"Search and Rescue Pack" - Review of Black Diamond Revelation Backpack - 2136-2746cu in

Overall, I am impressed with this pack. The major things that disappoint me are the shoulder straps. There is very little, if any, padding on them. Granted you are supposed to wear this for a winter pack, and when wearing it with a decent winter coat, padded straps aren't really vital, but due to me being on a K-9 Search & Rescue team, I would like to utilize this pack in the warmer seasons also and this particular bag will probably not convert well (which is odd because it is made in Utah and everyone "converts" here...a small joke for the locals of Utah...sorry). As I previously mentioned, the pack overall is great. I have 2 shovels by BD (the Deploy 7 & and Transfer 7) and both fit well. The hydration slits could be a little larger, but a quick pocket knife can fix this (possibly BD's intention?). I thoroughly enjoy being able to carry my gear on the outside while the vibrant red/orange stands out to others while I am in the backcountry, and, God/Baby Jesus forbid, buried in an avalanche. The overall purpose of this pack is definitely ski/snowshoe related. You may be able to "jerry" rig it to suit a board, however, I would sooner buy a pack for boarding due to the sheer ease of it. The Y suspension is comfortable and the pack's material is very strong/tough. If carrying a sleeping bag and pad, I would place them outside on the helmet holder or buy a few extra straps and cinch them down. I think a 55L model is needed, but the 45L keeps things in perspective and keeps the "overstock" from occuring. I will go with a 4 star rating due to all the pros and cons combined, but don't let this persuade you to buy a different pack. If you purchase this bad-ass pack, you will be happy.
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