pounds, they’re a great choice for backpackers who usually carry moderate to heavy loads.

Read my complete review of the Osprey men’s Atmos AG 65 and women’s Aura AG 65.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to buy any model of the men’s Osprey Atmos AG at ospreypacks.com or rei.com, or any model of the women’s Aura AG at ospreypacks.com, backcountry.com, or rei.com.

Get the right daypack for your hikes. See my review of “The 10 Best Hiking Daypacks.”

Excels for Big Loads

Gregory Baltoro 65 and Deva 60
$350, 4 lbs. 14 oz./2.2 kg (Baltoro 65)
Baltoro 65: rei.com
Deva 60: rei.com

For carrying loads of 50 pounds or more, I want a pack that’s supportive, comfortable, and tricked out. In every respect, the men’s Baltoro and women’s Deva packs have long filled the big-pack role extremely well, and trips in Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains and on the Teton Crest Trail demonstrated that the latest versions of these two packs are only better.

The Baltoro’s and Deva’s FreeFloat suspension system, updated in 2022, has 3D mesh and a foam-free design that improves air flow across your back; more adjustability in the torso length (in three sizes for men and women), shoulder harnesses, and hipbelt (and the latter two pivot independently, enhancing comfort); enlarged hipbelt pockets; an attachment for a bear spray holster; and a lighter carbon footprint with 31 percent less plastic. And the high-strength aluminum perimeter frame delivers serious support.

Features include a U-shaped zipper that opens up the entire main compartment; nine very functional external pockets; widely adjustable compression straps that cross over the pack bag; and attachments for sunglasses, trekking poles, and ice axes.

Read my complete review of the Gregory Baltoro 65 and Deva 60.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to buy a Gregory Baltoro 65 at gregory.com or rei.com; a Gregory Deva 60 at gregory.com or rei.com; or larger versions of the Baltoro at gregory.com or rei.com or the Deva at gregory.com or rei.com.

See my “5 Tips For Buying the Right Backpack,” “Video: How to Load a Backpack,” all of my reviews of backpacks at The Big Outside.

And don’t miss my popular reviews of “25 Essential Backpacking Gear Accessories” and “The Best Backpacking Gear” of the year, and avoid leaving anything important behind by using “An Essentials-Only Backpacking Gear Checklist.”

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Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned backpacker, you’ll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking,” and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.” With a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read all of those three stories for free; if you don’t have a subscription, you can download the e-book versions of “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” the lightweight backpacking guide, and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.”

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See The Big Outside’s Gear Reviews page for categorized menus of all gear reviews and expert buying tips.

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If you’re super fit and strong, hike with a pack of any weight 50 or more days a year, and have never known any sort of injury or ache in your body, then don’t bother reading this article. But for everyone else, knowing how to find the right pack for backpacking and other outdoor activities—and for your body—will make a world of difference in your enjoyment when carrying that pack for hours a day on a trail or up and down a mountain. This article will lead you through five steps to accomplish exactly that—helping to ensure that you spend your gear money smartly.

These tips reflect what I’ve learned from field testing all kinds of packs for backpacking, dayhiking, climbing, trail running, and backcountry skiing over more than a quarter-century of testing and reviewing gear—formerly as the lead gear reviewer for Backpacker magazine for about 10 years and for even longer running this blog.

Follow these tips in chronological order and you will find the pack that’s right for you.

Please share any tips of your own or your questions in the comments section at the bottom of this story. I try to respond to all comments.

Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Join The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here for my e-books to classic backpacking trips. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip.

#1 Decide What It’s For

It’s tempting, especially when you’re on a budget, to want to buy one pack that will serve every possible need for which you can imagine using a pack. While that approach is understandable, unfortunately, setting such broad expectations takes you in exactly the wrong direction in this important first step toward finding the right pack.

Don’t sweat the fact that your diversity of interests demands a larger quiver of packs than you can afford; in time, when you can, you will get another pack. (We all do.) Your goal here is to focus down and narrow choices.

Plan your next great backpacking adventure in Grand Teton, Yosemite,
and other flagship parks using my expert e-books.

The profusion of pack choices is largely the result of specificity in pack design—companies pursuing customers by making packs intended to be perfect for one purpose or another. Decide the one primary activity for which you’re buying this pack. Backpacking? Dayhiking? Climbing? Backcountry snow sports?

Sure, you can find packs that are more generalist and all-purpose—for example, tough enough for climbing, but with adequate organization and capacity for backpacking, or big enough for weekend backpacking and not too big or heavy for dayhiking, and that may serve you just fine. But if you want a pack that’s ideal for, say, backpacking, then look for a pack primarily designed for backpacking.

See “The 10 Best Backpacking Packs” and the best ultralight backpacks.

#2 Decide on Capacity and Weight

Are you a lightweight or ultralight backpacker, or carrying most of the gear and food for your young kids, or somewhere into between? Are you a weekend backpacker, or planning to take weeklong trips as well, or planning a long thru-hike? Do you dayhike or backpack only in dry, mild climates in summer, or go out in colder and wetter climates, in shoulder seasons (spring and fall), or even in winter, too?

Capacity and maximum weight you’ll carry are two distinct but overlapping considerations. A mid-size pack, for instance, may still be lightweight and intended to carry only a maximum load of 30 or 35 pounds.

Tips:

•    Consider the total weight and the bulk of the gear and food you’ll typically carry, so that your pack has enough space for your needs, can comfortably handle the weight, and isn’t more pack than you really need.
•    Don’t buy the lightest pack if you intend to carry more weight than it’s designed for.
•    If you’re unsure between two backpack capacities—say, 50L or 60L—ask yourself whether you’re ready to size down some bulky gear (like a sleeping bag or tent), or go with the larger pack.

I usually roll my eyes when I see a reviewer suggest that a lightweight or even mid-size pack can carry 50 or 60 pounds. First of all, many people—probably most backpackers—simply cannot carry that much weight with any pack (and don’t want or need to). Don’t trust any suggestion that a minimal frame and suspension system can carry a large weight, or you’ll set yourself up for some painful disappointment.

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How I use packs based on volume and approximate pack weight (there’s overlap between these categories):

•    Packs 65L/3,965 c.i. or larger, weighing four to five pounds or more (empty)—family or gear-intensive backpacking or climbing trips carrying loads of 40-50 pounds or more.
•    Packs 50-65L/3,356-3,967 c.i., weighing three to four pounds—longer trips carrying 30-45 pounds, including several days’ food, when I’m carrying some weight for a partner, or extra clothing and a larger sleeping bag for colder temperatures.
•    Packs approximately 50L/3,051 c.i. or smaller, weighing under three pounds—weekend to multi-day, lightweight/ultralight backpacking with 30-35 pounds or less and lightweight or ultralight, compact gear.
•    Packs 30-45L/1,831-2,441 c.i., weighing 2.5 to four pounds—ultralight weekend trips and gear-intensive activities like climbing and backcountry skiing day trips or hut/yurt trips carrying 30 or more pounds.
•    Packs 20-30L/1,220-1,831 c.i. weighing 1.5 to 2.5 pounds—dayhikes carrying 15 to 25 pounds.
•    Packs under 20L/1,220 c.i. weighing under 1.5 pounds—longer trail runs and dayhikes carrying under 15 pounds.

Want to hike the Teton Crest Trail, John Muir Trail, or another trip?
Click here for expert advice you won’t get elsewhere.

#3 Get the Fit Right

For starters, measure your torso correctly in order to know your pack size. While many hydration packs and daypacks come in only one size, most mid-size and large backpacks come in two or three sizes, each fitting a specific range of torso lengths, or they’re adjustable. Some pack makers offer customization of fit such as different sizes in hipbelts.

How to measure torso length:

Stand straight and have someone use a soft tape measure (or a string which that person can hold against a stiff measuring tape afterward) to measure your spine. Find your iliac crest, which is the shelf-like top of your hipbones on your sides; place your hands there and your thumbs will point to the spot on your spine where your helper should place the end of the tape measure. Have that person run the tape measure along your spine to your C7 vertebrae, which is the knobby bone at the base of your neck when you tilt your head forward. That’s your torso length.

I’ve often found that if a pack model’s sizing is such that my torso length falls on the line between sizes, then either size could be a little small or a little big for me. If I really want that pack, the smaller size often fits me better. But you’ll probably find a more comfortable fit when your torso length falls closer to the middle of a pack’s fit range.

Planning your next big adventure? See “America’s Top 10 Best Backpacking Trips”
and “The 25 Best National Park Dayhikes.”

See my reviews of “The 10 Best Backpacking Packs,” “The 10 Best Hiking Daypacks,” and the best ultralight backpacks, and my “Video: How to Load a Backpack” at The Big Outside.

Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned backpacker, you’ll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking,” and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.” With a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read all of those three stories for free; if you don’t have a subscription, you can download the e-book versions of “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” the lightweight and ultralight backpacking guide, and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.”

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See The Big Outside’s Gear Reviews page for categorized menus of gear reviews and expert buying tips.

The Big Outside helps you find the best adventures.
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The Wind River Range, Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains, and the Grand Canyon (all numerous times now). Utah’s High Uintas Wilderness, Montana’s Beartooths, and Colorado’s Weminuche. Glacier National Park and the Tetons. The Canadian Rockies. Southern Utah’s Owl and Fish canyons, Buckskin Gulch, and Paria Canyon. The John Muir Trail and Wonderland Trail. Iceland’s Laugavegur and Fimmvörðuháls trails. New Hampshire’s Presidential Range and New Zealand’s Milford Track, Routeburn Track, and Tongariro Alpine Crossing.

These are just some of the places where I’ve recently tested the backpacking gear and apparel that I’ve reviewed at The Big Outside—so that I can give you honest and thorough, field-tested opinions that help you find the best gear for your adventures.

And that’s exactly how I came up with the following picks for today’s best backpacking gear.

Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Join The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here for my e-books to classic backpacking trips. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip.

Three decades of testing outdoor gear and apparel—including formerly as the lead gear reviewer and Northwest Editor of Backpacker magazine for 10 years and even longer running this blog—have refined my ability to identify gear that’s truly outstanding, at the cutting edge technologically, and a good value.

In this freshly updated review, I share my top picks for a basic backpacking gear kit, from several of the best packs, tents, boots, and sleeping bags, including suggestions for backpackers on a budget—because everyone has different needs and preferences—to a favorite rain shell, the best trekking poles, down jackets, and air mattresses, the camp kitchen, and water treatment.

Much of the gear in this story links to my complete review of it, where you can get more details and find links to online retailers for purchasing it. Purchasing through the “Buy it now” affiliate links below or affiliate links in each complete review supports my work on The Big Outside, at no cost to you—in fact, you’ll usually find the best prices at those links. Thank you for doing that.

Please share your questions or thoughts on my gear picks in the comments section at the bottom of this story; I try to respond to all comments. And please forward this story to other backpackers you think might find it useful.

Want to read about the many places I’ve backpacked while testing gear? See my All Trips List or use the search box (main menu, above), and check out my e-books to America’s best backpacking trips, including the Teton Crest Trail and The Best First Backpacking Trip in Yosemite, and my Custom Trip Planning page to learn how I can help you plan your next great backpacking trip.

Click on any product name to read its review. Click any “Buy it now” link to purchase it.

Backpacks

Best Overall: Osprey Atmos AG 65 (buy it now) and Aura AG 65 (buy it now), both $370, 4 lbs. 11 oz./2.13kg.
Best Weight-to-Performance Ratio: Granite Gear Blaze 60, $300, 3 lbs. 4 oz./1.47kg. Buy it now.
Best Price-to-Performance Ratio: Gregory Paragon 60 (buy it now) and Maven 58 (buy it now), $270, 3 lbs. 12 oz./1.7 kg.
Best-Fitting Ultralight: Osprey Exos 58 (buy it now) and Eja 58 (buy it now), both $280, 2 lbs. 14 oz./1.3kg.
Best For Heavy Loads: Gregory Baltoro 65 (buy it now) and Deva 60 (buy it now), both $350, 4 lbs. 14 oz./2.21kg.

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Best Ultralight Pack

Hyperlite Mountain Gear Windrider
$379, 1 lb. 15 oz./878.8g

Many ultralight packs lack the support for carrying more than about 25 pounds comfortably. HMG’s Windrider handles up to 35 pounds, its 55 liters deliver the capacity for a week between resupplies, and it weighs much less than some best-selling competitors. Its tough Dyneema Composite Fabrics is fully waterproof and built to survive the apocalypse. The fixed suspension comes in four sizes and the simple harness system works. Its minimalist design, durability, capacity, comfort, and low weight will appeal to many backpackers who prefer hiking over simply hauling.

Read my full review of the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Windrider and see all of my picks for the best ultralight backpacks.

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Tents

Best Two-Door Tent That Pitches with Trekking Poles: Slingfin 2Lite, $505, 2 lbs. 10 oz./1.19kg. Buy it now.
Best 2-Person Ultralight: MSR Freelite 2, $465, 2 lbs./907.2g. Buy it now.
Sturdiest and Roomiest 2-Person Ultralight: Hyperlite Mountain Gear Ultamid 2, $699, 1 lb. 2 oz./510.3g. Buy it now.
Best Solo Ultralight: Hyperlite Mountain Gear Mid-1, $599, 16.8 oz./476.3g. Buy it now.
Best Value Solo Ultralight: Gossamer Gear The One, $255, 1 lb. 2 oz./510g. Buy it now.

Great Balance of Space, Features, and Weight

Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2
$550, 2 lbs. 11 oz./1.22kg

For years, the Copper Spur HV UL2 has remained a leading choice for backpackers seeking an ultralight tent that doesn’t compromise on sturdiness or livability. While some would call it merely “lightweight,” semantics aside, it sports an abundance of features and space for a freestanding, two-door shelter well under three pounds, starting with the most conspicuous: two awning-style doors that can be set up in rain to allow cooling ventilation without getting wet inside or rolled up for maximum ventilation and stargazing. The DAC Featherlite hubbed poles create steep walls that make the tent feel roomier than its 29 square feet, 40-inch peak height, and 88-inch length. It pitches easily, the two vestibules are spacious and ventilation excellent, and the Copper Spur has abundant interior pockets. Very few freestanding, two-door tents strike such a space-to-weight balance.

Read my full review of the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 at backcountry.com or another version of the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL series at backcountry.com.

Get the right gear for your trips. See “The 10 Best Backpacking Packs”
and “The 10 Best Backpacking Tents.”

Shoes and Boots

Best Lightweight Shoes: Danner Trail 2650, $190, 1 lb. 7.5 oz./666.2g Buy them now.
Best Lightweight Backpacking Boots: Scarpa Rush Mid GTX, $199, 2 lbs./907.2g Buy them now.
Best Midweight Backpacking Boots: Salewa Alp Trainer 2 Mid GTX, $250, 2 lbs. 5 oz./1.05 kg Buy them now.
Most Breathable and Sticky: La Sportiva TX3, $159, 1 lb. 9 oz./708.7g Buy them now.
Best Trail Running/Ultralight Hiking Shoes: Hoka One One Speedgoat 6, $155, 1 lb. 3 oz./538.6g Buy them now.
Killer Value: Oboz Katabatic Mid Waterproof, $180, 1 lb. 13 oz./822g Buy them now.

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Sleeping Bags

Best Down Bags: Feathered Friends Hummingbird and Egret UL, $549-$629, 1 lb. 5 oz.-1 lb. 9 oz./595.3g.-708.7g. Buy a Hummingbird UL 30 or 20 now or an Egret UL 30 or 20 now.
Mountain Hardwear Phantom 30, $510-$540, 1 lb. 6 oz./623.7g-669g. Buy a Mountain Hardwear Phantom 30 now.
Marmot Hydrogen 30, $399-$419, 1 lb. 9.4 oz.-1 lb. 11 oz./720g-770g. Buy a Marmot Hydrogen 30 now.
Sea to Summit Spark Pro -9C/15F, $649-$689, 1 lb. 11 oz.-1 lb. 14 oz./765.4g-861g, and Spark Pro -1C/30F, $549-$579, 1 lb. 6 oz.-1 lb. 8 oz./619g-672g. Buy a Sea to Summit Spark Pro now.
Best Ultralight: Therm-a-Rest Hyperion 32 or Hyperion 20, $430-$580, 15 oz.-1 lb. 6 oz./425.2g.-623.7g. Buy it now.
Best Winter Bag: Mountain Hardwear Phantom 0, $700-$740, 2 lbs. 7 oz.-2 lbs. 11 oz./1.11kg.-1.22kg. Buy it now.
Best Budget Sleeping Bag: Kelty Cosmic Synthetic 20, $110-$120, 3 lbs./1.36kg. Buy it now. Or Kelty Cosmic Down 20, $170-$200, 2 lbs. 7 oz./1.11kg. Buy it now.

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Best Value Down Bag

Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass 30F/-1C
$265-$285, 1 lb. 12 oz./793.8g

When shopping for sleeping bags, it’s helpful to compare certain key specs: temperature rating, type and amount of insulation (or fill), total weight, and, of course, the price. Using those metrics, the Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass 30F/-1C looks really good, with RDS-certified, flourine-free, 650-fill-power down, enough warmth for many backpackers on typical overnight temps of summer in most mid-latitude mountain ranges (except for people who tend to get cold more easily), and a cut that delivers more generous space than many bags—all at a weight south of two pounds and it packs down to 7×13.5 inches. Among down bags, this is a good price for a bag of this quality. It also comes in 15-degree and 0-degree versions.

Read my full review of the Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass 30. 

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s or a women’s Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass 30F at backcountry.com, or other versions of the men’s and women’s Bishop Pass bags at backcountry.com.

Click on any product name to read its review. Click any “Buy it now” link to purchase it.

Best Rain Shells

Black Diamond Fineline Stretch Shell
$189, 10 oz./283.5g
Black Diamond Fineline Stretch Full-Zip Pants
$179, 9 oz./255.1g

Few places test rain gear as brutally as New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park, where rain is almost as prevalent as oxygen. In some of the heaviest and most relentless wind-driven rain I’ve encountered over four decades of hiking and backpacking, on two classic hut treks and one long dayhike—the Routeburn Track and Milford Track and the Tongariro Alpine Crossing—Black Diamond’s Fineline Stretch Shell and Full-Zip Pants performed impressively.

For two straight days and most of a third day on the Milford, the jacket and pants never left my body. While water did penetrate both layers in spots—and in fairness, I believe those conditions would overwhelm any high-quality waterproof-breathable shells (and companions with Gore-Tex shells suffered the same fate)—they prevented me from getting soaked and cold. Credit goes to BD’s 2.5-layer BD.dry waterproof/breathable/windproof technology, which also has adequate breathability for all but very warm three-season trips.

With a one-hand-adjustable, climbing-helmet-compatible hood, the DWR-sealed pit zip vents, a waterproof front zipper, tough 50-denier fabric, and two zippered hand pockets—all at just $180 and 10 ounces/283.5 grams (men’s medium)—the Fineline Stretch Shell is a full-on technical, three-season rain shell.

Read my complete review of the Black Diamond Fineline Stretch Shell and Fineline Full-Zip Pants.

See all of the latest gear reviews at The Big Outside.

Down Jackets

Best Down Jacket: Feathered Friends Eos Down Jacket, $409, 11 oz./311.8g Buy it now.
Best Synthetic Jacket: Black Diamond First Light Stretch Hoody, $349, 14 oz./397g Buy it now.
Best Ultralight Down Jacket: Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer/2 Down Hoody, $360, 8.8 oz./249.5g Buy it now.
Best Ultralight Synthetic Jacket: Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody, $329, 9 oz./255.1g Buy it now.
Versatile Down Jacket: Rab Microlight Alpine Down Jacket, $295, 15 oz./425.2g Buy it now.

Which puffy should you buy? See “The 12 Best Down Jackets” and
“How You Can Tell How Warm a Down Jacket Is.”

Trekking Poles

Best Overall: MSR Dynalock Ascent, $190, 1 lb. 1 oz./481.9g Buy it now.
Best Ultralight: Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ, $210, 12.7 oz./360g Buy it now.
Most Versatile: Leki Makalu FX Carbon, $230, 1 lb. 1.9 oz./508g Buy it now.

Need a good headlamp? See “The Best Headlamps.”

Air Mattresses

Best All-Around Air Mat: Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated and XT Extreme, $219-$249, 1 lb. 1 oz.-1 lb. 9 oz./482-709g. Buy it now.
Best Comfort-to-Weight Balance: Nemo Tensor Insulated Air Mattress, $200-$230, 13 oz.-1 lb. 5 oz./369-595g. Buy it now.
Best Ultralight: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT, $200-$240, 11.5 oz.-1 lb. 1 oz./326-482g. Buy it now.
Best Inflatable Pillow: Sea to Summit Aeros Pillow Ultra Light, $50-$55, 2.5 oz./71g. Buy it now.

What do you really need for backpacking?
See my “Essentials-Only Backpacking Gear Checklist.”

Camp Kitchen

Best Ultralight Pot: MSR Titan Kettle 1400ml, $70, 5.4 oz./153g, or Titan Kettle 900ml, $65, 4.4 oz./126g. Buy it now.
Best Cook Set: Sea to Summit Frontier Ultralight Collapsible One-Pot Cook Set, $146, 19 oz./527g. Buy it now.
Best Solo Stove: Jetboil Flash, $145, 13 oz./369g. Buy it now.
Best Family/Group Stove: MSR Windburner Group Stove System, $260, 1 lb. 4 oz./567g. Buy it now.
Best Bear Canister: Bear Vault BV500, $95, 2 lbs. 8 oz./1.1kg. Buy it now.

Buy smart with my pro tips on buying a backpack, backpacking tent,
hiking shoes or boots, a rain jacket, and a sleeping bag.

Best Ultralight Stove

MSR PocketRocket 2
$50, 3 oz./85g (4 oz./113.4g with plastic case, included)

Backcountry stoves come in a variety of designs these days. But in many respects, the simplest design remains the most versatile and reliable, and the PocketRocket 2 continues to embody everything a backpacking stove should be. It fires up easily every time, boils water fast, has good flame control for wilderness gourmands, weighs next to nothing, and costs less than many of its best competitors.

Whereas some types of stoves have limitations on what you can cook with them, you can use the PocketRocket 2 for cooking almost anything, almost anywhere, for any size party (or more than one stove for a large group). That may explain why it’s so popular.

Read my full review. The PocketRocket Deluxe ($85) adds a piezo push-button igniter, but as with that feature on other stoves, its performance can be erratic.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking either of these affiliate links to purchase an MSR PocketRocket 2 at backcountry.com or cascadedesigns.com.

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Water Treatment

Best Pump Filter: MSR Hyperflow, $150, 9 oz./255g. Buy it now.
Best Gravity Filter: Katadyn BeFree Gravity 6L or 10L Filter, $115-$145, 9-10 oz./255-284g. Buy it now.
Best Filter Bottle: Lifestraw Go, $35-$50, 650ml to 1L, 7.8-8.6 oz./221-244g. Buy it now.
Best Ultralight Personal Filter: Katadyn BeFree Water Filtration System 0.6L, 1L, or 3L bottle, $45-$80, 2.5-3.5 oz./71-99g. Buy it now.

Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned backpacker, you’ll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my “12 Expert Tips for Planning a Backpacking Trip,” “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking,” and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.” With a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read all of those three stories for free; if you don’t have a subscription, you can download the e-guide versions of “12 Expert Tips for Planning a Backpacking Trip,” the lightweight and ultralight backpacking guide, and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.”

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Join now and a get free e-book! ]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/the-best-backpacking-gear-of-2018/feed/ 23 27582 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-mystery-ranch-radix-57-backpack/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-mystery-ranch-radix-57-backpack/#comments Thu, 16 Oct 2025 18:44:09 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=68443 Read on

]]> Backpack
Mystery Ranch Radix 57
$299, 57L/3,635 c.i., 3 lbs. 11 oz./1.67kg (men’s small)
Sizes: men’s S-XL, women’s XS-L
backcountry.com

With the Radix 57 backpack, Mystery Ranch challenges backpackers with this thought experiment: How light is just right? I had plenty of time to ponder that question, carrying the Radix 57 on backpacking trips in Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains and southern Utah’s Buckskin Gulch and Paria Canyon, plus two classic New Zealand hut treks, the Routeburn and Milford tracks. While I confess a bias toward ultralight backpacks (and I’ve used many), I found criticisms as well as much to recommend about the Radix 57.

I carried this pack with up to about 35 pounds inside on a four-day, roughly 38-mile, August backpacking trip in Idaho’s Sawtooths, including several miles of off-trail hiking over open ground and a pass over 9,000 feet that entailed a slow descent over steep and loose talus and scree. I also carried it for two days in April (a trip cut short by weather) in Buckskin Gulch and Paria Canyon, starting with about 40 pounds, including eight liters (17 pounds/7.7 kilos) of water; and with loads under 30 pounds on the three-day Routeburn Track and the four-day Milford Track in Mount Aspiring and Fiordland national parks in New Zealand in early December.

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For starters, Mystery Ranch offers the Radix in an unusually big range of four adjustable sizes each in men’s and women’s packs—even the most highly regarded makers of backpacking packs very rarely offer that many sizes, never mind adding adjustability (and the adjustability of these packs contributes to their higher weight; you don’t usually see ultralight packs with adjustable fit).

The fit adjusts like other MR packs, by pulling up on the yoke and removing the adjuster, using it to break the hook-and-loop bond between the yoke and the pack bag, and then adjusting the yoke to your torso length by aligning the seam between the shoulder strap and yoke body with the top of your shoulder blades. You then replace the adjuster in its original position (because it doubles as part of the frame).

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I like the fit and comfort, especially the pre-curved hipbelt, and the shoulder straps and back padding are adequate for this type of pack. Plus, it delivered the stability I wanted on the steep, loose talus and scree while crossing that off-trail pass in the Sawtooths. But I found that the hipbelt’s comfort limit was, at most, a bit over 30 pounds (and I’m sure that limit would vary between different users, as with any pack). Starting our hike into Buckskin Gulch with about 40 pounds felt like clearly too much weight for the pack, especially the hipbelt; but it carried much more comfortably once the weight dropped closer to 30 pounds.

The 7000 series aluminum frame system and the hipbelt are both removable, should you have such a light load that you don’t need a frame’s structure and support. I didn’t face a situation where I’d carry the pack without the frame. But I have carried frameless packs, and without a frame, all packs basically carry the same: with the weight hanging off your shoulders, because that’s what a frame does, provide structure to avoid that.

I can see a small percentage of users removing the frame, but it wouldn’t take much weight inside to make that uncomfortable; and a 57-liter pack seems too large to want to use it much so underloaded that you don’t want the frame. That might make more sense in the smaller Radix models.

I also like this pack’s organization and access—and it’s worth noting that Mystery Ranch chose a more traditional top-loading design rather than the roll-top closure seen in many ultralight packs, although the Radix also has the pockets layout typical of many ultralight packs. The six external pockets include:

• A spacious, removable, floating lid pocket with an internal, zippered mesh pocket;
• Deep, compressible front and side drop-in pockets, the side pockets large enough for a liter bottle;
• And two smallish zippered hipbelt pockets (too small for a standard smartphone).

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Unlike ultralight packs, the Radix sports an off-center zipper that opens up the main compartment from the top nearly to its bottom, providing access to the interior. Its one drawback is that, when the pack is underfilled, the lid overlaps the zipper pull, making it difficult to grab. It might be more useful if the zipper focused on accessing the middle of the pack bag, without extending all the way to the top of the bag.

The pack also has side compression straps that wrap fully around the bag to compress it when not full and enable you to attach stuff, like a foam pad, to the outside; and adjustable cords on the front for attaching trekking poles or an ice axe. Also, the removable and repairable compression web and repairable trim could help extend the pack’s life.

TheRadix 31L, 47L, and 57L packs are made with lightweight and tough Ultra-PE fabric in the pack’s bottom, 330-denier in the harness, and recycled 100-denier Robic Ripstop fabric in the body—the kind of durable construction Mystery Ranch is known for.

We encountered hours of torrential rain daily on the Milford Track (the trail was flooded up to thigh-deep in places), and water penetrated the pack—which also happened to everyone out there because of the rain’s intensity and duration. But the Radix pack fabric did not appear to absorb moisture, which would have made the pack heavier.

Finally, there’s that niggling question about the weight of the Radix 57. At three pounds, 11 ounces/1.67 kilograms, it’s certainly not an ultralight backpack. And its comfortable carrying capacity of maybe just a bit over 30 pounds seems low for a pack this heavy—certainly when compared to top competitors. It’s interesting that, instead of knocking out an ultralight pack, Mystery Ranch went in the direction of designing a lightweight backpacking pack without compromising their standards on comfort and functionality—and the Radix 57 was born of that process, adding features the functionality that also adds ounces.

I don’t think strict ultralight backpackers will see the Radix 57 meeting their demands, especially with the abundant, much lighter alternatives on the market today. But Mystery Ranch appears to be following a hunch that a sizable portion of backpackers feel that, to some extent, a bit more is actually a good amount more—and they want to see weight reduced wherever possible, while retaining more features and comfort (which largely explains why the Radix packs are heavier than many ultralight models, despite some similarities). MR might be onto something.

Other packs in the line are the men’s and women’s Mystery Ranch Radix 31L and 47L.

I’ve helped many readers plan unforgettable backpacking and hiking trips.
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Mystery Ranch Radix 57

Comfort/Support

Fit

Access

Features

Weight-to-Performance

Durability

The Verdict

With a huge range of men’s and women’s sizes and adjustability, good capacity and compression, comfort with moderate loads, and a feature set and design that seems a hybrid of traditional bigger and ultralight packs, the Mystery Ranch Radix 57 may hit a sweet spot for some backpackers in its balance of weight, fit, and features.

4.2

BUY IT NOW

You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s or women’s Mystery Ranch Radix 57, Radix 47, or Radix 31 at backcountry.com or rei.com.

See my picks for “The 10 Best Backpacking Packs” and “The Best Ultralight Backpacks,” my “Top 5 Tips For Buying the Right Backpacking Pack,” and all reviews of backpacks and backpacking gear at The Big Outside.

And don’t miss my popular reviews of “25 Essential Backpacking Gear Accessories” and “The Best Backpacking Gear” of the year.

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Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned backpacker, you’ll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my stories “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be,” “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” and “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking.” With a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read all of those three stories for free; if you don’t have a subscription, you can download the e-book versions of “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” the lightweight and ultralight backpacking guide, and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.”

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See The Big Outside’s Gear Reviews page for categorized menus of all gear reviews and expert buying tips.

—Michael Lanza

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-mystery-ranch-radix-57-backpack/feed/ 2 68443 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-gregory-paragon-60-and-maven-58-backpacks/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-gregory-paragon-60-and-maven-58-backpacks/#comments Thu, 19 Jun 2025 09:33:00 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=41251 Read on

]]> Backpack
Gregory Paragon 60 and Maven 58
$300, 60L/3,661 c.i., 3 lbs. 12 oz./1.7 kg (men’s SM/MD)
Sizes: men’s Paragon S/M and M/L, women’s Maven XS/S and S/M
Paragon 60: backcountry.com
Maven 58: backcountry.com

Since Gregory first introduced the men’s Paragon and women’s Maven packs, I’ve found myself choosing the Paragon repeatedly for a variety of backpacking trips, including pounding out 77 miles in five days (averaging over 15 miles and 8,000 vertical feet per day) on the Wonderland Trail around Mount Rainier and a more casual, four-day, 36-mile family hike on the Ruby Crest Trail. With the 2025 update of these packs, I took the Paragon 60 on a four-day, 40-mile walk in the Grand Canyon in late March that included humping up the brutally steep and rugged Boucher Trail—convincing myself that the fully featured Paragon 60 and women’s Maven 58 still offer everything that many backpackers look for in a pack for every kind of trip they take.

Updated with some changes for 2025, the Paragon 60 and nearly identical women’s Maven 58 (the only real difference being that the Maven packs are built to fit women) have support for carrying around 35 to 40 pounds quite comfortably and, for some backpackers, pushing loads over 40 pounds. (Gregory claims 50 pounds/22.7 kilos, but for routinely carrying that much weight, if you’re a fan of Gregory packs, I’d recommend the men’s Baltoro and women’s Deva.) After starting our Grand Canyon trip with about 35 pounds inside (including some of our group gear), I concluded that, for me, it would still be comfortable with another several pounds inside. (I also carried the Paragon 60 on a short overnight hike into Lower Muley Twist Canyon in Capitol Reef National Park in April.)

Credit the kind of frame primarily found in high-end backpacks: an alloy steel perimeter frame with a fiberglass cross-stay to improve stability and prevent barreling, plus Gregory’s FreeFloat Suspension System, with elasticized panels—located on the lower back panel, sewn into the hipbelt—that allow the hipbelt to move with your body, independent of the pack’s frame, resulting in a more stable carry and much less of the bouncing that causes fatigue and soreness in shoulders and hips.

Gregory’s newest generation of Air-Cushion mesh back panel consists of 90 percent air, which allowed abundant ventilation that kept my back cooler and drier even on unusually hot afternoons for late March in the Grand Canyon. Gregory has also updated the perforated dual-density shoulder straps with new materials to improve next-to-skin comfort. And the back panel, shoulder straps, and pre-curved hipbelt all have plenty of foam padding for the sort of moderate loads many backpackers usually carry.

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Both models come in two sizes and three volume capacities for backpacking, each with an adjustable suspension with about three inches of range for dialing in the fit. With an 18-inch torso that falls in the upper end of the fit range of the S/M Paragon 60 (15 to 18 inches), I achieved a good fit.

The most conspicuous new feature added for 2025 is a stretch-mesh pocket on the left shoulder strap that’s sized to hold a Garmin inReach Mini or inReach Messenger device or other small item. As someone who routinely carries an inReach, I find the pocket convenient for that; but I’ve also used that new shoulder strap pocket for stashing my sunglasses as needed. (Also, I have a good friend who’s active as a volunteer with a busy search-and-rescue team in Idaho, and she told me that the team updated its protocols in 2025 to advise keeping a device like an inReach on your person—like, in a secure pocket in clothes on your body—because they have seen victims who became separated from their pack, with their in-Reach inside it, and were too injured to even crawl a short distance to the pack, resulting in them waiting much longer for a rescue.)

Access is excellent in the top-loading Paragon 60 and Maven 58. The wide mouth and pack bag make it easy to insert one of the largest bear canisters—a Bear Vault BV500 bear canister—into the pack horizontally (on its side, the more space-efficient way to load a canister into a pack). Plus, top and side compression straps compress the packs when not full.

A half moon-shaped side zipper provides quick and convenient access to most of the main compartment—a must-have, in my opinion, in any fully featured backpacking pack in this weight class. Six external pockets include two spacious zippered hipbelt pockets that can each fit a large smartphone plus an energy bar or two; a roomy zippered pocket on the floating lid; a stretch-mesh front pocket that easily fits a rain jacket; and stretch-mesh side pockets large enough for a liter bottle. One of those side pockets opens to the top and forward, allowing me to stuff a liter bottle into it and grab it while wearing the pack.

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As usual, Gregory employs durable fabrics: 100-denier and 210-denier high-density nylon in the pack body and 300-denier nylon ripstop in the bottom that utilizes a 40 percent recycled nylon ripstop nylon (producing an average carbon footprint reduction of 25 percent, according to Gregory), all made without PFAS.

The Paragon and Maven also sport these features:

• A molded attachment loop and upper shock lock for trekking poles or an ice axe on the front.
• A safety whistle on the sternum strap.
• Zippered access to the segmented sleeping bag compartment.
• An internal hydration sleeve with SpeedClip hydration hanger compatible with Gregory’s 3D Hydro reservoir (reservoir not included).

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Although four ounces heavier (and with slightly more capacity) than the previous iteration, the Paragon 58, at under four pounds, the Paragon 60 and Maven 58 fall into a kind of super middleweight category among backpacking packs: They remain versatile enough for trips from overnighters up to a week without seeming either overbuilt for the short outings or inadequate for longer ones; but backpackers generally carrying no more than 30 to 35 pounds may want to compare these packs with lighter options and gauge whether those possess all the features they want.

Other packs in the line are the men’s Gregory Paragon 50 and Paragon 70 and the women’s Maven 48 and Maven 68.

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Gregory Paragon 60 and Maven 58

Comfort/Support

Fit

Access

Features

Weight-to-Performance

Durability

The Verdict

With good capacity, adjustability, a fully featured design, and the support to comfortably carry all that most backpackers need for trips of up to a week (or more), the Gregory men’s Paragon 60 and women’s Maven 58 may be all the backpack that many backpackers need.

4.2

BUY IT NOW

You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s Paragon 60 at backcountry.com, gregory.com, or rei.com, or a women’s Maven 58 at backcountry.com, gregory.com, or rei.com. And see all Paragon models at backcountry.com, gregory.com, or rei.com, or all Maven models at backcountry.com, gregory.com, or rei.com.

See all reviews of Gregory packs, my picks for “The 10 Best Backpacking Packs” and “The Best Ultralight Backpacks,” my “Top 5 Tips For Buying the Right Backpacking Pack,” and all reviews of backpacks and backpacking gear at The Big Outside.

Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned backpacker, you’ll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my stories “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be,” “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” and “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking.” With a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read all of those three stories for free; if you don’t have a subscription, you can download the e-book versions of “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” the lightweight and ultralight backpacking guide, and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.”

NOTE: I reviewed gear for Backpacker magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See The Big Outside’s Gear Reviews page for categorized menus of all gear reviews and expert buying tips.

—Michael Lanza

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]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-gregory-paragon-60-and-maven-58-backpacks/feed/ 5 41251 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/video-how-to-load-a-backpack/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/video-how-to-load-a-backpack/#comments Thu, 12 Jun 2025 09:00:00 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=14082 Read on

]]> By Michael Lanza

Wonder why I’m smiling in the above photo? Well, sure, two friends and I were hiking the incredibly scenic Besseggen Ridge in Norway’s Jotunheimen National Park; that had something to do with it. But the other big factor was that I was comfortable—and how well my pack carried had a lot to do with that. And how I loaded it greatly affected how well it carried on my back. In this four-minute video, I’ll show you how to properly load a backpack to make your backpacking trips much more enjoyable.

I have refined my method for loading my backpack over more than three decades of backpacking—including the 10 years I spent as Backpacker magazine’s lead gear reviewer and even longer running this blog. In the four-minute video below, I will demonstrate how to pack all of your stuff into your backpack in the most efficient way and to maximize your comfort on the trail.

If you have not been using good technique when loading your backpack, you may be surprised at what a difference it makes. But even if you have been following what you understand to be the recommended way to load a pack, you might learn some new tricks from this video.

There are two basic goals when loading a backpack:

1. Organize it so that the items you want to get to quickly while on the trail are readily accessible;

2. Balance and distribute the weight in the pack to maximize your comfort.

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Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Join The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here for my e-books to classic backpacking trips. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip.

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Watch the video below to see me demonstrate how to properly load a backpack.

Don’t miss the comments section below, where I have a good exchange of questions and answers with some readers, and please type in your own questions or suggestions.

Find your next adventure in your Inbox. Sign up now for my FREE email newsletter.

See “The 10 Best Backpacking Packs,” and all reviews of backpacks and backpacking gear at The Big Outside, plus “5 Tips For Buying the Right Backpack,” which includes instructions on how to measure your torso and properly fit a backpack, and “The Best Backpacking Gear” of the year.

And find all gear reviews organized by categories and expert tips on buying gear at the Gear Reviews page at The Big Outside.

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Join now for full access to ALL stories and get a free e-book!

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/video-how-to-load-a-backpack/feed/ 15 14082 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/why-and-when-to-spend-more-on-outdoor-gear/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/why-and-when-to-spend-more-on-outdoor-gear/#comments Tue, 03 Jun 2025 09:00:00 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=16677 Read on

]]> By Michael Lanza

You need a new backpack, backpacking tent, rain jacket, boots, or a sleeping bag. You’ve read reviews. You’ve winnowed your short list to a handful of possible choices—with a significant difference in prices. That’s when you struggle with the question that pushes the frugality button in all of us: Why should I spend more?

This story will explain why some gear is more expensive and give you specific advice on buying five big-ticket items: packs, tents, rain jackets, shoes and boots, and sleeping bags.

Over the past three decades of reviewing gear, including the 10 years I spent as the lead gear reviewer for Backpacker magazine and even longer running this blog, I’ve learned what separates the expensive from the moderately priced from the cheap.

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Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Join The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here for my e-books to classic backpacking trips. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip.

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Should you always spend more? Certainly not, and this story will explain why and when it’s worth spending more and when it’s not. The insights below will help you make smarter buying choices, stretch your gear budget farther, and feel better about it when you do spend more. And my “10 Tips for Spending Less on Hiking and Backpacking Gear” shares specific strategies for saving money—even sometimes without compromising on quality.

Before you spend another dollar, read on.

Like many stories at The Big Outside, this one is partially free for anyone to read, but reading all of the tips below is an exclusive benefit of a paid subscription to The Big Outside.

Please share your thoughts on my tips or your own, best gear-buying advice in the comments section at the bottom of this story. I try to respond to all comments.

I’ve helped many readers plan unforgettable backpacking and hiking trips.
Want my help with yours? Click here now.

What Makes Some Gear Expensive?

•    Lightweight: Lighter gear is often more expensive because of the materials used, like wafer-thin but strong fabrics in jackets, tents, and (sometimes) packs, and carbon fiber or high-grade aluminum tent poles.
•    Construction: Superior workmanship, materials, and technologies raise the price tag. Expect to pay more for, say, cutting-edge waterproof-breathable membranes in jackets and footwear, boots with one-piece or full-grain leather uppers, a super comfortable backpack suspension available in multiple sizes to achieve an optimal fit, or lamination used instead of stitching in jackets and footwear. But that also translates to high-level performance and, often, improved durability—which can save you money in the long run.

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plus get a FREE e-book! Join now!

•    Special Features: You want a rain jacket hood that stays in place in strong wind and when you turn your head? A pack with multiple backpacker- or climber-friendly features? Shoes with sticky outsoles? Or a sleeping bag or down jacket with the lightest and warmest insulation? Open your wallet.
•    Durability: Sometimes a higher price tag equates with materials and construction that translate to greater durability, but not always. Some lightweight materials are very strong and some are not. Especially with big-ticket items that receive heavy wear and tear—your pack, tent, shoes, and rain shell—low weight is sometimes achieved through, for example, the use of thinner fabrics that will tear more easily, or zippers that are less burly and will break sooner. Find out why one product is lighter than another and choose based on whether you’re willing to swap durability for lower weight.

Plan your next great backpacking trip in Yosemite, Grand Teton,
and other parks using my expert e-books.

Packs

Why They’re Pricey The top pack makers—whose backpacks and daypacks generally cost the most—compete with one another primarily to make the most comfortable packs to carry. Beyond that objective, they try to distinguish their products through specialization (packs for specific purposes like climbing, ultralight backpacking, distance trail running or ultra-hiking, etc.), and through features, weight, and certainly superior construction that results in greater durability.

When They’re Worth the Price How important is comfort on the trail to you? How important is weight? How about specific features? Yes, you can make do with a pack whose fit is imperfect or that lacks a supportive hipbelt, a zipper offering quick access to the main compartment, or convenient, external pockets on the hipbelt and elsewhere.

But if you hike a lot of miles, the hours spent wearing and using a pack add up.

As anyone who’s upgraded knows, once you have a backpack that’s comfortable and designed for the way you use it, you’ll never go back to an inferior pack.

Get the right pack for you. See “The 10 Best Backpacking Packs” and “The 10 Best Hiking Daypacks.”

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Gear up smartly for your trips.
See the best-in-category reviews and expert buying tips at The Big Outside’s Gear Reviews page.

 

Why Spend More?

If you can’t afford more-expensive gear, just get cheap stuff and get outside. You’ll be fine. If you can afford better gear later, you’ll appreciate it that much more.

But if you’re an avid outdoorsperson and you can afford good gear, why settle for less?

No, price does not always correlate directly with quality—but it often does. Whenever a friend who can afford good gear asks for my advice, I always say that he or she would be foolish to buy cheap, because they don’t need to put up with inferior comfort or performance.

And ultimately, if you’re out regularly and buy good gear, the cost per day of use over the life of that gear will be low, more than justifying the enjoyment you gained from it.

See all reviews of backpacks, daypacks, backpacking tents, outdoor apparel, rain jackets, hiking shoes, backpacking boots, sleeping bags, down jackets and insulated jackets, and backpacking gear and hiking gear at The Big Outside, plus “5 Smart Steps to Lighten Your Backpacking Gear.”

And don’t miss my popular reviews of “25 Essential Backpacking Gear Accessories” and “The Best Backpacking Gear” of the year.

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See my Gear Reviews page at The Big Outside for categorized menus of all of my reviews and my expert buying tips.

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]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/why-and-when-to-spend-more-on-outdoor-gear/feed/ 4 16677 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/the-best-backpacking-gear-for-the-john-muir-trail/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/the-best-backpacking-gear-for-the-john-muir-trail/#comments Wed, 28 May 2025 09:00:00 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=14007 Read on

]]> By Michael Lanza

So you’re planning to thru-hike the John Muir Trail and making all of the necessary preparations, and now you’re wondering: What’s the best gear for a JMT hike? Having thru-hiked the JMT as well as taken numerous other backpacking trips all over the High Sierra—mostly between late August and late September, which I consider that the best time to walk the Sierra, to avoid snow and the voracious mosquitoes and blazing hot afternoons of mid-summer—I offer the following picks for the best ultralight and lightweight backpacking gear and apparel for a JMT thru-hike.

Indisputably one of the best backpacking trips in America—and among the very best I’ve taken over three decades of backpacking, including the 10 years I spent as Northwest Editor and lead gear reviewer for Backpacker magazine and even longer running this blog—the JMT meanders for 211 miles through the magnificent High Sierra, from Yosemite Valley to the summit of the highest peak in the Lower 48, 14,505-foot Mount Whitney (where backpackers must then descend another 11 miles to finish the trip at Whitney Portal trailhead). See my story about thru-hiking the JMT in seven days.

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Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Join The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here for my e-books to classic backpacking trips. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip.

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With few opportunities to resupply along the trail—and given the generally dry weather in the Sierra in summer—you can easily and should hike the JMT with the lightest gear that works for you (or that you can afford). Maximum pack weight will depend on how many days you spend on the trail and your food weight, but it’s quite feasible to keep your base pack weight (everything but food and water) within 15 pounds or less—and certainly no more than 20 pounds—without compromising safety or comfort in camp.

See my stories “Thru-Hiking the John Muir Trail: What You Need to Know,” “Thru-Hiking the John Muir Trail: The Ultimate, 10-Day, Ultralight Plan,” and “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking,” my Custom Trip Planning page to learn how I can help you plan your JMT thru-hike and any trip you read about at The Big Outside, and my expert e-books to backpacking trips in Yosemite and other parks.

The following suggestions for major gear items would also be solid picks for almost any backpacker who wants to go lighter and hike more comfortably in many mid-latitude mountain ranges in summer—although items like your tent and footwear would depend on the typical weather and bugs (and time of year).

Most recommendations below have a link to my full review of each. Click on the name of any product to buy it; those are affiliate links, meaning you can support my work on this blog by purchasing through them, at no cost to you.

Please share your thoughts on these gear suggestions for the JMT, or your own suggested gear, in the comments section at the bottom of this story. I try to respond to all comments.

Planning to hike the John Muir Trail?
Click here for expert, detailed advice you won’t get elsewhere.

Backpack

For a backpack, I like a few models that weigh under three pounds: two top-loaders with traditional features like lots of external pockets, the Osprey men’s Exos 58 or 48 ($260, 2 lbs. 11 oz. for the Exos 58) and women’s Osprey Eja 58 or 48 (read my review) and the Deuter Aircontact Ultra 50+5 and Aircontact Ultra 45+5 SL ($250, 2 lbs. 11 oz. for the 50+5, read my review); and two mimimalist, utralight packs, the Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Windrider ($349, 55L, 1 lb. 15 oz., read my review) and Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 ($315, 60L/3,661 c.i., 1 lb. 14 oz., read my review).

See my picks for the best ultralight backpacks.

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Tent

In late summer, outside the buggy season in the High Sierra, I prefer using a backpacking tarp shelter like the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Ultamid 2 ($699, 1 lb. 2 oz., read my review), Sea to Summit Escapist Tarp ($229-$249, 10.5-15.5 oz., two sizes), and Slingfin SplitWing Shelter Bundle ($355, 1 lb. 5 oz., read my review). I often sleep under the stars on a clear night, but a tarp, besides protecting you from rain and some wind, can trap a surprising amount of warmth underneath it on a calm night.

If you want a two-person tent, get one that weighs under three pounds, like the MSR Freelite 2 ($465, 2 lbs., read my review), the Nemo Hornet Osmo 2p ($430, 2 lbs. 1 oz., read my review), the Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 ($480, 2 lbs. 3 oz., read my review), the Slingfin 2Lite, which can pitch with trekking poles ($505, 2 lbs. 10 oz. or 2 lbs. 6 oz, read my review), or if you’ll accept higher weight for more space, the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 ($550, 2 lbs. 11 oz., read my review).

My top picks for a solo ultralight are two that pitch with trekking poles, the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Mid-1 ($599, 16.8 oz., read my review) and the Gossamer Gear The One ($255, 1 lb. 2 oz., read my review). For a solo ultralight tent that’s semi-freestanding, check out the Nemo Hornet Osmo 1p ($400, 1 lb. 13 oz., read my review).

See “The 10 Best Backpacking Tents,” all backpacking tent reviews at The Big Outside, plus “5 Tips For Buying a Backpacking Tent” and “How to Choose the Best Ultralight Backpacking Tent For You.”

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Sleeping Bag

For backpacking the JMT in late summer, I carry a down sleeping bag rated around 30 degrees F, with a high down fill rating (800 or above), because it’s warmer, lighter, and more packable than a synthetic bag or down bag with lower fill quality (if also more expensive), and well suited to the dry Sierra summers, where there’s little risk of getting a bag wet.

People who get cold more easily may want a bag rated 20 to 25 degrees, although you can wear layers to supplement the bag’s warmth.

My favorites are the Feathered Friends men’s Hummingbird and women’s Egret UL (30-degree, $609, 1 lb. 6 oz., read my review), the Therm-a-Rest Hyperion (32-degree, $490, 1 lb. 1 oz., read my review), the Mountain Hardwear Phantom 30 ($480, 1 lb. 6 oz. , read my review); and the Marmot Hydrogen 30 ($399, 1 lb. 9.4 oz., read my review).

Looking for an affordable down bag? I recommend the men’s or women’s Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass 30 ($245, 1 lb. 12 oz., read my review).

See “Pro Tips for Buying Sleeping Bags,” “10 Pro Tips For Staying Warm in a Sleeping Bag” and all sleeping bag reviews at The Big Outside.

Want to tackle the JMT?
See “Thru-Hiking the John Muir Trail: What You Need to Know.”

Insulation

When nighttime lows will generally remain above freezing, as is usually the case on the JMT at least into mid-September, take an ultralight puffy jacket like the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer  2 Down Hoody ($360, 8.8 oz., read my review), the Black Diamond Approach Down Hoody ($360, 10 oz., read my review), the Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody ($329, 9 oz., read my review), or the warmer Feathered Friends Eos Down Jacket ($389, 11 oz. , read my review) or Himali Accelerator Down Jacket ($330, 12.5 oz., read my review).

See “The 12 Best Down Jackets,” “How You Can Tell How Warm a Down Jacket Is” and all puffy jacket reviews at The Big Outside.

Plan your next great backpacking adventure in Yosemite and other flagship parks
using my expert e-books.

Rain Shell

On the John Muir Trail—or anywhere in the High Sierra—in summer, where rain occurs only rarely and most often as a passing (although possibly quite intense) thunderstorm, you don’t need the kind of super-technical (and heavier) rain shell you might use in, say, in Alaska, the Pacific Northwest or the Northeast. In fact, if you generally head out in warm, dry weather—common in many Western mountain ranges in summer—you may only need a less-expensive and ideally lightweight shell, like the Black Diamond Fineline Rain Shell ($189, 10 oz./283.5g, read my review), an impressive value in part because it has an adjustable, full-coverage hood, a feature sometimes lacking in moderately priced rain jackets, and solid rain protection even for wet environments.

Another option for backpackers who rarely see rain is an ultralight, waterproof-breathable rain jacket, like the Rab Downpour Light Waterproof Jacket ($165, 7.7 oz., read my review) or the Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket ($170-$180, 6 oz., read my review).

See all reviews of rain jackets and outdoor apparel at The Big Outside, “The Best Ultralight Hiking and Running Jackets,” and my “5 Expert Tips For Buying a Rain Jacket for Hiking.”

See “10 Great John Muir Trail Section Hikes.”

Shoes and Boots

If all of your gear is light, on a well-constructed trail like the JMT that’s often dry in summer, get lightweight, highly breathable, non-waterproof boots or low-cut shoes like the PCT-inspired Danner Trail 2650 ($170, 1 lb. 7.5 oz., read my review), the La Sportiva TX3 ($159, 1 lb. 9 oz., read my review), or trail runners like the Hoka One One Speedgoat 6 ($155, 1 lb. 3 oz.), also available in a very light mid-cut, the Hoka One One Speedgoat 6 Mid GTX ($180, 1 lb. 9 oz., read my review).

If you prefer more supportive footwear that’s still relatively light, I recommend two shoes that are a super value and come in waterproof-breathable and non-waterproof, mid-cut and low-cut models: the Hoka One One Anacapa series shoes ($155-$185, 1 lb. 10.5 oz.-2 lbs., read my review), and the Oboz Katabatic series ($145-$190, 1 lb. 9 oz. to 2 lbs., read my review).

See all reviews of hiking shoes at The Big Outside.

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Trekking Poles

Trekking poles should be essential gear on any backpacking trip, but for the JMT—if you’re going lightweight or ultralight, as you should be—get very light poles that are ideally adjustable and very packable. Among the best are the folding and adjustable Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ ($220, 12 oz./pair, 105-125cm, read my review), the collapsible and adjustable Gossamer Gear LT5 ($195, 10 oz./pair, read my review), and the folding, adjustable MSR Dynalock Ascent Poles ($190, 1 lb. 1  oz./pair, read my review).

If you want to use a tent that pitches with trekking poles—eliminating the significant weight of tent poles from your pack—make sure your poles are sufficiently sturdy and telescope out to the needed length for pitching your tent; those poles are also usually collapsible (rather than folding or fixed).

See “The Best Trekking Poles” and my stories “How to Choose Trekking Poles” and “10 Best Expert Tips for Hiking With Trekking Poles.”

Get the gear that’s right for you. See my specific tips on buying a pack, tent, boots, and sleeping bag and all reviews of backpacking gear, ultralight backpacking gear, and hiking gear and all stories about backpacking the John Muir Trail at The Big Outside.

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See my Gear Reviews page at The Big Outside for categorized menus of all of my reviews and my expert buying tips.

Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned backpacker, you’ll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my stories “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be,” “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” and “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking.” With a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read all of those three stories for free; if you don’t have a subscription, you can download the e-book versions of “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” the lightweight and ultralight backpacking guide, and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.”

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/the-best-backpacking-gear-for-the-john-muir-trail/feed/ 16 14007 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/5-things-to-know-before-buying-backpacking-gear/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/5-things-to-know-before-buying-backpacking-gear/#comments Wed, 14 May 2025 09:00:00 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=23564 Read on

]]> By Michael Lanza

Are you in the market for a new backpack, boots, tent, sleeping bag or other backpacking gear or apparel? How do you find something that’s just right for you? What should you be looking for? How much should you spend? These are questions I’ve heard from many friends and readers over the years as they’ve waded through the myriad choices out there. This article lays out five simple but helpful tips to keep in mind when buying gear.

I’ve learned these steps over three decades of testing and reviewing gear—including the 10 years I spent as the lead gear reviewer for Backpacker magazine and even longer running this blog—and helping people find gear they love. No matter what you’re shopping for—boots, pack, tent, sleeping bag, other backpacking gear, or some major piece of apparel like a rain shell or insulated jacket—you face a daunting array of choices, and everyone’s needs are different.

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Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Join The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here for my e-books to classic backpacking trips. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip.

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But finding the gear that performs well and that you’ll be happy with really comes down to following a simple thought process described in the five easy steps below, which you can follow when buying almost any gear. Below them, you’ll find links to my stories offering specific tips on buying a new pack, boots, tent, sleeping bag, rain shell, and insulated jacket, plus reviews covering my top picks in several categories.

Please share your thoughts on my tips or your own, best gear-buying advice in the comments section at the bottom of this story. I try to respond to all comments.

Gear up smartly for your trips.
See the best-in-category reviews and expert buying tips at my Gear Reviews page.

No. 1 Decide Exactly What It’s For

A friend once asked me to recommend boots he could buy for backpacking that would also work well for climbing glaciated peaks (in the Pacific Northwest); I told him that was a little like shopping for a dump truck that would also give him good mileage as a commuting vehicle. If you set out in search of a pack or boots for every hike you ever take, then you will probably wind up with just that—which may serve your needs in an overly general way, but not be quite right for anything.

Focus on how you intend to use that item most of the time and buy something that’s good for that purpose. When you actually need or can afford more specialized gear that you will only use occasionally, get it then.

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No. 2 Decide Exactly What You Need

Do you need solid ankle support, or do you prefer really lightweight, nimble footwear? Are you a big guy who needs a roomy tent, or a lightweight or ultralight backpacker or parent backpacking with a young child with a top priority of minimizing gear weight? Do you want the lightest bag you can afford, or do you get cold easily and need a bag that’s a little fatter and warmer than the average person uses?

The reason for the almost infinite number of choices in gear is the infinite variability in the wants and needs of consumers. That can seem confusing but it’s ultimately good for you. Your first step in buying may simply be writing down your customized answers to numbers one and two in this list of tips and using that as a guide as you begin winnowing your short list.

Trips go better with the right gear.
See “The 10 Best Backpacking Packs” and “The 10 Best Backpacking Tents.”

No. 3 Get the Fit Right

Especially with footwear, packs, and performance apparel, fit and personal satisfaction go together like chips and salsa. You can be happy with a sleeping bag or tent that are not quite what you wanted (but are what you could afford); but no matter how much you spend, you’ll never be happy with a pack or boots that don’t fit you well. A poorly fitting pack can make you miserable, and poorly fitting boots can end a trip.

With those gear items for which fit becomes critical—boots and a pack—narrow your list to perhaps three or more options, based on steps one and two (above). Then go try them on and you will find the model you like.

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Click here now to learn more.

No. 4 Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute

The best way to spend more than you want or need to spend—and be forced to settle for something that’s not quite what you wanted—is to wait until the last day or two before a trip and rush out to buy something.

You wouldn’t buy a car or a house that way, because you want to take the time to find something that feels just right for you.

Treat buying boots, a pack, tent, bag, or other major gear or apparel item the same way—those aren’t like batteries or stove fuel that you dash out to pick up at the last minute.

Plus, shopping around weeks or even months in advance gives you time to wait for sale prices—and that’s truly the best way to get the most value out of every dollar you spend.

Plan your next great backpacking adventure in Yosemite, Grand Teton, Glacier,
and other flagship parks using my expert e-books.

No. 5 Spend What You Can Afford

This last nugget of advice goes both ways: If you can only afford an entry-level pack or other piece of gear, look for the best-quality item that’s within your budget (and fits you) and just buy it. Some brands that sell directly to consumer offer high-quality gear at very competitive prices. (Tip: Pick a brand name known for high quality, because they usually bring similar attention to quality to their affordable gear as they do to their pricier gear.)

Maybe it won’t be as comfortable or last as long as the high-end gear you coveted, but it will enable you to get out there and have fun and may last until you can afford something better.

See my “5 Tips For Spending Less on Hiking and Backpacking Gear.”

By the same token, I always tell friends or readers seeking advice: If you can afford the best, why settle for something that will be less comfortable, or heavier, or not fit or perform as well as pricier pieces of gear or apparel that are within your budget? Measure the value in terms of your enjoyment and comfort as well as the cost per mile or day of use, because higher-quality gear, while pricier, often proves much more durable than cheaper stuff. That’s money well spent.

See my story “Why and When to Spend More on Hiking and Backpacking Gear.”

Let The Big Outside help you find the best adventures. 
Join now to read ALL stories and get a free e-book!

See these articles at The Big Outside for my pro tips on buying gear (most of them require a subscription to my blog):

“5 Expert Tips For Buying the Right Backpacking Pack”
“5 Expert Tips For Buying a Backpacking Tent”
“How to Choose the Best Ultralight Backpacking Tent for You”
“Expert Tips For Buying the Right Boots”
“Pro Tips for Buying a Backpacking Sleeping Bag”
“5 Expert Tips For Buying a Rain Jacket for Hiking”
“The 12 Best Down Jackets” (includes buying tips for down and synthetic jackets)

Planning your next big adventure? See “America’s Top 10 Best Backpacking Trips”
and “Tent Flap With a View: 25 Favorite Backcountry Campsites.”

See also these reviews of top picks:

“The 10 Best Backpacking Packs”
“The 10 Best Backpacking Tents”
“The Best Ultralight Backpacks”
“The Best Rain Jackets for Hiking and Backpacking”

“25 Essential Backpacking Gear Accessories”
“The Best Trekking Poles”
“The Best Headlamps”
“The 10 Best Hiking Daypacks”

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See my Gear Reviews page at The Big Outside for categorized menus of all of my reviews and my expert buying tips.

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/5-things-to-know-before-buying-backpacking-gear/feed/ 6 23564 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/ask-me-whats-the-best-thru-hiking-backpack/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/ask-me-whats-the-best-thru-hiking-backpack/#comments Fri, 25 Apr 2025 09:05:00 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=10760 Read on

]]> By Michael Lanza

Do you need an ultralight backpack? Many backpackers might answer “no” when, for many reasons, their answer should logically be “yes.” These packs aren’t just for thru-hikers. Typically weighing roughly from under two pounds/0.9 kilos to under three pounds/1.36 kilos (empty), ultralight packs have support for carrying 25 to as much as 35 pounds—making them ideal for more than just ultralight backpacking. For many or even most backpackers, that represents the range of pack weight they either carry on most trips—or could carry on most trips, with smart packing and reasonably light gear.

In other words, an ultralight pack just may be perfect for you. And this article covers the best ones out there today. My picks are based on extensive field testing of many packs of all types over more than 25 years of reviewing gear while backpacking and hiking all across the U.S., including the 10 years I spent as the lead gear reviewer for Backpacker magazine and even longer running this blog.

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As I wrote in my “5 Expert Tips For Buying the Right Backpacking Pack,” when backpacking ultralight or lightweight—keeping my pack weight between 25 and 35 pounds/11.3 to 15.9 kilos, which describes the vast majority of my backpacking trips—I want a backpack with low weight and minimal features like pockets and zippers, because I just don’t need more than that. Still, I like the convenience of quick access for some items, like a lid pocket or, more often, side and hipbelt pockets for snacks, map, sunglasses, and sunblock, plus a large front pocket where I can stuff items like a jacket or wet rainfly.

The pack you choose will depend on personal preferences regarding design features, price, weight, and capacity.

Ultralight Packs Defined

Some ultralight backpackers assert that only packs weighing under about two pounds/0.9 kilos empty are truly ultralight packs. (Some of the comments at the bottom of this story delve into that.) The semantic argument aside, packs that light have just a very basic frame or no frame. I have used packs with a minimal frame or none from various brands that all employ the same basic design, including on a seven-day thru-hike (averaging 31 miles per day) of the John Muir Trail, when we had our base pack weight (everything but food and water) under 15 pounds/6.8 kilos.

These packs are very minimalist, with a comfortable carrying capacity of about 20 to 25 pounds/9.1 to 11.3 kilos at best (for most people), and that assumes the user is diligent about loading the pack to achieve optimal distribution of weight. A frameless pack with a lightly padded hipbelt that also lacks structure does not support weight; the pack essentially hangs off your back, requiring your back and shoulders to bear the weight. Yes, a strong backpacker could carry 25 pounds/11.3 kilos or more in a pack like that; but for many people, that pack will grow increasingly uncomfortable as the miles pile up, day after day.

And if you start adding a pound here and there in gear, increasing your total pack weight to 25 pounds/11.3 kilos or higher, you should ask why you’re depriving yourself of the very noticeable improvement you will gain in comfort—with a weight penalty of only a half-pound to perhaps a full pound—by getting a pack with a frame. I’ve long believed that inadequate gear—whether it’s a pack loaded beyond its comfortable carrying capacity or a sleeping pad or air mattress that deprives you of adequate sleep—can easily create a net greater of energy from your theoretical “body battery” than you lose by carrying slightly heavier but more comfortable gear (pack, air mattress, etc.).

In other words, don’t get an ultralight backpack unless you plan to keep its full weight within your comfort zone (whatever that is). But bottom line: As I state above, many backpackers have light enough gear and combined food and water weight on most trips that they can comfortably use an ultralight pack. (I even sometimes slightly exceed an ultralight or lightweight backpack’s comfortable carrying weight on the first day of a longer trip, knowing I might be a little uncomfortable that first day, but by day two, it will feel fine and that helps keep my pack weight lower for the rest of the trip.)

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I prefer ultralight packs with some kind of frame structure, like those in this review, because they distribute the pack’s weight in a way that your body can carry more comfortably for hours on the trail, day after day. A frame helps shift most pack weight onto your hips, which is far more comfortable than having weight hang off your shoulders. I think many people would notice the difference, especially with more than 20 to 25 pounds/9.1 to 11.3 kilos in the pack.

Consider this: Even hiking daypacks designed for carrying more than 15 pounds/6.8 kilos have a frame.

Reviewed below are several backpacks that stand out in this category. Click on any affiliate links to purchase any pack below and support this blog at no cost to you; thank you for doing that. The capsule reviews below also link to full reviews of these packs at The Big Outside.

Please share your comments or questions about them, or suggestions for your own favorite ultralight pack, in the comments section at the bottom of this story. I try to respond to all comments.

See also these reviews of other top gear picks:

“The Best Backpacking Gear of the Year”
“The 10 Best Backpacking Packs”
“The 10 Best Backpacking Tents”
“The 12 Best Down Jackets”
“25 Essential Backpacking Gear Accessories”
“The 10 Best Hiking Daypacks”

The Best Ultralight Backpacks

Osprey Exos 58 and Eja 58

The men’s Osprey Exos 58 ($280, 2 lbs. 14 oz.) or Exos 48 ($260, 2 lbs. 12 oz.), and the women’s Eja 58 and Eja 48, have long ranked among the best ultralight backpacks. I’ve used and liked the Exos 58 a lot since it first came out in 2008, including on a four-day, 86-mile backpacking trip in Yosemite National Park, a weeklong hut trek in Italy’s Dolomite Mountains, and on a six-day, 94-mile hike through Glacier National Park. Most recently, I took the 2022 update of the Exos 58—most significantly, the updated Exos and Eja now have adjustable fit in two sizes each—on a nine-day, nearly 130-mile hike through the High Sierra, mostly on the John Muir Trail with some on- and off-trail detours.

The top-loading Exos and Eja carry 30 to 35 pounds comfortably thanks to Osprey’s LightWire perimeter frame, which transfers much of the pack weight onto your hips, where you want it, and they have the capacity for weeklong trips and ultralight thru-hiking—I started our High Sierra trip with 18 pounds of food and carried it on days ranging up to 19.5 miles and over 8,600 vertical feet of elevation gain and loss and finished every day impressed with how good the pack felt.. The trampoline-style back panel permits cooling air circulation. At just under three pounds, they have smart features like good compression, a removable lid, six exterior pockets, and a handy trekking poles attachment on the left shoulder strap.

Read my complete review of the Osprey Exos 58 and Eja 58.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase any men’s Osprey Exos backpack at osprey.com, backcountry.com, or rei.com, or any women’s Osprey Eja backpack at osprey.com, backcountry.com, or rei.com.

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Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Windrider

The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Windrider ($379, 1 lb. 15 oz.), which I’ve used on two different trips in Wyoming’s Wind River Range, including seven days on the Wind River High Route, and numerous other outings, weighs just two pounds, has removable aluminum stays and a harness system that I found comfortable carrying 30 to 35 pounds, and is made with waterproof (and practically bulletproof) Dyneema fabric.

Its minimalist design features three roomy, exterior mesh pockets and zippered hipbelt pockets, and a roll-top closure with top and side compression for stabilizing under-filled loads. For its weight, it offers unique carrying comfort—thanks in part to coming in four fixed sizes—and capacity for long trips.

Read my complete review of the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Windrider.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking either of these affiliate links to purchase a Hyperlite Mountain Gear Windrider backpack at hyperlitemountaingear.com or a Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest backpack at hyperlitemountaingear.com.

Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60

After hauling the Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 ($315, 1 lb. 14 oz. for medium pack with small belt) on late-summer, multi-day hikes in Wyoming’s Wind River Range and Washington’s Pasayten Wilderness, I’ve come to understand why I’ve seen this pack on the backs of so many ultralighters: It sports much of what you’d want in an ultralight backpack with hardly a flaw.

It has more capacity than many two-pound packs, including seven roomy external pockets, most of them made with more-durable fabric than mesh. A top-loader with a roll-top closure that clips with two straps to the pack’s front side, the Mariposa has abundant space for five to seven days—and conceivably more—of food and three-season, lightweight gear, including a full-size bear canister (inserted upright; it will not fit horizontally). It has a removable, U-shaped internal stay that gives the pack the support and comfort for carrying 25 to 30 pounds—and perhaps up to 35 pounds for some backpackers—and comes in three unisex pack and interchangeable hipbelt sizes.

Read my complete review of the Mariposa 60 (also shown in lead photo at top of story).

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking this affiliate link to purchase a Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 at gossamergear.com.

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Deuter Aircontact Ultra 50+5 and 45+5 SL

Updated for 2024, the Deuter Aircontact Ultra 50+5 and 45+5 SL packs ($260, 55L/3,356 c.i., 2 lbs. 15 oz./1.33kg for the Ultra 50+5) distinguish themselves for their comfortable fit—they’re among the lightest packs with torso adjustability—and smart design details. I found the Aircontact Ultra 50+5 comfortable with up to about 35 pounds inside on hikes of three days in southern Utah’s Owl and Fish canyons and six days on the Grand Canyon’s Gems Route. And while it wasn’t “comfortable” when I severely overloaded it at the outset of my Grand Canyon trip, it also didn’t feel awful.

That comfort as well as stability going up and down very steep, loose trails on both trips owes to its spring steel wire frame and a framesheet that offers slight flex while providing some structural support. Plus, the hipbelt fins and shoulder straps rotate to absorb your body’s movement, helping to steady the pack while hiking. And the spacer mesh in the back panel, lumbar pad, shoulder straps, and hipbelt deliver nice ventilation and cushioning. This top-loader has a spacious main compartment that fit my gear, food, and water for six days, plus six external pockets including a large stretch-mesh front pocket as well as side and hipbelt pockets, and light but reasonably tough, 175-denier polyamide fabric.

Read my complete review of the 2024 Deuter Aircontact Ultra 50+5 and 45+5 SL.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a Deuter Aircontact Ultra 50+5 backpack at backcountry.com, a Deuter Aircontact Ultra 45+5 SL backpack at rei.com, or any model in the Aircontact Ultra series at backcountry.com or rei.com.

Gregory Focal 58 and Facet 55

The Gregory men’s Focal 58 and women’s Facet 55 ($270, 2 lbs. 11 oz.), and the smaller Focal 48 and Facet 45 ($250), are designed for backpackers who are willing to accept a reasonable weight penalty for some organizational features of traditional backpacks and the support to carry up to 35 pounds. I found the Focal 58 comfortable carrying 35 pounds on strenuous days up to 12 miles with over 7,000 feet of cumulative elevation gain and loss—including seven very steep off-trail miles—backpacking for six days in the Grand Canyon.

These packs sport six external pockets, including two on the hipbelt and a large, stretch-mesh front pocket, and useful features like good compression and attachments for trekking poles or an ice axe. Gregory’s attention to comfort in its ultralight backpack is evident in the aluminum perimeter wire frame with a fiberglass cross-stay and an HDPE framesheet that lend the pack substantial rigidity, distributing most of the load across the hips. The tensioned, ventilated back panel allows air movement across your sweaty back. And they’re made with recycled fabrics and come in three non-adjustable sizes for men and women.

Read my complete review of the Gregory Focal 58 and Facet 55.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s Gregory Focal 58 or Focal 48 at rei.com, backcountry.com, or gregorypacks.com, or a women’s Gregory Facet 55 or Facet 45 at rei.com, backcountry.com, or gregorypacks.com.

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Mountainsmith Zerk 40

The Mountainsmith Zerk 40 ($225, 1 lb. 13 oz.) suited my needs quite well trekking hut to hut for six days on Iceland’s Laugavegur and Fimmvörðuháls trails—and I think much about the Zerk will also appeal to many ultralighters and thru-hikers. It takes a common template of ultralight packs—roll-top, frameless, spacious external pockets—and juices it with smart details and add-ons, tougher materials, and a touch of modularity, starting with nine external pockets, all but one within easy reach wearing the pack.

The Zerk’s wide foam shoulder straps take a page from trail running-hydration vests, improving comfort; and each has four pockets with adequate space for a phone, flexible bottles, and energy snacks. It carries about 30 pounds, with a removable foam back pad, has tough, recycled fabric, and comes with a bungee and an accessory strap for attaching a tent or bear canister atop the full pack. Two drawbacks: At 40 liters (fully extended), it has less capacity than some sub-two-pound packs; you must be a committed ultralighter. And it comes in one unisex size.

Read my complete review of the Mountainsmith Zerk 40.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a Mountainsmith Zerk 40 backpack at backcountry.com or rei.com.

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REI Flash 55

The men’s and women’s REI Flash 55 ($219,  2 lbs. 10 oz.) is not only a steal, but it sports nice design features for ultralight backpacking, including a rolltop closure, six external pockets, customizable compression straps, and removable features to trim several ounces.

A steel, internal perimeter frame plus a contoured hipbelt made it comfortable carrying up to 30 pounds on a 40-mile hike in Utah’s Dark Canyon Wilderness.

Read my complete review of the smaller version of the pack, the Flash 45 (which is no longer available).

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking this affiliate link to purchase a men’s or women’s REI Flash 55 at rei.com.

ULA Circuit

The ULA Circuit ($300) weighs in at 2 lbs. 4.6 oz., but it’s spacious at 68 liters, and its roll-top closure extends farther than many competitors, giving you more capacity when needed. With a carbon fiber and Delrin suspension, a dense foam frame and an aluminum stay, it will carry up to 35 pounds, and the hipbelt and shoulder straps come in multiple sizes for customizing the fit for men or women and customizable features like embroidering your trail name on it. ULA’s 400 Robic fabric is highly durable, and the pack has a huge external front pocket.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking this affiliate link to purchase a ULA Circuit at ula-equipment.com.

Planning your next big adventure? See “America’s Top 10 Best Backpacking Trips”
and “Tent Flap With a View: 25 Favorite Backcountry Campsites.”

Two Almost Ultralight Packs

Depending on how much weight you intend to carry, there are two other, more-versatile backpacks that weigh just a few ounces more than some of these, yet carry more weight comfortably and have more features: the Granite Gear Perimeter 50 (read my review) and the Granite Gear Blaze 60 (read my review).

See all backpack reviews and my picks for the 10 best packs for backpacking, including models that range from around three-and-a-half pounds to five pounds. See also my “5 Tips For Buying the Right Backpack,” “Video: How to Load a Backpack,” all reviews of backpacking gear and ultralight backpacking gear, and my Gear Reviews page at The Big Outside for numerous stories with my picks for best gear and tips on buying gear.

And don’t miss my popular reviews of “25 Essential Backpacking Gear Accessories” and “The Best Backpacking Gear” of the year.

Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned backpacker, you’ll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking,” and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.” With a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read all of those three stories for free; if you don’t have a subscription, you can download the e-book versions of “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” the lightweight and ultralight backpacking guide, and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.”

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]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/ask-me-whats-the-best-thru-hiking-backpack/feed/ 49 10760 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-deuter-aircontact-ultra-505-and-455-sl-backpacks-2/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-deuter-aircontact-ultra-505-and-455-sl-backpacks-2/#respond Mon, 15 Jul 2024 23:02:48 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=63982 Read on

]]> Ultralight Backpacks
Deuter Aircontact Ultra 50+5
$285, 55L/3,356 c.i., 2 lbs. 15 oz./1.33kg
Deuter Aircontact Ultra 45+5 SL
$250, 50L/3,051 c.i., 2 lbs. 11 oz./1.21kg
One adjustable size in both models
Aircontact Ultra 50+5: backcountry.com
Aircontact Ultra 45+5 SL: rei.com

To put Deuter’s updated-for-2024 Aircontact Ultra 50+5 ultralight backpack through the paces, I took it on a pair of quite rugged but also quite different backpacking trips this spring: a three-day hike through southern Utah’s Owl and Fish canyons with a max weight of about 30 pounds in the pack, and six days and about 60 miles backpacking the Grand Canyon’s Gems Route, repeatedly carrying extra water—and starting out with more than 40 pounds inside, including over 10 pounds of water and 11 pounds of food. As I expected, those trips revealed much about the Aircontact Ultra backpacks and why they might appeal to lightweight and ultralight backpackers.

First, I must acknowledge that 40 pounds significantly exceeds Deuter’s recommended max weight for these packs: I knew that but wanted to gauge the Aircontact Ultra’s comfort by exceeding its weight capacity and then seeing when it starts feeling comfortable as my pack weight decreased each day—as I sometimes do with packs in this weight class because, almost inevitably, many backpackers overload ultralight packs at the outset of a trip, or at various points during a long-distance hike, accepting a day or more of compromised comfort for the benefit of having a pack that’s lighter and will be adequately comfortable for most of the trip. I’ve done that countless times.

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In the Grand Canyon, having more than 40 pounds/18.1 kilos in the Aircontact Ultra 50+5 was certainly not “comfortable.” But nor was it all that bad. On that first day, we backpacked about six miles of rough dirt road just to reach the South Bass Trailhead, and then descended the often steep, loose, and rugged South Bass Trail for some 3,400 feet before turning onto the Tonto Trail—logging nearly 15 hard miles that day. Rather than feeling destroyed from severely overloading this pack, I simply felt some discomfort, predictably in my hips and shoulders, but no lingering soreness.

While I certainly wouldn’t recommend overloading this pack that severely, I think some long-distance and other avid backpackers could do the same for a day or two without major consequences. (Strong caveat: I sure don’t promise that result for everyone or even most people.)

Truer to the intended use of these packs, on the Owl and Fish canyons loop, the Aircontact Ultra 50+5 felt immediately comfortable starting out with that trip’s max weight of about 30 pounds/13.6 kilos inside—in line with Deuter’s recommended maximum load of 26 to 33 pounds/11.8 to 15 kilos—and it remained comfortable throughout that three-day hike. As Deuter’s max load recommendation implies, any pack’s max load comfort will vary between individual users, of course.

In Owl and Fish as well as the Grand Canyon, the pack delivered a stable carry going up and down very steep, loose trails, thanks to a spring steel wire frame and a framesheet that offers slight flex, meaning it moves a bit with your torso while providing some structural support. The hipbelt fins and shoulder straps rotate to absorb your body’s movement, helping to steady the pack while hiking.

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Unlike the simple, wide, entirely flexible fabric hipbelts found in some (usually lighter) packs in this category—which rely on the belt’s width to distribute pack weight over the hips—the Aircontact Ultra’sflexible hipbelt features a bit of structure to help support some of the weight that the pack frame distributes to the belt. For 2024, Deuter altered the hipbelt foam to meet bluesign environmentally responsible standards and improve the ergonomic fit at the lumbar. I suspect those design elements helped prevent my hips from really hurting when I overloaded the pack in the Grand Canyon.

The three-dimensional, perforated spacer mesh in the back panel, lumbar pad, shoulder straps, and hipbelt rebounds when not weighted, pulling air into the mesh as you move—creating nice ventilation and cushioning. Another smart change made with the 2024 models is that Deuter carved out the center of the back pad to improve air flow, achieving that objective without compromising comfort at all. That was noticeable on hot days of hard hiking in the Grand Canyon.

I had used and reviewed the previous iteration of Deuter’s Aircontact Ultra 45+5 SL on a five-day backpacking trip in the Wind River Range and on a three-day hike on the 22-mile Death Hollow Loop in southern Utah’s Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. That enabled me to compare the fit of these two packs and changes made in the 2024 versions.

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TheAircontact Ultra 50+5is made for torsos ranging from 17 to 24 inches/43 to 61 centimeters, according to Deuter. (Learn how to measure your torso in my “5 Expert Tips for Buying the Right Backpacking Pack.”) The Ultra 45+5 SL is for women and anyone with a torso measuring 14 to 22 inches/35 to 56 centimeters.

Deuter’s three-position torso-length adjustment system, located behind the back pad, is one of the easiest adjustment systems to access and change that I’ve seen. With these packs, it provides about 1.5 inches/3.8 centimeters of fit range—that’s not much compared with, say, the Osprey men’s Exos 58 and women’s Eja 58, packs nearly identical to the Aircontact Ultra 50+5 in capacity, weight, and price, which have four inches of adjustable fit range.

I got the previous version of the Aircontact Ultra 45+5 SL on Deuter’s recommendation for my 18-inch torso length and it fits me well enough: The hipbelt has plenty of adjustment range, but I found the shoulder straps near their fit limit for me; anyone with a torso over 18 inches or a bigger chest and torso than me (see next paragraph) should go for the Aircontact Ultra 50+5. With the new Aircontact Ultra 50+5, my torso seems to fall near the bottom end of its fit range: As mentioned above, it carried comfortably for me with the recommended max load and, impressively, wasn’t terrible when I overloaded it.

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The long and short is that my torso is on the cusp between those two packs, leading me to two conclusions: first, that anyone near the limits of either pack’s stated fit range may not find it comfortable; and second, that the Aircontact Ultra 45+5 SL fits my 18-inch torso a little better than the Aircontact Ultra 50+5—with the caveat that the Ultra 45+5’s shoulder straps are almost fully extended (very near their limit) with my 38-inch chest and five-foot, eight-inch, 152-pound build.

The top-loading Aircontact Ultra 50+5’s main compartment had enough space for my six days of food and five liters of water starting out in the Grand Canyon, with compact, ultralight gear (including my sleeping bag and solo tent), but also an ultralight camp chair. I had nearly filled the smaller Aircontact Ultra 45+5 SL with gear and food for three-day trips but managed to squeeze five days of food into it in the Winds.

The modular, side Z-compression straps can be repositioned to girth hitch and buckle across the front of the pack, a cool feature that lets you attach a larger piece of gear, like a tent or foam pad, or simply compress the pack (if under-filled) across its front.

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If you’re really counting grams, the removable, floating lid and its straps can be left behind to shave about three ounces/85 grams, and the drawcord top closure for the main compartment has a flap that snaps down to cover it—one of the 2024 additions. But I think that lid pocket, with very good volume for a midsized, ultralight pack, justifies its minimal weight with the space and quick access it provides.

The six external pockets include a large stretch-mesh front pocket that can swallow a wet rainfly and jacket and stretch-mesh side pockets that hold a liter bottle. Deuter increased the angle of those side pockets to make them a bit easier to reach inside while wearing the pack, compared with the previous generation of Aircontact Ultra’s (like the 45+5 SL I’ve reviewed), but it’s still a bit of a contortionist act. The two half-liter, zippered hipbelt pockets each hold four or more bars or a smartphone with room to spare.

The 175-denier polyamide ripstop Ultra HD fabric helps minimize the pack’s weight while making it as durable as many backpacking packs in its weight class. Deuter uses durable water-repellent finishes (DWRs) that are harmless to human and animal health and free of toxic PFAS “forever” chemicals.

Other packs in the series include the Aircontact Ultra 40+5 and Aircontact Ultra 35+5 SL (both $240).

Deuter Aircontact Ultra 50+5 and Aircontact Ultra 45+5 SL

Comfort/Support

Fit

Access

Features

Weight-to-Performance

Durability

The Verdict

Although still ranking among the heaviest ultralight backpacking packs, the updated-for-2024 versions of the Deuter Aircontact Ultra 50+5 and Aircontact Ultra 45+5 SL carry 30 to 35 pounds comfortably and sport smart features in a package that will especially appeal to backpackers who often straddle the gray zone between lightweight and ultralight.

4

BUY IT NOW

You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a Deuter Aircontact Ultra 50+5 backpack at backcountry.com, or a Deuter Aircontact Ultra 45+5 SL backpack at backcountry.com, or any model in the Aircontact Ultra series at backcountry.com, including some of last year’s models at sale prices while stock lasts.

See my picks for “The 10 Best Backpacking Packs” and “The Best Ultralight Backpacks,” my “5 Expert Tips For Buying the Right Backpacking Pack,” and all of my reviews of backpacks, backpacking gear, ultralight backpacks, and ultralight backpacking gear at The Big Outside.

And don’t miss my popular reviews of “25 Essential Backpacking Gear Accessories” and “The Best Backpacking Gear” of the year.

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Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned backpacker, you’ll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my “12 Expert Tips for Planning a Backpacking Trip,” “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking,” and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.” With a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read all of those three stories for free; if you don’t have a subscription, you can download the e-guide versions of “12 Expert Tips for Planning a Backpacking Trip,” the lightweight and ultralight backpacking guide, and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.”

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See The Big Outside’s Gear Reviews page for categorized menus of all gear reviews and expert buying tips.

—Michael Lanza

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-deuter-aircontact-ultra-505-and-455-sl-backpacks-2/feed/ 0 63982 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-black-diamond-dawn-patrol-32-ski-touring-pack/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-black-diamond-dawn-patrol-32-ski-touring-pack/#respond Thu, 28 Dec 2023 20:19:59 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=61544 Read on

]]> Ski Touring Pack
Black Diamond Dawn Patrol 32
$200, 30L/1,831 c.i., 2 lbs. 9 oz./1.2 kg (S/M)
Sizes: S/M and M/L (32L/1,953 c.i.)
blackdiamondequipment.com

When ski touring or riding in the backcountry, besides our skis or board, our pack becomes the piece of gear we interact with the most—and we place competing demands on a ski touring pack: We want it light and comfortable for the up and the down but to also have easy, quick access and critical organization and features. On many days of backcountry ski touring, I found the Black Diamond Dawn Patrol 32balances those demands well and excels for backcountry and side country tours that involve more minimalist capacity needs.

For starters, a convenient zippered back panel provides the only access to the main compartment: Lay the pack in the snow, unzip the back panel, and you have virtually the entire contents immediately visible—no digging around, no pulling items out to find something buried, no items inadvertently falling out, no buckles or multiple steps involved in opening or closing it up. That’s an important design benefit that saves you time when you want to maximize your downhill runs or move quickly through chancy terrain. Side fabric gussets help keep snow out.

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The flip side of that back panel access is that the design doesn’t really allow for building a sturdy frame into the pack for better transfer of heavier loads; instead, the Dawn Patrol 32 relies entirely on a flexible sheet with a cross stay embedded in the back panel for support. The panel has decent padding to keep contents from poking into your back and the form-fitting suspension has a wide, lightly padded hipbelt and ergonomically curved shoulder straps.

The pack carries up to about 30 pounds/13.6 kilos comfortably (depending on the user) but lacks the support for heavier loads. That’s noticeable, for instance, if you try to carry fat, heavier skis loaded onto the pack for a boot pack in the backcountry or resort side country or while simply hiking to reach the snow on a spring tour. The two unisex sizes may not fit very small or large men or women; the S/M fit my 18-inch torso well and remained comfortable as long as I didn’t overload it.

With 30 liters/1,831 cubic inches of capacity (in the S/M, which I tested; the M/L measures 32 liters/1,953 cubic inches), I found the pack has adequate space for backcountry tours where I don’t need much extra layers, water, or food, like a shorter day in relatively moderate temps or in spring. But I could not bring along everything I normally stuff into my other, larger touring pack for an all-day outing in the backcountry. I’d often find myself foregoing my usual, very fat, just-in-case down jacket for a lighter extra puffy and eating only bars, but I could still cram spare gloves inside.

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Plus, while packs usually differ in capacity for different sizes in the same model, it’s worth noting that two liters less capacity in the S/M becomes particularly significant in an already smallish ski touring pack—a fact easy enough to visualize when you think of it as representing the equivalent of two liters of water.

But that capacity also, of course, helps explain why the Dawn Patrol 32 weighs just two pounds, nine ounces/1.2 kilos.

The Dawn Patrol’s organization was clearly designed by and for people who tour in the backcountry. The front snow-safety gear pocket—with a lighter-colored zipper pull to immediately distinguish it from other zippers on the pack’s top side (and all the zipper pulls are long, for grabbing with gloves)—fits my saw and 280-centimeter probe along with either a BD Deploy Shovel or a dissembled BD Transfer Shovel.

Two helmet carry options allow placing a helmet on top of the pack or on its front side—to accommodate simultaneously carrying either skis mounted A-frame or skis or a board mounted to the pack’s front side; the pack handles either setup, although, as mentioned above, heavier skis can overwhelm the pack and compromise comfort.

I like many of the small details that are noticeable in the field, like the oversized, insulated shoulder pocket for a hydration tube, soft flask, or even a radio. Instead of a typical plastic belt buckle that’s opened by squeezing its sides—not always easy while wearing large gloves or mittens—the durable metal belt buckle simply slots one side through the other, fully secure and easily adjustable. Like many technical packs, the Dawn Patrol sports dual attachments for ice tools.

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The two zippered hipbelt pockets are huge: I fit nine Clif-sized bars into one of them; and yet, they are positioned largely behind your hipbones, where they don’t get in the way of swinging arms when skinning uphill. A very spacious, fleece-lined, zippered top pocket has space for goggles and much more. A zippered internal pocket has a key clip and space for smaller items. When filled, the top and internal pockets naturally compromise the main compartment’s space—which makes the large hipbelt pockets that much more valuable.

Very importantly for a ski touring pack, the Dawn Patrol is built for hard use, with 100 percent post-consumer recycled 840-denier polyester and 210-denier ripstop nylon body fabric that readily sheds snow.

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The Verdict

Smartly designed with snow-specific features and comfortable with moderate loads, while tipping the scales barely north of two pounds, the Black Diamond Dawn Patrol 32 excels for side country skiing and riding and relatively lighter or shorter days touring in the backcountry.

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See all reviews of ski touring packs and all reviews of outdoor apparel that I like at The Big Outside, including “The 12 Best Down Jackets,” “How You Can Tell How Warm a Down Jacket Is,” “The Best Gloves for Winter,” “The Best Mittens for Winter,” “The Best Clothing Layers for Winter in the Backcountry,” and my expert tips in “How to Dress in Layers for Winter in the Backcountry” and “12 Pro Tips for Staying Warm Outdoors in Winter.”

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See my Gear Reviews page at The Big Outside for categorized menus of all of my reviews and my expert buying tips.

—Michael Lanza

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]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-black-diamond-dawn-patrol-32-ski-touring-pack/feed/ 0 61544 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-granite-gear-blaze-60-backpack/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-granite-gear-blaze-60-backpack/#comments Fri, 25 Aug 2023 07:35:00 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=33670 Read on

]]> Backpack
Granite Gear Blaze 60
$300, 60L/3,660 c.i., 3 lbs. 4 oz./1.5kg (unisex regular)
Sizes: Unisex short, regular, and long, women’s short and regular
backcountry.com

How many pounds can a lightweight backpack carry comfortably? Granite Gear’s new Blaze 60 is pushing boundaries in that department. On a six-day, 74-mile backpacking trip through the Grand Canyon—including a hard, 15-mile, nearly 12-hour day hoofing most of the rugged Escalante Route—I carried the Blaze 60 with up to about 40 pounds inside. And that load, even in that terrain, felt clearly within this pack’s comfort zone. In fact, its low weight, superior compression, and versatile design make the Blaze 60 a legitimate short- and long-distance mule, elevating it into the realm of the best all-purpose backpacks on the market.

I rarely had much less than 30 pounds inside it on that Grand Canyon trek, because of the need to often carry four liters or more of water. More recently, it carried up to about 35 pounds very comfortably on two separate trips in the Wind River Range: a strenuous four-day, more than 40-mile backpacking trip that crossed four passes near and over 11,000 feet; and a six-day, 64-mile traverse, much of it on the Continental Divide Trail. Granite Gear claims the Blaze 60 carries 50 pounds comfortably; I didn’t push it that far, and 50 pounds is certainly a load that won’t feel comfortable to all backpackers. But personally, I’d feel confident stuffing over 40 pounds into this sack.

Its new Air Current framesheet flexes slightly along the vertical axis, allowing the pack to move with your torso as you walk or bend, especially in steep or difficult terrain, without feeling like it’s the horse and you’re the cart. The dual-density shoulder harness felt good until around hour nine on our longest days—that’s pretty impressive performance—and it has a whistle on the buckle.

The mesh-covered, ventilated back panel fits closely but also has numerous channels for air circulation, which kept the pack relatively cool against my back on days that rose into the 90s Fahrenheit in the canyon.

The Re-Fit hipbelt’s dual-density padding felt so comfortable I didn’t notice the weight on my hips even on the longest, most arduous days in the canyon. The hipbelt also adjusts to fit waists from 26 to 42 inches on the unisex model and 24 to 40 inches on the women’s. Pulling the hipbelt out of its slot in the frame to adjust it required a bit of wrestling to release it from the hook-and-loop attachment—a good thing, ensuring it won’t loosen in use—but then making the adjustment and putting the belt back in place took less than a minute.

 

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There’s hardly a human who wouldn’t find a Blaze 60 that fits well. The sizing encompasses a huge range of torso lengths and types, with three unisex sizes designed for men and some women with torsos from 15 to 24 inches, and two women’s-specific sizes for torsos 15 to 21 inches. Plus, four adjustment points on the framesheet, calibrated to torso size, let you reposition the shoulder straps by simply moving a small disc through a slot on each side, and I never had to readjust it.

The spacious main compartment has a wide top opening for visibility and easy loading and unloading. I fit six days’ of food, my clothing and share of team gear, personal stuff that included a camp chair, and often at least four liters of water inside the Blaze 60 without maxing out its capacity. The pack’s superior compression resizes it for smaller loads, with top, side, and front compression straps with buckles, the front straps holding a foam sleeping pad or similarly large piece of gear.

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The six external pockets include a spacious lid; side pockets large enough for a liter bottle and then some, with cord-lock closures to secure items; two hipbelt pockets with water-resistant zippers, each fitting a large smartphone with room to spare for bars; a deep, stretch-woven front pocket; and a removable floating lid with a water-resistant zipperthat converts to an chest pack clipped at two points over your shoulders. In that configuration, though, the lid pocket just hangs over your chest, a setup that’s convenient but really only practical with very little weight in the pocket. Also, clipping a foam pad or something similar under the front compression straps effectively eliminates access to the front pocket.

The fabric makes this one of the toughest packs on the market—especially for its weight—combining 100-denier Robic high-tenacity nylon with Granite Gear’s custom 210-denier Robic nylon UHMWPE triple ripstop (Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene) in load-bearing and high-impact areas like the bottom, lower sides, and parts of the front. The 210-denier Robic nylon has a strength-to-weight ratio 10 times that of steel. Plus, the main body of the pack is treated with a Barrier DWR (durable, water-resistant coating).

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One minor complaint: The front panel zipper accessing the main compartment isn’t as well-positioned or convenient as panel zips found on other backpacks (like the exemplary Gregory Baltoro and Deva series) because it sits behind anything that’s attached under the front compression straps (I attached a foam pad). It also zips up from the bottom, which seems intended to prioritize pulling out a tent or sleeping bag from the bottom, but it’s a straight rather than an arcing zipper, so it doesn’t open widely enough to easily remove a large item like a tent. Zipping downward from the top or having a two-way zipper would seem more sensible. Ultimately, I didn’t use that zipper as much as I frequently use panel zippers on other packs.

Comparing it with some of the best backpacks available today illustrates the unique positioning of the Blaze 60 in the hierarchy of packs: It’s just six to 13 ounces heavier than many ultralight backpacks, yet can handle up to about 10 pounds more than any of them. And it’s anywhere from a half-pound to 1.5 pounds lighter than packs designed to carry just several pounds more weight, like Osprey’s men’s Atmos AG 65 and women’s Aura AG 65 and Gregory’s men’s Baltoro 65 and Deva 60.

That’s a balancing act worthy of Cirque du Soleil.

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Granite Gear Blaze 60

Comfort/Support

Fit

Access

Features

Weight-to-Performance

Durability

The Verdict

At just a few ounces over three pounds, with the support and comfort to carry more than 40 pounds, and a smart design that allows it to carry any size load well, the Granite Gear Blaze 60 has emerged as a leading all-purpose, quiver-of-one pack for trips of any length.

4.7

BUY IT NOW

You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s Granite Gear Blaze 60 backpack at backcountry.com, or a women’s-specific Granite Gear Blaze 60 backpack at backcountry.com.

See all of my reviews of backpacks, ultralight backpacks, backpacking gear, and ultralight backpacking gear at The Big Outside.

See also my “Top 5 Tips For Buying the Right Backpacking Pack,” and my stories “Gear Review: The 10 Best Backpacking Packs” and “The Best Ultralight Backpacks.”

Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned backpacker, you’ll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my “12 Expert Tips for Planning a Backpacking Trip,” “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking,” and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.” With a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read all of those three stories for free; if you don’t have a subscription, you can download the e-guide versions of “12 Expert Tips for Planning a Backpacking Trip,” the lightweight and ultralight backpacking guide, and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.”

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See categorized menus of all of my gear reviews at The Big Outside.

—Michael Lanza

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-granite-gear-blaze-60-backpack/feed/ 33 33670 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-mystery-ranch-coulee-50-backpack/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-mystery-ranch-coulee-50-backpack/#comments Fri, 05 May 2023 16:46:31 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=58337 Read on

]]> Backpack
Mystery Ranch Coulee 50
$249, 50L/2,930 c.i., 3 lbs. 12 oz./1.7kg (men’s S/M with XS/S belt)
Sizes: men’s S-XL, women’s XS-L
backcountry.com

The race to lighten gear often results in compromises, and with backpacks those tradeoffs can impact access, durability, and comfort—the last usually in the form of strict load-weight limits. Carrying the Coulee 50 backpacking a section of the Arizona Trail along the Gila River and in Arizona’s Aravaipa Canyon in the first week of April and on the Skyline Trail in Jasper National Park and the Nigel, Cataract, and Cline Passes Route in the White Goat Wilderness in the Canadian Rockies in early August, I developed a serious crush on this pack for its comfort and a smart design that makes every interaction with it easier and faster.

Three of the trips involved backpacking to a two-night base camp and dayhiking from it and the Skyline was a three-day, 27.3-mile/44k traverse. I carried the Coulee 50 with up to about 30 pounds/13.6 kilograms inside on three of the hikes and up to about 35 pounds/16 kilograms in the White Goat Wilderness, including a bear canister. (All of them gorgeous hikes, by the way.) I also carried the Coulee 50 backpacking four days and about 31 miles in southwest Colorado’s San Juan Mountains.

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Let’s get the big question out of the way first: weight. At 3 lbs. 12 oz./1701 grams (for the men’s S/M with an XS/S belt), the Coulee 50 is definitely not among the lightest 50-liter packs—but for good reasons. Those include the supportive wire frame and framesheet and the very comfortable, well-padded harness—the pre-curved, flexible waist belt, shoulder straps, and ample lumbar and back padding—that made 30 pounds/13.6 kilos almost unnoticeable on my back and remained comfortable with 35 pounds/16 kilograms.

There are 50-liter and larger packs under three pounds/1360 grams that clearly reach their comfort ceiling at around 30, maybe 35 pounds/15.9 kilograms for some users—which many backpackers try not to exceed but, let’s face it, do exceed. If you’re a backpacker who sometimes overloads a pack uncomfortably for the first day or two of a trip, the Coulee 50 literally has your back.

The harness adjusts to fit torsos within a five-inch/12.7 centimeter length range per size and comes in four men’s and women’s sizes—that’s huge and guarantees a custom fit for just about every human torso. Pull out the removable, plastic yoke adjuster inside the back panel and use it to break the hook-and-loop bond to slide the yoke panel up or down until the seam between the shoulder strap and the yoke body aligns with the top of your shoulder blades. Then return the yoke adjuster to its pocket because it functions as the pack’s upper frame—no superfluous grams in this design.

Plan your next great backpacking trip on the Teton Crest Trail, Wonderland Trail, in Yosemite or other parks using my expert e-guides.

The Redirect waist belt adjusts easily by pulling each strap forward to tighten. It’s also removable: Each arm readily slides out (no burly hook-and-loop patches to wrestle) if you want to shed 10 ounces/283 grams (the combined weight of both sides of the belt)—although that would greatly compromise carrying comfort and stability.

The pack seems spacious for 50 liters: I fit three days of food, my clothes and share of team gear, and a few extras like a camp chair and sandals or camp shoes, with room to spare, on all of these trips, plus a Bear Vault BV 500 bear canister inserted upright in the White Goat Wilderness. This 50-liter pack can handle a five-day or longer trip, assuming very light, compact gear and efficient packing. But in the San Juan Mountains, where I carried a bear canister and a bit more than my share of team gear, plus optional gear like a camp chair, I had the pack jammed full for a four-day trip.

I think that has much to do with the way the Y-shaped, three-zipper access opens up the main compartment from the top and front, completely revealing the pack’s interior, allowing you to not only access it very easily but also load it efficiently, using every cubic inch of space. Plus, the pack’s wide mouth and body swallow larger, oddly shaped, hard gear like a pot and certain stoves without rendering much space unfillable. Note: It’s still not large or wide enough to load a large bear canister sideways, but that’s true of any midsize pack.

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The three-zipper design proved incredibly convenient every day on the trail, enabling me to quickly access virtually anything anywhere inside it, which can require pulling out other stuff in many backpacks—even an item “buried” inside. Example: Upon reaching camp, I could pull out the tent rainfly from the bottom of the pack without having to remove anything else. It also eliminates the extra steps inherent to a lid with two buckles and a main compartment cinch closure. While a zipper access to the main compartment and/or a sleeping bag compartment zipper are more common in larger backpacking packs, those are rare in a 50-liter pack. (I’m a fan of the three-zipper design since reviewing MR’s Coulee 25, which has been updated to different capacity sizes; see below.) The zippers are treated to repel water but not waterproof.

Besides the ready access to the main compartment, the eight external pockets exceed what you’d find in many midsize or even large packs. Those include:

• Two deep front stuff pockets with some stretch, vertically aligned on either side of the center zipper, each with space for a jacket or a lightweight rainfly.
• Two side stretch-woven pockets that each hold a liter bottle.
• Two zippered lid pockets, one small and the other spacious.
• And two zippered waist belt pockets large enough for a smartphone or at least four energy bars.

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Dual side compression straps with convenient, quick-release buckles integrate with the front pockets and have good length for attaching objects to the pack’s sides and the bottom compression straps with quick-release buckles easily secured a foam pad. Loops inside the main compartment can be used to attach Mystery Ranch Zoid Bags or other accessories. The sleeping bag compartment has a U-shaped zipper that runs smoothly.

The Coulee packs are also made to handle hard use, with 100 percent recycled, tough, 210-denier nylon Robic and a double-layer bottom.

The series includes the Coulee 20 ($179), Coulee 30 ($189), and Coulee 40 ($239).

Mystery Ranch Coulee 50

Comfort/Support

Fit

Access

Features

Weight-to-Performance

Durability

The Verdict

The Mystery Ranch Coulee 50 illustrates an important rule about gear shopping: Sometimes it’s worth looking at the story behind the weight. With the Coulee 50 and its smaller models, you get uncompromised comfort and a unique design that puts convenience first—a pretty fair tradeoff for basically another pound/450 grams of ballast.

4.6

BUY IT NOW

You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking this affiliate link to purchase a Mystery Ranch Coulee 50 backpack at backcountry.com.

See my picks for “The 10 Best Backpacking Packs” and “The Best Ultralight Backpacks,” my “5 Expert Tips For Buying the Right Backpacking Pack,” and all of my reviews of backpacks, backpacking gear, ultralight backpacks, and ultralight backpacking gear at The Big Outside.

And don’t miss my popular reviews of “25 Essential Backpacking Gear Accessories” and “The Best Backpacking Gear” of the year.

Let The Big Outside help you find the best adventures. Join now for full access to ALL stories and get a free e-guide and member gear discounts!

Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned backpacker, you’ll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my “12 Expert Tips for Planning a Backpacking Trip,” “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking,” and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.” With a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read all of those three stories for free; if you don’t have a subscription, you can download the e-guide versions of “12 Expert Tips for Planning a Backpacking Trip,” the lightweight and ultralight backpacking guide, and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.”

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See categorized menus of all gear reviews at The Big Outside.

—Michael Lanza

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-mystery-ranch-coulee-50-backpack/feed/ 2 58337 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-deuter-aircontact-ultra-505-and-455-sl-backpacks/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-deuter-aircontact-ultra-505-and-455-sl-backpacks/#respond Fri, 14 Apr 2023 15:05:31 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=58101 Read on

]]> NOTE: See my review of the updated-for-2024 versions of the Deuter Aircontact Ultra 50+5 and 45+5 SL backpacks.

Ultralight Backpack
Deuter Aircontact Ultra 50+5
$250, 55L/3,356 c.i., 2 lbs. 11 oz./1.2kg
Deuter Aircontact Ultra 45+5 SL
$250, 50L/3,051 c.i., 2 lbs. 11 oz./1219g
One adjustable size in both models
Aircontact Ultra 50+5: backcountry.com
Aircontact Ultra 45+5: backcountry.com

Many mid-size, lightweight and ultralight backpacking packs share more similarities than differences—because the design details they share have proven popular and work. Still, Deuter’s Aircontact Ultra 50+5 and 45+5 SL distinguish themselves from some competitors for their adjustable, comfortable fit and smart design details that make a difference in your experience carrying it, as I found using the Aircontact Ultra 45+5 SL on a five-day, late-summer backpacking trip in the Wind River Range and a three-day hike on the 22-mile Boulder Mail Trail-Death Hollow Loop in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in early October.

For starters, the Aircontact Ultra 50+5 is unisex and made for longer torsos, up to 21 inches (learn how to measure your torso in my “5 Expert Tips for Buying the Right Backpacking Pack”). The Ultra 45+5 SL is for men or women with slightly shorter torsos. I got the Aircontact Ultra 45+5 SL on Deuter’s recommendation for my 18-inch torso length. While that pack fits me well and the hipbelt has plenty of fit range, I found the shoulder straps near their fit limit for me; anyone with a torso over 18 inches might prefer the Aircontact Ultra 50+5 (which may also have fit me just fine).

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Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Join The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here for my e-guides to classic backpacking trips. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip.

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Deuter’s three-position torso-length adjustment system, located behind the back pad, enables a better fit than non-adjustable suspension systems seen in some packs in this weight class and is one of the easiest pack-fit adjustment systems to access and change I’ve seen. With each model, it provides for about two inches of torso fit range.

I started out in the Winds with over 35 pounds in the Aircontact Ultra 45+5 SL and it initially felt overloaded. I found it comfortable with a max pack weight around 35 pounds or a bit under, even on days up to over 12 miles—consistent with Deuter’s recommendation of using it for loads of up to 12 to 15 kg, or about 25 to 33 pounds. That comfort comes thanks to a spring steel perimeter wire frame and a framesheet that offers slight flex, meaning it moves a bit with your torso but, unlike lighter, essentially frameless packs, it provides some structure to help support a load. Pivoting hip fins help steady the pack while hiking.

The three-dimensional layers of perforated spacer mesh in the back panel, lumbar pad, shoulder straps, and hipbelt rebounds when not weighted, pulling air into the mesh as you move—delivering nice ventilation and cushioning. Unlike the simple, wide, entirely flexible fabric hipbelts found in some packs in this category—which essentially rely on the belt’s width to distribute pack weight over the hips—the Aircontact Ultra’shipbelt, while flexible, features a little structure to help support some of the weight that the pack frame distributes to the belt. The shoulder straps have a bit of rotation where they attach at the top of the back panel, enabling the pack to move with your torso instead of feeling like it’s tugging against you.

Plan your next great backpacking trip on the Teton Crest Trail, Wonderland Trail, in Yosemite or other parks using my expert e-guides.

The top-loading Aircontact Ultra packs have an adequately spacious main compartment for outings of three or four days if, like me, you carry one or more “luxury” items like an ultralight camp chair; or up to six or seven days if you pack highly efficiently and carry light gear, with Z-compression straps on both sides. I found myself filling the Aircontact Ultra 45+5 SL with gear and food for three days.

The six external pockets include a large stretch-mesh front pocket that can swallow a wet rainfly and a jacket and stretch-mesh side pockets that hold a liter bottle but are a little difficult to reach into for me (perhaps owing to me falling at the upper limit of the Ultra 45+5 SL’s fit range).

The two half-liter, zippered hipbelt pockets will hold four or more bars or a smartphone with room to spare. If you’re really counting grams, the removable, floating lid and its straps can be left behind to shave about three ounces/85g; but that lid pocket, voluminous for a pack of this size and weight, is worth its minimal weight for the quick access and space it offers. The front features six loops for attaching gear to the outside.

The 200-denier polyamide fabric provides a durable exterior that will hold up to hard use for years; the exterior parts most vulnerable to tearing, as with many packs in this weight class, are the stretch-mesh front and side pockets. Deuter impregnates the pack fabric with water repellency rather than using chemicals known as harmful to people and the environment.

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Deuter Aircontact Ultra 50+5 and Aircontact Ultra 45+5 SL

Comfort/Support

Fit

Access

Features

Weight-to-Performance

Durability

The Verdict

While among the heaviest ultralight backpacking packs, the Deuter Aircontact Ultra 50+5 and Aircontact Ultra 45+5 SL are comfortable packs with an adjustable fit, ideal for lightweight backpackers willing to accept several extra ounces for smart features and the support for up to 35 pounds.

4

BUY IT NOW

You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a Deuter Aircontact Ultra 50+5 backpack at backcountry.com, or a Deuter Aircontact Ultra 45+5 SL backpack at backcountry.com.

See my picks for “The 10 Best Backpacking Packs” and “The Best Ultralight Backpacks,” my “5 Expert Tips For Buying the Right Backpacking Pack,” and all of my reviews of backpacks, backpacking gear, ultralight backpacks, and ultralight backpacking gear at The Big Outside.

And don’t miss my popular reviews of “25 Essential Backpacking Gear Accessories” and “The Best Backpacking Gear” of the year.

Let The Big Outside help you find the best adventures. Join now for full access to ALL stories and get a free e-guide and member gear discounts!

Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned backpacker, you’ll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my “12 Expert Tips for Planning a Backpacking Trip,” “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking,” and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.” With a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read all of those three stories for free; if you don’t have a subscription, you can download the e-guide versions of “12 Expert Tips for Planning a Backpacking Trip,” the lightweight and ultralight backpacking guide, and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.”

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See categorized menus of all gear reviews at The Big Outside.

—Michael Lanza

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-deuter-aircontact-ultra-505-and-455-sl-backpacks/feed/ 0 58101 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-gregory-baltoro-65-and-deva-60-backpacks/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-gregory-baltoro-65-and-deva-60-backpacks/#respond Thu, 10 Nov 2022 14:25:25 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=55444 Read on

]]> Backpack
Gregory Baltoro 65 and Deva 60
$350, 65L/3,966 c.i., 4 lbs. 14 oz./2.2kg (men’s medium Baltoro)
Sizes: three adjustable men’s and women’s sizes
Baltoro 65: gregory.com
Deva 60: gregory.com

If you tend to fill up a backpack with lots of stuff (read: beaucoup weight) on your backpacking trips, trying to do that with a pack that’s inadequate to the task will strike you as a fool’s errand before you get far up the trail. In reality, very few packs handle heavy loads well. From the Teton Crest Trail to the Sawtooths, the men’s Gregory Baltoro 65 once again demonstrated that it belongs in that elite stable of backpacking packs.

I asked two experienced backpackers I know to test out the men’s large Baltoro 65 (the women’s model is the Deva 60) on separate trips of three days and 27 miles in Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains and two days of 10 and 12 miles on the Teton Crest Trail (the latter trip cut in half by torrential rain). Both guys are around five feet 10 inches and 200 pounds.

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Made with recycled fabrics—with a carbon footprint reduced by 31 percent, 25 percent less energy use, 23 percent less water pollution, and one-third less plastic than the previous generation of these packs, and a PFC-free DWR (durable, water-resistant treatment) on the pack fabric—the 2022 editions of the Baltoro 65 and Deva 60 also cost just 20 bucks more than when I reviewed these packs four years ago.

Classic fully featured, top-loaders built for hauling heavy loads into the backcountry, the Baltoro and Deva series packs have an internal alloy perimeter wire frame with a fiberglass cross stay plus an HDPE (high-density polyethylene) framesheet that give the packs abundant support and rigidity with just a bit of flex and direct most of the pack weight onto the hips as effectively as the two or three best big packs on the market.

Those critical components explain how the Deva and Baltoro carry loads of 50 pounds/22.7kg comfortably, which is Gregory’s rating for the Baltoro 65 and Deva 60, what my testers estimated, and consistent with my personal experience with a few generations of the Baltoro. Strong backpackers could handle more weight in them. Gregory rates the larger Baltoro and Deva packs for 55 to 75 pounds/25 to 34kg.

Testers reported that Gregory’s new, foamless FreeFloat suspension system with 3D mesh delivered excellent air flow across their backs. The suspension creates a wide air channel even as the AirCushion back panel wraps the torso closely, distributing the pack’s weight more evenly and eliminating pressure points.

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The suspension-harness features a well-padded, pre-curved, dynamic hipbelt with flex panels that allow the belt to rotate side to side as you walk, and dual-density shoulder straps that auto-rotate individually at the top of each. One tester with very wide shoulders found those straps dug into his shoulders; the other tester said hipbelt rubbed his hips raw—both of which could be explained by fitting the pack poorly (read my tips on fitting a pack—just as important as with boots).

That dynamic nature to the suspension eliminates much of the side-to-side rocking a pack can do as you hike—and the cumulative body fatigue that can result. Hipbelt and shoulder straps are made with cushioned mesh that ventilates well, too. Plus, the hipbelt wings are extendable to fit larger waists and hips.

Testers also loved Gregory’s signature, supportive lumbar pad, which has a non-slip surface to prevent lower-back blisters—another feature that becomes more important in a pack built for big loads. All harness components are treated with odor-controlling polygiene to inhibit bacterial growth.

The men’s Baltoro and women’s Deva both come in three sizes, now with an expanded adjustability range of about three inches and overlap between the sizes, enabling more flexibility in fit: Even the small (fits torsos 16 to 19 inches/40.6 to 48.3cm) and large Baltoro (fits torsos 18 to 21 inches/45.7 to 53.3cm) share a one-inch overlap in fit while the women’s Deva has two inches of overlap between the XS (14 to 17 inches/35.6 to 43.2cm) and medium (16 to 19 inches/40.6 to 48.3cm).

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All three men’s and women’s sizes also sport 22 inches (about 56cm) of fit range in all three adjustable hipbelt sizes—which spotlights one complaint I’ve long had about these packs: The belts are much too long for many users. I don’t pretend to know what consumer sizing demand Gregory sees but it’s hard to imagine many purchasers of the men’s small Baltoro 65 requiring a belt that accommodates a 48-inch/122cm waist.

The voluminous main compartment, with a wide mouth, has abundant capacity for long, gear-intensive trips and carrying extra food and gear for companions (like young kids); it easily fits a bear canister laid in horizontally (often not possible with smaller packs). Access is matched by very few backpacking packs, beginning with the huge, U-shaped front zipper into the entire main compartment and zipper access to the sleeping bag compartment, which has a removable divider.

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Gregory kept many useful features that have long populated the Deva and Baltoro series. That includes the supreme organization created by nine external pockets:

• A large, stretch-mesh front pocket that can swallow a wet rainfly and maybe a jacket on top of that.
• Dual front zippered pockets with a floating divider separating them, meaning that you can overfill one because it borrows volume from the other.
• One side stretch-mesh pocket large enough for a liter bottle, gloves, snacks, etc.
• On the other side, a retractable bottle holder canted at an angle to easily grab or replace a bottle in it while wearing the pack.
• Two pockets atop the floating, removable lid (and a large, zippered pocket on its underside).
• Two oversized hipbelt pockets bigger than any I’ve seen on a backpack, holding multiple bars in addition to a smartphone. (I stuffed a pair of warm ski gloves with long gauntlets inside one of the pockets.) They are, arguably, bigger than needed. Testers said filling them up sometimes meant their hands constantly brushing against the pockets—although that was not a problem when they used trekking poles.

Other nice details on the Baltoro and Deva include:

• Molded zipper pulls that are easy to grab with warm gloves on.
• Top, side, and bottom compression, the side straps long enough to wrap around the pack’s front to attach large gear or maximize load compression, the bottom long enough to attach a foam pad.
• Sunglasses stow on the left shoulder strap.
• An accessory attachment for keeping items like Gregory’s bear spray holster (sold separately) within easy reach.
• The internal hydration sleeve features Gregory’s SpeedClip hanger for easily and securely clipping the brand’s 3D Hydro Trek reservoir (not included, but see it in my review of top backpacking accessories); it will hold other bladders, too.
• Adjustable straps and shock cords for ice axes and trekking poles.
• A safety whistle in the sternum strap.

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Durability alone validates the price (and weight), with a combination of 210-denier and 420-denier, high-density nylon in the pack body, 40 to 45 percent of it recycled, and a dual-layer bottom panel of 630-denier, high-density nylon.

While it’s more than twice the weight of top ultralight packs, of course, the Baltoro, at four pounds, 14 ounces/2.2kg (for the medium Baltoro), and Deva weigh virtually the same as the Mystery Ranch Sphinx 60 and Osprey men’s Aether 65 and women’s Ariel 65 and just three ounces more than the men’s Osprey Atmos AG 65 and women’s Aura AG 65—packs that perhaps most closely compete with the Baltoro 65 and Deva 60 for comfort, fit, and features.

Other packs in these lines include the Gregory Baltoro 75 and Deva 70 ($380), Baltoro 85 Pro and Deva 80 Pro ($420), and Baltoro 100 Pro ($440).

Gregory Baltoro 65 and Deva 60

Comfort/Support

Fit

Access

Features

Weight-to-Performance

Durability

The Verdict

For backpackers planning to carry loads of 40 to 50 pounds or more and like the access and organization provided by a huge zipper opening up the main compartment and numerous external pockets, the Gregory Baltoro 65 and Deva 60 rank among the two or three very best packs for that job.

4.8

BUY IT NOW

You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to buy a Gregory Baltoro 65 at gregory.com or rei.com; a Gregory Deva 60 at gregory.com or rei.com; or larger versions of the Baltoro at gregory.com or rei.com or the Deva at gregory.com or rei.com.

See “The 10 Best Backpacking Packs” and “The Best Ultralight Backpacks,” “5 Expert Tips For Buying the Right Backpacking Pack,” and all reviews of backpacks, backpacking gear, ultralight backpacks, and ultralight backpacking gear at The Big Outside.

And don’t miss my popular reviews of “25 Essential Backpacking Gear Accessories” and “The Best Backpacking Gear” of the year.

Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned backpacker, you’ll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking,” and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.” With a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read all of those three stories for free; if you don’t have a subscription, you can download the e-guide versions of “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” the lightweight and ultralight backpacking guide, and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.”

See all stories with expert backpacking tips at The Big Outside.

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See The Big Outside’s Gear Reviews page for categorized menus of all gear reviews and expert buying tips.

—Michael Lanza

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-gregory-baltoro-65-and-deva-60-backpacks/feed/ 0 55444 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-mountainsmith-zerk-40-ultralight-backpack/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-mountainsmith-zerk-40-ultralight-backpack/#respond Fri, 04 Nov 2022 16:29:53 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=55375 Read on

]]> Ultralight Backpack
Mountainsmith Zerk 40
$225, 40 liters/2,440 c.i., 1 lb. 13 oz./822g (including removable accessories)
One unisex size, fits torsos 16-19 inches
backcountry.com

Within the rather exclusive category of ultralight backpacks weighing two pounds or less, one sees similarities, most commonly and conspicuously a frameless, roll-top design with large external pockets. The Mountainsmith Zerk 40 takes that template and juices it with some smart details and add-ons, tougher materials, and a touch of modularity while keeping it significantly under two pounds. That suited my needs quite well trekking hut to hut for six days on Iceland’s Laugavegur and Fimmvörðuháls trails—and I think much about the Zerk will also appeal to many ultralighters and thru-hikers.  

On our six-day hike on the 33-mile/54k Laugavegur and 15.5-mile/25k Fimmvörðuháls, I carried a maximum weight of around 35 pounds/15.9k, which included all of my own food (you cook your own meals in the huts), water, sleeping bag, and extra clothing, my DSLR camera and two lenses, as well as incidentals like toiletries and an iPad. It also functioned well fully compressed as a daypack on two half-day hikes of the peaks Blahnukur and Brennisteinsalda in Iceland’s Fjallabak Nature Preserve.

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A simple, frameless, ultralight pack, it resembles others in this category with its roll-top access to the main compartment—with a top and two side compression straps that securely compress the top of the pack, augmented by Z-compression side straps to further squeeze the pack when unfilled, helping to keep it quite stable while hiking even steep trails.

Like similar ultralight packs, it has large external pockets: nine on the Zerk—more than some other packs, though the Zerk’s include four pairs of overlapping pockets that naturally affect one another’s total capacity. The front stretch mesh pocket has substantial space: I stuffed my sandals for the huts and river crossings as well as, at times, my rain jacket and pants, warm gloves, and other small items into it without reaching its capacity. The angled side pockets—an inner and outer pocket on each side, easily reached while wearing the pack—hold a liter bottle with space to spare. I kept a liter bottle on one side, while using the other side pair of pockets to organize light gloves, low gaiters, and a beanie.

The Zerk’s distinctive, EVA foam, wide shoulder straps improve comfort by dispersing weight better than narrower straps. Taking a page from trail running-hydration vests, each has a two-compartment pocket with adequate space for a phone, flexible water bottles, and energy snacks and similarly small items. I also found those pockets useful for holding a second camera lens, to have quick access to it. (I used one of those pockets for that, with snacks in the others.)

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The pack comes with some useful features: a bungee cord that you easily install in your preferred configuration through five or all seven front gear loops, with enough stretch that, if you actually fill the front pocket, you can still tuck a jacket under the bungee; and a removable accessory webbing strap that can be run through four small gear loops for attaching a large piece of gear atop the pack, like a tent or bear canister—the latter required in some parks, including Yosemite, Grand Teton and the Teton Crest Trail, and on the John Muir Trail and PCT throughout the High Sierra.

As with any ultralight pack, the Zerk’s frameless design, removable foam back pad, 1.5-inch-wide, removable webbing belt, and lack of external load-control straps that you’d see on a heavier pack prioritizes minimizing weight over support and comfort with heavier loads. As expected, I found the Zerk comfortable carrying up to around 30 pounds (as Mountainsmith states as its max weight). When I had around 35 pounds inside, I felt the weight more heavily on my shoulders.

Still, when properly loaded and kept within its intended max weight, the Zerk 40 was comfortable hiking for hours. And the one unisex size, which fits torsos from 16 to 19 inches/40.6 to 48.3cm, suited my 18-inch torso just fine, as did the belt, with a huge fit range for waists 28 to 48 inches/71 to 122cm. That said, it’s not likely a good fit for a much bigger person (I’m 150+ pounds with a 38-inch chest and 30-inch waist) or someone with a small torso and/or narrow shoulders. The adjustable sternum strap features a safety whistle.

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The main compartment has a wide mouth and interior that makes loading and unloading an easy chore—although, as with any roll-top pack that lacks a lid, accessing the main compartment is somewhat tedious, demanding that and you keep items you’ll need to access quickly and routinely while hiking in exterior pockets. Consistent with its minimalist design, the Zerk lacks a bladder sleeve, with only a click for hanging a bladder.

At 40 liters/2,440 cubic inches with the collar fully extended—and 32 liters/1,952 cubic inches with the roll-top fully compressed, more the size of a large daypack—the main compartment is not as spacious as some packs weighing two pounds or less. On our six-day hut trek in Iceland, I filled it despite not carrying a tent, air mattress, or kitchen gear. This is an ultralight pack for a very efficient packer outfitted with ultralight, compact gear, not someone who brings many comfort items.

Still, it has the capacity for ultralight backpacking and thru-hiking up to about five days between resupplies, and the roll-top offers good extension for overfilling the Zerk—although that can compromise comfort by making it top-heavy, especially with a tent or bear canister on top, but largely only if your load exceeds about 30 pounds. Plus, it makes for an ideal hut pack or large daypack.

While not waterproof, the 210-denier Extreema recycled nylon pack fabric proved very tough while helping keep the pack’s overall weight very low, and it demonstrated good water resistance in the many rain showers we hiked through in Iceland: I packed everything in stuff sacks that are largely waterproof in rain (but not made for full immersion) and did not use a rain cover and the interior never got wet. Any roll-top closure naturally provides a high degree of water resistance in rain when hiking, anyway.

The 100-denier x Span 840-denier stretch mesh used on six of the Zerk’s exterior pockets—two on the side, four on the shoulder straps—shows impressive durability, appearing unfazed by dropping the pack against abrasive volcanic rocks on the Laugavegur and Fimmvörðuháls trails.

Lastly but most importantly: With all of this, the Zerk 40 falls on the lighter end of the weight continuum of ultralight backpacks at one pound, 13 ounces (822g) with the belt, front bungee, and accessory strap attached and two ounces lighter without them. (I weighed it at 1 lb. 12 oz./794g with the belt and bungee, not the accessory strap.)

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Mountainsmith Zerk 40

Comfort/Support

Fit

Access

Features

Weight-to-Performance

Value

The Verdict

While it has less capacity than other ultralight packs of similar design and weight, the minimalist, featherweight Mountainsmith Zerk 40 stands out for its simple yet innovative, modular, roll-top design and abundant external pocket space, which will appeal to committed ultralighters backpacking with up to about 30 pounds.

3.7

BUY IT NOW

You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a Mountainsmith Zerk 40 backpack at backcountry.com or rei.com.

See my picks for “The Best Ultralight Backpacks” and “The 10 Best Backpacking Packs,” “5 Expert Tips For Buying the Right Backpacking Pack,” and all reviews of backpacks, backpacking gear, ultralight backpacks, and ultralight backpacking gear at The Big Outside.

And don’t miss my popular reviews of “25 Essential Backpacking Gear Accessories” and “The Best Backpacking Gear” of the year.

I can help you plan the best backpacking, hiking, or family adventure of your life.
Click here now to learn more.

Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned backpacker, you’ll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking,” and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.” With a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read all of those three stories for free; if you don’t have a subscription, you can download the e-book versions of “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” the lightweight and ultralight backpacking guide, and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.”

See all stories with expert backpacking tips at The Big Outside.

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See categorized menus of all gear reviews at The Big Outside.

—Michael Lanza

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-mountainsmith-zerk-40-ultralight-backpack/feed/ 0 55375 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-osprey-exos-58-and-eja-58-ultralight-backpacks/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-osprey-exos-58-and-eja-58-ultralight-backpacks/#respond Mon, 12 Sep 2022 22:24:56 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=54496 Read on

]]> Ultralight Backpack
Osprey Exos 58 and Eja 58
$280, 58L/3,539 c.i., 2 lbs. 14 oz./1.3kg (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s S/M and L/XL, women’s XS/X and M/L
Exos: backcountry.com
Eja: osprey.com

Osprey’s men’s Exos and women’s Eja packs would seem like shining examples of gear proven to perform so well for so long that redesigning them risks customer backlash. As a longtime fan of the packs, I was eager to take the Exos 58 on a long cruise—nine days and nearly 130 miles through the High Sierra in August, mostly on the John Muir Trail with some on- and off-trail detours. I came away from that walk convinced that, with what they changed and what they kept in the Exos/Eja, Osprey done made these packs even better.

I started the hike with 10 days of food (18 pounds, in case we went over nine days), which pushed my pack weight toward 40 pounds—which, not surprisingly, felt too heavy for the Exos 58. Still, while Osprey rates it for 30 to 35 pounds, the pack carried surprisingly well, distributing the weight evenly: It simply felt too heavy without making any specific body part, like my shoulders, bear the burden painfully. A few days into the hike, once the weight had dropped to around 35 pounds and under, it felt much better even on two consecutive 17-mile days, one of those with a cumulative 8,000 vertical feet of up and down.

I also found the Exos 58 comfortable with around 30 pounds inside backpacking 60 miles over four days in Utah’s High Uintas Wilderness in early October.

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The pack’s LightWire perimeter frame carries 30 to 35 pounds comfortably by shifting a large portion of the pack weight onto your hips, while the flexible, wide, breathable, perforated-foam hipbelt and contoured shoulder straps distribute that weight nicely, without any pressure points: I carried the Exos 58 for upwards of eight hours a day—on days ranging from 9.9 to 19.5 miles, six of them with around 5,000 to over 8,600 vertical feet of elevation gain and loss—and finished every day impressed with how good the pack felt.

The Exos and Eja lines come in two torso sizes and three capacities (38L, 48L, and 58L) with adjustable suspensions in all of the packs—the most significant update for 2022. A very easy-to-use ladder of five positions for the shoulder straps allows you to quickly adjust it within the pack’s four inches of fit range for torso length. My 18-inch/46cm torso fell in the middle of the ladder on the S/M Exos—and the middle position on the torso-fit system best for me, meaning there’s room within that range for people with a torso measuring 16 to 20 inches (although 19 inches is on the cusp between S/M and L/XL and someone with a 20-inch torso is probably better off with the L/XL).

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Although Osprey made no changes to the suspension, changing the harness from fixed to adjustable improved the fit for most people by greatly reducing the chance of your torso falling between sizes—as a result, improving comfort, which I definitely noticed. The taut, trampoline-style back panel keeps the pack off your back, allowing excellent ventilation.

I shoehorned my ultralight gear—plus a bear canister and a collapsible camp chair (see both in this review)—and food for a whopping 10 days inside the Exos 58 for our Sierra hike. With careful packing, the top-loading Exos 58 has the capacity for weeklong trips and ultralight thru-hiking. Its wide mouth eases the task of loading and unloading even a bear canister—although a large canister cannot fit horizontally inside the pack, only vertically, which definitely makes packing more complicated.

Made from 100 percent recycled materials, the Exos and Eja packs have gotten somewhat more durable. While the materials used—bluesign-approved, recycled, 100-denier, high-tenacity nylon ripstop in the pack body and bottom and 400-denier high-tenacity nylon in accents—are not themselves more durable, the packs now have stronger mesh in the back panel and other areas that increases durability in high-wear areas. One example: Osprey had observed that a particular seam failed more often than other seams in the last generation of these packs because it joined separate pieces of open mesh and was under heavy pressure. They redesigned it and that seemingly small improvement may keep a lot of packs from going in for repairs.

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Responding to popular demand, Osprey brought back the two hipbelt pockets on the Exos and Eja. Otherwise, many features from the previous version of the Exos and Eja have carried over into this 2022 update, including:

• The extendable and removable floating lid, which you can leave home to trim the pack’s weight, replacing it with the integrated FlapJacket flap that clips over the mouth of the main compartment;
• The zippered lid pocket and under-lid pocket both offer space consistent with competitors in this category;
• The spacious front mesh pocket, where I stashed a wet rainfly and shell jacket, and the two dual-access side mesh pockets, which you can reach inside when wearing the pack, each of which holds a liter bottle;
• Z-compression straps on both sides for shrinking the pack as well as tucking objects inside those straps;
• The trekking poles attachment on the left shoulder strap;
• The ice axe loop with a bungee tie-off;
• And a safety whistle integrated into the sternum strap.

The Exos/Eja lines include the smaller Exos 48 and Eja 48 ($260, 48L/2,929 c.i., 2 lbs. 12 oz.) and Exos 38 and Eja 38 ($240, 38L/2,319 c.i., 2 lbs. 11 oz.).

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Osprey Exos 58 and Eja 58

Comfort/Support

Fit

Access

Features

Weight-to-Performance

Durability

The Verdict

While there are lighter ultralight packs, the smartly reimagined Osprey men’s Exos 58 and women’s Eja 58 remain leaders in comfort and features for ultralight backpacking and thru-hiking with 30 pounds or more inside, while still light enough to use for shorter trips.

4.2

BUY IT NOW

You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase any men’s Osprey Exos backpack at osprey.com, backcountry.com, or rei.com, or any women’s Osprey Eja backpack at osprey.com, backcountry.com, or rei.com.

See my picks for “The 10 Best Backpacking Packs” and “The Best Ultralight Backpacks,” “5 Expert Tips For Buying the Right Backpacking Pack,” and all reviews of backpacks, backpacking gear, ultralight backpacks, and ultralight backpacking gear at The Big Outside.

And don’t miss my picks for “The Best Backpacking Gear” of the year.

I can help you plan the best backpacking, hiking, or family adventure of your life.
Click here now to learn more.

Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned backpacker, you’ll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my “12 Expert Tips for Planning a Backpacking Trip,” “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking,” and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.” With a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read all of those three stories for free; if you don’t have a subscription, you can download the e-guide versions of “12 Expert Tips for Planning a Backpacking Trip,” the lightweight and ultralight backpacking guide, and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.”

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See categorized menus of all gear reviews at The Big Outside.

—Michael Lanza

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]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-osprey-exos-58-and-eja-58-ultralight-backpacks/feed/ 0 54496 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-gregory-focal-58-and-facet-55-ultralight-backpacks/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-gregory-focal-58-and-facet-55-ultralight-backpacks/#comments Wed, 20 Apr 2022 21:22:22 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=52455 Read on

]]> Ultralight Backpack
Gregory Focal 58 and Facet 55
$270, 58L/3,539 c.i., 2 lbs. 11 oz./1.22kg (men’s small)
Sizes: men’s S-L, women’s XS-M
gregorypacks.com

Starting my six-day backpacking trip in the Grand Canyon with more than the recommended max weight in my Gregory Focal 58 and planning some strenuous days of hiking up to 12 miles with over 7,000 feet of cumulative elevation gain and loss—including seven very steep off-trail miles—I knew I’d put this pack to a serious test. Not a problem for the Focal 58, though, which proved not only comfortable but has a nice feature set, too.

I carried the men’s Focal 58 (the women’s model is the Facet 55) for four of our six days in the canyon—we had two layover nights and dayhiked from a couple of camps—with 25 to over 35 pounds inside, including, at times, up to four liters (8.5 pounds) of water.

Replacing Gregory’s similar Optic and Octal (which were four ounces lighter) for 2022, this top-loader has an internal, tubular, perimeter wire frame—tubular to trim weight while maintaining stability—with an HDPE framesheet and a fiberglass cross-stay that prevents barreling and lends the pack substantial rigidity: The frame has very slight flex to it, resulting in better support and stability when pushing the pack’s weight capacity.

Gregory says the Focal 58 carries up to 35 pounds comfortably and I found that just about spot-on: With six days of food, almost three liters of water, camera gear and various gear I was testing, I began our Grand Canyon hike with the pack a bit north of 35 pounds and a hard first day hiking nearly 11 miles, partly off-trail, with over 7,000 feet of cumulative uphill and downhill; by day’s end, I felt those miles a bit in my shoulders, which I attributed to having overloaded the pack beyond its recommended capacity. (I sometimes do that on the first day of a trip, rather than choosing a heavier pack, knowing that by day two my pack weight may drop into the comfortable zone.)

But I noticed the pack felt considerably more comfortable once its weight dropped to around 35 pounds and under, even on two more 12-mile canyon days with significant up and down.

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Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Join The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here for my e-guides to classic backpacking trips. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip.

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Gregory’s FreeFloat suspension sports flex panels that allow some movement of the pack with your body. The tensioned, ventilated back panel enables abundant air flow across your back, which makes a difference in comfort on strenuous hikes and hot temps. But because the pack bag rides fairly close to the back panel and the frame efficiently transfers weight to the hips, I never got the feeling of the pack hanging off my shoulders—except when I exceeded its recommended weight, and even then, it wans’t bad. Even on our last day’s 4,400-foot uphill slog from the Colorado River to the South Rim, the Focal carried comfortably.

The very breathable, perforated foam in the shoulder straps, lumbar pad, and hipbelt softened the load, with the entire harness wrapping very comfortably around hips and over shoulders to distribute the weight and prevent pressure points; and it’s treated with odor-controlling Polygiene.

These fixed (non-adjustable) packs come in three men’s and women’s sizes, fitting torsos from 16 to 22 inches in the men’s Focal and 14 to 20 inches in the women’s Facet. While I’ve worn a men’s medium in other Gregory packs, the men’s small Focal fit my 18-inch torso well, even though I’m on the cusp between men’s small and medium.

A wide mouth provides easy access and when loading and unloading the spacious main compartment, which had adequate space for six days‘ worth of food, a four-liter water dromedary at times, and the usual gear plus a favorite ultralight camp chair. The pack lacks a separate zipper accessing the bottom for a sleeping bag, but I and don’t miss that zipper and rarely use it on other packs; I consider it superfluous weight.

There are six external pockets (not including the zippered pocket on the lid’s underside): two spacious zippered hipbelt pockets that each hold a large smartphone plus two or three energy bars; a zippered lid pocket with good space for packs in this category; two stretch-mesh side pockets that hold a liter bottle and are easily reached while wearing the pack; and a large, stretch-mesh front pocket that swallows a wet rainfly or jacket with room to spare.

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The removable, floating lid allows you to extend the pack’s capacity or leave the lid behind if you want to shave a few ounces of pack weight, replacing it with a weather flap that comes with the pack.

The pack fabric—comprised of almost 50 percent recycled materials—is reasonably durable, high-density, 100-denier nylon with 210-denier nylon in the bottom and a PFC-free DWR—comparable to many packs in this weight class and price point. The three external mesh pockets suffered no damage from the abrasive rock in the Grand Canyon, but I was careful with it; that mesh could tear easily.

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The Focal and Facet also sport some useful features found on heavier, traditional packs, including: front attachments for trekking poles or one ice axe; adjustable Z-compression straps that permit you to attach a foam sleeping pad to one side or across the lower front; top compression on the main compartment; and a whistle on the sternum strap. The internal bladder sleeve is conveniently compatible with Gregory’s nice 3D Hydro reservoir, allowing you to easily clip that bladder onto a hook that holds it in place.

The smaller versions of these packs are the men’s Focal 48 ($250, 2 lbs. 10 oz.) and women’s Facet 45 ($250, 2 lbs. 8 oz.).

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Gregory Focal 58 and Facet 55

Comfort/Support

Fit

Access

Features

Weight-to-Performance

Durability

The Verdict

While among the heaviest ultralight backpacks, the Gregory men’s Focal 58 and 48 and women’s Facet 55 and 45 are well-designed, comfortable packs for backpackers who are willing to accept a reasonable weight penalty for some organizational features of traditional backpacks and the support to carry up to 35 pounds.

4

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You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s Gregory Focal 58 or Focal 48 at rei.com, backcountry.com, or gregorypacks.com, or a women’s Gregory Facet 55 or Facet 45 at rei.com, backcountry.com, or gregorypacks.com.

See my picks for “The 10 Best Backpacking Packs” and “The Best Ultralight Backpacks,” my “5 Expert Tips For Buying the Right Backpacking Pack,” and all of my reviews of backpacks, backpacking gear, ultralight backpacks, and ultralight backpacking gear at The Big Outside.

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Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned backpacker, you’ll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my “12 Expert Tips for Planning a Backpacking Trip,” “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking,” and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.” With a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read all of those three stories for free; if you don’t have a subscription, you can download the e-guide versions of “12 Expert Tips for Planning a Backpacking Trip,” the lightweight and ultralight backpacking guide, and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.”

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See categorized menus of all of my gear reviews at The Big Outside.

—Michael Lanza

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]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-gregory-focal-58-and-facet-55-ultralight-backpacks/feed/ 2 52455 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-mystery-ranch-ski-touring-pack/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-mystery-ranch-ski-touring-pack/#comments Tue, 08 Mar 2022 18:23:20 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=51599 Read on

]]> Ski Touring Pack
Mystery Ranch Saddle Peak
$219, 25L/1,526 c.i., 3 lbs. (S/M)
Sizes: S/M and L/XL
backcountry.com

An all-purpose, quiver-of-one ski touring pack that crosses over from days of lift-served and side-country skiing to full days of ski touring in the backcountry can seem like a Goldilocks quest—many are either too big or too small. After days of resort skiing and ski touring in Utah’s Wasatch Range with the latest iteration of the compact and smartly designed Mystery Ranch, I’ve seen its strengths and minor shortcomings.

For starters, the compression-molded foam back panel, which repels snow, delivers plenty of rigidity for comfortably carrying as much stuff as will fit inside—plus the weight of skis loaded on the pack—while the shoulder straps and wrap-around hipbelt have enough padding for moderate loads without feeling cumbersome when skiing or riding downhill.

The torso length is adjustable using a common yoke and hook-and-loop setup in the back panel; but I had to wrestle with it for at least 15 minutes to adjust it because, even with all pack straps loosened, it’s hard to slip my medium-size bare hand behind the back panel to release the burly hook-and-loop patch.

The Saddle Peak’s 25-liter capacity provides ample space for resort or side country off-piste skiing but some users will find that it falls a little short for a full day of backcountry ski touring. I could squeeze a winter shell, midweight puffy, extra mittens, climbing skins, two liters of water, food, an ultralight emergency bivy sack, and a small camera inside—but nothing extra, like a really fat, emergency winter down jacket (such as either of two favorites, the Black Diamond Vision Down Parka and the Feathered Friends Helios Hooded Jacket).

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It seems that bumping the capacity to 30 liters would make sense for a pack intended to crossover from resort to all-day backcountry touring. As is, the Saddle Peak is better suited to streamlined days of touring, especially in spring; and this isn’t a ski touring pack for guides, ski patrollers, or anyone who likes to hit the backcountry fully equipped for winter. Those users should look at a larger-volume pack like the Mystery Ranch Gallatin Peak 40 or Deuter Freescape 40+ or Freescape Pro 38+ SL.

The main compartment opens wide for excellent access, thanks to a clamshell zipper that runs nearly the pack’s full depth (but it lacks rear entry through the back panel). It has an orange lining that brightens the interior for organizing and locating contents. A zippered inside pocket has a volume comparable to the lid pocket on many backpacks.

The front avalanche-safety gear compartment stands out as one of the Saddle Peak’s best features. Its deep, U-shaped zipper fully exposes the compartment, enabling very quick access to a shovel, probe, and snow saw. The long, orange zipper pulls are easy to see and grab with gloved hands.

The Saddle Peak sports nice details like large, durable, quick-release buckles throughout, including on the dual compression straps on each side, making them easy to use wearing warm gloves; an integrated helmet carry that deploys quickly from a bottom pocket and is easy to stretch and secure over a helmet and stuff back into its pocket even with heavy gloves on; and pole attachments on the left side, where they can be used in tandem with diagonal carry of the skis or board.

Those compression straps shrink the pack down to a very low-profile size: For carrying just a Hydroflask, bars, and extra gloves and insulation while resort skiing, it’s light and compact enough to be almost unnoticeable skiing downhill or sitting on a chairlift. The asymmetrical buckles on the compression straps allow wrapping them around the pack’s front for carrying a snowboard; and the long straps can be rolled up and secured with hook-and-loop tabs to keep them from slapping the pack or your head in wind.

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Two spacious, zippered hipbelt pockets fit two or three bars or a large smartphone with room to spare but their high volume and position back on your hips makes closing those zippers with the pack on a little tricky. The zippered top pocket with a soft lining holds goggles and a sunglasses case.

Ski-carrying options include strapping both boards to one side for short carries and boot packs; loading them A-frame (one ski on each side); and diagonal carry, using the adjustable top strap and the non-adjustable, stowable bottom loop. However, the bottom loop is so large that low-profile bindings could slip through it if the pack is underloaded and the top loop isn’t snugged tightly.

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The tough, 320-denier NP Phantom ripstop body fabric with a wax coating and DWR (durable, water-resistant) finish for water repellency and 840-denier nylon with a Carbonite coating in the reinforced front panel resists tears from ski or snowboard edges when carrying them or any other sharps.

At three pounds, the Saddle Peak’s weight delivers on the promise of a compact and light side-country and touring pack.

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The Verdict

While a little small for some all-day backcountry ski tours, the compressible, comfortable, and smartly designed Mystery Ranch Saddle Peak sports excellent features for wandering out-of-bounds at resorts and light ski touring.

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See all reviews of ski touring packs that I like at The Big Outside, plus “The Best Gloves for Winter,” “The Best Mittens for Winter,” “The Best Clothing Layers for Winter in the Backcountry,” and my expert tips in “How to Dress in Layers for Winter in the Backcountry” and “12 Pro Tips for Staying Warm Outdoors in Winter.”

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See The Big Outside’s Gear Reviews page for categorized menus of gear reviews and expert buying tips.

—Michael Lanza

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]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-mystery-ranch-ski-touring-pack/feed/ 2 51599 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-deuter-freescape-40-and-freescape-pro-38-sl-ski-packs/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-deuter-freescape-40-and-freescape-pro-38-sl-ski-packs/#respond Wed, 26 Jan 2022 15:11:16 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=50530 Read on

]]> Ski Touring-Alpine Pack
Deuter Freescape 40+
$220, 40L/2,441 c.i., 3 lb. 5 oz. (men’s)
One size
backcountry.com

Deuter Freescape Pro 38+ SL
$220, 38L/2,319 c.i., 3 lb. 5 oz. (women’s)
One size
backcountry.com

There are days skiing or riding backcountry snow or on multi-day yurt trips where you need a pack with extra space for gear, layers, food, etc., and a feature set that lets you push your adventures to another level. That’s exactly what you get with the men’s Freescape 40+ and women’s Freescape Pro 38+ SL. On numerous days of backcountry ski touring, including four days at a yurt in Idaho’s Boise Mountains, I found the Freescape offers a degree of versatility for objectives in the mountains that smaller, skiing- and riding-specific packs do not.

A top-loader with a lid, the Freescape sports a convenient U-shaped, zippered back panel that opens up the entire main compartment, allowing you to lay the pack atop snow and quickly grab anything inside without contents shifting or falling out or having to remove a helmet, skis or a board, crampons, or other gear attached to the front.

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It has abundant capacity for virtually any single-day outing—if anything, it’s a bit oversized for day tours, when I rarely filled it. But its compression keeps contents from shifting when it’s underfilled and I like having the extra space for emergency gear like a backup, large puffy jacket. The floating lid expands capacity by 10 liters/610 cubic inches, useful for the slog to a yurt on multi-day backcountry trips.

Inside the pack, a roomy, zippered mesh pocket keeps accessories like extra gloves and headwear available without having to dig around. The lid’s spacious zippered pocket features a divider with a fleece-lined lower portion for goggles.

The Freescape’s front snow-gear pocket has the usual compartmentalization for that safety gear—and importantly, a large opening and depth that enables you to deploy that gear quickly. The pack’s design also provides essential functions of an alpine climbing pack, such as the ability to attach a rope by draping it over the main compartment (under the lid) and securing it on both sides with the releasable and adjustable upper compression straps. An adjustable helmet-carrying strap tucks inside a small, zippered pocket on the front (opposite the snow tools pocket’s zipper). Critical zippers are waterproof.

 

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Two durable, modular, and removable gear straps can be attached to multiple gear loops on the pack’s front to carry a snowboard, snowshoes, ice tools, or crampons vertically or skis diagonally or A-frame using tough side loops. When not using those straps, I store them in the under-lid pocket, which has a key lanyard.

I found the Freescape comfortable carrying over 30 pounds in ski-touring gear, layers, water, food, and incidentals such as a camera and emergency gear. Deuter’s Alpine system consists of a Delrin U-frame and a framesheet built within the zippered back panel. While the frame and harness allow abundant flex in all directions—rather than rigidity for supporting weight, as you’d find in packs made primarily for carrying heavier loads backpacking—its fit, close to the back and the body’s center of gravity, and the way it moves with your torso, become more essential than a rigid frame in the dynamic motion of climbing in steep terrain or skiing or riding downhill.

The lightly cushioned hipbelt, shoulder straps, and back pads give a boost to comfort while remaining low-profile and very flexible—to facilitate mobility in dynamic snow sports, rather than providing any rigidity, especially in the snug-fitting hipbelt—and their fabric sheds snow and is made for greater durability in alpine situations. The hipbelt has a zippered pocket on one side large enough for a few bars and a single gear loop on the other side.

The men’s and women’s packs both come in just one size that fits my 18-inch torso well enough. Presumably, some bigger women may find the men’s a better fit and smaller men the women’s pack, but people at the smaller and larger ends of the fit range might be challenged to get a good fit in a pack with no adjustability.

Other convenient details include a sunglasses loop on the left shoulder strap; a signal whistle in the sternum strap; a zippered stash pocket on one side that fits a smartphone and other small, flat items; and three-liter hydration compatibility.

The 330-denier ripstop fabric, made from PFC-free, 100 percent recycled polyamide and bluesign-certified, easily withstands the abuse of rocks and other environmental hazards as well as the edges of skis or a board attached to the pack.

And at under three-and-a-half pounds, the Freescape packs fall in the lower end of the weight range for well-featured, 40-liter, technical ski-alpine packs. And while they lack air bag technology, that also makes them hundreds of dollars cheaper and lighter than those packs. In fact, the Freescape packs come in at a good price for what you get.

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The Verdict

Spacious, smartly well-featured, and comfortable, the Deuter men’s Freescape 40+ and women’s Freescape Pro 38+ SL offer a complete package for ski touring, freeriding, alpine climbing and ski mountaineering—at a nice price for so much versatility.

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See all reviews of ski touring packs and all reviews of outdoor apparel that I like at The Big Outside, including “The 10 Best Down Jackets,” “How You Can Tell How Warm a Down Jacket Is,” “The Best Gloves for Winter,” “The Best Mittens for Winter,” “The Best Clothing Layers for Winter in the Backcountry,” and my expert tips in “How to Dress in Layers for Winter in the Backcountry” and “12 Pro Tips for Staying Warm Outdoors in Winter.”

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See The Big Outside’s Gear Reviews page for categorized menus of gear reviews and expert buying tips.

—Michael Lanza

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]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-deuter-freescape-40-and-freescape-pro-38-sl-ski-packs/feed/ 0 50530 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-granite-gear-perimeter-50-backpack/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-granite-gear-perimeter-50-backpack/#comments Sat, 30 Oct 2021 11:51:33 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=48587 Read on

]]> Backpack
Granite Gear Perimeter 50
$250, 50L/3,050 c.i., 3 lbs. 3 oz./1.4kg (women’s regular with standard hipbelt)
Sizes: unisex regular and long, women’s short and regular
backcountry.com

I already had close to 35 pounds loaded in the Perimeter 50 on the first day of a four-day, 45-mile, late-September backpacking trip in Yosemite, when I added about 12 pounds of water and carried it over a mile uphill to a waterless campsite—and was pleasantly surprised at how comfortably it hauled weight that exceeded what Granite Gear rates the pack to handle. While we all have a different measure of max weight and comfort, much about the Perimeter 50 will appeal to backpackers who haul light to moderate loads and appreciate a backpack with an adjustable fit and highly functional features.

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Long known for its attention to backpack fit and design details, Granite Gear introduced its Perimeter series packs with adjustability for both torso length and shoulder width, accomplished by easily resetting the position of a clip behind each shoulder strap between regular and wide settings along a vertical daisy-chain. The two women’s sizes fit torsos ranging from 15 to 21 inches, and the two unisex sizes torsos 18 to 24 inches.

Interestingly, while I was inadvertently shipped a women’s regular (I asked for unisex regular), it did fit me quite well—because I could adjust the shoulder straps to the wider position and the correct length for me. This tells me that the pack’s fit range would accommodate just about anyone. The unisex regular fits the same as the women’s regular for torso length but they have different width measures and hipbelt sizes (two hipbelt options for unisex and women’s).

With a spring steel rod to give the pack an ergonomic shape plus rigidity along the vertical axis and some horizontal flex, and a PE board cone to disperse weight and provide structure for anchoring the shoulder straps, the Perimeter suspension system is rated to carry 40 pounds, according to Granite Gear. As mentioned above, I found it carried 45 pounds or more well—though not very far—and was quite comfortable hiking 11- to 14-mile days with 30 to 35 pounds inside.

That’s a good weight capacity for a 50-liter pack that weighs just a few ounces over three pounds empty. I’ve seen few backpacks that compare with that over the past three decades of testing gear.

The pack’s padded and widely adjustable Re-Fit hipbelt proved soft enough to embrace the contours of my hips while sporting enough structure to not collapse under loads at the upper end of its capacity. It’s available in two size options in both the unisex and women’s models. The dual-density foam shoulder straps contour nicely, differing in that regard between the unisex and women’s harnesses, and have a quickly removable sternum strap.

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A top-loader, it has a removable, floating lid pocket with a DWR-treated (durable, water-resistant) zipper and a cinch-and-roll closure with crossing compression straps, and a wide mouth that opens to a spacious, bright main compartment. The Perimeter 50 has good space for at least five days of food and three-season, lightweight gear, including a full-size bear canister (which I carried in Yosemite, inserting it upright; my Bear Vault BV500 does not fit horizontally in the Perimeter 50). On our four-day hike in Yosemite, I brought my favorite luxury gear item—a one-pound camp chair (scroll down in this review to see it)—plus some superfluous gear I was field-testing. It filled the Perimeter 50 but I didn’t have to greatly extend the lid.

The eight external pockets include two spacious hipbelt pockets with DWR-treated zippers and room for a smartphone and at least a couple of energy bars. A bottom flap has a zippered pocket for storing a rainfly or shell jacket and clips to the front side of the pack body—a handy way to carry a sleeping pad, although doing that effectively depletes the space in the flap’s pocket. Two stretch-woven side pockets and front pockets add abundant capacity and are more durable than similar pockets on many backpacking packs. The 100-denier and custom 210-denier, Robic high-tenacity nylon fabric is as durable as you’ll find on most backpacking packs.

The series also includes the unisex and women’s Perimeter 35 ($230, 3 lbs.).

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Granite Gear Perimeter 50

Comfort/Support

Fit

Access

Features

Weight-to-Performance

Durability

The Verdict

For backpackers who carry light to moderate loads and appreciate a customizable fit and highly functional features in a backpack, the Granite Gear Perimeter 50 represents a great choice at a modest weight and price.

4.3

BUY IT NOW

You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a unisex or women’s Perimeter 50 at backcountry.com or a unisex or women’s Perimeter 35 at backcountry.com.

See my picks for “The 10 Best Backpacking Packs” and “The Best Ultralight Backpacks,” my “5 Expert Tips For Buying the Right Backpacking Pack,” and all of my reviews of backpacks, backpacking gear, ultralight backpacks, and ultralight backpacking gear at The Big Outside.

And don’t miss my picks for “The Best Backpacking Gear” of the year.

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Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned backpacker, you’ll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my “12 Expert Tips for Planning a Backpacking Trip,” “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking,” and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.” With a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read all of those three stories for free; if you don’t have a subscription, you can download the e-guide versions of “12 Expert Tips for Planning a Backpacking Trip,” the lightweight and ultralight backpacking guide, and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.”

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See categorized menus of all of my gear reviews at The Big Outside.

—Michael Lanza

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]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-granite-gear-perimeter-50-backpack/feed/ 2 48587 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-gossamer-gear-mariposa-60-ultralight-backpack/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-gossamer-gear-mariposa-60-ultralight-backpack/#comments Thu, 14 Oct 2021 20:30:32 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=48359 Read on

]]> Ultralight Backpack
Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60
$315, 60L/3,661 c.i., 1 lb. 14 oz./850.5g (medium pack with small hipbelt)
Sizes: unisex S-L for both pack and hipbelt
gossamergear.com

Certain items of gear rise to the status of “classic” based on their enduring popularity—especially with ultralight backpacking gear—and that rings true for the Mariposa 60. After hauling it on late-summer, multi-day hikes in Wyoming’s Wind River Range and Washington’s Pasayten Wilderness, I’ve come to understand why I’ve seen this pack on the backs of so many ultralighters: It sports much of what you’d want in an ultralight backpack with hardly a flaw.

Central to this pack’s appeal is its weight: Few backpacking packs weigh under two pounds—in fact, even many of today’s best daypacks weigh more. For backpackers whose top priority is low weight, the Mariposa 60 automatically vaults ahead of many of its best competitors on the short list of these backpackers.

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I found the Mariposa 60 carried quite comfortably with about 25 pounds inside on a three-day, 22-mile, August backpacking trip in the Wind River Range (that was cut short by terrible weather). Wearing it backpacking about 45 miles over five days through Washington’s Pasayten Wilderness in September, I began with just over 30 pounds, which seemed to push the pack’s comfort—and more specifically, to overwhelm the hipbelt. But it felt better after I ate some food ballast, reducing the total weight closer to 25 pounds.

The pack’s suspension system is comprised of a unisex harness with light, flexible, ergonomic shoulder straps and hipbelt that are perforated for ventilation and lack any kind of rigid structure. There’s also a removable back/sit pad, with the option of upgrading to the more deluxe air flow sit pad or a thinner and lighter pad or forgoing the pad completely (which compromises comfort and requires loading the pack carefully to avoid objects jabbing into your back).

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The Mariposa achieves some transfer of load weight from shoulders to hips with a lightweight, U-shaped, internal stay—a common feature of packs in this category. That’s a minimalist design that keeps pack weight low but obviously cannot deliver the amount of support and rigidity typical of heavier packs with more substantial internal suspension systems. (On the flip side, ultralight packs that are even lighter than the Mariposa 60 may have no support structure like an internal stay.)

Gossamer Gear describes the pack’s max carrying capacity as “best with loads under 30 pounds but will handle up to 35 just fine.” I found the first part of that sentence more accurate, although I expect the second part may prove true for some backpackers for whom 35 pounds is nothing. But for many people—including me, and I’ve carried far more than 35 pounds over innumerable days and miles in a variety of backpacks over the past three decades of testing gear—the Mariposa harness doesn’t really provide the support for that much weight, instead shifting that weight onto the only backup support system: your torso. However, it comes close.

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The pack comes in three unisex sizes with an interchangeable hipbelt in three sizes, allowing for fit customization that compares with what’s offered by some of the most-respected brands in much larger packs: Most backpackers will find a Mariposa size that fits them well. I fall in the middle of the sizing range for the medium pack and, as expected, it fit me quite well. But my 30-inch waist falls within the wide sizing range of both the small and medium hipbelts, so I tried both and found the small better for me. In fact, I swapped out the belt myself and that process took at most 15 minutes the first time—you have to line up the two ends of the removable, U-shaped stay with their slots on the back of the hipbelt—but was simple enough.

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A top-loader with a roll-top closure that clips with two straps to the pack’s front side, the Mariposa’s 36-liter main compartment has abundant space for five to seven days—and conceivably more—of food and three-season, lightweight gear, including a full-size bear canister (inserted upright; it will not fit horizontally). On our five-day hike in the Pasayten, I even brought my favorite luxury gear item—a one-pound camp chair (scroll down in this review to see it)—plus some superfluous gear I was testing; and while I filled the Mariposa up, it fit everything well. Dedicated ultralighters will find this pack’s capacity often more than enough.

One common drawback of ultralight backpacks is their minimalist organization, especially skimping on external pockets. The Mariposa 60 eliminates that concern with seven external pockets that add a combined 24 liters of capacity. The voluminous stretch-mesh front stuff pocket will swallow a wet rainfly and shell. The deep pocket on one side accommodates an ultralight shelter, air mattress, or both folding trekking poles and an umbrella. Gossamer Gear also sells separately its Lightrek Pack Bungee Attachment ($5) for attaching poles or other items to the Mariposa using its external gear loops and two plastic attachments for seating pole ends.

Two smaller pockets on the other side hold a liter bottle—I could reach into the lower pocket to grab and reinsert a bottle while wearing the pack—and plenty of small items like a map, gloves, and snacks. The two zippered hipbelt pockets each easily accepts a smartphone with room for a couple of energy bars as well. The zippered lid pocket, positioned on the main compartment’s extendable collar fabric (because the Mariposa does not have a traditional lid) is convenient for small items; but filling the pack cuts into that pocket’s volume.

Other nice touches include a safety whistle on the sternum strap, one axe loop, and six D-rings on the shoulder straps. Lastly, the 100-denier and 200-denier Robic nylon pack fabric will survive serious abuse; the only true durability weakness is the stretch-mesh front pocket.

Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60

Comfort/Support

Fit

Access

Features

Weight-to-Performance

Durability

The Verdict

For ultralight and lightweight backpackers who commonly carry no more than about 30 pounds—with deliberate emphasis on that caveat—the Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60’s sub-two-pound weight, custom-fit comfort, and features make it a top performer in this category.

3.9

BUY IT NOW

You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking this affiliate link to purchase a Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 at gossamergear.com.

See my picks for “The 10 Best Backpacking Packs” and “The Best Ultralight Backpacks,” my “5 Expert Tips For Buying the Right Backpacking Pack,” and all of my reviews of backpacks, backpacking gear, ultralight backpacks, and ultralight backpacking gear at The Big Outside.

And don’t miss my picks for “The Best Backpacking Gear” of the year.

Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned backpacker, you’ll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my “12 Expert Tips for Planning a Backpacking Trip,” “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking,” and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.” With a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read all of those three stories for free; if you don’t have a subscription, you can download the e-guide versions of “12 Expert Tips for Planning a Backpacking Trip,” the lightweight and ultralight backpacking guide, and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.”

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See categorized menus of all of my gear reviews at The Big Outside.

—Michael Lanza

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]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-gossamer-gear-mariposa-60-ultralight-backpack/feed/ 2 48359 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-osprey-atmos-ag-65-and-aura-ag-65-backpacks/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-osprey-atmos-ag-65-and-aura-ag-65-backpacks/#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2021 11:00:00 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=11775 Read on

]]> Backpack
Osprey Atmos AG 65 and Aura AG 65
$370, 65L/3,967 c.i., 4 lbs. 11 oz./2.1kg (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s S-L, women’s XS-M
Atmos AG 65: ospreypacks.com
Aura AG 65: ospreypacks.com

A backpack is a little like a relationship: It’s hard to tell what it’s going to be like when you first meet, and then you get to know each other much better over time. But in that sense, the Atmos 65 is different from most packs I’ve tested over the past 20 years: It felt very different, in a good way, the first time I put it on, and that positive first impression bore out while carrying it on multi-day hikes in Canyonlands National Park, the Canadian Rockies, and New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park and a ski trip to a backcountry yurt in Idaho’s Boise Mountains.

I found the suspension comfortable for hours a day with 45 to 50 pounds inside it on a five-day hike in The Maze District of Canyonlands National Park, when I was often carrying 8.5 to 14.5 pounds (four to seven liters) of water, and on a four-day family hike (bearing some of my family’s gear and food weight) on the Rockwall Trail in Canada’s Kootenay National Park (though certainly not all backpackers would find that much weight comfortable). I had 35 pounds in it on a family ski trip to a backcountry yurt in Idaho and 25 pounds on two hut treks in New Zealand’s Fiordland, the Kepler Track and Dusky Track. Plus, my wife has used the Aura AG 65 on countless backpacking trips from the Wind River Range to the High Uintas, Ruby Crest Trail, and Iceland’s Laugavegur Trail.

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Osprey’s innovative Anti-Gravity suspension in the Atmos AG and women’s Aura AG feels more like putting on a jacket than a backpack. It consists of a panel of lightweight, tensioned mesh extending from the top of the back panel to the hipbelt, fully wrapping around your back and hips while delivering ample air movement across your back, thanks to the trampoline-style mesh panel.

It never shifted or threw me off balance, even when scrambling and clambering through thousands of vertical feet of tree roots, blowdowns, and very steep, muddy, and rain-slicked trail on the Dusky Track, or skiing downhill through heavy, mashed-potato snow.

The men’s Atmos AG and women’s Aura AG each come in three sizes fitting a wide range of torso lengths: men 16-23 inches (40-58cm) and women 14-21 inches (35-53cm).

They also have an easily adjustable harness with perforated foam shoulder straps and a Fit-on-the-Fly hipbelt that can be adjusted (with a range of five inches/15cm) to dial in a customized fit. The Aura’s hipbelt, shoulder straps, and pack shape are all designed to fit a woman’s body and shift the pack’s weight lower, closer to her center of balance.

My wife used her Aura AG 65 for the first time on the Rockwall Trail, carrying up to 40 pounds, and told me simply: “This pack feels awesome.”

Plan your next great backpacking trip in Yosemite, Grand Teton, and other parks using my expert e-guides.

 

With an 18-inch torso, I’ve always fit medium Osprey packs in the past, and I used a medium Atmos AG 65 on my first three trips with it (the yurt trip and trekking the Kepler and Dusky). But then I tried on a small and it fit me better. Osprey tells me the AG suspension may fit differently than other Osprey models, so measure your torso length. My wife has a 17-inch torso and the XS Aura fit her well, at the upper end of its fit range.

The Atmos and Aura sport a couple of features I think should be standard on all packs made primarily for backpacking: hipbelt pockets (each big enough for three energy bars) and a stow-on-the-go attachment for trekking poles on the left shoulder strap. As a photographer, I like being to able clip my poles to my pack and quickly pull out my camera while hiking, but that attachment frees your hands for myriad purposes like grabbing a snack or water bottle.

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Stretch side pockets each hold a liter bottle, and a bladder sleeve inside. There’s a front, stuff-it pocket that can swallow a wet rainfly, and behind it, two voluminous, zippered pockets big enough for a rain cover, jacket, gaiters, and extra layers or snacks.

The lid has two pockets spacious enough for all your small stuff like headlamp, hats, gloves, etc., and is removable by threading two straps, shaving seven ounces. With the lid off, an integrated cover panel clips into the lid straps to shield the pack’s top opening.

Side compression straps snug down partial loads and let you carry items on the outside. External sleeping pad straps are removable. The sleeping bag compartment panel can be dropped out of the way but not removed. The pack fabric promises durability, with 420-denier nylon pack cloth on the bottom, and high-tenacity nylon elsewhere.

The packs also come in smaller versions, the men’s Atmos AG 50 ($340, 4 lbs. medium) and women’s Aura AG 50 ($340, 3 lbs. 12 oz. medium). Osprey also offers lighter, more streamlined versions of these packs, with the same design but intended for slightly lighter loads, in the Atmos AG 65 LT ($320, 4.1 lbs.), Atmos AG 50 LT ($290, 4 lbs.), Aura AG 65 LT ($320, 3.8 lbs.), and Aura AG 50 LT ($290, 3.8 lbs.).

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Osprey Atmos AG 65 and Aura AG 65

Comfort/Support

Fit

Access

Features

Weight-to-Performance

Durability

The Verdict

With their unique, super comfortable harness and suspension, comfort with 45 pounds or more, and numerous backpacker-friendly features, the Osprey men’s Atmos AG 65 and women’s Aura AG 65 rank among the very best packs out there today for moderate to big loads. Call it love at first click (of buckles) or whatever you like, but I am confident of enjoying a long and harmonious relationship with my Atmos AG 65.

4.8

BUY IT NOW

You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to buy any model of the men’s Osprey Atmos AG at ospreypacks.com or rei.com, or any model of the women’s Aura AG at ospreypacks.com, backcountry.com, or rei.com.

Was this review helpful?

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Please also consider sharing it using one of the buttons at right and leaving a comment or question at the bottom. Thank you, I really appreciate it.

 

See my picks for “The 10 Best Backpacking Packs” and “The Best Ultralight Backpacks,” my “5 Expert Tips For Buying the Right Backpacking Pack,” and all of my reviews of backpacks and backpacking gear at The Big Outside.

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See categorized menus of all of my gear reviews at The Big Outside.

Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned backpacker, you’ll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my “12 Expert Tips for Planning a Backpacking Trip,” “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking,” and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.” With a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read all of those three stories for free; if you don’t have a subscription, you can download the e-guide versions of “12 Expert Tips for Planning a Backpacking Trip,” the lightweight and ultralight backpacking guide, and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.”

—Michael Lanza

Let The Big Outside help you find the best adventures. 
Join now to read ALL stories and get a free e-guide!

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-osprey-atmos-ag-65-and-aura-ag-65-backpacks/feed/ 31 11775 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-osprey-archeon-70-and-archeon-65-backpacks/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-osprey-archeon-70-and-archeon-65-backpacks/#comments Thu, 05 Nov 2020 14:36:37 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=41731 Read on

]]> Backpack
Osprey Archeon 70 and Archeon 65
$340, 68L/4,150 c.i., 5 lbs. 8 oz. (men’s S/M)
Sizes: men’s S/M and L/XL, women’s XS/S and M/L
backcountry.com

Large backpacks may seem to some backpackers like the outdoor industry’s Ford Edsel—reflecting a style from a bygone era—and the clean, old-school, utilitarian look of Osprey’s Archeon series perhaps engenders that reaction. But don’t judge it prematurely. Packs for big loads have a place, and the Archeon 70 won me over on numerous trips for its very modern comfort and functionality—not to mention that it’s made with recycled materials. 

I carried the men’s Archeon 70 (the women’s model is the Archeon 65) on six trips this summer: two overnights with tons of gear; a five-day, 40-mile hike through Idaho’s Seven Devils Mountains in early summer, frequently laboring over treefall, soft snow, and rocky scrambles; a 35-mile, off-trail fishing trip in Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains; five long hiking days over three passes in Oregon’s Eagle Cap Wilderness; and a rigorous, five-day, 77-mile circumnavigation of most of the Wonderland Trail around Mount Rainier.

On each and every one of those very different trips, the Archeon 70 performed beyond expectations.

With a suspension featuring an HDPE framesheet and aluminum alloy stays, the Archeon carries up to about 45 pounds comfortably and stably. The easily adjustable harness—with about four inches of adjustability in each pack size—wraps seamlessly from the ample lumbar pad to the hipbelt, eliminating the hip discomfort and shoulder and upper-back fatigue that I’ve had with other packs.

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Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Join The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip.

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That design helped me—someone with both a short torso and a barrel chest—remain comfortable even carrying substantial weight off-trail and scree running down a mountainside in the Sawtooths, and on 17-mile, 8,000-vertical-foot days on the Wonderland Trail.

The edgeless, breathable foam padding in the hipbelt and shoulder straps and Osprey’s Airscape back panel improve ventilation and comfort, although the pack necessarily carries close to the body, and with any heavy pack, you’re going to sweat.

I’ve used and owned packs with greater volume that weighed considerably less, including, for many years, an older Osprey Aether with great satisfaction. But none of them were nearly this comfortable; I consider the Archeon far superior for the backpacking I do. (I tend to carry some camp luxuries, like a packable chair and cot.) To me, a pound more in pack weight seems a small price to pay for much better comfort and performance.

The Archeon packs demonstrate Osprey’s usual craftsmanship and attention to detail—which arguably become even more important in a pack for big loads than in an ultralight pack.

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A top-loader with a floating lid, it has excellent access, mostly notably a dual-zipper front panel that opens up the main compartment—a feature I regularly used to quickly grab clothing, food, or my tent, and easily load a Bear Vault BV 500 bear canister horizontally into the main compartment. Another external zipper accesses the sleeping bag compartment, which has a floatingdivider. The bag has plenty of space for extra gear like fishing rods and tackle, plus side compression straps and multiple webbing lash points to secure gear to the outside. The top and side compression help stabilize the pack when it’s underfilled.

The Archeon features two stretch side pockets that hold a liter bottle and open at the top and the back side, allowing you to reach into them while wearing the pack, as well as a spacious lid pocket and zippered hipbelt pockets. I used the lid pocket for my gravity filter, headlamp, knife, and snacks, and the zippered mesh pocket on the lid’s underside for sunscreen and other small items—the mesh letting me see what I was looking for. The Archeon comes with a fitted rain cover that stores in its own pocket and dual loops for ice axes or trekking poles.

One common drawback of lightweight and ultralight packs is less durability—not a shortcoming of the Archeon. Its 100 percent recycled, 1880-denier nylon canvas fabric can endure everything from off-trail bushwhacking to scraping through tight, coarse slot canyons and virtually any other forms of abuse that shred lesser packs. Indestructible metal hook-style clips replace buckles.

Plan your next great backpacking trip on the Teton Crest Trail, Wonderland Trail, in Yosemite or other parks using my expert e-guides.

 

A PFC-free DWR (durable, water-resistant) coating enhances the pack’s sustainability story—but nothing is more sustainable than a pack will endure hard use for many years, as the Archeon will. 

At 5.5 pounds to just over six pounds (depending on size), the Archeon 70 and 65 compare with leading large packs like the Arc’teryx Bora AR 63 and the Gregory men’s Baltoro 75 and women’s Deva 70—which all weigh two to three times as much as the best ultralight packs, spotlighting the truth that the largest Archeon models are designed for backpackers who carry a lot of stuff, like parents backpacking with young kids and anyone on gear-intensive adventures.

Backpackers who do not routinely carry 40 pounds or more can find better packs that are half the weight of the Archeon 70 and 65. But for the gear-intensive overnights and weeklong trips I took, I found the Archeon 70 perfect.

Smaller versions include the men’s and women’s Archeon 25, Archeon 30, and Archeon 45.

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The Verdict

This is not a pack for anyone wanting to travel light. But if your backpacking style involves loads of 40 pounds or more, and you’re seeking superior comfort, access, and durability, Osprey’s men’s Archeon 70 or women’s Archeon 65 is a good pack for you.

—Jeffrey D. Wilhelm

Note from Michael Lanza of The Big Outside: Jeffrey D. Wilhelm is an experienced backpacker and hiker, a university professor of English, and a friend with whom I’ve backpacked for years.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to buy a men’s Osprey Archeon 70 at backcountry.com, moosejaw.com, or ospreypacks.com, or women’s Osprey Archeon 65 at backcountry.com, moosejaw.com, or ospreypacks.com, or any Archeon model at backcountry.com, moosejaw.com, or ospreypacks.com.

Was this review helpful?

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Please also consider sharing it using one of the buttons at right and leaving a comment or question at the bottom.

Thank you, I really appreciate it.

 

See my picks for “The 10 Best Backpacking Packs” and “The Best Ultralight Backpacks,” my “5 Expert Tips For Buying the Right Backpacking Pack,” and all of my reviews of backpacks and backpacking gear at The Big Outside.

Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned backpacker, you’ll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my “12 Expert Tips for Planning a Backpacking Trip,” “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking,” and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.” With a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read all of those three stories for free; if you don’t have a subscription, you can download the e-guide versions of “12 Expert Tips for Planning a Backpacking Trip,” the lightweight backpacking guide, and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.”

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See my Gear Reviews page at The Big Outside for categorized menus of all of my reviews and my expert buying tips.

—Michael Lanza

 

Let The Big Outside help you find the best adventures. Join now to get full access to ALL stories, plus a FREE e-guide!

OSPREY MEN’S ARCHEON 70 AND WOMEN’S ARCHEON 65

Comfort/Support

Fit

Access

Features

Weight-to-Performance

Value

Summary

If your backpacking style involves loads of 40 pounds or more, and you’re seeking superior comfort, access, and durability, Osprey’s men’s Archeon 70 or women’s Archeon 65 is a good pack for you.

4.5

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-osprey-archeon-70-and-archeon-65-backpacks/feed/ 4 41731 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-hyperlite-mountain-gear-3400-windrider-ultralight-backpack/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-hyperlite-mountain-gear-3400-windrider-ultralight-backpack/#comments Sun, 16 Aug 2020 09:00:55 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=25085 Read on

]]> Ultralight Backpack
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Windrider
$395, 55L/3,400 c.i., 1 lb. 15 oz./879g (medium)
Sizes: S (fits torsos 15-17 ins.), M (17-19 ins.), L (19-21 ins.), Tall (21+ ins.)
hyperlitemountaingear.com

When the Windrider was delivered to my house, the box looked much too small to contain a backpack—if I’d had no idea, I might have guessed it contained a small tent. It’s not often that a backpack, or any piece of gear, leaves an impression on me before I even remove it from its packaging. Intrigued by its incredibly low weight—it’s one of the lightest packs made for lightweight backpacking and thru-hiking—I have loaded it up with about 30 to 35 pounds of gear, clothing, and food and taken it out on a three-day, 39-mile backpacking trip in Wyoming’s Wind River Range, a seven-day, 96-mile (two-thirds off-trail) traverse of the rugged Wind River High Route, and a five-day hike in Montana’s Beartooth Mountains, and other trips. Having used other ultralight packs that simply did not have the support for more than 20 to 25 pounds, I entered this experiment with healthy skepticism. But the Windrider made me a believer. Here’s why.

At under two pounds, it’s a half-pound to nearly a pound lighter than other ultralight packs I’ve reviewed, and compares in weight with competitors from other specialty pack manufacturers. Given its place among the lightest backpacks on the market, key questions are how well it compares in terms of carrying capacity and comfort and durability. In these areas, it excels.

Beyond its low weight, the most obvious unique quality of the 3400 Windrider is its fabric: fully waterproof and seam-sealed Dyneema Composite Fabrics (previously called Cuben Fiber), a non-woven, ripstop composite laminate originally designed for sails built for world-class sailboats. HMG describes it as 50 to 70 percent lighter than Kevlar, but four times stronger, saying it flexes without losing strength, floats, and is highly resistant to chemicals and even ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun.

We hiked through waves of thunderstorms on both trips in the Winds, with heavy rain and hail, and the pack kept everything inside absolutely dry. I doubt it’s built to remain waterproof with long-term, full immersion—but given that it floats (which I don’t doubt because it’s largely airtight when closed tightly), that wouldn’t become an issue for backpackers. The pack fabric is so structurally strong, in fact, and the hipbelt so supportive, that the pack stands up on its own even when empty. I don’t know of a more durable pack in this weight class.

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Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Join The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here for my e-books to classic backpacking trips. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip.

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The fixed suspension comes in four sizes—even most high-end pack makers offer only three sizes—each with a fit range of two inches, assuring that many people will find a size that feels good. However, HMG does not offer women-specific sizing. With two removable, contoured aluminum stays and an internal plastic framesheet, the pack carried 30 to 35 pounds with remarkable comfort for hours a day, directing most of the weight onto my hips.

But at 35 pounds, with the pack filled nearly to capacity, I felt a little tugging on my shoulders. HMG says the pack can carry up to 40 pounds comfortably, but as with virtually any backpack, the comfort limit depends on the user.

There isn’t a whole lot to the harness, but it works. The lightly padded Dyneema Hardline dual-density hipbelt, with one-eighth-inch closed-cell rigid foam, quarter-inch closed-cell foam, and spacer mesh closed-cell foam, distributes weight evenly and didn’t buckle at all under the max weight I put in the pack. The Dyneema Hardline shoulder straps with three-eighths-inch closed-cell foam padding and spacer mesh, and a quarter-inch-thick foam back pad appear thin, but were entirely adequate for the moderate load I carried. The frame allowed some air movement to ventilate my back, although not as much as packs with trampoline-style harnesses that hold the pack bag off your back.

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A top-loader with a roll-top closure and five external pockets, the Windrider is noticeably bereft of features found on many other packs, like a lid pocket, zippered external pockets on the pack body, or a panel zipper accessing the main compartment—all of which would add weight and/or prevent the pack from being waterproof. HMG describes the internal capacity as 55 liters when filled to its maximum while still being able to securely roll up the top closure (at least three twists when rolling it). With lightweight gear and efficient packing and food planning, that’s enough space for going several days between resupplies—making the Windrider unique in how long a trip (in days) it can handle relative to the pack’s weight (empty). The roll-top design essentially acts as compression and has some “slack” capacity to expand the pack upward. Two straps on each side deliver ample compression, and the Y-shaped top compression strap really cinches the load down.

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The three external mesh pockets add nearly 10 liters (600 cubic inches) of capacity between the larger front one—which easily swallows a rainfly and held my camp shoes, a jacket, and various small items—and the two on the sides, which each have space for a liter bottle and then some.

The durable, tearproof mesh used in those pockets will clearly survive hard use much better than the stretch-mesh used on exterior pockets of many lightweight packs—I tossed the full 3400 Windrider onto rocky ground and up against abrasive granite and it shows no damage.

The Dyneema Hardline zippered hipbelt pockets hold a large phone and a bar or two There’s nothing else in the way of features except an ice-axe loop and a single daisy loop on the front, an internal sleeve for a hydration bladder, and four external triglide buckles for attaching optional accessory straps.

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I got a little tired of having to open three clips and unroll the top every time I wanted to get something from inside the pack; and while the outside pockets have plenty of space, I wouldn’t want to keep some items there in the rain, like a long-sleeve top that I wanted handy. With no secure, zippered pockets (beyond the hipbelt) for small items like a map, lighter, and knife, I used a tiny stuff sack for them; but digging out that sack from the main compartment obviously lacks the convenience of a zippered external or internal pocket for them.

The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest ($395,55L/3,400 c.i., 2 lbs., four sizes) is virtually identical to the Windrider except that it replaces the durable, tearproof mesh used in the external pockets with a more durable, Dyneema Hardline fabric—same as used in the zippered hipbelt pockets on both packs.

Hyperlite Mountain Gear Windrider

Comfort/Support

Fit

Access

Features

Weight-to-Performance

Durability

The Verdict

HMG’s slogan is: “Precisely what’s needed and nothing more,” and that philosophy shows in its products. While its fabric jacks up the price compared to competitors, the Windrider stands out as a waterproof (and bombproof) pack with exceptional capacity and comfort for its impressively low weight—a strong choice for thru-hiking or lightweight backpacking, as long as you’re happy with minimalist organization.

4.3

BUY IT NOW

You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking either of these affiliate links to purchase a Hyperlite Mountain Gear Windrider backpack at hyperlitemountaingear.com or a Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest backpack at hyperlitemountaingear.com.

See “The 10 Best Backpacking Packs” and “The Best Ultralight Backpacks” and all reviews of backpacks and ultralight backpacks, ultralight backpacking gear, and backpacking gear at The Big Outside.

The Big Outside helps you find the best adventures. Join now to read ALL stories and get a free e-book!

Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned backpacker, you’ll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my “12 Expert Tips for Planning a Backpacking Trip,” “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking,” and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.” With a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read all of those three stories for free; if you don’t have a subscription, you can download the e-guide versions of “12 Expert Tips for Planning a Backpacking Trip,” the lightweight and ultralight backpacking guide, and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.”

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See my Gear Reviews page at The Big Outside for categorized menus of all of my reviews and my expert buying tips.

—Michael Lanza

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-hyperlite-mountain-gear-3400-windrider-ultralight-backpack/feed/ 4 25085 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-mystery-ranch-sphinx-60-backpack/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-mystery-ranch-sphinx-60-backpack/#respond Fri, 19 Jun 2020 13:04:14 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=40061 Read on

]]> Backpack
Mystery Ranch Sphinx 60
$269, 60L/3,662 c.i., 4 lbs. 14 oz. (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s S-XL, women’s XS-L
backcountry.com

Anyone shopping for a backpack designed for carrying loads of 40 pounds or more should be looking at a few specific qualities: an abundance of external pockets that provide a variety of organizational options; superior durability; and most of all, outstanding comfort and fit rooted in a sturdy frame, cushy padding, and a range of sizes. The Mystery Ranch Sphinx 60, which comes in men’s and women’s models, fills all those buckets, distinguishing itself as one of the very best big-load packs out there today.

Carrying about 45 pounds for the first couple of days of a six-day, roughly 58-mile hike through northeastern Utah’s High Uintas Wilderness felt right around the comfort limit of the Sphinx 60 (at least for me—that may vary between individuals). On a three-day hike on the Snake River National Recreation Trail no. 102, on the Idaho side of Hells Canyon, I carried about 35 pounds very comfortably in the Sphinx 60, and it was clearly well below its maximum comfort limit. I also carried over 40 pounds of climbing gear inside the pack for several miles of hiking around Idaho’s Castle Rocks State Park on a weekend of cragging. I’d peg its comfortable carrying limit at 45 pounds for many backpackers, although I think stronger people accustomed to hauling heavier loads will find the Sphinx 60 suited to carrying over 50 pounds.

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The comfort and performance are rooted in Mystery Ranch’s Adventure Frame, comprised of two vertical composite rods, an upper horizontal composite bar, and an aluminum lumbar stay. The design allows some dynamic flex, enabling the pack to move in sync with your body, while an HDPE frame sheet delivers structure and stability—all of which effectively transfers much of the load weight onto the frame’s wings and ultimately your hips, performing exactly as a pack built for heavy loads should.

The easily removable, double-wrap, Redirect hipbelt has enough structure to support 40 to 50 pounds without collapsing, and the plush, breathable, perforated foam in the belt, nicely contoured shoulder straps, and back padding creates a level of comfort that eases the burden of a heavy pack on your torso.

It’s hard to imagine anyone not getting a good fit in the Sphinx 60, with an unusual four pack sizes in both the men’s and women’s models, fitting men with torsos ranging from 15 to 24 inches and waists 26 to over 40 inches, and women with torsos from 13 to 22 inches and waists 26 to over 39 inches.

On top of that, the Futura Yoke sports several inches of adjustability. (Tip: I found it much easier to adjust the yoke up and down by removing the HDPE frame sheet—which pops out of a sleeve behind the back panel—and reinserting the frame sheet once I’m done adjusting the length.) Although I typically wear a men’s medium pack from many brands, my 18-inch torso and 30-inch waist fell on the cusp between medium and small, and Mystery Ranch recommends sizing down in that situation; and the small fits me well.

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Access is excellent in the top-loading Sphinx 60, primarily thanks to a full-length center zipper that completely fillets the pack bag open. The spacious main compartment has an enormous mouth for visibility into the pack and easy loading and unloading. I fit a large portion of my family’s food, my clothing and share of team gear, personal gear that included a camp chair, and more than two liters of water in a bladder inside the Sphinx 60 without coming close to reaching its capacity. With the skirt extended, the pack looks like its capacity significantly exceeds 60 liters.

The seven external pockets provide a level of organization rivaled only by a few top-quality backpacking packs, including:

• A very spacious, removable, floating lid (there’s also an eighth, smaller zippered pocket on the lid’s underside);
• Two stretch-mesh side pockets large enough for a liter bottle, reinforced at their bottoms with more durable fabric;
• Two hipbelt pockets made with more-durable fabric than used in these pockets on other packs, each fitting a large smartphone with room to spare for bars;
• And one of the pack’s finest features: two deep, large front pockets with two-way zippers, each capable of swallowing a rainfly with room to spare—enormous, readily accessible capacity for items like a shell, water filter, trail food, etc.

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The pack’s excellent compression resizes it for smaller loads, with top, side, and bottom compression straps that will secure a sleeping pad or simply scrunch down the pack volume. Dual side compression straps can mate with buckles on the opposite side, wrapping completely around the pack for full compression or lashing large gear like snowshoes. There are also attachments for a single ice axe.

This is one of the toughest packs made primarily for backpacking, with 210-denier Robic fabric throughout much of the pack body (the shinier fabric) and 330-denier Robic fabric in high-abrasion areas like the pack bottom and front pockets. The YKK zippers are urethane coated and the buckles are sturdy Duraflex.

It’s honestly hard to find fault with the Sphinx 60. In every area, from price and weight to comfort and features, the Sphinx 60 compares favorably with two of the best big-load packs on the market: the Osprey Atmos/Aura AG 65 and the Gregory Baltoro 65 and Deva 60—and the Sphinx 60’s design details distinguishes it from those packs.

Want to hike the Teton Crest Trail, John Muir Trail, or another trip? Click here for expert advice you won’t get elsewhere.

 

Mystery Ranch Sphinx 60

Comfort/Support

Fit

Access

Features

Weight-to-Performance

Durability

The Verdict

For any backpacker on an extended wilderness hike requiring a week or more of food, parents carrying extra food and gear for young kids, trip leaders—or anyone who simply carries more gear and typically shoulders a pack weighing 40 pounds or more—the Mystery Ranch Sphinx 60 stands out as one of the very best packs for comfort, access, and features.

4.8

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See my picks for “The 10 Best Backpacking Packs” and “The Best Ultralight Backpacks,” my “Top 5 Tips For Buying the Right Backpacking Pack,” and all of my reviews of backpacks and backpacking gear at The Big Outside.

Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned backpacker, you’ll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my “12 Expert Tips for Planning a Wilderness Backpacking Trip” and “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking.” With a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read all of both stories for free; if you don’t have a subscription, you can download the e-guide versions of “12 Expert Tips for Planning a Wilderness Backpacking Trip” and the lightweight backpacking guide without having a paid membership.

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See categorized menus of all of my gear reviews at The Big Outside.

—Michael Lanza

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]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-mystery-ranch-sphinx-60-backpack/feed/ 0 40061 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-the-north-face-banchee-50-backpack/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-the-north-face-banchee-50-backpack/#comments Tue, 08 Oct 2019 09:00:50 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=35620 Read on

]]> Backpack
The North Face Banchee 50
$230, 50L/3,051 c.i., 3 lbs. 1 oz./1.4kg (S/M)
Sizes: men’s S/M and L/XL, women’s XS/S and M/L
moosejaw.com

In the competitive arena of backpacking packs, there’s an increasingly crowded field of ultralight models, as well as an array of choices in heavier, more tricked-out packs built for moderate to stout loads. Then there’s an interesting niche of packs that are, you could say, “almost ultralight.” Like the Banchee 50, which edges just over the unofficial ceiling weight for ultralight packs—three pounds—by the equivalent of the weight of a sip of water. Having reviewed and really liked the previous generation of the Banchee 65, I took the updated-for-2019 Banchee 50—loaded with more weight than I’d care to stuff into an ultralight pack—out for a five-day hike into Yellowstone, and discovered a solid and versatile backpack with only minor shortcomings.

I carried this pack with over 40 pounds in it at times on a five-day, 56-mile, September backpacking trip in the Bechler Canyon area of Yellowstone National Park. It was an atypically heavy load for my backpacking trips, due to me bringing more photography equipment than usual, sandals for river crossings, and a tent for myself that was a bit larger than many solo shelters. But those circumstances made the trip a good test for the Banchee 50.

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For 2019, The North Face introduced its new Dyno Lite suspension system in the updated Banchee 50 and Banchee 65, which come in men’s and women’s models.

In the Banchee 50 and 65, the Dyno Lite suspension has two unique features:

1. An on-the-fly torso adjustment, which allows you to pull a strap or a tab beside the strap at the bottom right-hand corner of the pack to make micro adjustments to the pack’s torso fit, within about a three-inch range.
2. A single-cord, self-equalizing load-lifter strap, that absorbs some of the natural motion of your torso when walking, thus helping to reduce the rhythmic pack shifting that can exert a cumulative fatiguing effect on your shoulders.

Simply put, the on-the-fly adjustment works well—and it’s convenient to be able to adjust the torso fit while wearing the loaded pack on the trail, when you most notice the fit. The strap adjustment shortens the torso length and locks the fit into place, and the pull tab releases the suspension to its maximum length—so you can quickly reset the fit with the pack on if you’ve made it too short. Both the strap and the pull tab sit within easy reach while wearing the pack, and differ enough to distinguish them by touch, without having to see them.

That on-the-fly adjustability let me dial in a good fit, roughly within the middle of the fit range in the men’s S/M, for my nearly 18-inch torso.

[Note: The North Face’s new-for-2019 men’s and women’s Griffin 65 ($300) and Griffin 75 ($320) sport TNF’s new and more elaborate DynoCarry suspension, which features a pivoting hipbelt in addition to the on-the-fly torso adjustment and self-equalizing load lifters found in the Banchee series packs.]

The Banchee 50’s wire perimeter frame with a cross stay, made of strong but lightweight T6 aluminum, flexes very little, lending the pack solid rigidity and impressive weight capacity for a three-pound sack. Its carrying capacity seemed to be around 40 pounds—with more than that, the shoulder straps started tugging uncomfortably against my shoulders, but with slightly less than 40 pounds, the weight sat more comfortably on my hips. Of course, any pack’s weight-carrying capacity differs between individual backpackers.

The trampoline-style back panel, consisting of breathable, quick-drying FlashDry fabric, let air circulate through the gap between the pack and my back, while moisture never built up under the breathable, perforated-foam shoulder straps and hipbelt.

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Having reviewed the previous generation of TNF’s Banchee 65, I wondered whether the new Banchee 50 would have the capacity for a five-day hike. That was not a problem (and not just because I had a compact, ultralight sleeping bag and air mattress). With its spacious main compartment, a large, top-loading mouth for access, and especially the two large, zippered front pockets greatly augmenting the pack’s capacity, the Banchee 50 had space to spare for all the gear I brought plus five days’ of food. In fact, it seemed more spacious than other 50-liter packs I’ve reviewed.

Organization is excellent—especially for a pack weighing just north of three pounds—with eight external pockets and a ninth zippered pocket under the lid. Besides the aforementioned two large front pockets, there’s a deep, front stuff pocket spacious enough for a wet rainfly, with its volume controlled by the side compression straps. The zippered hipbelt pockets are big enough for a large smartphone and a bar or two each. Two stretch-mesh side pockets swallow much more than a liter bottle, and are angled to make it easy to retrieve and replace a bottle with the pack on. The lid pocket is also large for a 50-liter pack.

 

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It has nice little features like a whistle buckle on sternum strap and tool attachments. The Banchee appears about as durable as many competitors, with fabric common in many packs: 70-denier nylon in the body and tougher, 210-denier nylon in the bottom.

I don’t typically use a sleeping-bag compartment zipper, because dividing the main compartment prevents you from using its space to maximum efficiency, and this one is almost hidden behind the bottom compression straps—which I also rarely use because I won’t attach anything to the bottom of the pack that would prevent it from standing up, and there’s rarely a need to compress the bottom. So I consider these features superfluous weight; but they are also not uncommon in this category of backpack, and do get used by some backpackers. (The Banchee’s sleeping bag compartment flap can be detached and tucked out of the way, but not removed.)

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The North Face Banchee 50

Comfort/Support

Fit

Access

Features

Weight-to-Performance

Durability

The Verdict

Sporting numerous features and a bit more space and weight-carrying capacity than many competitors at this size, while weighing barely over three pounds, The North Face Banchee 50 and Banchee 65 are outstanding, comfortable, and versatile, quiver-of-one packs for backpackers who may variously carry loads ranging from lightweight to moderate weight.

4.3

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BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase the men’s or women’s The North Face Banchee 50 or Banchee 65 at backcountry.com or Moosejaw.com, or The North Face men’s or women’s Griffin 65 or Griffin 75 at backcountry.com or Moosejaw.com.

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Thank you.

 

See “Gear Review: The 10 Best Backpacking Packs” and “The Best Ultralight Backpacks,” my review of another excellent pack at the similar weight as the Banchee 50, the Granite Gear Blaze 60, my “Top 5 Tips For Buying the Right Backpacking Pack,” and all of my reviews of backpacks and backpacking gear.

Tell me what you think.

I spent a lot of time writing this story, so if you enjoyed it, please consider giving it a share using one of the buttons at right, and leave a comment or question at the bottom of this story. I’d really appreciate it.

 

Want to make your pack lighter and all of your backpacking trips more enjoyable? See my story “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking.” If you don’t have a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read part of that story for free, or click here to download that full story without having a paid membership.

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See my Gear Reviews page at The Big Outside for categorized menus of all of my reviews and my expert buying tips.

—Michael Lanza

 

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]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-the-north-face-banchee-50-backpack/feed/ 16 35620 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-gregory-zulu-55-and-jade-53-backpacks/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-gregory-zulu-55-and-jade-53-backpacks/#comments Tue, 10 Sep 2019 09:00:54 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=35257 Read on

]]> Backpack
Gregory Zulu 55 and Jade 53
$220, 55L/3,356 c.i., 3 lbs. 13 oz. (men’s S/M)
Sizes: men’s Zulu S/M and M/L, women’s Jade XS/S and S/M
moosejaw.com

Our first day backpacking the Teton Crest Trail in late August was a fairly big one: about 11 miles and more than 3,000 vertical feet uphill. Farther than I prefer to carry an uncomfortable pack (and I’ve carried many over more than two decades testing gear). Fortunately, I didn’t. In fact, throughout that 36-mile, three-day, absolutely glorious traverse of the Teton Range (one of America’s 10 best backpacking trips), the newly redesigned Gregory Zulu 55 proved to be a comfortable and user-friendly backpack, and my complaints about it were minor.

Gregory’s men’s Zulu series and women’s Jade series packs are completely overhauled for 2019, with extensive improvements that have made what were good packs even more comfortable and nicely featured—and still at a good price. The redesigned Zulu and Jade feature a perimeter frame with a fiberglass cross-stay to improve stability and prevent barreling; and the FreeFloat Suspension System, with flex panels—located on the lower back panel, adjacent to the waist belt—that allow the hipbelt to pivot and flex with the natural movement of your body.

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I found the pivoting hipbelt reasonably effective at minimizing the side-to-side rocking that a pack makes when you’re hiking—although not as effective as the actual mechanical devices used in the rotating hipbelts of high-end packs from some brands (which are also more expensive and sometimes heavier in a comparable pack capacity; one example is the Arc’teryx Bora AR 50). I found the Zulu 55 carried up to about 30 pounds very well on days of 12 or more miles on the Teton Crest Trail, and was comfortable with nearly its recommended maximum weight—40 pounds—when I filled it with rock-climbing gear for hiking to crags in northern Spain.

The men’s and women’s packs each come in two sizes, with an adjustable suspension that has four inches of range for dialing in the fit. With a torso that falls in the upper half of the fit range of the S/M Zulu 55 (15 to 19 inches), I easily achieved a good fit. Gregory’s size charts indicate that the men’s S/M and M/L overlap for torsos measuring 18 to 19 inches, and the women’s XS/S and S/M overlap for torsos measuring 16 to 17 inches—a broad overlap, due to the torso adjustability, enabling options if you fall between sizes.

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The pack’s trampoline-style, ventilated back panel allowed nice air flow across my back on hot afternoons. The pre-shaped 3D Comfort Cradle EVA foam hipbelt wrapped smoothly around my hips, creating no pressure points, and the Zulu and Jade also sport the EVA foam shoulder-strap padding and generous foam lumbar padding seen in higher-end Gregory backpacks.

These top-loading packs have a huge mouth for easy loading and retrieval of contents, and a U-shaped front zipper that provides instant access to most of the main compartment—a feature I use a lot. Top and side compression straps compress the pack when it’s not full.

The packs have six external pockets (not including the one under the lid), including capacious zippered hipbelt pockets that can fit a large smartphone and an energy bar or two each; a spacious zippered pocket on the floating lid, and a stretch-mesh front stuff pocket that can easily fit a rain jacket.

The two stretch-mesh side pockets are large enough to swallow a liter bottle, and open on the top and side so you can reach into them while wearing the pack. But I found that when the pack is stuffed full, I couldn’t jam a wide-mouth liter bottle into those side pockets with the pack on (although a companion could easily stick that bottle into a side pocket for me).

Typical of Gregory, the packs appear to be built for durability, with a combination of 210-denier nylon and 210-denier high-tenacity nylon, a double-layer bottom of high-density, 630-denier nylon and 135-denier polyester, and reinforced fabric at the frame’s bottom corners.

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The Zulu and Jade come with multiple nice features:

• The left shoulder strap has a loop for attaching sunglasses and a small bungee for temporarily storing trekking poles—and the pack’s front side has attachments that securely hold collapsed trekking poles for longer-term storage while hiking.
• The sternum strap has a safety whistle.
• A zipper accesses the segmented sleeping bag compartment.
• The fitted rain cover, which comes with the pack and stores in the zippered pocket on the lid’s underside, has enough elasticity to stay on in fairly strong winds; but if yanked off by the wind, it also has a short lanyard-type clip to secure it to the pack, so that it doesn’t end up in the next mountain range.

At nearly four pounds, the Zulu 55 and women’s Jade 53 are not lightweights—you can find packs with more capacity that are lighter and may even be as least as comfortable. But many lighter packs will not have the adjustable fit, numerous features, and the durability of the Zulu and Jade.

The Verdict

While the Gregory men’s Zulu and women’s Jade are not the lightest or the most deluxe packs for their capacity, if you consider an extra pound or more of pack weight a smart tradeoff for an extensive feature set, good fit, and durability, these packs deliver the goods for weekend outings and trips up to about five days—at a competitive price for their quality.

The two series include models ranging in capacity from large daypacks, the Zulu 30 and Jade 28 ($160), to large backpacks, the Zulu 65 and Jade 63 ($250).

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You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a Gregory men’s Zulu 55 at backcountry.com or mooseja, w.com, or a women’s Jade 53 at backcountry.com or moosejaw.com, or any model of the men’s Zulu at moosejaw.com, backcountry.com, or gregorypacks.com, or the women’s Jade at moosejaw.com, backcountry.com, or gregorypacks.com.

Tell me what you think.

I spent a lot of time writing this story, so if you enjoyed it, please consider giving it a share using one of the buttons at right, and leave a comment or question at the bottom of this story. I’d really appreciate it.

 

See all of my reviews of backpacks, ultralight backpacks, backpacking gear, and ultralight backpacking gear at The Big Outside.

See also my “Top 5 Tips For Buying the Right Backpacking Pack,” and my stories “Gear Review: The 10 Best Backpacking Packs” and “The Best Ultralight Backpacks.”

Want to make your pack lighter and all of your backpacking trips more enjoyable? See my story “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking.” If you don’t have a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read part of that story for free, or click here to download that full story without having a paid membership.

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See categorized menus of all of my gear reviews at The Big Outside.

—Michael Lanza

 

The Big Outside helps you find the best adventures. Join now to read ALL stories and get a free e-guide!

GREGORY ZULU 55 AND JADE 53

Comfort/Support

Fit

Access

Features

Weight-to-Performance

Value

Summary

While the Gregory men’s Zulu and women’s Jade are not the lightest or the most deluxe packs for their capacity, if you consider an extra pound or more of pack weight a smart tradeoff for an extensive feature set, good fit, and durability, these packs deliver the goods for trips up to about five days—at a competitive price for their quality.

4.6

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-gregory-zulu-55-and-jade-53-backpacks/feed/ 3 35257 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-osprey-exos-58-and-eja-58-ultralight-backpacks/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-osprey-exos-58-and-eja-58-ultralight-backpacks/#respond Wed, 19 Sep 2018 09:18:32 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=29159 Read on

]]> Ultralight Backpack
Osprey Exos 58 and Eja 58
$240, 58L/3,539 c.i., 2 lbs. 11 oz. (men’s medium Exos)
Sizes: men’s Exos S-L, women’s Eja XS-M
backcountry.com

It’s difficult and sometimes dangerous to improve on a piece of gear that’s nearly perfect in its simplicity and functionality. So when Osprey rolled out the redesigned Exos for 2018, along with a women’s version, the Eja, with some changes to this popular model—which became an ultralight pack archetype when it was introduced in 2008—I immediately wanted to see whether the changes represent an improvement. Taking it on a six-day, 94-mile hike on the Continental Divide Trail through Glacier National Park, I found definite improvements—including that it carries better than the previous iteration—and I think some backpackers may miss one convenient feature that’s absent from the updated pack.

For starters, Osprey finally made a critical update to its ultralight pack line, launching a women’s version, the Eja, with the same design as the Exos. Both models come in three torso sizes and three capacities (38L, 48L, and 58L). My 18-inch (46cm) torso falls on the cusp between a small and medium in the Exos 58; I chose the medium and it was comfortable with 30 pounds in the pack.

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I had no trouble fitting my ultralight gear—including one luxury, a collapsible camp chair (the 17-ounce Helinox Chair Zero)—and food for six days inside the Exos 58 without overloading it. While I see the Exos 48 as strictly for backpackers taking short trips with a very minimalist kit, and the Exos 38 as basically a large daypack or possibly useful for extremely ultralight backpacking, the Exos 58 certainly has the capacity for weeklong trips and ultralight thru-hiking.

With an empty weight just a few ounces over 2.5 pounds, the Exos carries 30 pounds or more comfortably, thanks to the fixed (non-adjustable) Lightwire alloy perimeter frame with a stabilizing plastic cross strut. Like its predecessor, the frame has slight flex along its vertical and horizontal axes, and the frame’s curved shape transfers much of the pack weight onto your hips, where you want it. The redesigned frame is a couple of inches taller and has more of a bell shape than the previous version of the Exos, which helps focus the load more directly onto the hips—an improvement in comfort that’s noticeable, particularly on longer days or when you’ve loaded the pack to its weight capacity.

Like comparably minimalist suspensions, this one can generate a little bounce in the load, primarily when the pack weight exceeds 25 to 30 pounds. It’s not very noticeable, though, and basically unavoidable unless you get a pack with a more substantial suspension, which means significantly heavier.

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The trampoline-style back panel with side ventilation keeps the packbag off your back, allowing air movement through that gap. I noticed the cooling effect on long climbs to mountain passes under a warm sun in Glacier. The shoulder straps made of highly breathable, perforated foam are improved over the previous version, made slightly wider near the top, with the foam extending farther down toward the armpit.

Perhaps the biggest design change appears in the hipbelt. While still made of breathable, perforated foam, it replaces the zippered pockets of the previous Exos with a cutout that improves breathability, and a different wrap and weight distribution intended to complement the frame’s increased length and pronounced bell shape.

Osprey gave me this explanation for the hipbelt redesign that eliminates the hipbelt pockets: “The decision to remove the hipbelt pockets from the new Exos/Eja was not based on either cost or weight savings but rather a small sacrifice in the name of comfort. During the design process of Levity/Lumina, we found that this style of pack carried much better and was significantly more comfortable with this contoured shape that is wider at the bottom. This bell shape gives a better wrap around the hip and really adds to the comfort. With the bottom of the pack being wider, the hipbelt is much shorter and there is not room for a pocket that would be worthwhile. Our design ethos puts fit and comfort first and we are sometimes faced with the decision of features vs. fit/comfort. Fit and comfort will almost always win that battle.”

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As I wrote above, I think the redesigned pack carries a bit more comfortably than its predecessor. A friend with me in Glacier who has been a contented owner of the previous Exos 58 for some years told me, “I think I’d miss the hipbelt pockets.” I’ve always been a fan of hipbelt pockets on a pack. But in reality, the ease with which you can reach into the side pockets while wearing the new Exos—and thus keep snacks in them—meant I didn’t really notice not having the hipbelt pockets on our Glacier hike. I agree with Osprey’s decision that comfort should trump convenience in this case.

Osprey kept other smart details in the new Exos and Eja. The lid pocket is removable, to reduce pack weight by 4.5 ounces when unneeded, and it has good space for a pack in this category, plus a spacious, zippered valuables pocket on its bottom side. A fixed flap clips over the top-loading main compartment when you don’t bring the lid. But the lid is not extendable—arguably a good thing, because you don’t want to overload this pack, and you especially don’t want to make it top-heavy. (You also don’t want to make a pack with a trampoline-style back panel front-heavy, which can tip the weight away from your back, making the pack pull uncomfortably against your shoulders. See my video on how to properly load a backpack.)

Plan your next great backpacking adventure in Yosemite and other flagship parks using my expert e-guides.

That said, the voluminous, stretch pockets on the front (large enough for a wet rainfly) and both sides (which fit a liter bottle with space to spare) do allow you to begin a trip with the Exos or Eja loaded beyond recommended capacity (and ideally eat into that load to reduce it within a day).

The new Exos/Eja also retain a favorite feature of mine, the trekking poles attachment on the left shoulder strap, useful for freeing your hands to shoot a photo on the move or scramble steeper terrain. These packs have standard features like ample side compression and external attachments for gear, including a single ice axe. The redesign eliminated the stretch-mesh pockets on each shoulder strap for bars or gels. The lightweight, 100-denier, high-tenacity nylon pack fabric in the bag and 210-denier high-tenacity nylon on the bottom compares to many packs.

They also come in the smaller Exos 48 and Eja 48 ($240, 48L/2,929 c.i., 2 lbs. 8 oz.), Exos 38 and Eja 38 ($220, 38L/2,319 c.i., 2 lbs. 5 oz.) is sized for use as a large daypack or for extremely ultralight backpacking.

As a side note, Osprey also introduced what it’s calling “super ultralight” packs in 2018, the men’s Levity 60 and women’s Lumina 60 ($270, 1.9 lbs.), which Osprey says carry up to 25 pounds, and the smaller Levity 45 and Lumina 45 ($250, 1.8 lbs.). Osprey cautions that these packs are definitely for committed ultralighters—for lighter loads than the Exos/Eja. I hope to test and review one soon, but I agree that they appear to be designed strictly for backpackers—primarily thru-hikers—who are carrying extremely minimalist kits.

Osprey Exos 58 and Eja 58

Comfort/Support

Fit

Access

Features

Weight-to-Performance

Value

The Verdict

For ultralight backpackers who may carry 30 pounds or more and need a pack that can handle trips or thru-hiking sections of up to a week—while being light enough for shorter trips—the Osprey men’s Exos 58 and women’s Eja 58 are not the lightest options on the market, but are leaders in terms of comfort and design, and available at a competitive price.

4.2

BUY IT NOW

You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase any men’s Osprey Exos backpack at osprey.com or backcountry.com, or any women’s Osprey Eja backpack at osprey.com or backcountry.com, or one of the Levity or Lumina packs at the links in the above paragraph.

Tell me what you think.

I spent a lot of time writing this story, so if you enjoyed it, please consider giving it a share using one of the buttons at right, and leave a comment or question at the bottom of this story. I’d really appreciate it.

 

See all of my reviews of backpacks, ultralight backpacks, backpacking gear, and ultralight backpacking gear at The Big Outside. Click here to read my review of the previous version of the Osprey Exos 58.

See also my “Top 5 Tips For Buying the Right Backpacking Pack,” and my stories “Gear Review: The 10 Best Backpacking Packs” and “Ask Me: What’s the Best Ultralight Thru-Hiking Backpack?”

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See categorized menus of all of my gear reviews at The Big Outside.

—Michael Lanza

 

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]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-osprey-exos-58-and-eja-58-ultralight-backpacks/feed/ 0 29159 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/are-you-still-wasting-money-on-outdoor-gear/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/are-you-still-wasting-money-on-outdoor-gear/#respond Thu, 28 Jun 2018 09:00:29 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=22860 Read on

]]> By Michael Lanza

What if every time you laid down money for hiking, backpacking, or other outdoors gear, you always knew exactly what you needed and were invariably satisfied with your purchase for years afterward? What if you knew every time whether it was smarter to spring for the pricier piece of gear or go for the cheaper model? What if you always knew when and where to find the best gear at rock-bottom sale prices?

Read on to learn how you can become that expert gear buyer—just in time for ongoing gear sales at many online retailers.

Like me, you love getting out dayhiking, backpacking, climbing, and/or trail running. We need the right gear and apparel for those activities. That stuff costs money. So we have to make choices over what we need, the best products among myriad models, which of them represent the best value, and ultimately, what we can afford.

More than two decades as a professional gear tester and reviewer have taught me a lot about making informed gear choices and when and where to shop for gear. Here are my tips for becoming a smarter gear consumer who understands how to get the best value for your buck. Please share your thoughts on my tips or your own best tips in the comments section at the bottom of this story.

 

Top 3 Tips For Buying Gear

For starters, my three top rules about buying outdoor gear would apply to buying almost any consumer product:

1. Do some research to understand what you need and the differences between choices available. (Start with the categorized menus and buying tips at my Gear Reviews page.)

2. Don’t buy at the last minute. Planning ahead usually gives you more choices and opportunities to find discounted prices. (Save money and support my work on this blog by making purchases through these links at moosejaw.com and rei.com, as well as links you find in the many gear reviews at The Big Outside.)

3. Assess price in terms of the gear’s value to you. If you use it infrequently, perhaps less-expensive gear (assuming it’s of adequate quality) will suit your needs just fine. But if you use it a lot and can afford it, high-quality gear pays for itself many times over in the currency of your quality of experience. And that matters.

 

Buy smartly. Read my “5 Tips For Spending Less on Hiking and Backpacking Gear” and
“Why and When to Spend More on Hiking and Backpacking Gear.”

 

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Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside, which has made several top outdoors blog lists. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip. Click here to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Follow my adventures on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube.

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Use These Expert Gear-Buying Tips

Shop for any gear and you will quickly discover: There are a lot of choices out there. Sometimes it can be difficult or even overwhelming to sort through them all and discern which product is best for your needs—which is critical, because we all have individual needs and purposes for gear.

See my pro tips on finding the right backpack, backcountry tent, shoes or boots, sleeping bag, rain jacket, and sleeping bag in these articles:

5 Tips For Buying the Right Backpack
5 Tips For Buying a Backpacking Tent
How to Choose the Best Ultralight Backpacking Tent for You
Pro Tips For Buying the Right Boots
Pro Tips: How to Choose a Sleeping Bag
5 Pro Tips For Buying the Right Rain Jacket For the Backcountry

Those articles are premium content, which means that reading them requires a full paid subscription to The Big Outside, which costs as little as five bucks for a month, or pennies over four bucks a month for a full year. That’s a great value when you consider how much you will save as a more-informed gear consumer. Read more about subscribing here.

In the left sidebar, you’ll find a tag cloud with links to all reviews in categories like backpacking gear and backpacks.

 

Want to read any story linked here? Get full access to ALL stories at The Big Outside, plus a FREE e-guide. Subscribe now!

No Time? Cut to the Chase

If you simply want my recommendations on the best gear, you can find a long list of Best in Class reviews at my Gear Reviews page, including the 10 best backpacking packs and down jackets; the best ultralight backpacks; the five best backpacking tents, rain jackets, and headlamps; and the best daypacks for hiking. (All of those articles are free content, and you support my work on this blog anytime you make a purchase through a link to an online retailer in any of my reviews.)

 

Find your next adventure in your Inbox. Sign up for my FREE email newsletter now.

 

You’ll also find hundreds of reviews at The Big Outside, ranging from the best new stuff on the market to gear and apparel that’s a year or more old but still of high quality—and may be available now at a price steeply discounted from its original price, simply because it’s no longer new. As I point out in my “5 Tips For Spending Less on Hiking and Backpacking Gear,” this is stuff that went on sale new at higher prices just months earlier—it’s current technology, not ancient crap.

Looking for great prices soon? Bookmark sites like moosejaw.com, REI Garage, Sierra Trading Post, and theclymb.com, and watch for seasonal sales going on now or coming up soon.

 

Tell me what you think.

I spent a lot of time writing this story, so if you enjoyed it, please consider giving it a share using one of the buttons below, and leave a comment or question at the bottom of this story. I’d really appreciate it.

 

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See categorized menus of all of my gear reviews at The Big Outside.

 

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/are-you-still-wasting-money-on-outdoor-gear/feed/ 0 22860 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-gregory-optic-58-and-octal-55-ultralight-backpacks/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-gregory-optic-58-and-octal-55-ultralight-backpacks/#comments Thu, 17 May 2018 09:00:06 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=27936 Read on

]]> Ultralight Backpack
Gregory Optic 58 (men’s) and Octal 55 (women’s)
$210, 58L/3,539 c.i. (men’s medium), 2 lbs. 7 oz. (men’s small, without the included rain cover, 3 oz.)
Sizes: men’s S-L, women’s XS-M
moosejaw.com

No one loves loading extra water into their pack—especially upwards of 13 pounds of it, as I did as we left our last water source on our final evening backpacking the Grand Canyon’s Thunder River-Deer Creek Loop. We needed to haul enough liquid sustenance to get us through the 2,600-foot climb we were embarking on at 5:30 p.m., plus another 2,000 feet uphill early the next morning. That pushed my total pack weight up toward the limit of the ultralight Optic 58—as good a test as any. And Gregory’s first foray into ultralight packs not only handled that assignment well, it shines for many other reasons, too.

The men’s Optic 58 and women’s Octal 55 (plus smaller-capacity versions of both, the men’s Optic 48 and women’s Octal 45) represent the first ultralight packs from Gregory, a brand known for high-end comfort and design, especially in its packs built for big loads, like the men’s Baltoro and women’s Deva series. Having used many Gregory models, I was eager to take the Optic 58 out for four days on the rugged, 25-mile Thunder River-Deer Creek Loop off the Grand Canyon’s North Rim in May. I carried 25 to 30 pounds for much of the trip, but a maxium of about 35 pounds for more than two hours, including that six liters of water to our final, dry camp.

The frame, an aluminum perimeter wire with an HDPE framesheet, has very slight flex to it, which results in better support and torsional stability at the upper end of the pack’s weight capacity—30 to 35 pounds—as well as a bit of bounce, especially when hiking downhill or at a stronger pace. But you’ll get a little bounce in other ultralight packs, because the whole idea is minimizing weight, which is the best way to make a load more stable (and not bouncy). The fixed (non-adjustable) harness comes in three sizes, fitting torsos across a range from 16 to 22 inches in the men’s Optic and 14 to 20 inches in the women’s Octal; most people would find a size that fits. While I’ve worn a men’s medium in other Gregory packs, the men’s small Optic fit my 18-inch torso well, even though I’m on the cusp between men’s small and medium.

Gregory’s trampoline-style Aerospan suspension consists of a tensioned, highly ventilated back panel with side openings, that’s suspended slightly off the pack bag, to allow air movement across your sweaty back; that makes a difference in comfort on strenuous or relatively fast hikes and hot weather in places like the Grand Canyon. But because the pack bag rides fairly close to the back panel and the frame transfers weight very efficiently to the hips, I never got the feeling of the pack hanging off my shoulders. Even with a full, three-liter water sack far from my spine in the pack’s front pocket for a steep, 2,000-foot uphill slog, the pack still carried reasonably comfortably.

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Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Join The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip.

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The very breathable, perforated foam in the shoulder straps, leaf-spring lumbar pad, and hipbelt softened the heaviest loads I put in the Optic 58, distributing the weight nicely and never causing any pressure points. Still, this is an ultralight pack with a comfort limit of 30 to 35 pounds; pushing that capacity will overload the flexible hipbelt and the suspension.

Backpackers who want to go ultralight without switching to a more stripped-down style of backpack will like the traditional design of the top-loading Optic and Octal. A wide mouth and white interior make for easy access and good internal visibility when loading and unloading. There are six external pockets (I’m not including the zippered pocket on the lid’s underside because it’s not technically “external”): two zippered pockets on the hipbelt that each hold two or three energy bars (but not a large smartphone); a zippered lid pocket with the kind of space you’ll find in other packs in this category; two stretch-mesh side pockets that hold a liter bottle; and a large, stretch-mesh front pocket that will hold a wet rainfly or, as I found, a three-liter water bag.

I found the side pockets a little difficult but not impossible to reach while wearing the pack. The three external mesh pockets suffered no damage from the abrasive rock in the Grand Canyon, but I was careful with it; that mesh will tear easily if you’re not careful. The pack bag fabric is otherwise moderately durable 100-denier nylon with 210-denier nylon in the bottom—comparable to many lightweight packs.

Removing the two-pocket lid reduces weight by only three ounces, not much weight savings for sacrificing the organizational convenience and capacity of those pockets; plus, replacing it with the all-weather rain-and-dust cover (included) over the main compartment means you shave only two ounces. The ostensibly floating lid extends by only about an inch if you want to supersize the load—limiting the ability to overload the pack and make it top-heavy.

Plan your next great backpacking adventure in Yosemite and other flagship parks using my expert e-guides.

The Optic and Octal also sport some basic, utilitarian features found on heavier, traditional packs. Front attachments hold trekking poles or ice axes. Adjustable Z-compression straps on both sides and top compression on the main compartment shrink the pack bag for stability when it’s underfilled, and the side straps held a short foam sleeping pad. There’s an internal bladder sleeve and hose port, of course. And the left shoulder strap has an elasticized strap for holding sunglasses or trekking poles—useful for hands-free photography or scrambling without stopping to remove the pack.

While adding organizational convenience, those pockets and other features also add about a half-pound compared to more-streamlined ultralight packs like the Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Windrider and the Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60.

The smaller men’s Optic 48 and women’s Octal 45 ($190) sacrifice significant capacity for the nominal benefits of shedding a few ounces and dollars.

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Gregory Optic 58 and Octal 55

Comfort/Support

Fit

Access

Features

Weight-to-Performance

Value

The Verdict

The Gregory men’s Optic 58 and women’s Octal 55 are well-designed, comfortable packs for ultralighters who want some organizational features of traditional backpacks and the support to carry 30 pounds or more.

4.2

BUY IT NOW

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s Gregory Optic 58 or Optic 48 at backcountry.com or moosejaw.com or a women’s Gregory Octal 55 or Octal 45 at backcountry.com or moosejaw.com.

Tell me what you think.

I spent a lot of time writing this story, so if you enjoyed it, please consider giving it a share using one of the buttons at right, and leave a comment or question at the bottom of this story. I’d really appreciate it.

 

See all of my reviews of backpacks, ultralight backpacks, backpacking gear, and ultralight backpacking gear at The Big Outside.

See also my “Top 5 Tips For Buying the Right Backpacking Pack,” and my stories “Gear Review: The 10 Best Backpacking Packs” and “Ask Me: What’s the Best Ultralight Thru-Hiking Backpack?”

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See categorized menus of all of my gear reviews at The Big Outside.

—Michael Lanza

 

Was this review helpful? Get full access to ALL stories at The Big Outside. Join now and a get free e-guide!

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/review-gregory-optic-58-and-octal-55-ultralight-backpacks/feed/ 5 27936 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-sierra-designs-flex-capacitor-40-60-backpack/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-sierra-designs-flex-capacitor-40-60-backpack/#comments Thu, 03 Aug 2017 09:00:07 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=24293 Read on

]]> Backpack
Sierra Designs Flex Capacitor 40-60
$200, 2 lbs. 9 oz. (men’s S/M pack with S/M hipbelt)
Sizes: men’s S/M (fits torsos 16-19 inches) and M/L (fits torsos 18-21 inches), plus four hipbelt sizes (XS/S to L/XL)
backcountry.com

Many avid backpackers eventually find themselves facing an expensive quandary: the need for a second or even third pack to better handle the range of trips they take. Sierra Designs confronts that challenge with the Flex Capacitor, which changes size to cover a range of trips from weekends to a week or even a thru-hike. Curious about how it performs, I took it on a trip where a pack with that capacity range would come in handy: on a nine-day hike of the 105-mile Tour du Mont Blanc, where on some days I’d be carrying two people’s stuff, and on other days only my own (when that second person didn’t hike).

The pack’s unique feature is a gusset system that expands and contracts the capacity in a range from 40 to 60 liters—or more precisely, 2,400 to 3,400 c.i. in the S/M size and 2,550 to 3,650 c.i. in the M/L. Most packs that have a design which allows exceeding their normal capacity do so through a so-called “floating,” or extendable lid, which essentially lets you overload the pack by expanding it upward. But that makes the load top-heavy and significantly less comfortable to carry. By expanding its girth, the Flex Capacitor remains comfortable even at maximum capacity. Plus, its capacity expands by more than 40 percent, far more than packs with a floating lid can usually expand upward.

Horizontal compression straps reach around the pack body, helping to both shrink the pack down and attach an ice axe or trekking poles (the latter using either side pocket, too). With a lightweight, Y-shaped internal stay, a moderate amount of EVA foam padding in the shoulder straps and hipbelt (which comes in four sizes), as well as some rigidity in the pre-curved hipbelt, the Flex Capacitor was comfortable carrying about 35 pounds of climbing gear for three to four miles a day, and over 30 pounds (mostly clothing and personal items for two people) on the Tour du Mont Blanc.

I think many backpackers would find it comfortable with 35 to 40 pounds. That’s good for a pack barely north of two-and-a-half pounds, making it a legitimate ultralight pack. Still, while I found the hipbelt comfortable with the loads I described, it does not quite achieve the comfort of some of the best backpacking packs I’ve used (most of which are also heavier).

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Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside, which has made several top outdoors blog lists. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Join The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip. Please follow my adventures on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube.

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A thick and firm lumbar pad and two upper-back pads help soften the load while allowing good air circulation across my back. With a fixed (non-adjustable) suspension, the pack comes in two sizes; the S/M fit my 18-inch torso well, as did the S/M hipbelt on my 30-inch waist.

In lieu of a traditional lid and a main compartment with a drawcord closure, this top-loader’s U-shaped top zipper gives one-step access to the main compartment, with a wide mouth that facilitates easy loading and unloading and swallows a bear canister no problem. The zipper on the main compartment tends to snag on the rain flap, but it’s easy to unsnag.

One compromise with this pack: It offers limited organizational convenience. It lacks a feature I like, a side zipper to provide additional access to the middle of the main compartment. There are no external pockets that would normally hold items you’d want to access during the day or keep outside the main compartment, such as water treatment or a wet jacket or rainfly. The lid pocket has almost no bellows to it, so it’s impractical for storing more than thin items like a map and phone.

But the two zippered hipbelt pockets are spacious enough for three to four energy bars each—though filling them completely can cause them to stick out far enough for forearms to brush against them while hiking—and the mesh side pockets each hold a liter bottle. A stretch-mesh pocket on the right shoulder strap holds a small water bottle or a phone. The pack body consists of 100-denier fabric, and the bottom of more durable, 420-denier nylon; this is a relatively tough pack compared to others in its weight class.

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The Verdict

For ultralighters or any backpacker seeking a sack with capacity versatility and a low weight, at a good price, the Sierra Designs Flex Capacitor 40-60 deserves a close look.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking any of these links to buy a Sierra Designs Flex Capacitor 40-60 or other size at backcountry.com.

Was this review helpful? If so, would you like to support my work by clicking here to leave a tip for The Big Outside?

Thank you.

 

See all of my reviews of backpacks and backpacking gear I like, and my “Review: The 10 Best Backpacking Packs.”

Tell me what you think.

I spent a lot of time writing this story, so if you enjoyed it, please consider giving it a share using one of the buttons at right, and leave a comment or question at the bottom of this story. I’d really appreciate it.

 

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See categorized menus of all of my gear reviews at The Big Outside.

—Michael Lanza

 

The Big Outside helps you find the best adventures. Join now to read ALL stories and get a free e-guide!

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-sierra-designs-flex-capacitor-40-60-backpack/feed/ 13 24293 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/ask-me-should-i-buy-a-larger-backpack-if-its-not-much-heavier/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/ask-me-should-i-buy-a-larger-backpack-if-its-not-much-heavier/#comments Wed, 26 Jul 2017 09:00:14 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=12352 Read on

]]> Michael,

I stumbled upon your blog and have enjoyed reading your advice. I am currently deciding between the Gregory Baltoro 75 and 65. I have always had a 65L pack and was looking to upgrade to a new pack this year. When I compared the two packs I found that there was only four ounces difference in weight from the 65L to the 75L. So I am thinking about going to the 75 even though my gear fits in a 65L pack fine. Is there any reason not to go to the larger pack?

Thanks,
Michael
Idaho Falls, ID

Hi Michael,

Good question, and I completely understand your way of thinking about that. I’ve taken the same perspective when considering different volumes in the same pack model, even down to daypacks where models may vary by less than 10 liters. But here’s where I draw the line: I ask myself, will I ever need that extra capacity, or am I just carrying extra weight and bulk because it seems like a good deal?

I recently reviewed the new version of the Gregory Baltoro 75 and women’s Deva 70 at The Big Outside. (I’ve also used previous versions of the Baltoro.) I got the 75L for backpacking with my family when my kids were too small to carry their own share of gear and food; I would fill the 75L pack.

I virtually never carry a 75L pack when backpacking without my kids because I don’t need it. There’s a good reason that companies make 65L, 58L, 50L, and smaller packs: At each step down in size, the pack feels lighter and more streamlined, and that translates to more comfort on the trail.

I find that a difference of 10 liters in volume is noticeably bulkier on my back, and it feels like a bigger pack. Plus, contents may have a greater tendency to shift if you’re never really filling the pack, affecting how well it carries (even though the Baltoro carries very stably). Lastly, having a bigger pack can encourage you to take more stuff than you need.

You should read my “5 Tips For Finding the Right Backpack” and my “Gear Review: The 10 Best Backpacking Packs.”

 

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Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside, which has made several top outdoors blog lists. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Subscribe now to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip. Please follow my adventures on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube.

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If you will potentially need that extra capacity on a future trip, then definitely get the 75L pack. If you’re doing it just because it doesn’t seem like much extra weight, even if you don’t expect to ever need it, I would go for the 65L pack. That would also curb the temptation to overpack.

With just four ounces difference between the packs, they probably have identical suspension systems and could handle the same amount of weight. Four ounces likely just represents more fabric for greater volume.

It may sound like I’m splitting hairs, but over my nearly three decades of backpacking, I’ve always strived to figure out how to make my load smaller and lighter, and buying a bigger pack than I need is a step in the wrong direction.

You may also be interested in my tips on ultralight backpacking (which are helpful regardless of whether you’re going “ultralight”), my advice to another reader on how to start lightening up backpacking gear, this previous Ask Me post where I answered another reader’s question comparing different, large backpacks, including the Baltoro, and all of my reviews of backpacks that I like.

I hope that’s helpful. I’d like to hear what you ultimately decide to do.

Best,
Michael

 

Michael,

That is a great point about going with kids. I have the same situation. I am backpacking with my kids now and am thinking the space may be nice to have for extra gear. Last year was my test year to see how my son would do on some longer trips. Early June, I took him up through Upper Palisades and through Waterfall Canyon for a 20-mile day and he did pretty good. We went through Granite Basin in the Tetons in August and had a great time and various other trips through out the summer. I think I am getting him hooked LOL I am hoping to get him into the White Cloud Mountains in Idaho this summer, but he has never done the Teton Crest Trail, so I think we will do that one first. With the low snowpack we have this year, the backpacking season may start earlier then normal.

Thanks again for the advice. I will let you know what I choose and how it goes.

Michael

Michael,

Then maybe you should go with the 75L for family backpacking. Hopefully, you can check out both in a store and compare.

I’ve done a lot of hiking, backpacking, and climbing all over the Tetons, including Alaska and Granite basins. Love those mountains. Check out this link. You can also see my stories about Idaho’s White Cloud Mountains and all of my blog’s stories about family backpacking trips.

Good luck, keep in touch.

Michael

 

Tell me what you think.

I spent a lot of time writing this story, so if you enjoyed it, please consider giving it a share using one of the buttons below, and leave a comment or question at the bottom of this story. I’d really appreciate it.

 

I can help you plan the best backpacking, hiking, or family adventure of your life.

Got a question about hiking, backpacking, planning a family adventure, or any trip I’ve written about at The Big Outside? Email it to me at info@thebigoutsideblog.com. For just $75, I’ll answer your questions via email or in a phone call to help ensure your trip is a success. See my Ask Me page.

—Michael Lanza

 

I’ve been testing gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See categorized menus of all of my gear reviews.

—Michael Lanza

 

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/ask-me-should-i-buy-a-larger-backpack-if-its-not-much-heavier/feed/ 1 12352 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-rei-flash-45-backpack-2/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-rei-flash-45-backpack-2/#respond Wed, 31 May 2017 09:00:54 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=23695 Read on

]]> Backpack
REI Flash 45
$159, 47L/2,868 c.i., 2 lbs. 14 oz. (large)
Sizes: men’s medium (45L/2,746 c.i.) and large, women’s small (45L/2,745 c.i.) and medium (47L/2,868 c.i.)
rei.com

The challenge: Backpack a three-day, 40-mile loop in Utah’s Dark Canyon Wilderness, staying as light as possible, but having a pack capable of hauling extra water without compressing my spine. It struck me as a good opportunity to test out REI’s latest iteration of the Flash 45 backpack. Having used and reviewed the previous version of the Flash 45, I was curious to hike with this newly updated sack—which has gained about 10 ounces compared to eight years ago (not bad, compared to most people), but also appeared capable of handling more weight comfortably than its predecessor. I discovered that much is true, and that’s among a few improvements to a backpack that’s still under three pounds and, more remarkably, under $150.

The steel, internal perimeter frame with one horizontal stay, plus a contoured hipbelt and shoulder straps with a good amount of breathable, perforated foam padding for a pack this size, carried up to about 30 pounds comfortably, including a gallon of water at times. I’d say the pack’s comfort limit is 25 to 30 pounds; any more weight would overtax the hipbelt. Although the Flash has a breathable, mesh-foam back panel, even in mild temperatures in the 50s to around 60 Fahrenheit, my back got sweaty because the pack hugs you and doesn’t really allow air flow. The shoulder harness adjusts within about a two-inch range.

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Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Join The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here for my e-guides to classic backpacking trips. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip.

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REI’s UpLift Compression system employs ratcheting straps extending from near the top of the frame on each side down to dovetailed straps attached to the bottom front of the pack bag. Tightening those straps pulls the pack load upward and inward, not only compressing the load for better stability, but also shifting it somewhat closer to your center of balance (more so when the pack isn’t filled to capacity). I found it beneficial in keeping the pack’s weight more on my hips than on my shoulders, particularly appreciated on the hours-long descents and ascents we had in the Dark Canyon Wilderness, which backpackers face in mountains, too.

The top-loading Flash 45 has the capacity for a three- or even four-day trip, provided your gear is light and compact. I fit three days’ worth of food and all of my gear in the main compartment, including a relatively compact, 10° F down sleeping bag and a rainfly. And the extendable, removable lid allows overstuffing the pack for a trip’s first day (although that could make the pack top-heavy and carry less well). A top compression strap helps stabilize an under-sized load or holds an item you couldn’t fit inside, like a jacket or rope.

The pack has a pocket configuration that’s common for this category: six external pockets, including a stretch-mesh front pocket big enough for a rainfly; stretch-mesh side pockets that fit liter bottles and open at an angle conducive to reaching into them easily with the pack on; a zippered lid pocket that held everything I wanted to put in it; and two hipbelt pockets (one zippered, one with overlapping mesh flaps) large enough for a few bars, although the belt’s curved shape means a small camera or phone doesn’t easily slide into those pockets. External attachments hold an ice axe or trekking poles. The safety whistle on the sternum strap is a nice feature. One demerit: There’s only one side compression strap long enough to attach anything bulky, like a foam pad; the UpLift straps don’t have enough length for that.

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The 420-denier ripstop nylon bottom will withstand much hard use, and the 100-denier ripstop body fabric is adequately durable for normal use; both are not uncommon for packs in this category. And like many similar packs, the mesh side and front pockets are susceptible to tears if you’re not reasonably careful.

What don’t you get at this price? While it’s reasonably stable when hiking on a trail, it still lacks the motion-control design features that you’ll find in a more-expensive pack like the Arc’teryx Bora AR 50. And the Flash 45’s main compartment lacks any quick access such as a panel zipper or sleeping bag compartment zipper—it’s strictly a top-loader.

As REI often does with its brand products, it gave the Flash 45 design features with a proven track record of effectiveness on other backpacks on the market, plus a fairly unique feature—the UpLift Compression system—and sells it at a very competitive price for what you get.

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The Verdict

You can find packs that are more comfortable, feature-rich, minimalist, or capable of hauling more weight. But you will be challenged to find one that compares with the Flash 45 at a better price.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking any of these links to purchase a men’s or women’s REI Flash 45 pack at rei.com, or a men’s or women’s Flash 55 at rei.com.

Tell me what you think.

I spent a lot of time writing this story, so if you enjoyed it, please consider giving it a share using one of the buttons at right, and leave a comment or question at the bottom of this story. I’d really appreciate it.

 

See my “5 Tips For Buying the Right Backpack” and “Gear Review: The 10 Best Backpacking Packs,” all of my reviews of backpacks and backpacking gear I like, and these stories at The Big Outside:

“My Top 10 Favorite Backpacking Trips”
“10 Tricks For Making Hiking and Backpacking Easier”
“7 Pro Tips For Avoiding Blisters”
“The Simple Equation of Ultralight Backpacking: Less Weight = More Fun”

NOTE: I reviewed gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See categorized menus of all of my gear reviews at The Big Outside.

—Michael Lanza

 

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]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-rei-flash-45-backpack-2/feed/ 0 23695 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-osprey-stratos-50-and-sirrus-50-backpacks/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-osprey-stratos-50-and-sirrus-50-backpacks/#comments Wed, 12 Apr 2017 09:00:58 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=22987 Read on

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Backpack
Osprey Stratos 50 and Sirrus 50
$190, 47L/2,868 c.i., 3 lbs. 9 oz. (men’s S/M)
Sizes: men’s Stratos S/M and M/L, women’s Sirrus XS/X and S/M
backcountry.com

How much do you have to spend to get a “good” backpack? If only I had a buck for every time I’ve been asked that question. Of course, finding a pack you’re happy with is a very personalized choice (my “5 Tips For Buying the Right Backpack” can help you figure that out). Still, like virtually every category of gear, packs come in a range of prices that reflect both the pack’s size as well as its technology, features, materials, and quality of construction—so, yes, price does correlate pretty closely with quality. In search of a pack that delivers good performance without sticker shock, I took the Stratos 50, newly updated for 2017, on a three-day backpacking trip in the Panamint Range of California’s Death Valley National Park.

Known for the comfort and smart designs in their high-end backpacks, Osprey takes aim with the men’s Stratos 50 and women’s Sirrus 50 at weekend backpackers looking for good quality in an all-around pack that’s more affordable. While these two packs don’t match the comfort and weight-carrying capacity you’ll find in, say, Osprey’s men’s Atmos AG and women’s Aura AG series, the Stratos and Sirrus deliver good value in terms of comfort and features for weekend outings or trips of up to four or five days, if you pack lightly.

Redesigned for 2017 with adjustable torso lengths, to let you dial in a better fit, the signature feature is the AirSpeed suspension, a seamless, tensioned mesh panel integrated into the hipbelt and shoulder straps that allows air flow across your entire back, for a superior cooling effect on hot days of hiking.

Considering the fact that the AirSpeed suspension holds the pack’s weight off your back, I found it pretty stable, not tending to shift, even when scrambling up wet, slick limestone and short, third-class sections on an off-trail hike up Death Valley’s Surprise Canyon. The LightWire alloy peripheral wire internal frame with one aluminum stay, and the moderately padded hipbelt and shoulder straps, carry up to about 35 pounds comfortably. The curved hipbelt wraps smoothly over hipbones to distribute weight evenly.

Both of these top-loading packs have a wide enough opening and body for easy loading and seeing inside. Like Osprey’s pricier models, the Stratos and Sirrus have plentiful organization, with stretch-mesh side pockets, a large shove-it pocket on the front with two zippered, vertical pockets on it, plus zippered hipbelt pockets large enough for two or three bars each.

The packs include convenient features like a side zipper for quick access to the main compartment; an integrated rain cover; a zippered sleeping bag compartment on the bottom; a trekking poles attachment on a shoulder strap for freeing up your hands while on the move; dual side compression straps; and a removable lid. The main body of the pack is made of 210-denier nylon crosshatch fabric, while accents and the bottom are made with more-durable 420-denier nylon packcloth—the kind of adequately durable fabrics found in many moderately priced packs.

The Stratos 50 and Sirrus 50—also available in smaller versions, including daypack sizes, and panel-loading designs—won’t make any top-10 lists. You can find packs for backpacking that are lighter and more unique (and more expensive), as well as cheaper. But these packs strike a nice balance of affordable quality from a respected brand, and the addition of torso adjustability makes them even more appealing.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking any of these links to buy an Osprey men’s Stratos 50 at backcountry.com, ems.com, moosejaw.com, or rei.com, or a women’s Sirrus 50 at backcountry.com, ems.com, or moosejaw.com.

See my “5 Tips For Buying the Right Backpack” and “Gear Review: The 10 Best Packs For Backpacking,” all of my reviews of backpacks and backpacking gear I like, and these stories at The Big Outside:

“My Top 10 Favorite Backpacking Trips”
“10 Tricks For Making Hiking and Backpacking Easier”
“7 Pro Tips For Avoiding Blisters”
“The Simple Equation of Ultralight Backpacking: Less Weight = More Fun”

 

This story took quite a while to write, so if you enjoyed it, please consider giving it a share using one of the buttons below. I’d really appreciate it.

 

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See categorized menus of all of my gear reviews at The Big Outside.

—Michael Lanza

 

Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, the creator of The Big Outside, recognized as a top outdoors blog by USA Today and others. I invite you to get email updates about new stories and gear giveaways by entering your email address in the box at the bottom of this post, and follow my adventures on Facebook and Twitter.

 

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The Big Outside is proud to partner with sponsors Backcountry.com and Visit North Carolina, who support the stories you read at this blog. Find out more about them at my sponsors page. Click on the backcountry.com ad below for the best prices on great gear!

 

 

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-osprey-stratos-50-and-sirrus-50-backpacks/feed/ 8 22987 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-arcteryx-bora-ar-backpacks/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-arcteryx-bora-ar-backpacks/#respond Tue, 07 Mar 2017 10:00:58 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=22599 Read on

]]> Backpack
Arc’teryx Bora AR 50
$320, 50L/3,050 c.i., 4 lbs. 13 oz. (men’s regular)
Sizes: men’s and women’s regular and tall
rei.com

The 9.6 miles and 3,000 vertical feet from Junction Camp to Park Creek Pass in North Cascades National Park seemed endless and relentlessly steep at times, when a friend and I hiked it on the second morning of a five-day, 80-mile backpacking trip in late September. The thunderous waterfalls, views of glaciers and jagged peaks, and golden fall color in the larch trees validated the harshness of that ascent. But for me, that climb and that trip’s long days were softened mostly by the carrying comfort of the new Bora AR 50 backpack—which, not surprisingly, given the brand, deploys some cutting-edge technologies to justify a stout sticker price.

When carrying a loaded backpack, some of the fatigue and soreness you can get in your back and shoulders comes from the amount of side-to-side rocking the pack does, due to the alternating, up-and-down motion of your hipbones while you walk—which gets exaggerated when going up or downhill.

The men’s and women’s Bora packs eliminate that by redesigning how the pack rides on your torso. The generously padded, removable Rotoglide hipbelt rotates side to side and slides up and down, so that it moves with your hips and body, keeping the pack bag from bouncing around. I could actually feel it absorbing the movement of my hips while I walked, keeping the pack largely stationary on my back, while carrying it with a max of nearly 30 pounds inside in the North Cascades, and about 35 pounds of climbing gear, water, food, and clothing on days of hiking and cragging at Idaho’s Castle Rocks State Park.

The very light, thermo-molded Tegris framesheet has slight flex to absorb some torso movement, with two aluminum stays to provide support for carrying at least 40 pounds. The shoulder straps are widely adjustable for both shoulder width and torso length using a Gridlock peg and hole system, which I adjusted to fit my 18-inch torso well in about a minute. Dual-density foam in those straps assures more durability than less-expensive foam padding.

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A top loader, the Bora has a wide mouth for easy loading and a bright interior for seeing contents, as well as a side zipper to access the main compartment without having to unclip the lid. One downside: The narrow profile doesn’t fit a bear canister horizontally, only vertically, and the pack bag’s dimensions along with the fabric’s stiffness make it difficult to fill in the spaces around a bear canister; so it loads less efficiently when you have to put a canister inside.

Dual side compression straps squish down a partial load and have buckles for easily attaching items like trekking poles and ice tools (the pack has loops for them). The voluminous, zippered, front kangaroo pocket extends nearly the full depth and width of the pack body, big enough for a wet rainfly, with room to spare. The extendable and removable lid has a zippered top pocket that’s roomier than found in many packs of this size—you’ll get sunglasses case, gloves, hat, sunblock, headlamp, and plenty more in there—and another zippered pocket on the bottom. Two side pockets each hold a liter bottle, and the two stretch-mesh hipbelt pockets swallow a few energy bars each.

The Bora packs use a combination of highly durable 420-denier and 630-denier fabrics—no worries about tears or abrasions from any use—and waterproof AC² fabric on the lid, front, and upper side panels, which easily repelled light rain in the North Cascades.

The Bora AR packs come in men’s 50-liter and 63-liter and women’s 49-liter and 61-liter versions.

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Arc’teryx Bora AR 50

Comfort/Support

Fit

Access

Features

Weight-to-Performance

Value

The Verdict

While not the lightest packs for their capacity, the Arc’teryx Bora AR pack series may be the toughest and certainly rank among the most comfortable, weatherproof, innovative, and versatile backpacking packs on the market.

4.4

Buy it now

You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to buy a men’s Arc’teryx Bora AR 63 or AR 50 or women’s Bora AR 61 or AR 49 backpack at backcountry.com or rei.com.

Was this review helpful?

If so, would you like to support my work by clicking here to leave a tip for The Big Outside?

Please also consider sharing it using one of the buttons at right and leaving a comment or question at the bottom. Thank you, I really appreciate it.

 

See my picks for “The 10 Best Backpacking Packs” and “The Best Ultralight Backpacks,” my “5 Expert Tips For Buying the Right Backpacking Pack,” and all of my reviews of backpacks and backpacking gear at The Big Outside.

Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned backpacker, you’ll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my “12 Expert Tips for Planning a Backpacking Trip,” “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking,” and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.” With a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read all of those three stories for free; if you don’t have a subscription, you can download the e-guide versions of “12 Expert Tips for Planning a Backpacking Trip,” the lightweight backpacking guide, and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.”

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See categorized menus of all of my gear reviews at The Big Outside.

—Michael Lanza

Let The Big Outside help you find the best adventures. 
Join now to read ALL stories and get a free e-guide!

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-arcteryx-bora-ar-backpacks/feed/ 0 22599 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-gregory-wander-70-kids-backpack/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-gregory-wander-70-kids-backpack/#respond Wed, 28 Sep 2016 10:00:11 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=20663 Read on

]]> Kids Backpack
Gregory Wander 70
$200, 70L/4,272 c.i., 3 lbs. 10 oz.
One size, adjustable
backcountry.com

There are a couple of groups of people who often have trouble finding a backpack that fits them and functions well: young teenagers and small adults, especially women. Gregory tackles this dilemma head on with the Wander pack series. So I had my 15-year-old son and a woman friend who’s short and slightly built test out the Wander 70 on backpacking and hut trekking trips—and both really liked it. Here’s why.

My son, who’s five feet, four inches, a skinny 110 pounds, and has a 15-inch torso, carried this pack with more than 20 pounds inside at times (which represents an appropriate 20 percent of his body weight) on a three-day, August backpacking trip in Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains; he found it comfortable for several hours a day on the trail. My neighbor Lauren, a five-foot, one-inch, 107-pound woman with a 14.5-inch torso, used this pack trekking hut-to-hut on the (absolutely stunning) Alta Via 2 in Italy’s Dolomite Mountains. She carried a max weight of 25 pounds—without completely filling the pack—and her biggest day involved nine hours on the trail with 3,000 vertical feet of uphill and 5,300 feet of descending. She told me, “It was more comfortable than other small packs I have.”

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The Wander’s fit and comfort start with Gregory’s Versafit suspension, adjustable for torso lengths from 13 to 18 inches (33 to 46cm). Good for at least a few years of use for most kids, it will also fit many small to average-height adults with small waistlines. An internal Wire Wishbone frame flexes slightly to move with a wearer’s torso, but retains enough rigidity for carrying loads up to about 30 pounds comfortably—as much as a kid or small adult using this pack should carry. I adjusted the suspension within seconds to fit my son perfectly. (See my “5 Tips For Buying the Right Backpack” for instructions on measuring torso size.)

For many young teens and small women, the hipbelts of adult packs, even in small sizes, are too big for their narrow hips and waists. But the Wander’s Quick-Adjust hipbelt addresses that challenge with movable Aeromesh hip pads that can be positioned to rest on the hipbones of a wide range of smaller waists. As with the hipbelt, the thick, breathable, Aeromesh shoulder straps and back pad help make a moderate load almost unnoticeable.

Plan your next great backpacking trip in Yosemite, Grand Teton,
and other parks using my expert e-books.

The top-loading Wander 70 has all the organizational features I like in a pack designed for backpacking, without anything superfluous, and plenty of capacity for weeklong trips; and yet, at barely north of 3.5 pounds, it’s light enough for weekend outings. The wide mouth makes packing and retrieving stuff a breeze, and a U-shaped front panel zipper provides instant access to virtually everything inside. The zippered front pocket fits a jacket with space to spare. The mesh side pockets will hold a liter bottle or various small items like gloves and a map. The lid pocket’s U-shaped zipper peels back to reveal everything inside—making contents more visible than you’ll find on most backpacks—and that pocket’s walls keep contents from spilling out. One complaint: The lid is not adjustable and removable.

As in some of Gregory’s high-end adult backpacks, the Wander 70 and 50 come with the Sidekick, a removable, ultralight daypack or summit pack with unpadded, webbing shoulder straps and belt and enough capacity for several pounds of clothing, water, and food. It clips inside the backpack, where it doubles as a bladder sleeve (although there is a sleeve inside, too).

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Dual side compression straps help stabilize an under-loaded pack, as do the bottom compression straps, which will also secure a sleeping pad, and the top compression strap, where you can also attach a climbing rope or other gear. The pack’s body fabric combines 300-denier polyester and 400-denier HD polyester, while the bottom is made with tougher, 630-denier polyester ballistic fabric. There are ice-axe attachments and daisy chain loops on the front. The pack comes with a rain cover, stored in a zippered mesh pocket inside the front pocket, and even a set of tips on loading a backpack printed on the lid pocket’s underside.

Designed for youths and small adults, the Wander 70 is built with the same quality and durability found in Gregory’s adult packs, and will last for years, getting handed down to multiple kids. There’s also the Gregory Wander 38 ($139) for smaller kids, and the Wander 50 ($169) for kids and small adults carrying lighter loads.

 

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Click here now for expert advice you won’t get anywhere else.

BUY IT NOW

You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking this affiliate link to buy a Gregory Wander 70 at backcountry.com, gregory.com, or rei.com.

See also all reviews of kids backpacks—including another excellent option, the Osprey Ace kids packs—and all reviews of backpacking gear at The Big Outside, plus my “5 Tips For Buying the Right Backpack.”

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See categorized menus of all of my gear reviews at The Big Outside.

—Michael Lanza

Let The Big Outside help you find the best adventures.
Join now for full access to ALL stories and get a free e-book!

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-gregory-wander-70-kids-backpack/feed/ 0 20663 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-the-north-face-fovero-70-backpack/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-the-north-face-fovero-70-backpack/#comments Wed, 24 Aug 2016 10:00:28 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=20172 Read on

]]> Backpack
The North Face Fovero 70
$290, 70L/4,272 c.i., 5 lbs. 7 oz. (men’s S/M)
Sizes: men’s S/M (fits torsos 15-20 ins.) & L/XL (torsos 17-22 ins.), women’s XS/S (torsos 13-18 ins.) & M/L (torsos 15-20 ins.)
moosejaw.com

Backpacking for three days in Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains with my 15-year-old son and two of his buddies who were taking their first backpacking trip, I hauled up to about 40 pounds, including much of our team gear and food. For that kind of backpacking, I want a pack that’s built for heavy loads and has a high degree of organization. The Fovero 70 rose to the challenge in comfort and has exceptional access for backpackers who like to compartmentalize.

With a 2mm, perforated plastic framesheet, spring steel wire perimeter frame, and two aluminum stays, the proprietary OPTIFIT suspension flexes very little on the vertical axis, for excellent support carrying 40 to 50 pounds, while flexing slightly on the horizontal axis, so that the pack moves somewhat with your torso as you walk. (Note: The North Face describes the Fovero as capable of hauling up to 70 pounds, but I’d suggest that’s well beyond the comfort range for most backpackers.) I found the well-padded shoulder straps, back pad, and hipbelt, made with breathable, perforated EVA foam, adequately comfortable with 40 pounds inside, and certainly capable of carrying more than that. The simple torso adjustment has five inches of range for dialing in a good fit, and the hipbelt’s pads are adjustable (using a lever inside the zippered pocket), with about three inches of play on each side—a nice feature for people with bigger waists. While there’s no cutting-edge technology in this suspension system, it’s built for the maximum weight that most backpackers would carry.

This top loader has better access and organization than many packs in this category, starting with nine well-designed pockets: on each side of the hipbelt; in the lid (including a zippered interior pocket that stores the rain cover); on the sides (mesh bottle pockets); two roomy, zippered front pockets that are supremely convenient; and a voluminous “beaver-tail” (AKA stuff-it) front pocket for a wet jacket or rainfly. A J-shaped, two-way zipper runs down one side and around the bottom, giving quick access to much of the main compartment and the sleeping bag compartment. You can unclip the interior divider if you prefer not having a separate compartment for you bag. (I unclip it to maximize interior space.) With the Fovero, whether I needed a jacket, water filter, snack, bottle, or to pull out my tent before emptying my pack (say, in rain), I could do it quickly and easily. With a big pack, I consider that a critical design element. Lastly, the removable lid converts to a daypack with two unpadded, mesh shoulder straps (but no waistbelt or sternum strap) for light summit trips.

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Wrap-around compression straps on top, sides, and bottom (which held my full-length, foam sleeping pad) create superior load control. It has some nice features like adjustable straps for attaching trekking poles or ice axes and a whistle in the sternum strap. With 420-denier ripstop nylon in the bottom and sides and 210-denier ripstop nylon in the front and lid, the pack’s durability compares with many other models of similar capacity and weight. The Fovero comes with a rain cover stored in a zippered mesh pocket inside the lid—not the most logical place, since you’ll want to make sure the cover is completely dry before returning it to that pocket, where you’re likely to have items you want to keep dry.

For backpackers who routinely carry 40 to 50 pounds and like a high level of organization, the Fovero 70 is a winner. A larger version, the Fovero 85, is $310.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking either of these links to buy The North Face Fovero 70 men’s or women’s pack at moosejaw.com or sunnysports.com.

The Big Outside helps you find the best adventures. Subscribe now to read ALL stories and get a free e-guide!

See all of my reviews of backpacks and backpacking gear, including my review of models very similar in capacity and weight, the Osprey men’s Atmos AG 65 and women’s Aura AG 65.

Tell me what you think.

I spent a lot of time writing this story, so if you enjoyed it, please consider giving it a share using one of the buttons below, and leave a comment or question at the bottom of this story. I’d really appreciate it.

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See categorized menus of all of my gear reviews at The Big Outside.

—Michael Lanza

Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside, which has made several top outdoors blog lists. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter, or enter your email address in the box in the left sidebar or at the bottom of this story. Click here to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Follow my adventures on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube.

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-the-north-face-fovero-70-backpack/feed/ 7 20172 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-jansport-tahoma-75-backpack/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-jansport-tahoma-75-backpack/#respond Wed, 10 Aug 2016 10:00:24 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=20041 Read on

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Backpack
Jansport Tahoma 75
$310, 70L/4,270 c.i., 4 lbs. 11 oz.
One size, adjustable
jansport.com

After carrying this pack on a four-day climb of the Mountaineers Route on California’s Mount Whitney in April, my 15-year-old son made the most persuasive demonstration of his opinion of it several weeks later: The next time he was carrying a backpack, this kid with an unusually large quiver of packs for his age (and many backcountry trips under his belt) chose the Tahoma 75 again. The reasons, I think, are simple: As a pack for both multi-day mountaineering and backpacking, it’s comfortable, tough, and nicely featured.

The Tahoma 75 is built not just for climbing, but also for comfort while backpacking a substantial distance to and from the mountain. With a plastic framesheet and two aluminum stays, plus thick, dual-density padding in the hipbelt and shoulder straps, it can handle at least 40 pounds (my son carried about 25 pounds, which was a quarter of his body weight, quite comfortably). But thanks to the two horizontal compression straps on each side and across the front, and the pack weighing well under five pounds, it’s a reasonable size for doubling as a summit pack from high camp. Plus, the removable hipbelt and dual-pocket lid let you drop some weight and bulk—although doing so obviously robs the pack of some of the structure and support that make it comfortable. The shoulder straps are adjustable for torso length and shoulder width, which delivered a good fit for both my son’s 15-inch-torso and my 18-inch torso.

The roomy, dual lid pockets provide ample storage for smaller items. Climbing-specific features include a dedicated, hypalon-lined front crampon pocket, and carrying systems for two ice axes, trekking poles, snowshoes, and pickets and wands in the side straps and pockets (which aren’t designed for water bottles, but you’d want to keep those inside the pack, anyway, to avoid dropping them). The hipbelt sports a rubberized gear loop on each side, and the nearly waterproof pack fabric could take a bullet. Especially for climbers, the emergency whistle in the sternum strap buckle is a smart feature.

While not among my top choices of packs designed strictly for backpacking—it’s neither at the low end for weight, nor designed with the abundant organization you’d get in many mid-size to large packs for backpacking—the Tahoma 75 is a good multi-purpose pack for multi-day mountaineering or backpackers who want a durable sack and may do some occasional technical climbing.

See my “Review: Gear For Climbing Mount Whitney,” and all of my reviews of backpacks and backpacking gear, including my review of models very similar in capacity and weight, the Osprey men’s Atmos AG 65 and women’s Aura AG 65.

See also these stories:

“The Simple Equation of Ultralight Backpacking: Less Weight = More Fun”
“Buying Gear? Read This First”
“5 Tips For Spending Less on Hiking and Backpacking Gear”
“Ask Me: How Do We Begin Lightening Up Our Backpacking Gear?”

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See a menu of all of my gear reviews.

—Michael Lanza

The Big Outside is proud to partner with these sponsors. Please help support my blog by liking and following my sponsors on Facebook and other social media and telling them you appreciate their support for The Big Outside.

 

 

 

Do you like The Big Outside? I’m Michael Lanza, the creator of The Big Outside, recognized as a top outdoors blog by a USA Today Readers Choice poll and others. Subscribe for updates about new stories and free gear giveaways by entering your email address in the box at the bottom of this story, at the top of the left sidebar, or on my About page, and follow my adventures on Facebook and Twitter.

This blog and website is my full-time job and I rely on the support of readers. If you like what you see here, please help me continue producing The Big Outside by making a donation using the Support button at the top of the left sidebar or below. Thank you for your support.

 

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-jansport-tahoma-75-backpack/feed/ 0 20041 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-mountain-hardwear-south-col-70-outdry-climbing-pack/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-mountain-hardwear-south-col-70-outdry-climbing-pack/#respond Wed, 13 Jul 2016 10:00:49 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=19726 Read on

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Climbing Pack
Mountain Hardwear South Col 70 OutDry
$300, 70L/4,270 c.i., 3 lbs. 13 oz. (S/M)
Sizes: S/M & M/L (75L/4,575 c.i.)
backcountry.com

On a four-day, April ascent of the Mountaineers Route on California’s 14,505-foot Mount Whitney with my 15-year-old son, I carried this pack with over 40 pounds inside for the two-day hike to our 12,000-foot high camp, and then stripped it down to carry much less weight on our nine-hour summit day. I call it the Transformer of climbing packs. Its minimalist weight, modularity, and feature set make it, in many ways, ideal for multi-day, technical climbs. There are also compromises with a pack this light, which some climbers will find acceptable, others maybe not.

I also used this pack on days of rock climbing at Idaho’s City of Rocks National Reserve and Castle Rocks State Park, carrying over 40 pounds inside, including a rope, climbing rack, water and food. The featherweight framesheet and wire perimeter stay, plus the lightly padded hipbelt have the support for carrying up to about 40 pounds comfortably. Plus, those components and the lid pocket are removable, letting you strip it down for a summit push. (The pack comes with a webbing belt to substitute for the hipbelt.)

The OutDry membrane makes the main compartment completely waterproof; no moisture got inside, despite being repeatedly dropped in wet snow. But because having a port for a hose would compromise its waterproofness, there’s no port or bladder sleeve inside. (I used water bottles and just drank when we stopped.) At 70 liters/4,270 cubic inches, it had adequate capacity for our four-day spring mountaineering trip, even for me to carry a bigger share of Nate’s and my gear and food. The spacious, zippered front pocket fits a jacket as well as gloves and snacks, and the lid pocket has a zippered internal pocket for valuables.

The extra-long, dual compression straps on each side wrap around to mate with one another, creating another option for radically shrinking the pack or attaching oversized gear like snowshoes. Ditto with the two shorter straps that secure the shafts of ice tools: Those buckles wrap over the top of the external crampon pocket to mate on the opposite side, helping cinch that pocket closed. Besides the tool attachments with sleeves to conceal sharp picks, there are side pockets for pickets and wands and loops for carrying skis. X-Ply Ripstop fabric in the crampon pocket and front panel—protecting the front pocket and main compartment—can withstand the sharpest crampon points, and the 400-denier HD nylon fabric in the body and 840-denier HT ballistic nylon bottom are also both bombproof.

The South Col 70 exhibits both the strengths and the tradeoffs that often accompany lighter packs: Most conspicuously, I think the hipbelt and the shoulder straps lack the support and padding for carrying loads over 40 pounds. When I had that much weight inside, the hipbelt—which doesn’t have any plastic reinforcements inside that you’ll find in heavier packs designed to carry more weight—tended to sag under the load, and I couldn’t find a comfortable position for it. With less than 40 pounds, it carried comfortably.

For many climbers, that’s a reasonable tradeoff for the versatility and very functional feature set of the Mountain Hardwear South Col 70 OutDry climbing pack.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking this link to purchase a Mountain Hardwear South Col 70 OutDry climbing pack at backcountry.com.

See my review of all the gear I used climbing Mount Whitney, all of my reviews of backpacks and backpacking gear, and all of my gear reviews at The Big Outside.

See also my stories:

“The Simple Equation of Ultralight Backpacking: Less Weight = More Fun”
“Buying Gear? Read This First”
“5 Tips For Spending Less on Hiking and Backpacking Gear”
“Ask Me: How Do We Begin Lightening Up Our Backpacking Gear?”

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See a menu of all of my gear reviews.

—Michael Lanza

Do you like The Big Outside? I’m Michael Lanza, the creator of The Big Outside, recognized as a top outdoors blog by a USA Today Readers Choice poll and others. Subscribe for updates about new stories and free gear giveaways by entering your email address in the box at the bottom of this story, at the top of the left sidebar, or on my About page, and follow my adventures on Facebook and Twitter.

This blog and website is my full-time job and I rely on the support of readers. If you like what you see here, please help me continue producing The Big Outside by making a donation using the Support button at the top of the left sidebar or below. Thank you for your support.

The Big Outside is proud to partner with these sponsors. Please help support my blog by liking and following my sponsors on Facebook and other social media and telling them you appreciate their support for The Big Outside.

 

 

 

 

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-mountain-hardwear-south-col-70-outdry-climbing-pack/feed/ 0 19726 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-rei-traverse-70-backpack/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-rei-traverse-70-backpack/#comments Wed, 11 May 2016 10:00:27 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=18904 Read on

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Backpack
REI Traverse 70
$239, 4 lbs. 13 oz. (men’s medium, including rain cover)
Sizes: men’s S (66L/4,028 c.i., fits torsos 17-19 ins.), M (70L/4,272 c.i., fits torsos 18-20 ins.), L (74L/4,516 c.i., fits torsos 19-21 ins.)
rei.com

Much as I really prefer carrying a light backpack, I have many times hoisted a pack weighing 50 pounds or more, because sometimes that’s the price of a worthy adventure. With no water available along the route of my family’s late-March, overnight backpacking trip into the canyon of Utah’s Dirty Devil River—except the heavily silted river, which would strangle any filter—we had to carry all we’d need for two days. And guess who’s the family porter? As I loaded 15 liters of agua into the Traverse 70, I did some quick math: the liquid weight alone reached just about 32 pounds. With gear, food, and clothes, my pack tipped the scales at nearly 50 pounds. That’s a pretty good test for a pack that weighs under five pounds empty.

After I’d been hiking with the pack for a while, including descending a trail of steep scree, sand, and slickrock, and traversing a broad bench of undulating slickrock, I realized that the only thing on my mind was the panorama of sandstone domes and cliffs above the meandering Dirty Devil—I wasn’t thinking about my pack. And that’s what a backpack should do: Carry comfortably enough to let you focus on the scenery.

On my return hike uphill, without most of that water and food, the pack weighed under 30 pounds—roughly the same as when I carried it on a four-day family ski trip in February to a backcountry yurt in Idaho’s Boise Mountains. But given the Traverse 70’s empty weight of under five pounds—and well-designed compression, with angled side straps that pull smaller loads toward the middle of your back, where you want most of a pack’s weight—it transforms smoothly into a mid-size pack.

The Traverse 70’s comfort begins with a harness capable of supporting 40 or more pounds. It comes in the three sizes, and the harness has three inches of adjustability, with overlap between sizes, fitting torsos ranging from 17 to 21 inches. Most men will get a good fit. Plus, REI offers an interchangeable hipbelt and shoulder straps to dial in the fit, an option offered only by a handful of high-end pack manufacturers. The aluminum peripheral hoop frame, with one crossing stay, has virtually no flex to it, which helps stabilize heavier loads: To my relief, the Traverse 70 hardly shifted, even with all of that water sloshing around inside.

The thickly padded, contoured hipbelt, with plastic reinforcements inside, did not fold or buckle under a heavy load; and its perforated mesh (also used in the padded shoulder straps) enhances breathability. The hipbelt pivots slightly (although not as much as other packs I’ve used), which helps minimize a pack’s natural tendency to rock side to side as you hike. The suspended mesh back panel lets air circulate across my back.

The top-loading Traverse 70 has the higher degree of organization that many of us expect in a big pack, with a large mouth; a big, two-way, J-shaped front zipper for gaining quick access to the main compartment; stretchy side pockets big enough for a liter bottle; twin, deep zippered front pockets for snacks, water filter, and such; a large, front stuff-it pocket for a wet rainfly or jacket; and two zippered hipbelt pockets big enough for snacks, a map, or a small camera.

The removable lid pocket converts to a small daypack using one strap with two clips that secures it around your torso—a vast improvement over traditional lids that convert to a not-very-comfortable fanny pack. The Traverse 70 comes with a rain cover. Lastly, the ripstop nylon fabric looks fairly durable; but be careful about not tearing the delicate stretch fabric in the side pockets.

For backpackers who typically carry 30 to 45 pounds, the Traverse 70 is a good value in a midweight pack. The women’s Traverse 65 ($239) comes in three sizes, XS to M.

See all of my reviews of backpacks and backpacking gear, including my review of models very similar in capacity and weight, the Osprey men’s Atmos AG 65 and women’s Aura AG 65.

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See a menu of all of my Gear Reviews.

—Michael Lanza

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking this link to purchase an REI Traverse 70 or women’s Traverse 65 at rei.com.

See also my stories:

“The Simple Equation of Ultralight Backpacking: Less Weight = More Fun”
“Buying Gear? Read This First”
“5 Tips For Spending Less on Hiking and Backpacking Gear”
“5 Tip For Buying the Right Backpack”
“Ask Me: How Do We Begin Lightening Up Our Backpacking Gear?”

Do you like The Big Outside? I’m Michael Lanza, the creator of The Big Outside, recognized as a top outdoors blog by a USA Today Readers Choice poll and others. Subscribe for updates about new stories and free gear giveaways by entering your email address in the box at the bottom of this story, at the top of the left sidebar, or on my About page, and follow my adventures on Facebook and Twitter.

The Big Outside is proud to partner with these sponsors. Please help support my blog by liking and following my sponsors on Facebook and other social media and telling them you appreciate their support for The Big Outside.

 

 

This blog and website is my full-time job and I rely on the support of readers. If you like what you see here, please help me continue producing The Big Outside by making a donation using the Support button at the top of the left sidebar or below. Thank you for your support.

 

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-rei-traverse-70-backpack/feed/ 2 18904 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/buying-gear-read-this-first/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/buying-gear-read-this-first/#comments Sun, 01 May 2016 10:00:46 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=12289 Read on

]]> By Michael Lanza

Are you in the market for a new pack or boots for hiking or backpacking, or a new tent or sleeping bag? How do you find something that’s just right for you? What should you be looking for? How much should you spend? These are questions I’ve heard from many friends and readers over the years as they’ve waded through the myriad choices that are out there. Here are my five top tips for buying gear that’s right for you, gleaned from lessons I’ve learned from two decades of testing and reviewing gear and helping people find gear they love.

No matter what you’re shopping for—boots, pack, tent, bag, other gear or some major piece of apparel like a jacket—consumers grapple with largely the same, general questions that I wrote above. They’re trying to narrow the daunting array of choices out there, but they’re not quite sure how to do that.

I’ve listed below five steps to follow in the decision-making process for buying gear. At the bottom, I’ve provided links to my stories offering specific tips on buying a new pack, boots, tent, and bag.

 

No. 1 Decide What It’s For

A friend asked me once to recommend boots he could buy for backpacking that would also work well for climbing glaciated peaks (in the Pacific Northwest); I told him that was a little like shopping for a dump truck that would also give him good mileage as a commuting vehicle. If you set out in search of a pack or boots for every dayhike or backpacking trip you ever take, then you may wind up with just that—which may serve your needs in a general way, but not be quite right for anything. Focus on how you intend to use that item most of the time, and buy something that’s good for that purpose.

 

 

 

No. 2 Decide What You Need

Do you need solid ankle support, or do you prefer really lightweight, nimble footwear? Are you a big guy who needs a roomy tent, or a parent backpacking with a young child with a top priority of minimizing gear weight? Do you want the lightest bag you can afford, or do you get cold easily and need a bag that’s a little fatter and warmer than the average person uses?

The reason for the almost infinite number of choices in gear is the infinite variability in the wants and needs of consumers. That can seem confusing but it’s ultimately good for you. Your first step in the buying may simply be writing down your customized answers to numbers one and two in this list of tips and using that as a guide as you begin winnowing your short list.

 

 

No. 3 Get the Fit Right

Especially with footwear, packs, and performance apparel, fit and personal satisfaction go together like chips and salsa. You can be happy with boots or a pack that are not quite what you wanted, but are what you could afford; but you’ll never be happy with the top-of-the-line, expensive boots or pack that don’t fit you well. A poorly fitting pack can make you miserable, while poorly fitting boots can end a trip. With those gear items for which fit becomes critical, boots and packs, narrow your list to at least three options, and perhaps up to six or seven, based on steps one and two (above). Then go try them on and you will find the model you like.

 

 

No. 4 Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute

The best way to spend more than you want or need to spend, and be forced to settle for something that’s not quite what you wanted, is to wait until the last day or two before a trip and rush out to buy something.

You wouldn’t buy a car or a house that way, because you want to take the time to find something that feels just right for you. Treat buying boots, a pack, tent, bag, or other major gear or outdoor-apparel item the same way—those aren’t like batteries or stove fuel that you dash out to pick up at the last minute. Plus, shopping around weeks or even months in advance gives you time to wait for sale prices.

 

Do you like The Big Outside? I’m Michael Lanza, the creator of The Big Outside, recognized as a top outdoors blog by a USA Today Readers Choice poll and others. Subscribe for updates about new stories and free gear giveaways by entering your email address in the box at the bottom of this story, at the top of the left sidebar, or on my About page, and follow my adventures on Facebook and Twitter.

No. 5 Spend What You Can Afford

This last nugget of advice goes both ways: If you can only afford an entry-level pack or other piece of gear, look for the best-quality item that’s within your budget and get it. (Tip: Pick a brand name known for high quality, because they will usually bring the same dedication to quality to their affordable gear as they do to their pricier gear.) Maybe it won’t be as comfortable or last as long as the high-end gear you coveted, but it will enable you to get out there and have fun and may last you until you can afford something better. (See my “5 Tips For Spending Less on Hiking and Backpacking Gear.”)

By the same token, I always tell friends or readers seeking advice: If you can afford the best, why settle for something that will be less comfortable, or heavier, or not fit or perform as well as pricier pieces of gear or apparel that are within your budget? Measure the value in terms of your enjoyment and comfort as well as the cost per mile or day of use, because higher-quality gear, while pricier, often proves much more durable than cheaper stuff. It’s money well spent.

 

 

See a categorized menu of all of my reviews of hiking gear, backpacking gear, daypacks, backpacks, hiking shoes, backpacking boots, backpacking tents, sleeping bags, and kids’ outdoor gear and these stories at The Big Outside:

“5 Tips For Buying the Right Backpack”

“Pro Tips For Buying the Right Boots”

“5 Tips For How to Buy a Backpacking Tent”

“Pro Tips: How to Choose a Sleeping Bag”

See also my stories “The Simple Equation of Ultralight Backpacking: Less Weight = More Fun,” “5 Tips For Spending Less on Hiking and Backpacking Gear,” “Why and When to Spend More on Outdoor Gear” and “Ask Me: How Do We Begin Lightening Up Our Backpacking Gear?”

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See categorized menus of all of my gear reviews.

This blog and website is my full-time job and I rely on the support of readers. If you like what you see here, please help me continue producing The Big Outside by making a donation using the Support button at the top of the left sidebar or below. Thank you for your support.

 

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/buying-gear-read-this-first/feed/ 4 12289 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-osprey-ace-kids-backpacks/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-osprey-ace-kids-backpacks/#comments Wed, 27 Apr 2016 10:00:57 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=12057 Read on

]]> Kids Backpack
Osprey Ace 38
$160, 38L/2,319 c.i., 2 lbs. 4 oz. (my scale, not including the 3-oz. rain cover that comes with the pack)
One size, adjustable, fits torsos 28-38cm/11-15 ins., for ages 6 to 11 (approx.)
Osprey Ace 50
$190, 50L/3,051 c.i., 3 lbs. (my scale, not including the 3-oz. rain cover)
One size, adjustable, fits torsos 33-46cm/13-18 ins., for ages 8 to 14 (approx.)
Osprey Ace 75
$180, 75L/4,577 c.i., 3 lbs. 9 oz. (weight stated by Osprey)
One size, adjustable, fits torsos 35.5-48cm/14-19 ins., for ages 11 to 18 (approx.)
backcountry.com

If backpacking is sometimes hard on an adult, it presents a particular set of challenges to a kid who weighs 100 pounds or less. One rule I followed when my kids were young was to not ask them to carry a backpack; instead, I waited for them to say they wanted to carry their own pack. (See my popular “10 Tips For Raising Outdoors-Loving Kids.”) And then, I made sure my kids had good-quality gear, to help ensure they’d want to go backpacking again. My kids (now 15 and 13) have carried Osprey Ace backpacks on trips from Southwest canyons to Idaho’s Sawtooth and White Cloud mountains to Canada’s Kootenay National Park. Built for a huge range of children’s body sizes—from the youngest you’d want to put a pack on to bigger teenagers—the Ace packs have made it a little easier to turn your child into a backpacker.

My daughter first carried the Ace 38, weighing up to 18 pounds, on a five-day, 38-mile, family backpacking trip down Paria Canyon in Utah and Arizona, a trip that began three days after her 12th birthday. I easily adjusted the pack’s harness to fit her 14-inch torso well then, and have with each subsequent trip as she’s grown taller. My son has used the Ace 50 on several trips, hauling up to about 25 pounds, which is more than he ever had before and more than 25 percent of his body weight—equivalent to a 150-pound adult carrying about 40 pounds. He told me: “I like this pack a lot. I can carry more and it’s really comfortable.”

The peripheral-wire frame with a plastic framesheet found on all of the Ace packs shifts much of the pack’s weight to the hips. The Ace packs use the same perforated, mesh-covered foam in the shoulder straps and ridged foam in the back and lumbar pads. But the Ace 50 and 75 add Osprey’s Fit-on-the-Fly adjustability in the hipbelt—same as found in the men’s Atmos AG and women’s Aura AG packs—not only extends the fit range for waists by five inches, but adds a little rigidity and support to the hipbelt. I would say the Ace 38 is designed for carrying 15 to 20 pounds comfortably, and the Ace 50 and 75 more like 20 to 30 pounds (always depending on the child).

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Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Join The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here for my e-guides to classic backpacking trips. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip.

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The top-loading Ace packs have a basic, functional feature set that avoids piling on unnecessary bells and whistles that add weight and cost. All three have a large, stretch-mesh front pocket, ideal for a kid to stuff a jacket inside, and stretch-mesh side pockets that each fit a bottle (although each pack has a bladder sleeve and port). The lid pocket has space for a headlamp, hat, gloves, and other small items, and there’s a zippered, mesh pocket on the lid’s underside. All three packs come with an integrated rain cover, a zipper accessing the sleeping-bag compartment (whose panel can be detached to make one main compartment), and external sleeping-pad straps that easily held my daughter’s foam pad. The Ace 50 and 75 have a few features lacking in the Ace 38: zippered hipbelt pockets roomy enough for two to three energy bars in each; a removable, floating lid pocket (the Ace 38 lid pocket is fixed); and an adjustable ice tool/fishing rod loop.

These packs have not only wide adjustability to accommodate a growing child, but also side compression to shrink the pack when you’re under-filling it for a smaller kid. For my daughter, who weighed only 80 pounds and stood just shy of five feet when she first got this pack, the Ace 38 was a good choice. For my son, who at 14 was five feet tall and 90 pounds, with a 15-inch torso, the Ace 50 has worked well.

In deciding the pack capacity for your son or daughter, consider both their body size and abilities now and where they’ll be in a year or two. Start a kid who’s new to backpacking carrying around 15 percent of body weight on their back (10 to 12 pounds for a 70-pound kid, or their own sleeping bag, pad, maybe clothes, and a liter of water); and if that goes well, try bumping up to 20 percent of body weight. Experienced, stronger kids—certainly many teenagers who have hit their growth spurt and begun building muscle—may take on as much as 25 percent of body weight without complaint.

Click here for my e-guides to the best beginner-friendly backpacking trips in Yosemite and Grand Teton.

While the Ace 38 lacks a few nice features found in the 50 and 75—and I’d like to have seen the hipbelt pockets in the Ace 38—that simpler design also helps keep the price of the line’s smallest pack lower. With the Ace 38 and Ace 50, parents have good choices for a young boy or girl who’s ready for a first backpack, while the Ace 75 is made for bigger teens who are capable of pulling their own weight.

I’ve found it hard to find packs that fit small, skinny, grade-school-age kids who are ready to carry a sleeping bad, pad, and their own clothes and water. The Ace 38 is a pack for those kids. Built with a level of quality that compares with better, entry-level adult packs, the Ace packs tackle the challenge of fitting a wide range of kids’ body sizes comfortably, and giving parents a broad range of pack capacities to choose from for their kids.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking either of these affiliate links to buy any of the Osprey Ace backpacks at backcountry.com or moosejaw.com.

See all reviews of backpacking gear plus my “5 Tips For Finding the Right Backpack” and “The 10 Best Backpacking Packs.“

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See categorized menus of all of my reviews at my Gear Reviews page.

Was this review helpful? Get full access to ALL stories at The Big Outside. Join now and a get free e-guide!

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-osprey-ace-kids-backpacks/feed/ 11 12057 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/looking-for-reviews-of-the-best-gear-look-here/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/looking-for-reviews-of-the-best-gear-look-here/#respond Sat, 21 Nov 2015 11:00:24 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=14566 Read on

]]> By Michael Lanza

I take a bit of a different approach to testing and reviewing outdoor gear at The Big Outside. I don’t try to blanket my readers with reviews of every new piece of gear hitting the market—I can’t do it, but frankly, a lot of it is average and not worth recommending. Instead, I find the best backpacks and daypacks, backcountry tents, shoes and boots, bags, outdoor apparel, and other gear that I actually want to use and would recommend to friends. Then I take it on my backcountry trips and see if it works in real situations. After two decades of testing and reviewing gear, including many years as a field editor and lead gear reviewer for Backpacker magazine, I think I have a pretty good eye for what outdoor gear and apparel performs well and delivers value and what’s not worth your money.

That’s what you’ll find at my Gear Reviews page—only reviews of products I would recommend to my closest friends.

If you’re looking for gear for hiking, backpacking, climbing, skiing, or another outdoor activity, that page organizes all of my reviews by category, so that you can quickly find what you’re looking for among the hundreds of reviews at The Big Outside.

Besides listing the various categories of outdoor gear and apparel reviews you can find at The Big Outside, such as backpack reviews and backpacking tent reviews, that page has links to several of my most helpful stories about gear, including my expert tips on buying gear, my favorite new gear of the year, and my popular ultralight backpacking tips.

Tell me what you think of that page by commenting in this story or at my About page.

My blog can help you find the right gear for your style of adventure. Good luck and have fun out there.

The Big Outside is proud to partner with these sponsors. Please help support my blog by liking and following my sponsors on Facebook and other social media and telling them you appreciate their support for The Big Outside.

 

 

 

Do you like my blog? I’m Michael Lanza, the creator of The Big Outside, and I appreciate connecting with my readers. I invite you to subscribe to this blog by entering your email address in the box at the top of the left sidebar or below, and follow my adventures on Facebook and Twitter.

This blog and website is my full-time job and I rely on the support of readers. If you like what you see here, please help me continue producing The Big Outside by making a donation using the Support button at the top of the left sidebar or below. Thank you for your support.

 

 

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/looking-for-reviews-of-the-best-gear-look-here/feed/ 0 14566 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-exped-thunder-50-backpack/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-exped-thunder-50-backpack/#respond Tue, 17 Nov 2015 11:00:21 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=16004 Read on

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Backpack
Exped Thunder 50
$249, 50L/3,051 c.i., 3 lbs. 4 oz.
One size, adjustable
Men’s torso range 17.5-22.5 ins./ 44.5-57cm
Women’s torso range 16.5-20 ins./ 42-51cm
moosejaw.com

The idea of downsizing your backpack and other gear is always enticing (and a smart goal; see my tips on that). But unless you have pockets deep enough to finance a quiver of packs, you probably need one that can handle whatever kind of trip you take, and you may be leery of buying one that’s too small or specialized or lacks convenient features. The Thunder 50 struck me at first glance as a pack that may offer exceptional versatility while hewing to a minimalist ethic that keeps weight low, so I took it out on a mostly off-trail backpacking trip with my son in Idaho’s White Cloud Mountains to test my theory.

In designing the Thunder 50, Exped appears to have set out to take a classic, no-frills, European-style rucksack and give it a few frills to improve comfort and functionality—particularly in its organization and access, the area where the Thunder 50 really distinguishes itself from competitors. With a huge, U-shaped, dual-zipper front panel opening into the main compartment, and six exterior pockets, the top-loading Thunder 50 is all about quick, easy access. The front panel has vertical zippers on each side, so you can enter either side of the pack independently; that panel secures with wide hook-and-loop strips at the top to prevent unwanted opening. The stretch front pocket can hold a wet jacket or rainfly, and the two stretch side pockets are large enough for a liter bottle, plus, the floating lid pocket and a top compression strap allow for some first-day-of-the-trip overstuffing. The two, stretch hipbelt pockets are much roomier than you’ll find on many backpacks.

 

The 50-liter pack bag, with a wide mouth, swallowed our tent, kitchen, and food; this pack has the capacity for a four- to five-day trip or thru-hiking, if you have lightweight, compact your gear. And rather than plastic clips, the two extendable, side compression straps have simple, metal hooks that attach either to designated loops or anywhere along a pair of long daisy chains on the pack’s front, creating myriad options for attaching gear to the outside.

I carried 35 pounds inside it, but the Thunder 50’s T-Rex frame is clearly built to haul 40 pounds or more comfortably (depending on the user’s comfort level). The suspension consists of a single, center stay made of 6061-T6 aluminum; a hipbelt made with dual-density foam that delivers a nice balance of cushion and rigidity for support; and no framesheet except for a small, plastic one built into the sliding unit anchoring the shoulder straps. The suspension system can be adjusted using a strap behind the lumbar pad to move the shoulder straps up or down along the exposed center stay. (Exped says the limiting factor on adjustability is head space for shorter torsos; always try on a backpack loaded with gear before buying, and see my “5 Tips For Buying the Right Backpack.”) The lumber pad provides good cushioning without being overbuilt. The curved stay settles much of the pack’s weight on your hips, but also lifts the middle of the pack off your back for air circulation.

The PU-coated, water-resistant, 210-denier Dyneema ripstop nylon fabric is lightweight but withstands a lot of abuse. That durable exterior, along with the options for attaching gear externally, including two ice axe loops, make it a legitimate climbing pack, too.

Although not the lightest model in this category of 50-liter sacks, the Thunder 50 is a lightweight, well-built, smart, all-around pack for backpackers who prioritize low weight and design efficiency, ideal for everyone from serious distance hikers to weekenders and climbers.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking this link to buy an Exped Thunder 50 at summithut.com.

See all of my reviews of backpacks and backpacking gear, including my review of a similar pack that’s nearly a pound lighter, the Osprey Exos 58.

The Big Outside is proud to partner with sponsor Osprey Packs, which supports my mission of inspiring families and others to get outdoors. Please help support my blog by liking and following my sponsors on Facebook and other social media and telling them you appreciate their support for The Big Outside.

See also my “5 Tips For Buying the Right Backpack” and my stories “My 10 Most-Read Gear Reviews,” “The Simple Equation of Ultralight Backpacking: Less Weight = More Fun,” “Buying Gear? Read This First,” “5 Tips For Spending Less on Hiking and Backpacking Gear,” and “Ask Me: How Do We Begin Lightening Up Our Backpacking Gear?”

NOTE: I’ve been testing gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See all of my reviews by clicking on the Gear Reviews category at left or in the main menu.

—Michael Lanza

I invite you to subscribe to this blog by entering your email address in the box at the top of the left sidebar or on my About page, and follow my adventures on Facebook and Twitter.

This blog and website is my full-time job and I rely on the support of readers. If you like what you see here, please help me continue producing The Big Outside by making a donation using the Support button at the top of the left sidebar or below. Thank you for your support.

 

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-exped-thunder-50-backpack/feed/ 0 16004 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-gregory-stout-45-and-amber-44-backpacks/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-gregory-stout-45-and-amber-44-backpacks/#comments Fri, 29 May 2015 11:00:07 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=12758 Read on

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Backpack
Gregory Stout 45 and Amber 44
$169, 3 lbs. 9 oz. (medium)

Men’s Stout 45 sizes:
M 45L/2,746 c.i., fits torsos 46-51cm/18-20 ins.
L 48L/2,929 c.i., fits torsos 51-56cm/20-22 ins.
backcountry.com

Women’s Amber 44 sizes:
S 44L/2,685 c.i., fits torsos 41-46cm/16-18 ins.
M 46L/2,807 c.i., fits torsos 46-51cm/18-20 ins.
backcountry.com

A weekend backpack that costs just $169—and is made by Gregory? How could I not put it to the test? Backpacking the Grand Canyon’s remote and very rugged, 34-mile Royal Arch Route—considered the hardest established, multi-day route on the canyon’s South Rim—we hiked many miles off-trail, scrambled over and around boulders and up and down sketchy, exposed ledges, made one big descent and a monster uphill slog in brutal desert heat, carried up to seven liters of water each, and even lowered our packs over a 20-foot cliff (that we had to rappel). Through all of that, I have to say, the Stout 45 carried comfortably and stably and tolerated a lot of abuse with no damage.

I packed up to 35 pounds—the amount Gregory claims the pack is designed to carry—in the Stout 45 when I started the Royal Arch Loop with seven liters of water, camping and rappelling gear, and three days’ of food. With all that stuff inside, I filled it, but the Stout 45 has the capacity for a three- to four-day trip, if you pack smartly. That load carried comfortably descending the knee-pounding upper South Bass Trail in the Grand Canyon, and descending off-trail through the gorge leading to Royal Arch, where we encountered quite a bit of strenuous scrambling as well as delicate traversing and descending of slabs and one 20-foot cliff. Through all of that, the pack never shifted on me.

Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside, which has made several top outdoors blog lists. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter, or enter your email address in the box in the left sidebar or at the bottom of this story. Click here to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Follow my adventures on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube.

Characteristic of Gregory, the foundation of the harness support resides in an ample lumbar pad and a hipbelt with good rigidity; the TrailFit hipbelt is also adjustable, giving you six inches/15cm of play for a wide range of waist sizes. (While I applaud that, I also think Gregory generally makes its hipbelts too long: With a 30-inch waist, I have about 12 inches of slack belt dangling from each side, and I doubt there are many men purchasing the medium pack who have a 54-inch waist.) A steel alloy, perimeter frame transfers much of the pack weight to the hips. Wicking mesh in the back panel and a curved shape that allows some air flow behind my back helped keep me a bit cooler. The fixed, non-adjustable harness comes in two sizes, not the usual three sizes of other Gregory models, but I achieved a good fit for my 18-inch torso in the medium Stout. The Amber harness is designed for female torsos.

The top-loading Stout and Amber have a removable lid with two zippered pockets that provide plenty of space for smaller items. An integrated rain cover stores inside a zippered pocket within the front stuff-pocket, which is large enough for a wet rainfly. Two oversized, zippered hipbelt pockets each hold a few bars or an electronic device. While the two smaller-capacity Stout and Amber models have zippered access to the sleeping-bag compartment at the pack’s bottom, the larger versions have a bigger, U-shaped zipper accessing the main compartment. The larger versions also come with the removable Sidekick hydration bladder that doubles as a minimalist summit pack—a nice feature found in Gregory’s more-expensive backpacks. Tough pack fabric shows no signs of use after a few hard days of being tossed on coarse Grand Canyon rock.

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Click here now to learn more.

No, Gregory is certainly not abandoning its business of selling high-end backpacks: The men’s Stout 45, 35 ($149), 65 ($199), and 75 ($219), and women’s Amber 44, 34 ($149), 60 ($199), and 70 ($219) packs do not come in the sizing options and with the same array of backpacking-friendly features found in top-of-the-line models like the Baltoro and Deva—and they are not going to carry heavier loads with the same degree of comfort as the Baltoro and Deva.

But besides setting you back a little less, the Stout/Amber packs are also a couple pounds lighter than the Baltoro/Deva models of comparable volume. So if you’re looking for a pack for carrying moderate loads, with Gregory quality at REI prices, the men’s Stout and women’s Amber are worth a look.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking any of these links to buy a men’s Gregory Stout pack at backcountry.com or moosejaw.com, or a women’s Gregory Amber pack at backcountry.com or moosejaw.com.

Tell me what you think.

I spent a lot of time writing this story, so if you enjoyed it, please consider giving it a share using one of the buttons below, and leave a comment or question at the bottom of this story. I’d really appreciate it.

See also my stories “5 Tips For Buying the Right Backpack,” “The Simple Equation of Ultralight Backpacking: Less Weight = More Fun” “Buying Gear? Read This First,” and all of my reviews of backpacks and my reviews of backpacking gear that I like.

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See categorized menus of all of my gear reviews at The Big Outside.

—Michael Lanza

You live for the outdoors. The Big Outside helps you get out there. Subscribe now and a get free e-guide!

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-gregory-stout-45-and-amber-44-backpacks/feed/ 3 12758 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/ask-me-what-pack-do-you-recommend-for-hut-treks/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/ask-me-what-pack-do-you-recommend-for-hut-treks/#respond Tue, 26 May 2015 11:00:49 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=12690 Read on

]]> Hi Michael,

Hope all is well. I’m looking for your opinion on a 30-liter pack. I am going to Nepal in October on a 15-day trek. I think this would be the perfect size for me, because also I like a little bigger daypack for my hikes in the White Mountains. I have an older Gregory Z30, and I just tried on the new one and like the new details, plus I sweat really badly on hikes. As always thank you in advance, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Mike
Everett, MA

Hi Mike,

Nice to hear from you again. Congrats on heading to Nepal. I trekked the Annapurna Circuit almost 20 years ago (the lead photo at the top of this story was taken outside a teahouse high up the Marsyangdi Valley on the Annapurna Circuit). Are you still planning to go, despite the earthquake devastation? It’s possible that, by October, you won’t have trouble traveling there. I just wonder how long it will take to rebuild roads and transportation systems, which are primitive.

When I’ve picked a pack for an overseas hut trek in places like the Swiss Alps, Norway, Italy’s Dolomites, or New Zealand, I often think about the travel logistics before and after the trek, which entail some of the same questions you’ll consider when traveling to Nepal. Big question: Is there a place in the country you’re visiting where you can safely leave some luggage and personal belongings for days while you’re on the trek? If not—and it’s not always convenient to do so—I like to travel as light as possible, so that I can carry everything I brought to that country everywhere I go, and still keep my pack reasonably light on my trek. That means minimizing everything from your clothing to toiletries and reading material, but it’s certainly possible. (I’ve done it several times.)

If your pack is compact enough to carry onto your flights rather than checking luggage, that’s all the more convenient. If not, it’s helpful to also have a tough, lightweight, flexible duffle bag that you can put your pack and everything else inside while flying, then crumple it up small and bury it inside your backpack while trekking. (I’ve used the Mountain Hardwear Lightweight Expedition Duffel, which stuffs into its own pocket.)

I also want my trekking pack to be fairly light and compressible, but have some pockets that allows me to compartmentalize and organize my stuff and access some items quickly.

 

A 30-liter pack will be adequate if you’re only carrying a liner sleeping bag or travel sheets. But if you’re bringing a sleeping bag—as you probably are for trekking in Nepal—you might want to consider a somewhat bigger pack that’s still lightweight, which can also pull double duty as a large daypack or a weekend backpack.

The ultralight REI Flash 45 is good for carrying up to 20-25 pounds, and may be all you need, plus it’s light enough to double as a daypack or hut pack. Look at the Osprey Exos 38 or Exos 48 (I reviewed the Exos 58), or the new Gregory Stout 45, which I tested recently in the Grand Canyon and will review soon. The North Face Banchee 35 is a nice pack (I reviewed the Banchee 65). Osprey also has the Kestrel 32 and 38 and the Stratos 34 and 36. I’ve reviewed the Sea to Summit Flow 35L Dry Pack, which is waterproof and super durable, although it has little in the way of external features for convenient access to items.

You may also want to check out my story “Buying Gear? Read This First,” and my “5 Tips For Finding the Right Backpack.”

Michael

 

Michael,

I should have said that I have a small The North Face Expedition Duffel, and I will only be carrying a daypack with what I need for the day, a porter will carry my duffel.

Thanks!
Mike

Mike,

Ah, you’re taking the luxury route! Smart man. If you only need a large daypack, see all of my daypack reviews, and specifically the Osprey Manta 28 or Manta 36, the L.L. Bean Day Trekker 25 with Boa, and the Gregory Miwok 24.

Good luck.

Michael

In Ask Me, I share my response to a reader question. Got a question about hiking, backpacking, gear, or any topic or trip I write about at The Big Outside? Send it to me at mlanza@thebigoutside.com, message me at facebook.com/TheBigOutside, or tweet it to @MichaelALanza. I will answer the ones I can in a post, using only your first name and city, with your permission. I receive a high volume of questions, so I cannot always respond quickly.

NOTE: I’ve been testing gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See all of my reviews by clicking on the Gear Reviews category at left or in the main menu.

—Michael Lanza

I invite you to subscribe to this blog by entering your email address in the box at the top of the left sidebar, and follow my adventures on Facebook and Twitter.

The Big Outside is proud to partner with these sponsors. Please help support my blog by liking and following my sponsors on Facebook and other social media and telling them you appreciate their support for The Big Outside.

 

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/ask-me-what-pack-do-you-recommend-for-hut-treks/feed/ 0 12690 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-sea-to-summit-flow-35l-dry-pack/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-sea-to-summit-flow-35l-dry-pack/#comments Fri, 16 Jan 2015 12:00:46 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=10911 Read on

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Waterproof Backpack
Sea to Summit Flow 35L Dry Pack
$200, 35L/2,136 c.i., 2 lbs. 4 oz.
One size
seatosummit.com

We reached the first, deep pool of water that we had to swim across in the narrow canyon called The Subway, in the backcountry of Utah’s Zion National Park. I tucked my expensive camera gear inside my new Sea to Summit Flow 35L Dry Pack, with my food and extra clothing—and hoped this pack would prove true to the company’s claim of being infallibly watertight. (I did put my camera gear inside another dry bag first, of course.) Then I dropped into the frigid pool—wearing a dry suit—and kicked across it, floating the Flow. And yes, it did keep its contents completely dry—thankfully. But more than just a glorified dry bag with shoulder straps, it proved itself to be a solid and comfortable pack for hiking all day, too.

I carried the Flow 35L with 15 to 20 pounds inside—including, at times, a full dry suit in a stuff sack—on a one-day hike and descent of the Subway in Zion, which took us just under seven hours car to car and involved three swims across pools, a lot of walking in water, and about six miles of hiking the trail above and below the Subway. The perforated foam shoulder straps and hipbelt were comfortable with that much weight, and drain water and ventilate well, and the hipbelt is removable to shed a few ounces of weight.

A top-loader with a roll-top closure for the main compartment, the Flow 35L is made with TPU-laminated, 420-denier nylon and is fully seam sealed. Water never penetrated the pack’s main compartment when I floated it across deep pools. You have to nearly fill the pack to create enough tension on the roll-top closure to ensure a watertight seal, but side compression straps help make a slightly undersize load watertight.

This pack is bulletproof—I slammed it into canyon walls and dropped it repeatedly onto rough sandstone, and it’s no worse for the wear. But the stretch mesh side pockets, big enough for a liter bottle, are its only vulnerable part. The upper compression strap on each side has two positions of attachment, to accommodate attaching objects of different sizes; I fit a fairly large tripod under the straps.

I didn’t quite fill the Flow 35L for the Subway, but 35 liters is a good size for technical canyon descents of a full day or even two days if you pack light, when you may be carrying a longer rope and more gear than we needed for the Subway. A white interior makes it easier to see contents. I like the big, top handle for lifting and lowering the pack through tight spaces even while wearing neoprene gloves.

Organization is basic, as expected in a dry pack (to minimize potential points of leakage). There’s a zippered, internal, stretch pocket for small items like keys and phone. A two-liter front pocket has a waterproof zipper with a rain hood; it keeps out rain and water if briefly immersed, but is not completely waterproof in a sustained immersion. There’s also an externally accessed, zippered pocket for a water bladder, so you can refill it without having to open the main compartment and potentially exposing its contents to water.

For canyon hikes when you’re in water, river trips when you want a dry pack that offers real support for 15+ pounds for side hikes, or any hikes in consistently wet environments, the Flow 35L Dry Pack is a durable choice.

BUY IT NOW

You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase this at seatosummit.com, or the similar Sea to Summit Hydraulic 35-120L Dry Pack at backcountry.com or seatosummit.com, or any of Sea to Summit’s dry packs at seatosummit.com.

NOTE: I’ve been testing gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See all of my reviews by clicking on the Gear Reviews category at left or in the main menu.

—Michael Lanza

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-sea-to-summit-flow-35l-dry-pack/feed/ 11 10911 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-kelty-pk-50-backpack/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-kelty-pk-50-backpack/#comments Tue, 25 Nov 2014 15:41:10 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=10205 Read on

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Backpack
Kelty PK 50
$200, 50L/3,050 c.i., 3 lbs. 8 oz. (S/M)
Sizes: men’s S/M (fits torsos 14.5-18.5 ins.) and M/L (fits torsos 17.5-21 ins.), women’s S/M (fits torsos 14.5-18.5 ins.)
kelty.com

A cursory glance at the PK 50 tells you this may be the most unusual backpack you’ve ever seen, with its zipper-less design that’s laser-focused on how the user accesses its contents. It’s certainly one of the most unique packs I’ve ever tested and reviewed, so I felt intrigued enough to take it out on a three-day, 41-mile backpacking trip on the Timberline Trail around Oregon’s Mount Hood—to see whether hyper organization would persuade me to recommend a backpack.

Here’s how the PK 50 works: A 15-liter front pocket unclips from the main pack, revealing two inner compartments: a larger one that fits all of your clothing, and a smaller one that functions like a lid pocket on most backpacks, holding smaller items like sunglasses, headlamp, etc. That 15-liter pocket detaches via three buckles, allowing you to quickly toss clothing and other essentials inside your tent—which is appreciated in bad weather and convenient anytime—or leave it behind to convert the PK 50 to a 35-liter pack that’s six ounces lighter, or just a hair over three pounds.

Underneath that front pocket is a top-loading, main compartment for gear, with a spacious, mesh pocket large enough for a tent on its outside, and separate access to its bottom—so you can pull out a tent and sleeping bag first. There’s a bladder sleeve inside the main compartment. The design places heavier gear close to your body and lighter stuff (clothing) farther away, so that you don’t have to think about that when loading the pack.

All of the four primary compartments have a roll-top closure that secures with one or two buckles—no zippers to break. Finally, the exterior features two compression wings that secure with a pair of straps and buckles, functioning to stabilize the load and letting you attach a foam pad aligned vertically or secure an ice axe (there’s an axe loop). Each compression wing has a deep pocket spacious enough to fit a jacket and or tuck trekking poles inside (they protrude a few inches from the top). An integrated rain cover is built into a bottom pocket.

The pack definitely earns and A for organization and having the versatility to convert to an ultralight, weekend pack or handle a five-day trip. And it carried comfortably with 25-plus pounds inside, hugging my upper back and shifting much of the weight to my hips. I believe would be fine with up to 30 pounds, because of the plastic framesheet with one aluminum center stay connected to the hipbelt, and the soft, padded hipbelt, back pads, and shoulder straps of perforated foam. A concave bend to the stay creates airflow across the middle of your back. The fixed suspension on the S/M fit my 18-inch torso well, but I suspect it would run a little big on someone at the lower end of the fit range that Kelty claims, of 14.5-18.5 ins.

My major complaint about the PK 50 is that, while its smart organization is convenient in many ways, I have to unclip two buckles and flip back the 15-liter front pocket to grab sunglasses or a headlamp; or unclip two buckles to get a jacket from one of the compression wing pockets. Besides the two stretch-mesh side pockets (good for a water bottle and gloves/hat) and the two stretch-mesh hipbelt pockets (good for snacks/map), there’s no quick access such as you get with an external front or lid pocket or a side zipper to the main compartment (none of which the PK 50 has). But backpackers who want their pack to offer deluxe organization, the PK 50 fits the bill.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking this link to purchase a Kelty PK 50 at backcountry.com.

See my reviews of all backpacks I like, including the Osprey Exos 58, Black Diamond Element 60 and Elixir 60, and The North Face Banchee 65, and my gift guide to my 25 top picks in this year’s outdoor gear and apparel.

NOTE: I’ve been testing gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See all of my reviews by clicking on the Gear Reviews category at left or in the main menu.

—Michael Lanza

 

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-kelty-pk-50-backpack/feed/ 3 10205 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-osprey-exos-58-backpack/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-osprey-exos-58-backpack/#comments Thu, 18 Sep 2014 12:10:19 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=9217 Read on

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NOTE: Click here to read my review of the 2018 version of the Osprey Exos 58 and Osprey Eja 58 backpacks.

Ultralight Backpack
Osprey Exos 58
$220, 55L/3,356 c.i., 2 lbs. 8 oz. (small, fits torsos 16-19 ins.)
Sizes: unisex S-L (M 58L/3,539 c.i., fits torsos 18-21 ins., L 61L/3,722 c.i., fits torsos 21-23 ins.)
moosejaw.com

When Osprey introduced the Exos pack series in 2008, it immediately became a leader—and helped redefine how we think about backpacking. It showed us that a backpack weighing under three pounds can serve the needs of everyone from weekenders to longer-distance backpackers and thru-hikers, and it gave ultralighters an option to the minimalist rucksacks that fill that category (which are “minimalist” both in weight and comfort). As a fan of the original Exos packs, I took the new Exos 58 out on recent four-day, 86-mile backpacking trip in northern Yosemite National Park, and a seven-day, hut-to-hut trek on the Alta Via 2 through Italy’s Dolomites in July, and concluded that Osprey has taken something that was very good and made it lighter and better.

The secret sauce in the top-loading Exos—the reason it carries 25 to 30 pounds comfortably while itself tipping the scales at a pound or two less than many competitors—is the perimeter frame made of 6065 aluminum with a stabilizing cross strut. (Picture a somewhat squared-off figure eight.) The frame has only the slightest flex to it along both its vertical and horizontal axes—compared to, say, a plastic framesheet found in many packs that will flex much more—and the frame’s curved shape transfers much of the pack weight onto your hips, where you want it.

The trampoline-style back pad keeps the packbag off your back, making you feel much cooler. In Yosemite, I had a maximum of 25 pounds in the pack. And although we weren’t carrying backpacking gear on our Dolomites hut trek, I carried some of my kids’ clothing and personal gear (so they could hike with light daypacks on the rugged Alta Via 2); between that and my extra clothing and personal items for the two weeks we spent in Italy, I was hauling up to 25 pounds quite comfortably. The hipbelt and shoulder straps, made of highly breathable perforated foam, feel light and cool and disperse weight to prevent soreness. But the hipbelt lacks any rigid structure to it, so you don’t want to overload this pack. The suspension is fixed, not adjustable. The small size, for torsos 16 to 19 inches long, fit my 18-inch torso well, but may feel a little big on someone with a 16-inch torso, especially a small woman.

 

Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside, which has made several top outdoors blog lists. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter, or enter your email address in the box in the left sidebar or at the bottom of this story. Click here to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Follow my adventures on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube.

 

The design is utilitarian, with smart details. The removable lid pocket has beaucoup space for a pack in this category, plus a spacious, zippered valuables pocket on its bottom side. If you don’t need it, you can shave several ounces by leaving the lid at home, and the Exos has a built-in nylon flap that clips into place as a lid. As a photographer who frequently wants to get my hands free quickly, I like the convenience of the trekking poles attachment on the left shoulder strap—which was also handy when I scrambled slabs and crossed “aided” sections of the Alta Via 2, where you grab a fixed steel cable while traversing a narrow ledge. It also has smartphone-sized, stretch-mesh pockets on each shoulder strap, and standard features like tie-off points for attaching gear and attachments for carrying a single ice axe.

The stretchy front pocket can hold a couple of wet rain jackets, and two hipbelt pockets are big enough for a pair of energy bars or a GPS unit. You can reach into the deep, mesh side pockets from the top or the back side, and there’s a removable bottom strap for attaching a pad. Compression straps, buckles, and other plastic hardware are thin and small to minimize weight. The lightweight, 100-denier, high-tenacity nylon pack fabric is plenty durable, and the Exos 58 suffered no damage on the very rocky Alta Via 2. But treat this pack too roughly and you could tear the mesh front and side pockets.

 

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One caveat: As with any lightweight pack, especially one with a suspension that holds the pack off of your back, it becomes even more important that you load the pack smartly, keeping most of the weight close to the middle of your spine, and that you get a pack that fits you well. If you don’t do both, or if you put more weight in the Exos than it can handle, it will pull uncomfortably against the front of your shoulders when hiking.

If you generally carry less than 30 pounds backpacking and have modern gear that’s lightweight and low-bulk, or you’re a thru-hiker who wants a pack that offers a quantum leap in comfort and usability over standard ultralight models, you owe yourself a close look at the new Exos 58 or the smaller Exos 48 ($190, 48L/2,929 c.i., 2 lbs. 8 oz.). The Exos 38 ($160, 38L/2,319 c.i., 2 lbs. 5 oz.) is sized for use as a large daypack or for very ultralight backpacking.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking any of these links to buy an Osprey Exos 58 at moosejaw.com, ems.com, or rei.com.

 

Tell me what you think.

I spent a lot of time writing this story, so if you enjoyed it, please consider giving it a share using one of the buttons below, and leave a comment or question at the bottom of this story. I’d really appreciate it.

 

See all of my reviews of backpacks that I like and all of my reviews of backpacking gear.

NOTE: I’ve been testing gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See categorized menus of all of my gear reviews.

—Michael Lanza

 

You live for the outdoors. The Big Outside helps you get out there. Subscribe now and a get free e-guide!

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-osprey-exos-58-backpack/feed/ 4 9217 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-black-diamond-element-60elixir-60-backpacks/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-black-diamond-element-60elixir-60-backpacks/#comments Thu, 07 Aug 2014 12:00:19 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=9396 Read on

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Backpack
Black Diamond Element 60/Elixir 60
$220, 60L/3,661 c.i., 3 lbs. 6 oz. (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s medium and large (62L/3,783 c.i.), women’s small (58L/3,539 c.i.) and medium (60L/3,661 c.i.)
blackdiamondequipment.com

On a June backpacking trip with my 13-year-old son to Alice Lake in Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains, I found myself clambering over four-foot-tall, slick, densely consolidated drifts of snow not yet melted out on the trail, fording a fast, frigid, and knee-deep creek, and tiptoeing over logs across the creek. In circumstances that challenge your balance, it’s nice to have a pack that feels like an extension of your body, rather than tugging you in a direction you don’t want to go. The impressively lightweight Element 60 did that, plus it has the capacity for longer trips and smart design details.

Besides that hike with my son, I also carried the Element 60 on a three-day hike with my 11-year-old daughter to Hell Roaring Lake and Imogene Lake in the Sawtooths in early August. The Element 60 (and women’s Elixir 60) is the lightest pack of this size that I’ve reviewed at The Big Outside that carries at least 35 pounds comfortably. (The two that come closest are the Gregory Savant 58/Sage 55 and the Osprey Atmos 65. I’ve reviewed lighter packs, but none I’d recommend for carrying more than 30 pounds.) The reason is BD’s reACTIV suspension with SwingArm shoulder straps and a curved, semi-rigid hipbelt that pivots slightly, plus an aluminum perimeter rod and plastic framesheet that flex, all of which allow the pack to move with your torso. The frame is recessed behind your head so that you’re not whacking your skull against the pack to look up, and the back panel curves slightly away from your spine, permitting a bit of airflow to keep you cooler.

Despite carrying most of our gear and food, I did not even fill this top-loader on two- and three-day hikes with my kids; it has the capacity for several days if you travel fairly light. I really like the details, especially the enormous, zippered front pocket, which you could stuff an entire, lightweight, two-person tent inside (not where I’d normally carry a tent, but convenient in the rain when you want to pull the tent out of your pack first upon reaching a campsite). One-hand drawcord pulls cinch the main compartment and close up the spacious side pockets so that they don’t bulge out in situations where you want a very streamlined pack; they also just help secure a water bottle in a side pocket. The lid has three zippered compartments, and the main pocket has plenty of space and sports an extended zipper for easy access. There are side compression straps, ice-axe straps, and exterior straps on the bottom for a pad or tent. The combination of 210-denier ripstop nylon with a water-resistant finish and 420-denier nylon and lack of mesh on the exterior make the pack tougher than some in this category.

My only caveat: This isn’t a pack for small guys—my 18-inch torso is near the bottom end of the fit range for the men’s medium. But in a universe of backpacks of all sizes, weights, and designs, the Element 60 nails a unique niche for a lightweight pack that can handle a moderately big load: It’s a good, all-around sack for backpackers who don’t haul huge loads but also aren’t ultra-lighters. There’s also a 45-liter version of the Element that’s $200 and 3 lbs. 2 oz. (medium).

 

 

See my reviews of all other backpacks I like, including the similarly sized Osprey Exos 58, The North Face Banchee 65, the Arc’teryx Altra 65, the Gregory Contour 70L/Cairn 68L and Gregory Savant 58/Sage 55, and the Osprey Atmos 65.

NOTE: I’ve been testing gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See all of my reviews by clicking on the Gear Reviews category at left or in the main menu.

—Michael Lanza

   

 

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-black-diamond-element-60elixir-60-backpacks/feed/ 2 9396 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-the-north-face-banchee-65-backpack/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-the-north-face-banchee-65-backpack/#comments Mon, 17 Mar 2014 13:02:34 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=8184 Read on

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Backpack
The North Face Banchee 65
$239, 65L/3,967 c.i., 3 lbs. 12 oz. (L/XL)
Sizes: men’s S/M (fits torsos 16-19 inches) and L/XL (fits torsos 18-21 inches), women’s XS/S (fits torsos 14-17 inches) and M/L (fits torsos 16-19 inches)
moosejaw.com

On the second afternoon of a tough, three-day backpacking trip with my 10-year-old daughter in the Grand Canyon, I had to load up with 17 pounds of water for the final 24 hours of our trip—bumping my pack weight up over 50 pounds for the uphill grind to Horseshoe Mesa. I wondered how comfortably a sub-four-pound backpack could carry that load. But even with 50 pounds inside, the Banchee 65 floated on my back.

[Note: See my review of the newest version of the Banchee, the 2019 Banchee 50.]

Long, hard descents also speak volumes about a pack’s comfort. I started the trip with about 40 pounds in the Banchee 65 for the hike down the rugged New Hance Trail—dropping a rocky 5,000 feet in five miles. By the time we reached our campsite by the Colorado River, my legs felt worked, but not my shoulders, neck, or back. The pack’s secret weapon is a lightweight, aluminum perimeter rod with a plastic framesheet, and a horizontal rod connecting the two sides of the frame about halfway down it—like adding a middle pillar supporting a roof beam. The result is a frame that’s absolutely rigid on the vertical axis, but flexes slightly on the horizontal axis, to move with your torso. The flexible hipbelt has enough rigidity that it didn’t fold under a 50-pound load. Even with all that water sitting at the top of the pack hiking up to Horseshoe Mesa, or taking numerous big steps down off ledges on the New Hance Trail, the pack did not shift side to side or feel top-heavy.

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Comfort is enhanced by a mesh trampoline back pad that lets air circulate over your back—I hardly broke a sweat even humping uphill on warm afternoons—and breathable, perforated-foam shoulder straps and hipbelt. The Banchee 65 has a huge fit range: Besides coming in two sizes for men and women, the hipbelt is adjustable by seven inches and the torso length by five inches. (The buckle for adjusting the hipbelt sits behind a flap inside the each hipbelt pocket, slightly difficult to grab for people with thick fingers.)

This top-loader excels for organization and capacity. Besides that extra water, I fit all of the gear and food for two people for three days—even without having to take advantage of the extendable storm collar. Twin zippered, 16-inch-long front pockets keep a rain shell, snacks, and other necessities easily accessible, and sit on the outside of a stuff-it pocket that can swallow a wet rainfly. The floating lid’s pocket has a zippered, mesh inside pocket for valuables like car key, phone, and camera memory cards. And there are two deep, stretch-mesh side pockets that I can reach into while wearing the pack, and two zippered hipbelt pockets that hold three energy bars each. TNF even nailed some impressive details, like reinforced fabric at the bottom corners of the frame, where stitching can blow out.

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Two small gripes: I consider a sleeping-bag compartment zipper and inside flap superfluous weight; I never use them, because dividing the main compartment prevents you from using its space to maximum efficiency. (The Banchee’s sleeping bag compartment flap can be detached and tucked out of the way, but not removed.) Plus, the pack’s bottom straps are better positioned for compressing the pack bottom (rarely needed) than attaching a foam pad to the outside of the pack (used more often).

Because the Banchee 65 handles as big a load as packs that are a half-pound or more heavier, and yet compresses very well, it pulls double duty, functioning like both a weekend and a weeklong pack: With this pack, you don’t need a 50L sack in your quiver. All in all, this is a terrific all-around pack that’s like getting two backpacks for the price of one.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking any of these links to buy a men’s or women’s Banchee 65 at moosejaw.com or rei.com.

Tell me what you think.

I spent a lot of time writing this story, so if you enjoyed it, please consider giving it a share using one of the buttons below, and leave a comment or question at the bottom of this story. I’d really appreciate it.

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See categorized menus of all of my gear reviews at The Big Outside.

—Michael Lanza

Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, the creator of The Big Outside, recognized as a top outdoors blog by USA Today and others. I invite you to sign up for my FREE email newsletter by entering your email address in the box in the left sidebar, at the bottom of this story, or on my About page, and follow my adventures on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-the-north-face-banchee-65-backpack/feed/ 11 8184 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-osprey-reverb-18-snow-pack/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-osprey-reverb-18-snow-pack/#respond Tue, 11 Mar 2014 13:01:48 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=8120 Read on

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Snow Pack
Osprey Reverb 18
$100, 18L/1,098 c.i., 2 lbs. 2 oz. (S/M)
One size
ospreypacks.com

You’re skiing or snowboarding at a resort, riding lifts, but the groomers have been totally carved up and even the off-piste snow in the trees is hash. So the only remaining option for finding untracked powder is to go where most skiers and riders don’t go: to the slopes not served by lifts, where you have to climb uphill under your own power. For that, you’ll need a lightweight, compact backcountry snow pack—one that has enough space for your safety gear but isn’t too cumbersome to wear while lift-served skiing. A pack like the Reverb 18.

I really liked this streamlined pack for days of riding lifts at my local resort to access the adjacent backcountry, and for carrying a little food and water on days of just skiing the inbounds terrain at a couple of Idaho resorts with my kids. The slender dimensions of the pack made it virtually unnoticeable on my back when riding lifts or telemark skiing in- or out-of-bounds—even stuffed full, it bulges out only about six inches, so I never removed it for riding lifts, and it hugged me tightly when cruising downhill. Dual zippers the full length of the Reverb 18 open the back panel to access the main compartment and the zippered hydration sleeve, so you can lay it down to keep snow out and get at the contents even when carrying skis or a snowboard.

With an EVA back pad and shoulder straps and simple webbing belt, the pack carries 15 to 20 pounds comfortably. But it doesn’t have the stability of a bigger, all-day backcountry snow pack with a stiffer framesheet and aluminum stays. So while it’s fine for carrying skis or a board for a short distance, it’s not designed to be comfortable hauling them far. It carries skis diagonally and a board vertically, secured by top and bottom straps that tuck away when not in use.

Of course, the tradeoff for the compact size is somewhat limited capacity: I fit a two-liter bladder, a jacket, climbing skins, probe, shovel, and snow saw, plus a few snacks, but not a winter puffy jacket. A pocket on one side with a hook-and-loop closure holds a probe; and a sleeve on the other side, open on the bottom, stashes a shovel shaft, with an adjustable, stretch cord above it to secure the shovel handle. If you prefer to stow the shovel shaft in the snow-tools pocket (as I do), its 17-inch depth is not quite enough to swallow some shovels: Even detached from the blade, the handle of my Black Diamond Deploy 7 sticks out slightly from the top of that pocket. (With shaft attached to shovel blade, the handle protruded above the pocket, but I could close the zipper tightly around the shaft to prevent it or anything else inside flying out.) Likewise, only the shorter of my two probes fits inside the probe pocket (which is 14 inches deep).

Smart design features adorn this little pack. The goggles pocket on top holds my goggles, sunglasses in a hard case, and a couple bars. The snow-tools pocket has a zippered pocket inside it that stashes keys and valuables. The hydration tube feeds into the insulated right shoulder strap to help prevent it from freezing (as long as you’re wearing the pack). Bomber stitching and construction, including 420-denier fabric and a reinforced front panel, make the Reverb tough enough for the abuse of carrying skis or a snowboard and getting thwacked by the occasional branch. I wouldn’t mind seeing a minimalist hipbelt with pockets for snacks, but that’s a minor demerit. For skiing or riding backcountry accessed via ski lifts for a few hours, the Reverb 18 is a winner.

If you’re looking for an all-day or yurt-trip backcountry skiing and riding pack, see my reviews of the Exped Glissade 35, Mammut Spindrift Guide 40L, Gregory Targhee 45L, and Sierra Designs Ymir 55.

NOTE: I’ve been testing gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See all of my reviews by clicking on the Gear Reviews category at left or in the main menu.

—Michael Lanza

 

 

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-osprey-reverb-18-snow-pack/feed/ 0 8120 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-exped-glissade-35-snow-pack/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-exped-glissade-35-snow-pack/#respond Mon, 03 Mar 2014 14:07:34 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=8071 Read on

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Snow Pack
Exped Glissade 35
$229, 35L/2,136 c.i., 3 lbs. 2 oz.
One size
exped.com

Making a pack for backcountry skiing, snowboarding, or snowshoeing day trips that’s lighter than most competitors is difficult to pull off without sacrificing support or features. But several days of backcountry skiing with the streamlined Glissade 35 in Idaho’s Boise Mountains and Galena Summit area convinced me that it makes few sacrifices while delivering all you’d want in a snow pack.

It held tightly to my back whether going hard uphill or skiing telemark turns downhill. A removable, foam back panel with two aluminum stays deliver enough support to comfortably carry about 30 pounds—more than you’re likely to stuff inside the pack on an all-day backcountry tour. The pack comes in only one size that fit my 18-inch torso well, and fits average to long torsos.

The capacity is adequate for day tours: I stuffed a three-liter bladder, a fat down jacket, extra gloves, an emergency bivy sack, a fleece vest, a DSLR, and alternately my shell jacket or skins into the main compartment, and still had a little space leftover; plus, there’s a mesh pocket inside for small items. The panel-loading main compartment has a zipper shaped like an inverted “J”—extending deeper on one side than the other. The advantage is that contents don’t spill out when you open it, and it provides easy access to anything on the side with the full-length zipper; but it’s also a little difficult to access items on the side that opens only halfway when the goggles pocket is full.

The front snow-tools pocket easily swallows a saw, probe, and a large-blade shovel like the Black Diamond Deploy 7 (whereas I’ve seen ski packs with snow-tools pockets that, annoyingly, don’t fit that shovel). Its only tradeoff: minimalist loops for holding a saw and probe instead of longer fabric tubes. The roomy, fleece-lined goggles pocket fit goggles and sunglasses in a hard case, as well as a couple of energy bars. The two zippered hipbelt pockets each carry a couple of bars. That said, the Glissade 35 is not big enough for a yurt trip or for most guides.

The 630-denier, water-resistant nylon material is certainly tough enough for typical use. You can carry skis diagonally or A-frame, but the latter setup impedes access to the pack’s main compartment. Removable netting on the front secures a helmet. Overall, I’d give only a few minor demerits against this pack for snow sports that carries well and is fully featured while weighing barely more than three pounds.

See also my reviews of other backcountry skiing packs I like, the comparably lightweight Mammut Spindrift Guide 40L, the Gregory Targhee 45L, and the Sierra Designs Ymir 55.

NOTE: I’ve been testing gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See all of my reviews by clicking on the Gear Reviews category at left or in the main menu.

—Michael Lanza

 

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-exped-glissade-35-snow-pack/feed/ 0 8071 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-gregory-targhee-45l-snow-pack/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-gregory-targhee-45l-snow-pack/#respond Tue, 29 Oct 2013 13:33:33 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=7345 Read on

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Backcountry Skiing/Riding Pack
Gregory Targhee 45L
$199, 4 lbs. (medium)
Sizes: S-L in 45L/2,746 c.i. and 32L/1,953 c.i. versions (fit torsos from 16-22 inches); one size in 26L/1,587 c.i. and 18L/1,098 c.i. versions
backcountry.com

For a multi-day backcountry skiing, riding, or snowshoeing trip to a hut or yurt, you need a pack with a split personality: It has to be big enough to fit all the food and gear you need for at least four days, yet morph into a smaller pack when you fill it only partially for day tours. The new Targhee 45L assumed both personalities convincingly on a four-day, backcountry skiing trip to the Baldy Knoll yurt in Wyoming’s Tetons, thanks to superior stability and a highly versatile design.

It carried nicely whether overstuffed for the 5.5-mile, 2,000-foot skin to the yurt, or under-filled for all-day tours. I hauled 35 pounds skiing in, though I think it would handle 40 pounds comfortably. I hardly noticed it on my back when skiing downhill—it’s that stable, thanks to a flexible, plastic framesheet supported by a wire frame that lends it enough rigidity for load-hauling, but allowed the pack to move with my body as I skied. The hipbelt and shoulder straps strike a medium balance between stiff and soft, delivering comfort and support without getting in the way.

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Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Join The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here for my e-guides to classic backpacking trips. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip.

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I’ve not always been a fan of rear-panel access to a main compartment, because often the shoulder straps impede access, and I’ve seen where that design has compromised how well the pack clings to your back in high-speed sports like skiing. The Targhee eliminates both of those concerns. First, the shoulders straps attach directly to the pack bag instead of the hipbelt, which makes it easy to flip those straps aside (and helps transfer the load to the hips).

Also, the framesheet and hipbelt are built into the huge back panel that opens completely, killing two birds with one stone: You suffer no loss of pack stability, but gain this big barn door to get inside the pack. I yanked that zipper open constantly to grab a jacket, thermos, and climbing skins, and liked how convenient it was to just lay the pack down and open its belly without snow getting inside. The tough, slick nylon pack fabric readily sheds snow, too.

The Targhee has a perfect feature set for backcountry skiing, snowboarding, or climbing, including a spacious snow-tools pocket on the front that’s accessible no matter how you attach your boards to the pack. With hypalon reinforcements for durability, the pack carries skis with tails up to 130mm wide in A-Frame fashion, offset to keep the tails away from your calves and the tips away from your head; it also carries a snowboard or snowshoes, with super-durable, hypalon-reinforced webbing and compression.

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There are two modern, easy-to-use ice-axe attachments. A low-profile, insulated sleeve inside the right shoulder strap kept the bladder hose from freezing in temperatures down to the teens while the pack was on me—though, as with any insulated sleeve, the hose will freeze quickly if you take the pack off (and the sleeve is no longer warmed by your body), so I split my water between a bladder for on-the-go convenience and bottles for insurance. The hipbelt sports one spacious pocket and a gear loop. A top compression strap underneath the lid pocket doubles as a rope strap. There’s even a safety whistle on the sternum strap buckle.

While a stowable helmet carry is available in all three smaller-volume versions of the Targhee, the 45L, the only top-loader in the lineup, has space to stow a helmet in the pack or under the lid.

Quibbles: I wish the lid was extendable for overstuffing the pack on the first day’s approach to a yurt; I maxed-out its 45 liters that day (so don’t expect to fit winter-camping gear). And the buckles are a little difficult to manipulate wearing warm gloves. All in all, though, this is one of the most versatile and comfortable technical packs I’ve seen for backcountry skiing or riding, snowshoeing, and climbing.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase the Gregory Targhee 45 snow pack at backcountry.com or moosejaw.com.

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See my Gear Reviews page at The Big Outside for categorized menus of all of my reviews and expert buying tips.

—Michael Lanza

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-gregory-targhee-45l-snow-pack/feed/ 0 7345 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-rei-flash-45-backpack/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-rei-flash-45-backpack/#respond Thu, 19 Sep 2013 13:54:48 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=6834 Read on

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NOTE: Click here to read my review of the newer, 2017 version of the REI Flash 45 backpack.

Backpack
REI Flash 45
$129, 45L/2,745 c.i., 2 lbs. 3 oz. (men’s medium)
Sizes: medium (fits torsos 17-19 inches) and large (50L/3,051 c.i., 2 lbs. 4 oz., fits torsos 19-21 inches)
rei.com

For most backpacking trips, when I’m not carrying gear and food for my family, I pack as light as possible and walk long days: I like to see as much wilderness as I can. For those trips, I prefer a backpack that’s light but still has decent support; I find that the virtually frameless ultralight packs with minimal support pull on my shoulders too much over the course of a 10- or 12-hour day of hiking. On a recent three-day, 65-mile hike in Yosemite, carrying a max of about 25 pounds, the Flash 45 hit that nice middle ground: lightweight, yet comfortable with the amount of weight I threw into it, and very functional.

The suspension, consisting of an aluminum headrail with two flexible Delrin rods, shifts some of the pack weight to your hips, though I still felt some of it on my shoulders because there’s not much rigidity to the frame. The medium fit my 18-inch torso fine, but it’s not sized for people with torsos shorter than 17 inches (like many women). The flexible, padded hipbelt wrapped cleanly around my waist and supported 25 pounds well, while the mesh-covered, soft, EVA back panel, which has holes for air movement, and perforated-foam shoulder straps ventilated nicely on hot High Sierra afternoons.

The Flash 45 has all the organization I look for in a lightweight pack and nothing more to add superfluous weight. The rucksack-like main compartment swallowed a large bear canister and has enough capacity for a four-day summer hike, possibly longer, provided you have light, compact gear. The large, mesh front pocket wraps around the sides, offering generous storage that’s best for lighter items like a jacket or rainfly; full water bottles, for instance, flop around and could fall out. (Use a hydration bladder in the inside sleeve for water.) The Flash 45 has two spacious, zippered hipbelt pockets (as all packs in this category should) and quick-clip bungee loops that secure an ice axe or trekking poles. The ripstop nylon pack fabric is tough enough to toss on granite without worrying about it tearing, though you should be careful with all that external mesh.

One caveat: Don’t overload this pack. It felt fine with 25 pounds, but that’s the maximum I’d recommend carrying in it. Nonetheless, no matter how far you intend to hike every day, it’s a good ultralight or thru-hiker pack at a very good price.

 

 

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking this link to buy an REI Flash 45 at rei.com.

See all of my backpack reviews, including a slightly larger, more supportive, and heavier model, the men’s Deuter ACT Zero 50+15 and women’s ACT Zero 45+15 SL.

NOTE: I’ve been testing gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See all of my reviews by clicking on the Gear Reviews category at left or in the main menu.

—Michael Lanza

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-rei-flash-45-backpack/feed/ 0 6834 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-osprey-xenith-88xena-85-backpacks/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-osprey-xenith-88xena-85-backpacks/#comments Fri, 23 Aug 2013 13:00:52 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=6595 Read on

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Backpack
Osprey Xenith 88/Xena 85
$349, 5 lbs. 7 oz. (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s Xenith M-XL, women’s Xena XS-M; all adjustable, with custom hipbelts and harnesses in four sizes
ospreypacks.com

When loading the men’s Xenith 88 (the Xena 85 is the women’s model) with nearly 60 pounds of family gear and food for a six-day, 45-mile family hike in Sequoia National Park, I cringed, expecting my hipbones and hip flexors to protest loudly when I put it on. But the moment I shouldered the pack, I was surprised by how comfortable it felt. And it remained comfortable throughout several hours of hiking every day.

What’s the explanation? There have been impressive design innovations to make backpacks more comfortable, stable, and lightweight in recent years. But when you’re carrying a big load—50 pounds or more—comfort boils down to the pack’s foundation: the frame and hipbelt. The Xenith and Xena’s plastic framesheet and peripheral aluminum rods bend toward the base of the pack, transferring most of its weight to the hips (despite the lack of stabilizer straps, the straps normally found where the hipbelt connects to the packbag). Meanwhile, the hipbelt sports bodacious padding and molded-plastic reinforcement to maintain its shape under a monster load. The frame holds the pack close to the hips and shoulders while allowing air to pass through a gap between my spine and the back pad, keeping me much cooler. Plus, the packs come in three sizes, all adjustable for five inches of torso range, with four sizes of harness and custom-moldable hipbelt for both men and women. So you can really fine-tune the fit—also a big deal with a big load.

A big pack should have plenty of pockets and good access, and that’s another strong suit of the Xenith 88 (and Xena 85)—which I also carried on a 44-mile, five-day, family backpacking trip in Washington’s Glacier Peak Wilderness, starting out with 50-plus pounds. My favorite feature: the deep, crescent-shaped zippers on each side accessing the main compartment, which I used several times a day to dig out food or a jacket, instead of opening the lid. The lid has two pockets and converts to a lumbar pack, which I carried on a 3.6-mile, 1,200-foot round-trip morning hike from Little Five Lakes to Black Rock Pass in Sequoia. As with any lumbar pack, it carries fine with just a few pounds in it, but gets a little uncomfortable with more than that. (Note to pack designers: I’d rather see a lid pocket that converts to a tiny daypack with thin nylon shoulders straps and belt, which I think would be much more functional.)

The Xenith 88’s two spacious, zippered, vertical front pockets held my water filter, trekking umbrella, and small clothing items, while the big, mesh front pocket overlapping them swallows a jacket or rainfly. Deep, mesh side pockets and hipbelt pockets that fit a couple of bars each bring the pocket total to nine—which you could argue is overkill in a small or medium-size pack, but not in a big pack. The wide mouth of this top loader makes loading and retrieving items easy and the interior highly visible. The Xenith has two compression straps on each side, plus a top compression strap, to help keep a partial load from shifting. Lastly, your water bladder slips inside an external sleeve in the back panel, making it refillable without unloading pack contents—another smart feature, especially in a big pack.

My only complaint: I’m not a fan of sleeping-bag compartments. I think it’s superfluous, adding unnecessary weight. But you can make the argument that it’s more justified in a large pack.

I’ll never look forward to carrying a monster load on my back. But when it becomes necessary, you can hardly do it more comfortably than with the Xenith 88/Xena 85.

See also my reviews of other backpacks I like, including big packs like the Gregory Contour 70L and women’s Cairn 68L.

NOTE: I’ve been testing gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See all of my reviews by clicking on the Gear Reviews category at left or in the main menu.

—Michael Lanza

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-osprey-xenith-88xena-85-backpacks/feed/ 5 6595 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-update-ribz-front-pack/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-update-ribz-front-pack/#comments Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:58:47 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=5842 Read on

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Pack
Ribz Front Pack
$60, 12.5 oz. (small)
Sizes: Small (fits waists 26-36 inches), regular (fits waists 32-46 inches)
ribzwear.com

The Ribz Front Pack won me over when I first started hiking with it more than a year ago because it keeps my DSLR, a second lens, and assorted smaller items in a readily accessible place: right in front of me. So it has replaced a bulky camera chest pack I had worn for years because it’s comfortable and holds more while being less obtrusive. I’ve carried the Front Pack on virtually every backpacking trip since. Now the newly updated version sports subtle but laudable design changes that actually improve upon a piece of gear that I considered nearly perfect before.

What’s new? The harness was tweaked for a better fit, and a locking slider was added to the shoulder pad and a stabilizer to the back to help prevent its crossing straps from tangling like cooked spaghetti when you’re not wearing it. What hasn’t changed? Its two saddlebags—each with a larger and a smaller pocket (all with a zipper)—have a total of 700 cubic inches of space, easily housing my DSLR on one side and my second lens on the other side (to help balance the weight), with space leftover for numerous smaller items like a map, snacks, gloves, hat, sunglasses, GPS, etc.

The adjustable harness fits every time you put it on after adjusting it once, and the whole unit rides low across the front of your torso, not inhibiting movement at all or obscuring your view of where you’re stepping (as camera chest packs often do).

One caveat: I avoid overstuffing the pockets because I don’t like having them bulge outward far enough to get in the way of my arms swinging when I hike.

See my original review of the Ribz Front Pack as well as other reviews of daypacks and other hiking gear and backpacking gear that I like.

NOTE: I’ve been testing gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See all of my reviews by clicking on the Gear Reviews category at left or in the main menu.

—Michael Lanza

 

]]> https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-update-ribz-front-pack/feed/ 13 5842 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/ask-me-advice-on-buying-a-lightweight-backpack/ https://thebigoutsideblog.com/ask-me-advice-on-buying-a-lightweight-backpack/#comments Mon, 03 Jun 2013 13:00:21 +0000 https://thebigoutsideblog.com/?p=5631 Read on

]]> Hi Mike,

Any recommendations on a lightweight backpack for overnight to five-day trips?

Todd
McCall, Idaho

Hey Todd,

I’d say get a pack around 50 liters that’s lightweight but not ultralight, so you can use it on a greater variety of trips, that will carry up to 35-40 lbs., but is light and compressible enough for a 20- to 25-lb. trip.

The Deuter ACT Zero 50+15 is an excellent example and reasonably priced.

The Osprey Exos 58 is one of my favorite packs for light to moderate loads; I’ve used it for years. It’s a pound lighter than the other packs I’m recommending here, but will handle 30 to 35 lbs. comfortably.

The Gregory Savant 58 would handle a somewhat bigger load, but is still not too big for what you’re looking for.

You might consider a slightly larger-volume pack if you want to have one that would allow you to also carry some of another person’s (wife, kid) stuff, like the Osprey Atmos 65.

Hope that helps. Make sure you measure your torso correctly to get the right size pack. Try on packs with weight in them before picking one. Good luck.

Mike

[In Ask Me, I share and respond to a reader question. Got a question about hiking, backpacking, gear, or any topic or trip I write about at The Big Outside? Send it to me at mlanza@thebigoutside.com or tweet it to @MichaelALanza. I will answer the ones I can in a post, using only your first name and city, with your permission.]

 

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Backpacks
Granite Gear Leopard A.C. 58
$250, 3 lbs. 12 oz. (men’s regular)
58L/3,540 c.i.
Sizes: men’s and women’s short (fits torsos 14-18 inches) and regular (fits torsos 18-22 inches). Unisex shoulder straps S-L, men’s and women’s hipbelts S-XL.

Granite Gear Leopard V.C. 46 with Klymit AirBeam Frame
$230, 2 lbs. 6 oz. (men’s regular with AirBeam pack frame)
46L/2,800 c.i.
Sizes: men’s regular (fits torsos 18-21 inches) and long (fits torsos 21-24 inches), four sizes of hipbelts for both men and women.
granitegear.com

How light do you want to go? With the Leopard A.C. 58 and the Leopard V.C. 46, Granite Gear offers nearly identical backpacks that both deliver a lot of performance for their weight and price. The main difference, besides capacity? One is a lightweight load-hauler with a traditional internal frame, the other a pack designed for ounce-counting ultralighters, with an optional upgrade to an inflatable frame. I wanted to compare the conventional plastic framesheet in the A.C. 58 against the air frame in the V.C. 46 with the AirBeam upgrade, which is one-third lighter.

I carried the Leopard A.C. 58 on a four-day, partly off-trail, September hike in the Olympic Mountains. The flexible framesheet felt slightly overloaded when I started out with a bit over 40 pounds, but quite comfortable once my pack weight dropped below 40 pounds after the first day. The suspension remained stable, moving with me while I scrambled very steep, wet rock and slippery heather slopes off-trail in the Bailey Range of the Olympics, thanks in part to the dual-density shoulder straps and a pre-curved hipbelt that sports more padding than the V.C. 46 hipbelt. The back pad is curved to allow a little space for airflow, which kept my back less sweaty. The shoulder straps can be adjusted to six positions marked to 18-22 inches torso length, which allowed me to dial in a good fit for my 18-inch torso.

Carrying up to 35 pounds on a three-day, mostly off-trail traverse of the canyons and steep talus and scree slopes of the Waterpocket Fold Formation in Utah’s Capitol Reef National Park, I was impressed by the comfort of the Leopard V.C. 46, with the AirBeam frame, made by Klymit. The AirBeam, inflated with several breaths, slips easily into the framesheet sleeve inside the pack, and can double as a camp seat and insulation under your feet when sleeping if you sleep on a short air mattress (like I do to shave a little weight). It can be purchased with the V.C. 46 instead of its standard framesheet, or purchased and installed later for $50. It helps make this pack nearly a pound and a half lighter than the A.C.. 58, but it also has more than 700 cubic inches less capacity. Still, it’s big enough space for a five-day ultralight trip, if your other gear is compact. Unlike the A.C. 58, its shoulder straps are sewn in place, not adjustable. Air channels in the back pad kept my back cooler.

As for features, the packs are fraternal twins. Both sport Cordura high-tenacity nylon (100- and 210-denier). Both have a floating, removable lid—you can shed five ounces by leaving it at home—and a roll-top closure to seal the main packbag. Both can be purchased with optional hipbelt gear loops and a front crampon attachment with rubberized straps that make getting the crampons in and out a breeze and held my spikes completely securely in the Olympics. The dual rope straps under the lid in both packs hold a rope quite securely (with a reasonably full load in the pack); but it’s a nuisance, when you’re not carrying a rope, to have to clip and unclip those two extra straps to get in and out of the pack. That gets to my only real gripe about both packs: the lack of a panel zipper to access the main compartment. With the lid on and rope straps in place, you have to unclip six buckles to get inside.

Verdict: Since both packs carry up to 40 pounds equally well, if you really want to minimize weight and can fit your trips into a 46-liter pack, go with the V.C. 46 with the AirBeam frame. If you need a little more capacity (and a lightweight pack with crampon attachments) and prefer the simplicity of a standard internal framesheet that you don’t have to mess with, the A.C. 58 is an excellent choice.

See my tips on ultralight backpacking and my reviews of ultralight backpacking gear. See also my reviews of other backpacks I like, including larger models like the Gregory Contour 70L and women’s Cairn 68L, the Arc’teryx Altra 65, and the Osprey Atmos 65.

NOTE: I’ve been testing gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See all of my reviews by clicking on the Gear Reviews category at left or in the main menu.

—Michael Lanza

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Backpack
Gregory Contour 70L/Cairn 68L
$299, 4 lbs. 5 oz. (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s S, M, L (fit torsos from 16 to 22 inches), women’s XS, S, M (fit torsos from 14 to 20 inches)
gregorypacks.com

Whether on a family backpacking trip with young kids or a hike of more than about four days, you’re carrying a lot of stuff. In either scenario, I like a pack that can handle a big load and allows me to organize so that I can access items quickly. It doesn’t hurt if the pack is almost a pound lighter than many top competitors. That sums up the Contour 70L (and women’s version Cairn 68L, 58L, and 48L) in a nutshell. I carried the Contour 70L with up to 45 pounds in it on three family trips: skiing to a backcountry yurt (hauling the pack one day in and one day out); three days backpacking Utah’s Coyote Gulch; and five days backpacking Oregon’s Eagle Cap Wilderness.

The Contour, which also comes in 60L and 50L versions, derives its big-load comfort from a wishbone-shaped wire-frame suspension and hipbelt wings that pivot independently to prevent the pack shifting when you hike, especially on steep or rugged terrain. Mesh foam in the hipbelt, back pad, and shoulder straps kept me cool hiking uphill with a heavy load—including on some hot, dusty, windless August days in the Eagle Cap.

Beyond comfort, though, this pack has incredible organization. I’m a big fan of a zipper accessing the main compartment, so you don’t have to pop the lid off every time you want to get inside, and the Contour 70L has a side zipper nearly the length of the pack bag. A wide mouth and bright interior make top-loading a cinch. The front stuff-it pocket will hold a rain jacket, and there’s an equally roomy, zippered front pocket behind the stuff-it with two more compartments inside it. While wearing the pack, you have within reach two roomy hipbelt pockets, two side pockets, and a zippered stash pocket on one side. And the highly water-resistant lid pocket—with a waterproof zipper and sealed seams—doesn’t skimp on space, fitting hats, gloves, headlamp, and numerous other accessories. The integral rain cover came in handy during a thunderstorm downpour. One minor complaint: The angled bottom that helps shift the pack weight onto your hips prevents the pack from standing up.

See my reviews of other backpacks I like, including larger models like the Arc’teryx Altra 65 and the Osprey Atmos 65.

NOTE: I’ve been testing gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See all of my reviews by clicking on the Gear Reviews category at left or in the main menu.

—Michael Lanza

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Backpack
Arc’teryx Altra 65
$475, 5 lbs. (men’s regular)
65L/3,965 c.i.
Sizes: men’s and women’s regular and tall
arcteryx.com

Most packs have one or two strengths or features that stand out; I find few that actually deliver everything I want in a pack intended purely for backpacking. Then along comes the Altra 65. I carried it loaded with up to 40 pounds on a three-day backpacking trip with my nine-year-old daughter in Idaho’s Smoky Mountains, and with up to about 35 pounds on a weeklong family hut trek in Norway’s Jotunheimen National Park, and judged it just about perfect, from fit and comfort to organization and durability.

Comfort originates in a slightly flexible framesheet with 6005-T6 extruded aluminum stays that provide plenty of rigidity to support loads up to around 50 pounds. Plus, the molded hipbelt is mounted on a pivoting disc to rotate with your hips as you walk, keeping the pack from shifting side to side (which is fatiguing and can give you sore hips). High-density polyethylene foam in the back padding and hipbelt delivers a nice balance of support and cushion, and the hipbelt is wide and curved to stay in place in your hips, not slipping even on long trail days with a heavy load. Plus, the top attachment point for each shoulder strap can be micro-adjusted to nine different positions to create a precise fit.

I like the organization a lot, including the huge, U-shaped front zipper accessing the entire main compartment; a deep front pocket big enough to fit a rainfly and jacket; the two lid pockets that have much more capacity than found in many large packs; and zippered side pockets large enough for a liter bottle (and that you can reach into while wearing the pack). The lid pocket is extendable and removable. Okay, I have one nitpick: The spacer mesh hipbelt pockets are big enough for a couple of bars and a small map, but not a spacious as found on other large-volume packs.

All in all, you get your money’s worth in a really dialed fit; incredible detailing (example: the lid slides on and off the pack as smoothly as a sock sliding over your foot); durable construction (210D nylon ripstop throughout the pack bag means no delicate external features that will tear); plus a clean design that’s not over-engineered, yet has all the backpacking features you’d want—or I want, anyway.

There’s also a men’s Altra 50, Altra 75 and Altra 85. The women’s version is the Altra 48 and Altra 62.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking this link to buy an Arc’teryx Altra backpack at backcountry.com.

NOTE: I’ve been testing gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See all of my reviews by clicking on the Gear Reviews category at left or in the main menu. See more reviews of backpacking gear I like by clicking on the “backpacking gear reviews” tag in the tag cloud in the left sidebar. For reviews of other backpacks I like, click on “backpack reviews” in the tag cloud in the left sidebar.

—Michael Lanza

 

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Backpack
Black Diamond Infinity 50
$210, 50L/3,050 c.i., 3 lbs. 14 oz. (men’s medium)
blackdiamondequipment.com

A lot of packs feel good when you first put them on; only a few are still your friend at the end of a long day. I carried this streamlined top-loader with upwards of 30 pounds on 16- to 18-mile days on the rugged Rees-Dart Track in New Zealand’s Southern Alps—and it stayed comfortable right up until I took it off every day. The key feature is BD’s ergoACTIV hipbelt that attaches to the pack via a simple ball joint: The hipbelt pivots with your hips, but the pack itself doesn’t, eliminating the side-to-side shifting with each step that can fatigue your back and rub your hips raw over the course of a full day. The removable hipbelt, which detaches using an Allen wrench, comes in four sizes in both the men’s and women’s versions, fitting men’s waists from 26 to 45 inches and women’s waists from 27 to 43 inches. I’ll give extra points for the basic but efficient organization: a floating lid pocket, a front stuff-it pocket big enough for a jacket or rainfly, one hipbelt pocket, and stretchy side pockets that you can reach into when wearing the pack. I also like how the mesh and air channels on the back pad kept my back cool. It’s a great choice for lightweight backpacking, but the thin fabric on the front and side pockets would get chewed up fast if you used it climbing or on rugged off-trail scrambles. There’s also a 60-liter (3,660 c.i.) Infinity. The women’s versions are the Innova 50 and 60.

—Michael Lanza

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