Arc'teryx Altra 62 Pack - Women's

Comments about Arc'Teryx Altra 62 Pack - Women's:

This four-star product review begins with a service comment pertaining to the ubiquitous squeak problem which I have pasted into the adjacent tab....Satisfied with this service but still skeptical about making such a big investment on a potentially ill-designed product, I did some independent research. The word from ArcTeryx was that this problem, while rare, is not unknown to the company. So the good news is, there is every reason that if you buy an Altra that squeaks, you will be able to get a squeak-free replacement like mine. I went for it, and I think you should consider it, too. This pack is that good.I do not understand, however, why all the Altra 62s (even the talls) are shipped with medium hip belts that are too small for every woman I interviewed. [...] The replacement (large) hip belt will cost me (and you) $100! [...] in every other respect it's a remarkable piece of engineering. With the best new suspension in years coming in at under 5 lbs, the Altra is a wonderful pack for people on long trips who like to stay organized and who carry loads over 45 lbs. Advances in lighweight gear have reduced most summer weekend pack weights to 35 pounds, and weeklong trips can now easily be accomplished with packout weights of 40 lbs. And so, because this really is an innovative specialty product that is going to require regular light maintenance to the load transfer disc (yes, it's a little fussy, and yes, you need to go online and watch ArxTeryx's video about how to lubricate the load transfer disc when it squeaks), the first thing a buyer should do is ask herself, am I really going to need the carrying capacity?(If you've never asked yourself that question before, there is one important safety reason why you might upgrade to the Altra if you're otherwise on the fence. Somebody on every trip should be prepared to carry big volumes and heavy loads. As a wilderness first responder, experience has taught me that that if somebody on the trip gets hurt or tired early on, somebody else is going to have to carry all that extra gear back home. That somebody else is usually me. And the Altra is perfect for this kind of job, whenever you need to load up on weight and still enjoy the journey. This is not a mountaineering pack, but it cushily carries 50 pounds of my climbing gear on training hikes. As advertised, it can handle the weight.)Let me address and clarify some confusion. TRAVEL PACK: No, this is not an airline carry-on. You will need to check the Altra when flying, ideally packed inside a travel duffel to protect the delicate load transfer disc on the hipbelt. LASH POINTS: There are two sets of daisy chains on this pack, low and high on each side, contrary to other online reports. They are very minimalist but they are excellent. You can lash stuff on to this pack, no problem.LID POCKET: No, this is not convertible into a day pack.HYDRATION POCKET: Yes, the pocket is on the side, yes this is unusual, and yes, it is very narrow. I have tested Camelbak, Osprey, Platypus and Nalgene bladders. I have only been able to find ONE bladder that fits in the Altra's pocket: the 2L Platypus. Becuase of this, I really think that ArcTeryx should sell the pack with this particular bladder included. But no, this is not evidence of poor design. It is designed to balance out your load. Two liters of water weighs 4.4 pounds, which is about the weight of your tent strapped to the outside of the other side of the pack. Very clever. Top loaders with water packed inside center and close to the back have always had a weight balance problem once tent poles (if not the whole wet tent) were strapped to one side or the other. So I can see where Arcteryx is going with this design feature, which once again aims for carrying comfort, and it's fine with me. Contrary to reports by other reviewers, it was not a problem to remove, fill and replace the Platypus with the pack full.SLEEPING BAG COMPARTMENT. One reviewer compared this pack to an old panel loading Mountainsmith I used on my AT hike in 1991. Except for the clamshell zipper shape, there is no comparison between the two packs. The old Mountainsmith was about a tenth as rugged as the Altra is, and the Altra's multiple sliders allow you to access gear both from the bottom (your sleeping bag) and from the side (your hydration bladder). Contrary to one report, you do not need to unstrap a ton of gear from the pack to do this. Like all panel loaders, the clamshell zipper works best when you don't overstuff the pack. But because of multiple sliders, you CAN pull out your sleeping bag on a coffee break. HEADROOM. This feature, ensured by a piece of plastic incorporated into the pack bag that will not allow you to overstuff the pack behind your head, works well. The Altra gives you lots of headroom, great for birders, photographers and navigators. But I wonder if it might also be contributing to the squeak problem?ICE AXE. Yes, you can easily attach your axe to this pack by setting it on the gear shelf and lashing the shaft onto the daisy chains. But the Altra is not well-equipped for carrying crampons (you'll need a crampon pocket), and for a host of other reasons I do not recommend it as a climbing or mountaineering pack.ZIPPER: Except for the top lid, the zippers are not waterproof. They leak, while the pack bag itself is remarkably water resistant. This makes no sense to me. Like Backpacker magazine, I don't understand why ArcTeryx didn't waterproof the zippers at this price point. So plan on keeping key items dry by stuffing them in waterproof sacks. This will weigh much less than the 9-oz. pack cover that Arcteryx promotes, and it provides much better security against gear-soaks on sodden days.Bottom line: Replacing the old Dana Terraplane in my mind, this is a bomber pack for gear-intensive hikers who need to stay organized, like hunters, birders or backcountry photographers. At 62 liters, expandable in a pinch, it will handle three season volumes with grace and style, taking you down to freezing temperatures (but not into the sub-zero world). You can pull the spin drift collar up over your waist and bivy in this pack in an emergency. Carrying 40-lb plus loads with ease, it's perfect for outback treks and weeklong backpacking trips. Great for backpacking with children when you might end up humping their gear. And it will work well for adventure travel (like a gap year or year abroad) that will involve mixed uses, yo-yoing volumes and heavy weights. It is highly adjustable in the shoulders, which adds to comfort when you need to address pressure points. This is not a versatile travel pack or a technical mountaineering pack. And the highly technical suspension literally hinges on a piece of equipment called the load traqnsfer disc that you will need to lubricate on a regular basis (perhaps even during a trip, as reported here). I love my Altra and I think it's worth fussing over, but I'm barely grinning and bearing the cost of a reasonablly-sized replacement hipbelt.Changing out the hipbelt should be free. The pack should be shipped with a 2L Platypus hydration bladder. And the zippers should be waterproofed.

Comments about Arc'Teryx Altra 62 Pack - Women's:

I wanted to love this pack, but I don't. I've read other reviews on other websites about the hip belt not fitting right and I couldn't agree more. The hip belt was too wide for me, I could hardly get it to hug my hips, but it was also too small at the same time, when I cinched it down, it cut right into my front hip bones. It was incredibly painful on my trip this weekend, my hip bones are bruised. I'm really sad because I love the design of this pack, a simple top loading tube, without a ton of annoying straps or pockets on the outside to confuse things. However, there is no way I can make this pack work. I think arc'teryx put way too much thought into the disc hip belt and neglected the most important aspect of a hip belt, that it comfortably hug your hips and evenly transfer the load across your pelvis. Rather, this help belt digs into your hips and put the majority of the load onto one focused point, causing bruising. I'm super sad I have to return this pack, but at this price, I expect everything to be super cushy and perfect.

Comments about Arc'Teryx Altra 62 Pack - Women's:

This is the first backpacking pack I've owned, and it definitely lived up to the reviews (and price) I had checked out beforehand. Used it a number of times before heading out to Glacier NP for an overnight backpack, with around 30-35 lbs fully loaded, and had nothing to complain about pack-wise any of the times I came off the trail. The pivoting hipbelt design is amazing, as it shifts with your movement. Only tip is to have some lubricant from the manufacturer handy if you're going to be out in wet weather, as the pivoting hipbelt might squeak over time if it gets wet (happened to me after a rainy hike, pre-packcover). No biggie to fix though- the pack is well worth it overall!!

Comments about Arc'Teryx Altra 62 Pack - Women's:

Can't say enough good things about this pack. This was my first backpacking experience and so went pretty much on reviews and recommendations to buy a pack. We were 4 days out and loaded with 35 lbs (I weigh 110), and it was very comfortable. Everyone wanted my pack!