How to Choose a Backpack

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This fast and clean alpine pack sports an extra-durable, nearly waterproof shell with plenty of ski and snow-tool straps for winter expeditions and all-season climbing adventures.
Shop similar productsBest Use | Mountaineering Climbing Backcountry Skiing |
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Frame Type | Internal Frame |
Gear Capacity (L) | 50 liters |
Gear Capacity (cu. in.) | 3,051 cubic inches |
Weight | 3 lbs. 11.9 oz. |
Fits Torso Length (in.) | 18 - 20 inches |
Fits Waist/Hips | 30 - 46 inches |
Material(s) | Nylon/closed-cell foam |
Frame Material | Aluminum |
Number of Stays | 1 tubular |
Reservoir Compatible | Yes |
Pack Access | Top/panel |
Number of Exterior Pockets | 3 + main compartment |
Gender | Unisex |
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I've owned this pack for a little less than a year. Used primarily for backcountry snowboarding/splitboarding, but also works well for backpacking. Pack can carry your board when in tour mode and in board mode. Very comfortable streamlined design. I'm built slim and 6' 3". The pack has an internal U-frame and the only issue I had was that one end of the U busted through the bottom of the pack. The pack was still under both REI and Mammut warranties so I exchanged it for another one. The newer model uses a more durable fabric where my old pack failed (as well as in other high impact areas) so I'm hopeful this issue is solved. Best backcountry pack I've found!
Excellent backpack. I've taken it on several multi-day trips and I relished the opportunity to try and downsize my gear to fit in this size. I feel comfortable fitting everything I need for a 4-5 day winter trek, or a 6-7 day summer trek, in this backpack. As others mentioned, the back access slot is incredible, and I'm going to bring my wood axe next time I go on a backpacking and the ice-axe slots are going to work great for that. I used to backpack with a 70L pack and would fill it with some things that I just wouldn't need, but now this pack forces me to gladly remove some of the excess stuff and deal with a more manageable load.
I had bought a version of this pack a year or so ago and one of the back stays tore through. Mammut replaced it and they've fixed that design flaw, and now I'm supremely impressed with this pack. I used to think back panel zipper access was just a weight creator, but it is so handy--especially so when you've got skis strapped to the back of the pack. The size is great for cold winter ice climbing or for summer alpine overnights. If the lid clicked off with snap buckles versus threaded buckles that would allow for quicker and easier removal of the lid when it wasn't necessary, but beyond that, this pack hits the mark.
I bought this pack to use on steep / rugged overnight trips, to carry gear for rock climbing approaches, and to carry my snowboard on day-trip mountain ascents. Overall this pack is really ideal for those trips where you want to break a long day-hike of a peak into a much easier 2 day event. If you are ok with minimalist, compact gear for an overnight trip than this is a great pack. At 50 liters and without a lot of exterior attachment points I would not recommend this for more than a 3 day 2 night trip in cold weather. In warmer weather with less gear you are probably fine taking it on a week long trip. I recently used this pack to carry 40lbs of gear + a 15lb snowboard & boots up Mt Adams. For a smaller internal frame pack I was really surprised how well it carried this 55 lb load up to my camp. When unloaded for a day trip to the top with less gear it compacted nicely and the ski clips on the sides can be reversed to clip a snowboard to the back. My only complaint (and this is probably typical of a lot of packs) is that you have to unbuckle the snowboard to gain access to your ice axe. The fabric of the pack is really tough which makes it a great approach pack or any rugged hikes that include some mixed scrambling and trail blazing. The interior of the fabric appears to have a water resistant lining, but so far due to an unusually dry spring I have not put this to the test. If you are going to carry a rope for climbing, the rope strap across the top is a nice feature. Also has a few gear loops on the hip belt which could be useful for racking extra gear if you are doing a running belay or glacier travel.
I have had this bag for 1.5 years now, and I really love it. Excellent access from the top and back panel, plenty of straps for ice tools, skis and poles, and durable yet lightweight. Previously I used mostly Gregory packs but I took a chance on this one and it has been great. For ski touring I remove the wire frame and top pouch to use it as a lighter weight, 40L bag, but I can also cram enough gear and food for a 3 day volcano climb with the extra top pouch. I really bash my bags, but this one has stayed together well, some interior mesh has torn, but the outer fabric is very strong, zippers especially. Used mostly on alpine 2 day-3 day climbs in all seasons in the WA Cascades.
I've gone through 6 packs of this approximate size in the past decade due to them either wearing out or not fitting right during long trips. I am very happy to say that this pack bests every other pack I've tried. I have thus far used it for ski touring, hiking, backpacking (only up to a 3 day trip), cragging, multipitch trad climbing, and canyoneering. It really is "almost" waterproof. However, I'm not sure what the difference is between "almost" and "totally" waterproof is. I was rappelling a waterfall the other day with this pack on and nothing inside got wet, to my happy surprise (although I did feel the need to put essential items in dry bags just in case). The back panel access is ingenious, bomber, and SUPER convenient, especially for cragging. I can set my pack down and within seconds have access to everything in it. I regularly go entire days without opening the top lid. The big pocket on the front is very bomber and is great for storing avalanche gear (shovel, probe), and some quick-access clothing or dirty gear. I've found the suspension to rival my gregory packs (luxuriously comfortable), which is saying a lot considering that these straps seem very minimalist. Essentially, I'm very very picky about my gear, and I think I've found a do-it-all, perfect backpack. If I had the money, I'd buy a couple more of these and have them for when I inevitably destroy this thing in a canyon. However, given how tough the material has proven to be already, that might not happen for a long while.
I bought this pack not for mountaineering or climbing but for hiking. I couldn't find a pack with the fancy mesh backs that fit me comfortably and decided to give this pack with the closed cell foam style back a shot. I did two and a half to three days and about 30 miles with maybe a couple thousand feet of climb up and down. The pack worked flawlessly. It was comfortable and held everything I needed with room to spare. I fear the size may be an issue for longer excursions by my rating isn't affected by that since I knew the size prior to purchase. I get that the outside pocket is ideally for crampons but I feel that the packs storage abilities is severely crippled by the fact that there is no kind of pouch or strap in the outside pocket.
I love this bag; it combines durability, looks, utility and storage space into a sleek package. I use it almost everyday between going to the office or doing weekend overnight hikes. The full zip pocket on the back of the bag is ingenious and provides instant access to all of your gear. Only small downside is the front zip pocket is kind of small so I don't use it too often.
Great all around pack! Plenty of room for a few days on the mountain.
I just had my one year anniversary with this back. We've been through a lot together, and I'm pretty fond of it. Sick ski carry system, A-frame is super easy, and with some straps you can do a diagonal or vertical carry on the back. I wish the ice axe loops were big enough to put skis through, but oh well. The A-frame makes up for it anyway. Good avy tool compartment, I like the single zipper and the size. It can get squeezed especially when you have the main compartment super full, but it works out. Ice axe/tool holder is awesome, super fast to take them in and out. Straps are comfortable, albeit a bit less "fancy" than you'd find on a real backpacking pack. The back zip varies between very useful and mildly useful depending on how much stuff you have on the pack, but I'm very glad they included it. The pack fabric itself is bomber (with the exception of the fabric holding in the frame, described below) and light and quite waterproof. I've used this pack from everything from single day ski tours, to multiday ski mountaineering trips, to climbing trips, to backpacking, to quick hikes... while it's definitely a more mountaineering (and especially ski mountaineering) focused pack, it can do everything else quite well. I never felt this pack was too big (even when skiing hard, it packs down well), and I rarely wished it was larger. If I was doing more like weeklong trips more frequently, I probably would want a larger pack, but for the 3ish day trips I frequently do, this size forces you to pack only what you need (for example, my sleep system probably takes up ~50% of the pack, not including a tent). I frequently am much lighter and faster than friends who's packs let them carry everything including the kitchen sink. My one qualm is the internal frame. If you're stuffing the pack pretty full (as I'm liable to do with the small size), you can mildly bend the frame, and over time one of the ends of the frame started poking out of the back of the fabric. I warranted it at one year, nbd. If I got a wishlist of things to improve, I'd include a better helmet carry system and make the ice axe loops accommodate diagonal ski caries, but it's still an excellent pack without them. Who's this pack for? Cragers, alpine climbers, backcountry skiers and mountaineers on multiday or day (but not usually weeklong) trips, especially those who pack lighter and who value simplicity in their gear. Who's it not for? People looking to do week to multi-week trips (I wouldn't use it for Denali, at least not on its own), people who pack heavy, people who place a huge premium on comfort (not that it isn't comfortable), or people who do a ton of backpacking.