Deuter ACT Lite 60 + 10 SL Pack - Women's

Comments about Deuter ACT Lite 60 + 10 SL Pack - Women's:

I LOVE this pack. I almost bought the men's since I am a very tall female with an athletic frame and also wanted the tiny bit more space it offers. I'm glad I picked this or it would have allowed me to overpack :) it fits my boyish-female frame well also. I go on extended day hikes and it fits all that I need, and I like the less-is-more approach. The +10 option gies you a little leway when you go a bit beyond the 65.

I was a little apprehensive about the seemingly-fragile buckles, but I've beat the ish out of this pack and it loves me right back :)
I haven't been out in too much inclement weather, but it seems to be alright with the rain. Like any pack, just buy a duckback/pack cover and waterproof stuff sacks to save yourself the greif.

If it had double hip zip pockets instead of a single, and that were JUST slightly larger then it could fit more useful things. The ventilation on the back isn't so great, however, the sweat does dry off quickly in decent conditions. If these two things didn't occur, then I'd give it a 5-star rating, no doubt.

Comments about Deuter ACT Lite 60 + 10 SL Pack - Women's:

I bought this pack a few months ago to use on extended hiking trips, overnights, and most importantly, to climb Mt. Rainier in a few weeks. I've taken it on several trips so far (including one up Mt. Hood last month in which we climbed in 50mph winds and blowing mist), and it's performed beautifully. I have not had any issues with durability, and the pack is easy to load (I LOVE the separate sleeping bag compartment!), and the weight distributes well on the hip belt.

The hip straps are double-backing and way too long, so I cut them off and singed the tips to prevent fraying. We also had a "pack-fitting night" recently and we actually took the X-stays out and bent them to fit the contours of my back. If you're serious about fit and comfort, I highly recommend doing this!

I am very happy with this backpack and am eagerly anticipating its performance on Rainier. I think the price is extremely fair and the light weight is a huge bonus. You won't find a ton of extra bells and whistles on this backpack, but you I don't even miss them.

Comments about Deuter ACT Lite 60 + 10 SL Pack - Women's:

This pack was so comfortable, I was happier backpacking in this than I am taking day hikes with my little day pack!

1) I highly recommend going in to a store and spending a good amount of time getting fitted. I tried out several packs, with full weight, and with the assistance of a very helpful REI salesperson. This one was obviously right for me from the moment I got it on. I am 5'3", 130 lbs., with fairly wide hips and a muscular build.

2) I have only used this on one trip so far, where we were hiking with moderate elevation and no more than 4 miles each day. However, I took on most of the weight of the group, and while I didn't have a scale to weigh it, I am sure that it was at least carrying max weight. I never needed a break, and when everyone else was breaking, I didn't even take off my pack as my body felt totally fine supporting this pack.

3) My only complaint is that I like more clips/places to clip things on the outside of my packs. This pack is pretty minimal as far as these options. Also, securing the sleeping pad was awkward, there are no straps for this on the bottom of the pack. However, these are only minor complaints, and the benefits greatly outweigh any downsides. I am very happy with my selection and hope to use this through many more adventures!

Comments about Deuter ACT Lite 60 + 10 SL Pack - Women's:

I recently used my new pack on a couple of four-day trips this month. Great pack for me. I'm 5'7" with average proportions. I keep the shoulder straps on the fourth bar down; however, at this height the adjusters can't be at the recommended 45 degrees, they're only ½" above the shoulder strap. The adjusters can't be used at all, if the shoulder straps are any higher than the fourth bar down, so I really don't see how someone with a longer torso could use this pack comfortably. There is a second set of shoulder strap adjusters several inches below the top ones, to accommodate someone with a shorter torso.

I found the hip padding to be quite comfortable, once an REI employee who knew what he was doing helped me with the fit. The top of the hip bones need to be in the center of the hip padding, so that the padding curves both vertically and horizontally around the top of the hip bone, putting the buckle on the bellybutton. Now that I'm sure this is the right pack for me, I'll be cutting at least 18" off the length of each hip strap, right now the ends just about reach my knees.

The small zippered pocket on the right hip is great for something small or flexible, keeping in mind that the pocket needs to curve around the hip. On the left is an open sleeve of sorts, not sure what to do with this, I think a pocket would have been more useful.
The construction seems really solid, and I've had up to 40 lbs in the pack. It carried the weight comfortably and securely, and never felt like it would buckle. It holds everything I need with the extra 10L on top. The pack has well-located compression straps to keep the contents tight and secure, and the chest strap loop to hold the drink tube is a nice touch.

Comments about Deuter ACT Lite 60 + 10 SL Pack - Women's:

I read reviews on many backpacks before buying a new one to replace my old Kelty Coyote 40.
When I went to REI I asked for help to get a new
backpack fitted, the first one that I tried was the Deuter 60+10 and just for comfort I bought it.
It's the most comfortable backpack and the women's fit is much better than unisex.
I'm 5'7" with a small waist but wider hips. The belt fitted well, but it could be bigger so it wraps around your waist more. I carried 30 lbs for 5 days and I didn't feel discomfort from the backpack or felt like moving/re-arrange my straps, it just sat right.
My only note on this (which I also read on other reviews) is that with a full pack (and also because of the height of the internal frame) you cannot wear a full brim sun-hat, since you are constantly pressing it with the pack. Those two things just don't work. Overall the pack is light by itself, very comfortable with weight and easy to access.

Comments about Deuter ACT Lite 60 + 10 SL Pack - Women's:

Deuter has one of the best (if not THE BEST) warranty in the business. My daughter's pack had a broken zipper and small tear in one of the pockets, so we sent the pack in for repair. To our surprise we received a new one in return!! Having dealt with other companies so called "Lifetime Warranty" plans, this one truly is Hassle-Free!! The pack has been perfect for our teen-age daughter and is adjustable so it will continue to grow with her. We are so pleased with the many pockets and adjustments on this pack. The comfort is unbeatable and the price is well worth a "lifetime!!"

Comments about Deuter ACT Lite 60 + 10 SL Pack - Women's:

I was very nervous about buying a multi-day pack online without going into the store to check for fit but - after hunting around online for hours - I took the plunge with the Deuter and am so glad that I did.

I'm 5'2" and have a small waist but average size hips. I often have a hard time finding things that fit well, but was able to adjust the ACT Lite to fit perfectly in less than a minute.

The ACT Lite is also an incredibly lightweight pack for its going price. As other reviews have mentioned, this is at the expense of some of the bells and whistles that you find on other packs, though I haven't had any trouble with the minimal loops, etc.. The only things I actually miss are 1) having two slightly larger hip pockets 2) having an integrated rain cover and 3) having a smaller, integrated, detachable day-trip pack for maps, change, etc..

That said 1) it seems like it would be easy to jerry-rig another, larger hip pocket for the left side of the bag 2) rain covers for this bag are available online at reasonable prices and 3) the Deuter carries weight so comfortably that I wouldn't hesitate to add a small bag that folds down well to my load. The Deuter also has things that other packs are missing: mesh side pockets for water bottles, maps, etc.; and the versatility of a separate bottom compartment that you can use for sleeping bags, dirty clothes, etc. or that can be opened onto the main compartment if you need to carry something larger like a tent. The bag is also a bright, easy-to-recognize-as-yours color and surprisingly attractive without being girly (though Deuter does include a bright yellow flower/hair tie with the bag ;)).

All in all: a fantastic bag that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.

Comments about Deuter ACT Lite 60 + 10 SL Pack - Women's:

I shopped forever to find the perfect pack and I did! My pack was fitted [...] and it was different than what was "recommended" by Deuter. I bought this pack to walk the 500 mile Camino de Santiago across Spain and it was perfect! I love the separate compartment for the sleeping bag and the large zipped pocket up top. Also, the small pocket on the belt was large enough for my camera, chapstick, and iPod! I'm taking it on the Portuguese route this year! I also had a lot of strap leftover, so I did the same thing as another gal wrote and cut the excess off and singed the ends. Every ounce counts! One recommendation... remove the yellow flower. It really attracted bees! Seriously! Happy Trails!

Comments about Deuter ACT Lite 60 + 10 SL Pack - Women's:

I used this product to hike the first 320 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail. My goal is to go as ultralight as possible and there are lighter packs available. However, I have 2 herniated discs and 2 bulging discs in my Lumbar area so I need this area stabilized and the weight distributed to my hips or pelvis. I'm worried that ultra light packs will not give the support or distribution I need. I keep the shoulder straps high to minimize the the weight and compression to my spine so my hip belt bears most of the weight and stability efforts. This pack was amazing! I carried an average of about 30 lbs. and was comfortable even when I had to carry 4 lt. of water through the desert portions of the trail. One comment complained about no place for the sleeping pad. There are straps on the side of the pack that secures the pad quite nicely. I had absolutely no back problems. For my next extended section hike, I am tempted to try one of those ultra light stripped down packs but if it doesn't work out I KNOW this Deuter 60+10 WILL work out for all my long distance hiking needs.

My one problem: I hiked in the rain for about 4 hours as I thought the pack was rain proof. Everything in my pack was soaked, even the sleeping bag in my bottom compartment. So, bring a poncho to hike in the rain.

Comments about Deuter ACT Lite 60 + 10 SL Pack - Women's:

The bag advertises itself as being designed for women, and it really is. It sits very comfortably on the hips; it's light; it doesn't restrict any movements; and it allows the weight to be distributed perfectly. It even kept its contents dry even after being left outside in the rain overnight--a pleasant surprise in the morning. If it fits your criterion for the capacity, then you should get it--you won't be disappointed.