Osprey Packs Mutant 38 Backpack - 2100-2550cu in - 2009 BCS

This is a simple, clean, small amount of frills 'ALPINE CLIMBING PACK'. What does that mean? No frame, light and clean, tough, with some climbing perks to it.
The bonuses: Removable top lid, easily stows inside the skirt, and seals up. Simple shoulder and waist belt straps/padding - you can clip and stow the waist belt around the back which is super nice for climbing! a mesh pocket on the side for storing pickets- some alpine packs miss this and you must put them inside your packs. Easily removed light simple bivy pad...I more use this for sitting on in the snow or in camp so I save my sleeping pad from too much abuse. Tough fabrics-I drag this thing around and it is plenty bomber to rock, snow and ice.

Things to remember: This is a sack-no frame, so it won't carry as well as other bags if you don't pack it right! But that makes it light and with its narrow profile easy to climb with - perfect size for overnight alpine missions, especially since you can store a rope securely under the top lid.

If you are an aspiring alpine ninja, this is the pack for you! But don't forget, I have found it works quite well for cragging (ice and rock) and ski touring as well!

Got this to compare with TNF Phophet 40 - ended up keeping this one even though it is heavier as it seemed to fit more (and is 3 liters smaller) but due to shape, it was easier to pack more into. I wish the pack weighed a little less - I can see how this could easily be accomplished by slimming down on some of the huge nylon webbing. Nonetheless, a great pack with some pretty cool and useful features.

A light pack which is quite comfortable as long as you don`t overload it, obviously! Even when well loaded the back panel arches to help ventialtion.

I would have sacrificed some of the features for more robost fabric on the base and more comfortable shoulder straps for when it`s well loaded. The next pack I`ll buy will be more durable and comfortable - low weight isn`t a big priority to me

I find this to be a perfect climbing pack for myself. I use it during the summer for carry sport climbing gear, and will be using it in the winter for ice climbing and mountaineering. Carries very comfortably, (when packed right) very light, and no frills on it either, make this a super technical pack, since there's nothing to get stuck on when you're climbing. The material wears very well, and I have not had any problems with this pack in terms of wear and tear. Hydration compatible, and has the awesome racking loops on it too, which are good for storing extra ice screws, or other things you need close at hand. The other thing is too, the zipper pulls are perfect, and can be operated with gloves! You can tell Osprey did their homework when they made this pack.

This is a wonderful pack, I have used it in several mountaineering trips and really stands out well. Lightweight and confortable. I wish they make this pack in other colors like blue, red or yellow, more mountaineering oriented color that make the pack easier to locate.

I needed a pack for technical rock & ice climbing that could fill the void between my BD Bullet and my Gregory Z55.I've climbed twice with this pack now, and highly recommend it. It's light, cinches down tight, and conforms well to your frame; subsequently affording you excellent freedom of movement, good upward visibility, even with a helmet, and excellent weight distribution (when packed correctly).The pack exterior is clean, yet there are some nice amenities, such as hydration compatibility, two pockets in the lid, adjustable lid height, rope strap, and tool straps. All the latches and tie downs are glove friendly too.

My main complaint here is that there isn't anywhere to put water bottles OUTSIDE the pack. If you think you're getting a Nalgene in those useless grey pockets you're crazy. Sure it can use a bladder. What if you don't want one? I have to use runner and 'biners to attach a bottle and keep it from swinging about. Problem two-Those "rack loops" are sh*t for anything except thin little key chain 'biners (at least you'll know where your keys are). Case in point, I tried to stick an Omega Pacific carabiner through and it wouldn't fit. Problem three: good luck getting a mountaineering axe to stay outside. I have to twist the hell out of the loops to keep my axe from falling through (Simond 820). I'm sure this does the trick if all you're doing it clipping to to a rope and hauling it up the crag. If you plan on using it for anything remotely useful aside from that---good luck.

Props on the floating lid though. That's the most effective part of the pack.