Lightweight. Durable, and Perfect for the AT

By Barry Blalock Ranked #10 - Weekend Packs (3000-4500 cu in) February 20, 2009

Getting ready to thruhike the AT, starting Mar. 8th 2009, and have tried several backpacks to see what will work the best with me. Started out my training using an Arc'Teryx Needle 65, it's an oldie but goodie, and found that while my pack weight of 40lbs. was successfully transferred to my hips, the shoulder pads were pinchin' my neck meat, as Kip from Napoleon Dynamite would say. It's a pack just not meant for extended trips. Then there was the Deuter Aircontact Lite 65+10...this pack never fit me properly. If you want to know a little secret, it's unisex if that tells you anything. The Aircontact's suspension is comfortable and can hold a ton but the pack never fit the same and the straps would need readjusting 4 times every mile... just annoying. Then I decided I'd try this little gem of a backpack and my oh my was I impressed. It's so light and comfy, the pads around your waist and shoulders feel amazing, and it can hold 50lbs. of gear if rigged correctly, just like the guy in the picture said below. I hiked 28 miles in one day with this pack from 9am till 4am the next morning and stopped only twice for a half hour at the longest for meals...this pack is amazingly comfortable. It distributes the weight perfectly to your hips, the backpad is super squishy, the straps never need readjusting, the pocket placement is superb. There's not one thing wrong I can find with this pack! I swear by it.

View Details: Granite Gear Nimbus Meridian Backpack - 3400-3800cu in

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