Gregory  Alpinisto 50 Pack

I rarely give 5 but Gregory has just about made the perfect alpine pack. I own the older Alpinisto 35 and added a side zip myself. Now with the side zip, crampon pouch and lighter set up this pack is fantastic. The 50 is great for ice climbing when hauling 2 ropes, gear, and extra clothes. The only thing (in my opinion) it is lacking is a hip belt pocket, something that I have become accustomed to. I attached amphipod in that place to compensate. Took it out with a good load and it rides so well. Moves with your body and doesn't bump your helmet even with its massive capacity.

Have used this pack a few times. Perfect size for 3 night trips with 2 person tent, sleeping bag, and food and water in winter. Only concern was waist belt was not fitting properly around my hip, but that's due more to my physique more than anything. Runs a bit smaller (50L is actually 48L for medium size). Great color, and great hooks for tools and accessories. Would def recommend to other people looking for a medium sized pack.

I'm 5'2" and there aren't very many great choices for me. Luckily there are packs the Alpinisto. This pack is very well designed for climbers and very comfortable even when loaded. I was deciding between the Alpinisto and the BD Epic 40. The extra features - bivy pad, side zip access, unique ice axe attachment , helmet space cut out, outside crampon pocket - were the reasons why I chose this one over the Epic 40. I tested this with about 35 lbs and was still very comfortable. The Osprey Aether 65 is also very comfortable pack for my height and I had originally purchased it for that reason. However, taking it on glacier climb immediately made it clear to me that this pack is NOT designed for climbers - too many straps, the beefy hip belt got in the way. Finally, while the side hip pockets and mesh side pockets on the Osprey are good for backpacking, I didn't feel it was worth the difficulty of getting to gear while wearing my harness. In summary, the Alpinisto is a great climbing pack for overall, especially for shorter climbers. Also, its a great pack for those who want the most vital features without the extras that can get in the way of climbing. The extra weight compared to other packs goes into making it more sturdy.

especially for cooler weather hikes/climbs, ski tours, etc. The perfect pack. Wish I'd had this one on Alpamayo! The pack stays put on your back, rides very well, doesn't restrict movement at all, has plenty of room if you're careful what you take for multi-night trips. I especially love the helmet cavity, the tool attachment setup, and that the pack doesn't have a lot of "bells & whistles" that you don't use. It's a sleek, streamlined, great pack!