Backcountry Access Stash BC Pack - 2400cu in - 2006 BCS

Bought this pack to do the Alps Haute route because it was light. Liked many things about the pack. However the top seam in the pack started coming apart and eventually split open. This seem is only glued together not stitched. Bad design. A friends almost new pack did the same thing on the same trip so I have to believe many more packs are doing the same thing. Might want to wait until they sew this seem before you buy.

I've tried several winter backpacks with built-in hydration systems. When it gets cold enough, they *all* freeze. However, my Stash BC is, by a mile, the best: it's only frozen once, when temperatures were around zero Fahrenheit. Having the drinking tube zip into the strap makes all the difference. The downside is that it takes a little longer to extract the tube; the upside is that the tube doesn't flap around, and, most importantly, you can actually drink liquid! Apart from that, it's a great ski pack. Size is about perfect for a one-day backcountry outing: takes shovel, probe, food, spare clothing, radio. Looks great (particularly the red version), light, comfortable, well-made. Has adjustable ice-axe loops, plenty of attachment points, reinforced ski straps (takes skis vertically, diagonally, A-frame), waterproof zippers. I've yet to find anything about this pack that I don't like. A+.

I've had the pack for about a month and everything works great. The camelback, the ski carry, and pockets for avy gear are all good - plus there's plenty of room for extra gear. All around a great pack!

Terrific pack. Compresses down very thin, which makes it easy to pack in a suitcase for traveling, while expanding to be quite large. I chose the BCA over other packs because it can hold a significant more amount of gear. BCA was around 2,400cu in while others were less than 2,000cu in. In addition, this pack includes a water bladder, unlike other packs. The pack holds skis very well, and it’s made of durable material. Perfect for day tours in the BC.

Bought my Stash BC on the internet based on reviews in Tele tips and others. This is a terrific pack, no doubt about it. I wanted it for the hydration feature which is a genius idea. The pack fits well, is well balanced, and is easy to access with the clamshell zipper style.
The downside? - on my first outing the tube froze solid. Okay, this is Canada and it was about -23C out, but I was a smudge disappointed, what with all the hype etc.
The only other neg. comment is that the advertised weight 1304g does not include the water bladder which bumps it up to 1650g or so. Not a big deal, but more than a bit misleading if you ask me.
Overall though, I'd recommend this pack with two thumbs up.