Mountain Hardwear  AMG 75 Pack

Bought this pack for winter backpacking and overnight ski mountaineering trips. It's an almost perfect pack IF it can fit your frame. I am 6ft, 170lbs, ~19" torso. Torso on the M/L was too long and was unable to properly engage the load lifters. Torso on the S/M fits much better, but still, I am almost at the shortest torso setting to get the pack to fit my torso length properly. So, size down if you're in between torso sizes. Shoulder straps fit surprisingly wide (on the very outside of my shoulders) and trying to narrow them with the sternum strap seems to add overall tightness/pressure on my shoulders and chest that can feel a bit uncomfortable at times. Yes, a 40-50lbs load will never feel entirely 'comfortable', but there seems to be less natural load distribution to my hips compared to some of my summer packs. Also, there is a generous amount of padding on the hip belt, which at first glance seems nice, but I notice that I really have to crank on the waist belt to get it to wrap around my hip bones, maybe (hopefully) this will break in over time, but I really notice just how tight I have to strap this thing down on my skeleton, almost uncomfortably so, compared to some other packs I've owned. Crampon pouch and dedicated space for shovel and probe are fantastic, and the primary feature for purchasing this pack over others. Just wish the fit and carry worked better for my body. Pack in every way feels burly and I haven't noticed any wear and tear from normal use. One moderate complaint is the size/design of the ice axe attachment loops. They are BARELY large enough for me to fit my Petzl trig-rest handles through and I feel like I really have to wrestle it in. This pack is clearly well thought out in every other way, and with so many other quick attachment options out there (or adding literally a few extra millimeters of webbing on the loops), I feel like this is a major (yet mini) design oversight. All straight/non-technical axes will fit in the loops no problem. Very mild complaint is the size of the flap covering the cinch top when carrying the pack without the lid. I think it could benefit from being just a touch larger to make sure the opening of the bag is fully covered. I've experienced a bit of snow build up inside the cinch folds while out on a storm day without the brain on, which ultimately led to extra moisture inside the pack. Just enough moisture that I always keep the brain attached to keep the extra weather protection. Not a huge deal, but an ever so slightly larger internal flap would prevent this issue.

Great winter pack, thoughtfully designed with easy space for snow shoes, axe & crampons. Like all new packs I need to spend more time in it adjusting my needs for easy access snack and water carrying but feel confident it will come together quickly. Initially wondered whether all the straps and adjustments were necessary but once in use I realized every feature was thoughtfully designed and had a purpose. Waterproof base was excellent in two night of just above freezing temps camping on snow & after a few micro adjustments pack was very comfortable with more than 50lb load. All together I’m very pleased with my purchase!

not the lightest mountaineering pack, but lots of features, the external pocket is very handy, the pack compresses down nicely with lighter summit days loads, but also able to carry the heavy loads for shuttling loads to establish camps, etc have not used the pack to carry skis, the tool loops are a little small for technical tools and don't fit that well and had to place the tools with the pick down and adze and hammer near the top

This heavy duty pack is comfortable no matter how much gear I put in it! I love that I can load my 0 degree bag and EVERYTHING to stay warm and never max out! Even when I carry all my climbing gear deep in the back country THIS is a VERY COMFORTABLE PACK! I just wise I could reach the water bottle pockets with the pack on.That’s the only down side-Not a big deal!

This pack has some great features and some bad features. The main concern for me is it even in the smallest size is somehow to big for me as a 5’8” 155 lbs guy. The waist belt can’t be tightened any more and is still too loose for me and I usually wear 29”-30” waist in pants. When loaded up this was sliding down my hips and resting too much on my shoulders. Other than that it’s a solid pack with some quirks but I will need to shorten the nylon loops holding the buckle to the hip strap so that it can carry a heavy load.

I own a lot of packs. I backpack every week all year around and I live in Alaska. Winter in Alaska requires heavier gear. A -20 to -40 F bag weighs around 6 pounds. An R value 6 pad is 2-2.5 lbs. The tent is around ten pounds,and food and water are heavy, so are extra clothing. I can stuff it all in this pack and a shovel and ice axe and I am just under 5 foot five, 140 lbs, a 60 yr old man. Its a comfortable pack for hauling the heavies. It resists abraisionsl I have the 105 liter bag for real Winter. Perfect/

I used this pack to climb Mount Shasta! It fit everything I needed and stuff I didn't need but still brought anyways. After two days of skinning and climbing I got blisters on my heels, but the pack still fit comfortably. There are just enough pockets and straps that there is a place to put/attach everything without having excessive weight. The top pouch was perfect for carrying food on our first day when we skinned up to base camp, but then it was great to be able to take it off to shed weight on our summiting day.

Pros: - Great size, very flexible - Modular, nice adjustments - Highly comfortable even with heavy loads - Robust materials Cons: - No hip belt pockets. I knew this coming in, and I do think the gear loops on the hip belt are cool, but it still makes me sad. - The ice axe attachment loops are too small for my Petzl Sum'tec ice axe. This is really disappointing for me. A more traditional style axe fits fine, but the trig rest of the Sumtec makes it very difficult to fit through. Really on this this back there should be the more modern ice axe attachments with the metal bits that go through the head of the axe. I may even try to add one of those myself. Overall, it's a nice pack. I would recommend it to a friend but I would mention for them to try their ice axe/tools on it first.

I've owned a couple of packs since I was an Eagle Scout, and this pack strikes an excellent balance between utilitarian features and weight. I think some of the other brands, such as osprey, put a lot of focus on a complex suspension system, which hasn't justified the added weight in my experience. The suspension system looks very simple on this pack, and it just works. Feels comfortable too, even under heavy loads (I've done 35lbs so far, and it feels like absolutely nothing.) Hyperlites are much lighter. But this pack has extra weight in features that are helpful when you're exhausted and want stuff to just be easy. No pack is perfect for all tasks. Maybe I'll want a hyperlite some day. But for now, this pack is excellent. I'll be giving it a real test on Mt Shasta this March. Until then, very impressed.

Great so far. Using this pack for a waddington expedition this spring and so far have only been training with water weights about 50lbs and it’s been great! Comfortable and nicely adjustable. I don’t like that the water proof material means the pockets hold water that’s kinda silly, and the Velcro adjustment for the back pads make noise when your making big movements. But so far just those two minor issues.