Mountain Hardwear Harrier Backpack - 3600cu in - 2006 BCS

I've used the Harrier for a number of hikes now. I think the comfort is great. I don't have any previous packs to compare it to as this is my first one, but I think it's great. I've gone out on a 12 miler for my first time to use it. It was very comfortable. The only parts that were sore on me afterwards were the pressure points from the pack, but i think that was due to never carrying one before. It was a little tough to set up but once done I think it was worth the hassle. I'm 5'-11" and needed the large as the medium didn't fit my torso.
The only thing that keeps this from getting 5 stars would be the set up timebut I wouldn't use that as a reason to not get it. It doesn't rest against your back so it is great on warmer days or very vigorous hikes.

Prior to using this pack i was very used to the conventional internal/lightweight frames. I was looking for a pack to carry a little more load and be sturdy, but still be very lightweight. The Harrier more than pleased me on my first trip with it. Although it took me almost two hours to fit to my body, it paid off in the long run. The pack functioned precisely up steep accents and long decents. I was carring a little more than usual at about 60 lbs and it felt like alot less and i had no blisters. i would recommend this pack to anyone having to carry a slightly heaivier load and still have the speed and agility of a small pack.

This backpack is one of the most comfortable packs I have ever worn (and I have used mostly external frame packs). I used it on a weekend trip up to Lone Peak above Salt Lake City. For those of you that have done Lone Peak in the Wasatch, you know the ascent/descent is steep! I carried a rope, 3L of water, food, harness, some carabiners, rock shoes, head lamp, sleepingbag, a warm shirt, a light jacket, some sundries, a rain poncho, and a pack-cover up the trail (and a little lighter load down). My hips didn't get sore from being rubed by the pack. My shoulders got tired, but not sore (like I have experienced in the past). If I were going to buy a pack with the Exodus system, I would get a little bit larger one than the 3600 Harrier (it's pretty small). It's also not easy to assemble (took me a long time from the difficult to see photocopied instructions on the outside of the pack). Because of it's size, and time consuming assembly it gets a 4 instead of a 5. Great pack!