It’s the eternal question when it comes to early season hiking up here in the Pacific Northwest. With record snow at all the resorts, this would not be a snow free hike. So, I decided to take the plastic mountaineering boots. That left one problem — a 2.5 mile slog from the trailhead to the snow line.

That brought up another question. “Should I bring a pair of approach shoes too? It certainly would be more comfortable.”

Plastic boots take up a ton of space, which meant a much larger pack would be needed. Well, I did have that gigantic Sierra Designs pack to test… So much for fast and light.

What started out as a relatively easy day hike ended up being a pretty big pack worth of gear once avalanche gear and the boots were packed away in the Revival 65. It’s pretty rare that I need a 65 liter pack, but it certainly came in handy.

My first impressions of the pack were pretty positive. The Revival 65 is a bit of a hybrid pack in that it’s a top loader that has a giant access panel on the back. This way you can cram as much as you want in from the top but don’t have to unload the entire pack to get to a fleece at the bottom.

I really liked the draw strings on the Revival. One hand close and open comes in quite handy when trying to access supplies on the trail. The giant stuff pocket on the back works quite well for miscellaneous items that you need regular access to like sunblock or a paper map.

The ice axe loops were functional and used the same one handed draw strings as the rest of the pack. I didn’t have any issues accessing or storing my ice axe while hiking. The side pockets worked well for storing trekking poles too.

On the way back down, my perception of this bag began to change. Yes, there’s a fancy suspension system. Yes, the organization in the pack is great. None of this really matters if it kills your back though.

The foam Sierra Designs picked for the shoulder straps and hip belt is very firm. It’s also segmented into a few sections as you can see from the pictures. This results in significant pressure points on your hips. Five miles with this pack on and my hips were killing me.

It was bad enough that my hips were still a bit sore 2 days after the hike. I’ve carried a 55 pound pack for multiple days over 50 miles and haven’t had problems like that. Not everyone is the same though. So, if you’re in the market for a Revival 65, be sure to go to a store and try it in person loaded with some weight before you decide to buy it.

MSRP on the Sierra Designs Revival 65 is $240, but a quick search online shows prices as low as $145. At $145, this is an extremely well priced pack. As long as the suspension system doesn’t bother you, it’s an excellent backpack that should last for years to come.

Note: I got an email from the people over at Sierra Designs. They told me the hip belt has been redesigned and the comfort issues have been addressed for the production model. I haven’t tested the apparently redesigned version, but other than the suspension issues I saw, this is an excellent pack.

Product provided by the manufacturer for review purposes.

Looking for a versatile hydration pack for shorter day hikes? Check out the pocket-laden Laguna pack from Hydrapak. Read more for our full review.

These days, hydration packs are almost standard equipment on the trail–my own packs have to be either hydration compatible, or designed with a hydration reservoir integrated into the pack. I’ve recently had the chance to give the Laguna pack from Hydrapak a test on some recent hikes in the foothills of the Cascades, and I have to say, it’s a great little pack. Though you won’t be able to carry the kitchen sink with you, it does the job well.

The Laguna pack is definitely feature-rich for it’s size. At only 600 cubic inches capacity for gear storage, there’s enough room for a lunch, snacks, small camera, an extra layer (like a rain jacket) and any necessities like keys, wallet, or a cell phone. Beyond that, you’ll be pushing the limits of capacity. However, you won’t have to dig around for your gear–there’s a pocket for pretty much everything. While a few of the features are designed for mountain bikers (pump sleeve in the main compartment, two large horizontal straps to hold a helmet in place, etc), many of the features work well for hikers also. Small zippered pockets on either side of the pack are just the right size (and easy to access) for a few energy gels/chews/granola bar or small tube of sunblock. There is even a fleece-lined pocket for an iPod/mp3 player (complete with a cutout for the cord), but if that’s not your thing it works well for keeping your point-and-shoot camera safe. My favorite feature, though, is the dedicated, zippered pocket for the hydration reservoir. Instead or wiggling a 100-ounce reservoir into a sleeve, the back panel zips wide open for you to simply lay the reservoir inside. The drinking tube slides through the pack’s shoulder straps and a magnetic clip on the sternum strap keeps everything in place.

Hydrapak’s reservoirs are a little different from others on the market–rather than a round cap that you twist open and closed, the Hydrapak reservoir is a sleeve, with a folding top and a slide closure that seals the water in. This design makes it super easy to clean and dry after hiking–just unclip the drinking tube, wash (by hand) and turn inside out to dry. It couldn’t be much easier than that. When you’re on the trail, the bite valve is easy to use–just twist to lock/unlock. I haven’t had any problems with leaking when leaving it unlocked while hiking, though speaking from experience, I definitely recommend locking the valve before you toss the pack in the trunk of your car and head off to the trailhead.

At $100, this is not the cheapest hydration pack on the market, but for the money you’ll get a ton of features and a very versatile little pack.

Product provided by the manufacturer for review purposes.

When I was growing up, there were two types of backpacks that were universal at school. There were the gigantic LL Bean backpacks for the kids that carried every book they ever owned with them to school. Then there were the Jansport bags. To say they were everywhere would be an understatement.

Fast-forward to today and not much has changed. The company that owns Jansport makes roughly half of all the backpacks sold in the US today. The only market they don’t dominate in is hiking packs. This is where the new Cloud Ripper series comes in. The Tehipite 42 is part of a range of packs the company is making to tempt backpackers to switch to their brand.

Features:

The Tehipite includes quite a few of the standard features in backpacks today. A hip belt with a couple small pockets for stashing energy gel or a couple quick snacks. There are two large side pockets for water bottles. Two ice axe loops are also included for the rare chance that anyone is going to use them on a pack of this class.

At around 2500 cubic inches, this pack should hold enough for 2-3 days on the trail. When I go backpacking for 3 days, my pack is usually around 25 pounds. So, I would expect the suspension system for any pack in this class to easily hold that much weight.

The Tehipite is a top loading single compartment design. This allows you to cram as much as possible into a single space. The trade off is that it can be a royal pain getting something from the bottom of the pack mid-day. To combat this, pack designers usually put some extra compartments on the outside of the pack for smaller items that you need easy access to. The Tehipite has two of these compartments. There’s a medium size compartment on the outside that doesn’t zip shut. A top compartment is also included that zips shut and has a single mesh pocket inside.

Testing:

The first thing I like to do with a new pack is take a look at the small details. Ice axe loops are usually a sticking point with me. Companies will add them, but not add any place to attach the shaft of the ice axe. Thus, they’re a completely useless design. Thankfully though, Jansport added velcro straps to the top. So, you can actually use the ice axe loops to store an ice axe.

That said, a pack of this level and size will most likely never see an ice axe. No one is going to pick this style of pack for mountaineering. Thankfully though, the velcro straps are removable and the loops tuck away in the pack. So, they’re not a major problem.

Durability is another sticking point with many packs. For example, Mountain Hardwear makes fantastic clothing, but I’ve had issues with the durability of their packs in the past. The Tehipite though uses a pretty thick fabric that appears to be rather abrasion resistant in our tests. So, I haven’t seen any issues with the durability of the packs.

Comfort is also key. The hip belt isn’t the most comfortable of the packs I’ve tested in the past, but it’s certainly manageable for 20-25 pounds. I also enjoy the die cut foam on the back panel. The shoulder straps are stiff, but comfortable. All in all, I could haul 25 pounds in this pack for 3 days without any major issues.

The hydration system is a bit strange on the Tehipite though. Instead of the usual pocket for the hydration bladder on the inside compartment with a hole for the hose, Jansport uses a pocket behind the back panel, but outside the pack. The advantage is that you don’t need to open your pack to fill the bladder. However, this can add some added pressure to the bladder over traditional designs.

The reason for the strange hydration pocket is the suspension system Jansport used. Most modern backpacks use a rigid plastic plate to give the pack a form that also contours to your back. Jansport however used a hybrid internal and external frame system. The support for the backpack comes from a shaped metal tube the runs around the outer edge of the pack with the fabric suspended from the frame.

The major downside to this is that pointy things in your pack and poke your back while you’re hiking. Additionally, the metal tube is exposed to the elements and can get scratched on rocks and the like. I’ve already scratched it loading the pack into the car for testing. Needless to say, I’m a much bigger fan of internal frame packs than this hybrid design.

Additionally, the side water bottle pockets are made from a mesh that doesn’t easily stretch. They’re also not entirely well suited for a normal Nalgene style water bottle. I’d like to see these redesigned in future revisions.

That said, the pack worked quite well on standard day hikes that we tested it on. I also loaded it up with around 20 pounds of gear for a larger test and didn’t notice any issues. Assuming you don’t have anything poking you in the back from the inside, the Tehipite would work pretty well on a short backpacking trip (assuming you can fit everything into 2500 cubic inches).

Product sample provided for review purposes.

We’ve tested a wide range of Osprey’s packs here, but none have been as trimmed down as the Talon series. Weighing in at 1 lb 13 oz (for the M/L), the Talon 22 is definitely on the lighter end for day packs. How does it stay so trim? We noticed a few similarities with another popular Osprey pack, the Exos series. Die cut foam within a mesh strap provide the padding for the shoulder straps, and compression straps on the pack are made with narrower nylon webbing. Zipper pockets are kept to a minimum to shave weight from the pack as well. The pack is hydration compatible, with a panel that the reservoir slides into that secures with a few snaps and bungee-like cord. The Talon 22 also has side pockets on the hip belt, a large mesh stash pocket, compression straps, and an AirScape back panel.

Osprey includes a load range recommendation with every pack they sell. The Talon 22 is recommended for loads between 15 and 25 pounds. Considering that your standard 2 or 3-liter hydration reservoir will eat up anywhere from 4.5 to almost 7 pounds, you aren’t left with much carrying capacity for excursions more than a few hours (unless you own an ultralight version of every product you need). The Talon’s ridge-molded AirScape back panel is flexible and lightweight, and while we would have like to see a bit more support in the back panel, that just happens to be our personal preference. Designed and built with ultralight enthusiasts in mind, the Talon 22 caters to their needs. The 22-liter size fits square in the middle of the line, with the 33 and 44 liter models adding features and support (to accommodate the heavier loads required for the active pursuit). On the other end, as the size goes down, you lose some features, with the smallest in the Talon series being the 4-liter waist pack.

Besides our personal preference for more support, the Talon 22 is a well-made pack that will work for just about any light hike you throw at it. To learn more about the series, visit Osprey Pack’s website. The Talon 22 retails for $100 but a quick scan of online retailers yielded a few with it discounted to about 20% below MSRP.

Product sample provided by the manufacturer for review purposes.

When faced with the task of choosing a pack for the Rainier climb, I had a few options of women’s specific, large capacity (at least 65 liters) to choose from. Ultimately, the Deuter ACT Lite 60+10 SL made the cut because it had the fine balance between providing all the features I was looking for, but without adding too much additional weight to the already 45-pound load I would be carrying for most of the climb. Weighing in at 3 pounds 12 ounces, it was over a pound lighter than other packs with identical features. Every ounce counts!

Even with the reduced weight, the ACT 60+10 SL doesn’t compromise on features. It’s a top-loading pack, but the bottom compartment of the body has it’s own access zipper, with the option to zip out the divider as needed. This makes it easy to separate and access gear like hard-shell pants and insulated gloves without having to dig through the depths of the pack to locate the item you need. A large lid with top and bottom access, two stretchy mesh water bottle side pockets, a large stretch ‘stuff-it’ panel pocket and a small zippered hip pocket provide plenty of other places to stash small and medium-sized items that you may need to access on a more regular basis. It’s also hydration compatible, these days a pretty common feature in packs.

So where does the reduced weight come from? It’s constructed from lighter-weight fabric (Ripstop 210 and Duratex Lite), but it isn’t so thin that you worry about it’s durability. After multiple training hikes and some long days on Rainier with a wide range of weather conditions, the pack still looks brand new. And where many packs of similar size feature multiple strap systems, ice axe loops, trekking pole stays, and fancy compression strap systems, this pack keeps it simple. Featuring only two ice axe loops and a basic compression strap system is what helps to keep the weight down.

However, what really sets the Deuter ACT Lite 60+10 SL apart from others in the same class is the VariQuick shoulder harness system. Unlike most packs, which have the shoulder straps in a fixed location and an adjustable hip belt, the ACT Lite 60+10 SL has a fixed hip belt (contoured for a woman’s hips) and an adjustable shoulder harness. This allows for complete customization for torso-length fit, as you can move the straps up or down along the length of the back panel to get the perfect fit. Hollow-core aluminum X-stays help the pack distribute weight evenly over a slightly thinner frame, and a channel-padded back panel keeps weight off your spine. These features combined made for a comfortable ride, even at the most grueling points of the climb on Rainier.

Overall, this was a great pack and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a pack with a larger capacity to use on longer (multi-day) trips. Though it doesn’t boast lots of bells and whistles, you’ll get a lightweight and durable pack that’s priced competitively at $189.

Product sample provided by the manufacturer for review purposes.

I don’t usually take daypacks out on hikes. They usually provide pretty poor support, don’t hold enough, and don’t have enough of the features from bigger backpacks. Last year I ran across the Manta line from Osprey and was a bit intrigued. It appeared to be a full size pack scaled down for a day hike, and it would work as a ski pack. Thankfully, Osprey humored me with a loaner to see how I liked it.

As you can probably tell by the spec sheet, the Manta 20 has quite a few features. Hip belt pockets, and integrated rain cover, and a pocket for your sunglasses are included standard, just like your bigger pack. Storage is also scaled down, but provides an ample amount of space for day hikes or a day on the slopes.

Aside from the size, where the Manta differs is the hydration system Osprey has designed the bag around. The company has spent quite a bit of time trying to keep the water from sloshing around in the pack. What they’ve come up with is a hydration bladder integrated into the frame of the pack. The hydration bladder is then strapped down in the middle of the pack to remain as stable as possible.

While the company claims this provides a bit of positive pressure, I haven’t seen this in about 100 miles of hiking and 2 months of skiing with the pack. The bladder does however remain much more stable than the typical bladder that slips inside a pack. Thanks to an integrated handle, filling the bladder is super easy too. Overall, using the hydration features is a bit easier than the standard hydration bladder.

That’s not to say that the Manta 20 is perfect. The shutoff for the bite valve isn’t the easiest to see if it’s off or not. I’ve had a decent amount of water leak in my trunk before I realized the bite valve wasn’t shut off in the past. Also, as far as I can tell the hose doesn’t detach from the bladder itself, which makes cleaning a bit more difficult than usual. At times the pocket the bladder is in can be difficult to operate, especially with gloves on. Finally, all these features come at a price in weight. At 1kg, this isn’t the lightest daypack on the market.

So, when it’s all said and done, did I like the Manta 20? Absolutely. My complaints about the hydration bladder aren’t unique to Osprey. Many of the competitors I’ve tried have had the exact same issues. Yes, it’s a bit heavy for a daypack. However, you get quite a few features for that extra 8 ounces. When it comes down to it, it’s a daypack. Weight isn’t exactly critical for an 8 mile day hike through the woods. I’ve pretty extensively tested the Manta 20, and I have yet to run into any show stopping problems. Quality of construction is exactly the same as the bigger Osprey packs. That is to say, it’s excellent.

What may be the real deal killer though is the price. At $129, this is an extremely expensive daypack. If you already have a hydration bladder, you’re essentially paying for another one in addition to the pack. If the bladder that comes with the Manta 20 has issues, you’ll need to find the exact same one that comes with it. You can’t buy another one off the shelf and use it with the pack.

If you can justify the price though, you’ll get a very nice daypack with bigger pack features. The Manta 20 has served me quite well this spring, and I’ll be sad to see it go back to Osprey.

Product provided by the manufacturer for review purposes.

On first glance, the Pace 28SL looks like a typical top-loading style pack. But look a little further and you’ll notice quite a few features that will be greatly appreciated on your next hike, whether it’s an ultralight trek or a 3-hour day hike. The hydration-compatible pack is built with a rod support system to stabilize the back, rather than a panel frame. The contoured mesh back panel helps to keep air circulating. Though the shoulder and hip straps are unpadded, the ultralight ventilated and coated mesh is comfortable and aids in breathability, and a handy zippered pocket on the hip belt makes for a great place to store an energy gel or lip balm. There are places to stash your water bottles (stretch side pockets) or maps (large outside panel pocket). The roomy lid of the pack has two separate compartments, one with a key fob to keep your house and car keys in place. Compression straps keep the pack small for those shorter trips, but allow for expansion when you need to carry more. To top it all off, the Pace 28SL has dual ice ax loops and reflective features.

With so many features, the Pace 28SL seems like a strange choice for shorter day hikes but the beauty in the pack is it’s versatility. In Seattle, even when going on a shorter day hike, you may need to prepare for multiple weather conditions (rain, wind, sun) which can bring along a wide range of temperatures. With smaller hydration packs which are often a first choice for day hikes, there may not be the capacity to carry two jackets, water, snacks, guidebook, and a trailmap without feeling over loaded. This hasn’t been an issue with the Pace 28SL, making it my go-to pack for shorter excursions.

Overall, the Pace 28SL has performed well during testing, both traditional testing on the trail, as well as the more informal testing it received on the OR show floor, where it comfortably carried a very full load of workbooks and press releases without incident. Reasonable priced at $99, it’s a great choice if you are looking for a pack that will perform well in multiple functions and environments. Deuter will also be making a unisex 30-liter size available when the style is released for the upcoming Winter 2011 season.

Product sample provided by the manufacturer for review purposes.

Osprey is well known for their quality packs so it’s safe to say I had high expectations of the Porter 46. Fortunately, the pack lived up to it’s name and was able to haul everything I needed for two weeks away from home without a problem. Right from the start the most useful feature was the zip out shoulder, sternum, and hip belt straps. Being able to maneuver crowded airports, train stations, subways, and city streets with two free hands was extremely helpful. Plus, it provided the added benefit of keeping the suitcase out of puddles on street corners. Another feature that turned out to be quite useful were the padded grab handles on the top and sides. When the pack wasn’t strapped to my back, the handles allowed me to tote the bag around comfortably. Osprey also put two webbed loop handles on either side of the large opening, which was perfect for hoisting the bag onto x-ray conveyor belts while going through many security check points. The compression straps were helpful to keep everything compact and the sliding strap holder was nice but when the straps were secured you lost access to a large front pocket on the outside of the access panel. Though this wasn’t a deal breaker, it required a bit of pre-planning when packing the bag. Fortunately, there is a small (but roomy) pocket on the top of the bag, perfect for easy access to liquids, snacks, a book, or other small items that you might want to access more frequently.

Inside the pack, it’s pretty basic. The zipper panel opens in a large U-shape for easy access to the entire space. There is a mesh paneled zipper pocket that runs along one of the sides of the interior and the underside of the zipper panel also has a mesh pocket for separating smaller items. There aren’t internal compression straps like most hard-sided rolling luggage so packing neatly is a must if you want to find anything quickly.

I’ve traveled with both backpacks and rolling suitcases on multiple trips and though they both have their benefits, the Porter 46 gives you a bit of the best of both worlds. The structured side panels give the pack form and stability (and prevent you from overstuffing the pack), keeping it within the maximum carry-on size for airlines, but the ability to convert the pack into a backpack as needed is helpful for getting around cities and multiple modes of transportation easily.

Overall, the Porter 46 held up very well considering all the airports and train stations it saw over the course of two weeks, and I would gladly take it along on another trip. When compared to other travel luggage, the modest $99 price tag makes it a worthy investment if you are a regular traveler. Osprey also makes a larger version, the Porter 65 ($129), suited for longer travels, if the Porter 46 is too small for your needs.

Product sample provided by the manufacturer for review purposes.

Right away, the pack was extremely comfortable and much of this can be attributed to the women’s-specific design. The shoulder straps have a much narrower opening (as apposed to a wider shoulder allowance on a men’s or unisex pack) and the hip belt is curved to shape a woman’s hips. The back panel uses their AirScape suspension technology, which helped keep the pack directly off my back during the trek. Adjusting the pack is a simple task, as there are only a few points where you can adjust, which was a nice relief from messing with straps all over the pack to adjust a custom fit.

Although the Ariel does not have lots of bells and whistles, there are a few nice features that were quite useful. The pack features a lower compartment separated from the main compartment, perfect for storing your sleeping bag; the sleeping bag I was using (Mountain Hardwear’s Lamina 45) packed down small enough that I was able to fit a stuff sack of clothing in the compartment as well. The main compartment is roomy enough to fit the rest of my gear, including a 3-person tent and a full 2-liter hydration bladder without being stuffed to the brim. Want access to the main compartment but don’t want to have to open the lid and drawstring every time? There is a quick-access zipper to the main compartment on the outside of the bag. The stretchy mesh outside pocket holds a surprising amount of gear, and is perfect for holding the trail map, bug spray, and other quick-access items. The lid of the pack does double-duty–not only is it a large storage compartment with a built-in key hook, it also removes completely from the rest of the pack. This feature is perfect for those shorter hikes you go on after you have set up camp.

The pack also features two ice ax loops, side pockets large enough to fully contain a Nalgene bottle, quick-access trekking pole loops, and is hydration compatible. And for when you have to carry a very full load, there is also the possibility of attaching straps to the lid using the provided attachment points. However, the pack was roomy enough that I didn’t have to go that route. A surprise feature was a quick-reference of the Leave No Trace principles screen-printed inside the pack (in English and French).

Overall, the Ariel 65 was an excellent pack and functioned very well. The model I tested will be available for Spring 2010; no word on pricing yet, but the current model of the Ariel 65 retails for $250.

In my experience, there are generally two types of backpacking photographers. There are those that go backpacking and like to take some photos along the way. These people tend to want to minimize the amount of camera gear they carry and only take along the essentials. Then there are the second group of photographers. These are the people that go out to take photos and backpacking is just the way to get those shots.

For hiking, the Borealis AT will appeal mostly to those in the second group. Throughout the pack there are details that make it apparent that this is first and foremost a camera bag. The entire bottom half of the bag is dedicated to camera equipment. This will comfortably hold a standard size SLR, 3 lenses, a flash, and a couple small accessories. The hip belt has filter and memory card slots so you can easily access any accessories you need. Instead of the usual ice axe loops, there is a very nice tripod holder on the outside of the pack.

At the same time, the usual hiking touches are included. The side pockets will hold a pair of trekking poles nicely. There’s a rain cover included for those not so dry days. A convenient fleece lined sunglass pocket on the outside of the pack has you covered for bright days. There is plenty of padding on the shoulder straps and the adjustable sternum strap helps to keep things in place. For more urban adventures, a laptop sleeve is also built into the bag. I’ve found that this will also work quite nicely to hold a water bladder, and the hose can be routed through the shoulder strap.

At 1282 cubic inches, this is not a multi-day pack. It simply doesn’t have enough room to suit this purpose. It is however a fantastic option for longer day hikes that you’d like to bring a decent amount of camera gear along. I loaded up the Borealis AT with about 25 pounds of gear and found the bag to be well balanced on a 5 mile hike in northern Washington.

This bag isn’t for everyone however. Due to the placement of the camera section in the bag, you must take it off to access any of your equipment. If this doesn’t fit your shooting style, it may be a problem. You can also pair this bag with a holster style bag and then be able to bring along quite a few more lenses and a tripod. At $179 MSRP, the Borealis AT isn’t cheap. It’s roughly the same price as a full size backpack. However, this is a well constructed bag that I would trust to keep my camera equipment safe. In my mind, spending an extra $50 on a backpack that will protect a $1000 lens in a fall is money well spent.