ALPS Mountaineering  Caldera 90 Pack

Technical specs on REI state this pack can fit up to a 54" waist. I'm substantially smaller (40/42), and the waist belt is still way too small. Apparently there is an option for an XL waist belt that ALPS sells as an addon. but the only reason I purchased this pack was because of the listed specs. That said, the pack is nice -- nice enough that i'm not returning it and just ordering the XL waist belt from ALPS directly. It has tons of pockets and areas for adjustment for size and comfort. It seems very well made, and even using just the shoulder straps I think it's comfortable enough for a short hike.

This is one of my favorite packs! It sits so well on your body and adjust extremely easy. I use it for big trips and small one day trips. It fits all my needs.

The family and I put these packs through a good amount of abuse over 5 days in shenandoah national park. No significant problems; they fit plenty of gear. My only complaint is the waist belts do not stay tight for more than a mile. You have to continuously tighten.

Haven't used the Caldera 90 on a field test yet, however this pack has very durable nylon material you can feel, and an even more durable bottom. The foam padding on the back and hip belt of the bag seems like it's more breathable than other packs out there. I like the hook and latch velcro for the adjustable torso shoulder strap length because I know that hook and latch velcro system will not let the shoulder straps loosen up and cause the pack to slide down your back. The only small draw back that I've noticed so far is the bottom zippers on the pack that is made for you to access the inside underside of your pack, there not secure enough. It's just two big zippers that meet up together when u zip it up. Seems like it could open up while hiking and drop out some of your gear. I made an easy fix. I took a shoe lace, laced it through both zippers and made two double over hand knots to secure them together so they won't open up. I'm very picky about my outdoor gear. And i do a lot of research on backpacks. This pack is the best I've ever found, so far.

I recently carried 65 lbs in this pack for several days. It handled the weight very well. I love that the top can be used as a waist pack. It’s a great pack for the price.