Arc'teryx RT35 Backpack - 1708-2075 cu in - 2006 BCS

This pack gets almost everything right, but is not perfect. The suspension is phenomenally confortable once you bend the stay. The belt is swappable, so you can get the proper size. The rolltop closure is quick and convenient and is really superior to zippers and standard top closure. It is not waterproof, but will stand to rain very well. However RT35 is not perfect: first of all, Arcteryx's "less is more" philisophy really goes to far here- the pack does not have any pockets except the front large cangaroo pocket. So if you want to store your keys or wallet somewhere you are out of luck- you have to fish them out of the main compartment. In a conventional pack those things would be stored in the lid pocket, but RT35 does not have one due to the roll-top. The pack material is really heavy by today's standards. The top compression possibilities are really limited, the pack needs a pair of top compression straps. I modified the pack a bit by hanging a zippered pouch from the key clip in the front pocket and this is where I store my headlamp, knife etc. I also added a shockcord to the top of the pack so I could store my jacket there, and I replaced the "rope carrier" straps with the quick-release buckle straps. These things make the pack much more usable, but it a bit of a bummer that you need to modify a $160 product. Overall, great foundation for a perfect daypack. Arc'teryx, are you listening? Just upgrade the material to a lighter fabric, add a pocket for small things and the top compression straps, and you got a legend in the making. Last thing- the 35 designation is incorrect, I have a Large and it is only 30L in volume. Fortunately, this is a sweet spot for daypacks.

I've thrown this bag off a cliff with tons of stuff in it and it didn't even rip... great bag. It's water tight both ways. I've lost this bag during a rafting trip in Arizona, the interior components stayed dry. On another occasion my swimming gear spilled over in the bag, all the water from my shorts, stayed inside. It didn't take very long to drain and for the inside to dry out. So, that was nice too. Anyways, I like the bag, it’s tough and fits great.

This bag can do it all. Not only is it a hefty 35L bag, it acts like a dry sack with its integral pull around mouth design. Pockets for everything you can imagine, and the material is unbeatable. If you are looking for packs that can withstand any thing you throw at them, be it wear and tear or unforgiving environments, this is the day sack to take. It's even good for carrying electronic equipment in the arctic. I take my video camera, and SLR in it while snowmobiling in the -50F weather of Baffin island Canada, and it stays strong. A good solid backpack, if you have the money, and aren’t willing to go down in quality, this is it. Superior material, functionality and aesthetics.

I bought this backpack for day trips in the Northwest, it has been a great item in the rain and any weather. It is very comfortable and the perfect size, I am very glad to have it.

Generally, a good daypack. I could not use the pack with a CamelBak, because the full hydration bladder made the pack feel like it had a metal pole running up the center of the frame. I ended up putting bottles in the side pockets, which were a little small for the task, and securing the bottles under the side compression straps. Once I worked this system out, the pack was comfortable and well balanced.