Pros:
This is a very comfortable pack. The shoulder straps are well padded without being too bulky. The ventilated straps seem like a good idea.
The embossed top pocket gets a lot of use, whether it?s to hold my Garmin 500 before a ride, compact camera, or sunglasses. The material is supposed to be safe for these surfaces.
The area zip divider separates stinky and dirty items.
For a smaller pack, the fact that it has an adjustable yoke is a big bonus. Added with the two torso sizes, it?s easy to achieve a very comfortable fit.
The whistle chest strap buckle is a thoughtful feature.
Cons:
One area where the pack could be improved are the side pocket compression straps. They don?t really do the job well of holding anything down. They are too low and thus don?t wrap around the neck of an MSR fuel bottle (maybe the really small one) or water bottle. They will bounce out.
The chest pocket will hold an iphone (maybe not the taller 5) or other similar sized smart phone as long as there is no protective jacket. If you use one, it will not fit. It does however work well for holding a gel flask.
Elastic cord on face would also be great for attaching a lightweight jacket or long sleeve jersey when temps rise. The netting isn?t very large and doesn?t expand enough.
Hip pockets could be a little bigger. Maybe they are on the large, but mine (s/m) basically hold a small headlamp, my mini Griptilian knife, emergency fire starter and gel pack. Not being big enough to fit a small camera or GPS (eTrex size) is my main gripe.
Other than that, I really enjoy using this pack. A large chunk of its use is as a commuter pack. But I also love it just as much on day hikes or overnight trips. The tool organization pouch with pump sleeve is great, and for those with a Raptor series pack, is the same setup. My purpose for buying this pack was for some overnight bike packing and I really look forward to testing it out in that situation.
I would agree with the other reviewer that the ventilation does not breathe as much as you would like to believe. This doesn't bother me as much as it's designed as (for bikepacking) and used mostly in cycling situations and you're going to sweat anyway. If you want a day hiking bag, there are plenty of others that are geared more towards that application.
I purchased this backpack for use during day hikes as well as for use as a two or three day pack. Overall this is a great backpack. The main compartment can be separated into an upper and lower compartment or the divider can be unzipped to provide a single large compartment. The shoulder straps are comfortable and easy to adjust. The same goes for the waist straps. I had no problem carrying it around for a three hour hike and felt I could walk all day with it wothout noticing the weight. I ended up returning it for two reasons.
First there is nowhere to attach additional items, such as a sleeping bag, on the outside of the pack. Some additional loops or straps on the top and/or bottom would have been great.
Secondly, the mesh and padding that go against your back are supposed to allow air flow to keep you cool. What I found is that with the pack adjusted snugly the sides press against your back and do not allow any air to enter or exit. After 10 minutes of hiking on a cool day (10 degrees celcius) my back was soaked with sweat while the rest of my body was comfortably cool.
Pros:
Main compartment can be separated into an upper and lower compartment or left as a single large compartment.
quite rugged and durable construction.
Easy to organize and access equipment. Lots of storage space.
Comes with it's own rain cover.
Very comfortable to wear, weight wise, for long hikes.
Pockets on the shoulder (1)and waist straps(2) are handy to carry small items such as a cell phone, compass, flashlight, whistle etc.
Has lots of adjustments to allow for a great fit.
Cons:
Lack of additional straps or loops to attach external items (sleeping bag etc.).
Poor ventilation for your back.
The pockets on waist strap are easy to access but difficult to zip closed while wearing the pack.
The mesh on the back has no way to gain access behind it so it will be difficult to remove any dirt or junk that may get in there.
Overall:
This is a good pack. If you do not need to attach additional items on the outside or if you do not overheat easily, as I do, then this pack is definitely worth checking out. I would love to have kept the pack myself but the two issues mentioned above were just a deal breaker for me.
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This backpack is absolutely fantastic. The main pocket is insulated, the dishware set that comes with it is totally adorable, and it makes a fantastic gift for an active couple. It's my new favorite go-to for wedding season.
