High Sierra Classic Series 59301 Explorer 55 Internal Frame Pack

I bought this pack as a placeholder until I get enough money to buy a more expensive Osprey or Kelty. I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting much, but I was pleasantly surprised at the durability and comfort of this pack. Being a 55L, it is perfect for weekend excursions. Even with 35+ lbs of gear, this pack rode comfortably and stability was good too. The only complaint I have is it does squeak as you walk along. I noticed another reviewer mentioned this as well, and rest assured it is not just your pack. I don't think it is necessarily a manufacturing flaw--just annoying.

It does have one added bonus that even the more expensive packs sometimes lack. That is a built in rain-cover. There is a small velcro pocket on the underside of the pack that contains a drawstring rain-cover attached by strap and everything. If you get caught in a Summer thunderstorm, just pull the cover out of the pocket, pull it over the pack and tighten the drawstring and you're good to go. This came in useful for me since I got caught in a downpour my first day out.

Other than the squeak, this pack is great in durablity, great in stability, and great in comfort. Definitely worth the price. I would definitely recommend it.

I purchased the pack as a extended weekend pack for my 19 year old son. He is 6'0" and weighs 220 lbs. This pack is listed as a 55 Liter pack. It is. It is well made and I will keep it for my wife. When he took it out of the box he tried it on. I looked at the packing materials. It is listed as a slim fit. It is for women and kids. It has a max waist of 32". This is not in the description. I wanted a full sized internal frame pack for him. The brochure that came with the pack clearly shows it as slim fit and lists the proportions. The ad does not. It would be great for youth and women, but I do not feel it is a good fit for adults. It is a good weekend pack and I am keeping it for my wife. The ad needs to show the brochure which clearly show High Sierra packs and who they fit and size.

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I bought this pack as a "stand-in" for a last-minute 50km weekend trip I just made, and in the longer term for my boys to use. Thus the range of torso size adjustment, durability and price were all important factors for me.

This pack is reasonably well constructed of what appears to be sturdy materials. The shoulder harness adjustment mechanism (a velcro tab that wraps around loops spaced along the pack spine) is not the greatest it's a little too loose, which means I ended up compensating by tightening the shoulder straps a little more than I'd like. (And perhaps it's just my pack but the harness squeaks as you walk along!) However, considering the price this is a reasonable compromise.

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I was looking for a sturdy, well built, and roomy bag for my camping trip and also as an investment as a luggage backpack for all future trips overseas/in the states. I used this for my camping trip and was surprised at how roomy it was and how much it could hold! The straps were more than helpful and I was able to lock my sleeping bag/pillow into place and large water bottle/umbrella on the sides.

Some nice extras this bag has is a bottom compartment for separate items (be it shoes, sleeping bag (mine did not fit!), etc.). A cellphone holder, two straps in the front for poles/axes, a rain fly is in the bottom pocket which you can pull over the bag in case of rain.

Sizing: accordingly the waist size strap for this bag is fit for slim people, I am a slim guy and it fits nicely. The bags with the higher numbers are for regular waist sizes and bigger. The Explorer 55 fits nicely for individuals with a 28" to 31" waist size.

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I purchased this pack for a 3 day, 22-mile backpacking trip in Yosemite. The pack proved to be both reliable and comfortable with 45 pounds of gear stuffed into it. Comes with a spacious main compartment with an additional slot for a water bladder and complimenting guide to thread your mouth-piece through; plus, a lower compartment for a well-compressed sleeping bag is separated by a strong, zippered flap. The numerous straps/loops on the exterior creates almost limitless surface area for additional equipment. Additionally, a hidden pocket on the bottom hides away a sweet water proof cover for the pack in the event of a downpour.

The only real issue I found with this bag was its tenancy to loosen at the hip belt. For some reason, every half-hour or so, I found myself re-tightening the belt. Also, the shoulder harness anchor squeaks a bit.

All in all, for my first pack, I found this piece of equipment to be invaluable in what turned out to be a fantastic weekend backpacking through Yosemite.