JanSport Big Bear Women's Pack - 59 Liters - '09 Overstock

Comments about JanSport Big Bear 63 Pack - '09 Overstock:

I just got back from a 3 day trip in the Hetch Hetchy area in Stanislaus National Forest, and it was my first time using this pack. I got it because it was the cheapest pack I could find on REI outlet and I wasn't looking for anything fancy.

That said, I was pleasantly surprised with the function of my pack. You get what you pay for, so don't expect a whole lot. It's a top-loading pack and that's the only way to access the main compartment, which is big and simple. There's an easy-access zippered pocket on the lid of the pack, which is roomy enough for a change of clothes, and a smaller front zipper pocket like a regular Jansport backpack (this is also just one big pocket, no extra fanciness inside). There is only one lonely daisy chain on the front, so there's not a whole lot of places to lash on gear, but it gets the job done.

The absolute best surprise that the description and other review neglected to mention was that there is a pocket in the back of the main compartment to hold a water reservoir! And there is a slit to pull the water tube through to the front of the back. I took the hose clip off my Camelbak and it fit right onto the strap on this backpack. And the reservoir pocket is quite deep (my reservoir is only 1.5 liters/50 oz. but I think it can hold up to a 100 oz./3L bag of water).

My main concern was that there weren't a whole lot of straps/places to lash on things. I had a PFD and no way to really lash it on well, even with mini carabiner key chains and bungee cords. Eventually I just stuck the arm holes through the straps that secured the lid to the rest of the pack. It worked well.

Anyway. great price for a lot of space, and it's comfy, and highly adjustable, and the purple color is pretty.

Service and delivery comments:

I got it send to an REI store, so it was great.

Comments about JanSport Big Bear 63 Pack - '09 Overstock:

I bought this pack for my wife, its really a woman's pack but might fit small men. My wife loves this pack! She has a much larger 75L pack but needed a mid-sized pack for doing the hut to hut trips that are common here in the Alps. This fit the bill perfectly and was on sale at an obscenely low price at REI Outlet. She used it last week on our 5 day hut trip from the Brenner Pass in Austria to Brixen, Italy. It's perfect, lets see if its durable (its a lightweight contruction). Only Con is the absence of an ice-axe loop but we tied a piece of accessory cord through one of the existing small loops on the bottom-front of the pack and voila- instant ice-axe loop. Padding is fairly basic but fine for any loads this size of pack can hold.

Comments about JanSport Big Bear 63 Pack - '09 Overstock:

You literally get what you pay for. I was in need of a standard 4000ci, 60L backpack to travel. Given the sale at REI, and reading the product description, I figured I would give this a try since it was incredibly cheap.

Well, I got what I had paid for. It is literally like a backpack, any normal Jansport backpack one would use for school with an additional 5 inches on top to be called a "hiking" backpack. No special feature, no additional compartments. It has your side pockets to hold water bottles and 2 in the front. The zippers didn't slide smoothly and the straps aren't that great either.

I would recommend this to someone who may be using this for basic, basic traveling needs. Don't expect this to last long and will be returning this ASAP.

Service and delivery comments:

The delivery was EXCELLENT! I could not be any more satisfied with REI's prompt delivery service. Placed the order on Friday,August 7, in the afternoon and got it Wednesday morning (Aug 12). The projected arrival date was Monday, August 17. Since I had placed my order on the weekend, I had assumed it would get here on Saturday, August 15 or even that Monday.

Great service REI. Will def. do business again (hopefully if I place my order today for a new backpack, it will come before I leave for Italy on Tuesday, August 18!