The perfect pack with a tragic flaw

By OkP Ranked #79 - Overnight Backpacks (2000 - 2999 cu in) June 23, 2008

I have a tenuous, passionate love-hate relationship with this pack. I’m mainly a climber, so the pack usually has a rack and a rope in it, or the rope strapped to the outside if the inside is too full. I haven’t had a chance to use it on a big wall yet, but I’m pretty confident that it would do a good job, the hipbelt has gearloops, there are burly haul loops stitched to the top, etc. For more alpine adventures, the back of the pack is reinforced with a tough rubbery material for crampons, and the bottom of the back looks like it could easily hold icetools or a shovel.

As for the fit, that is what made me fall in love with the pack. It is simply, hands down, the most comfortable pack I’ve ever worn. The weight just seems to disappear, and the cool shaping makes wearing this pack nearly as comfortable as wearing a t-shirt. Make sure the hipbelt is heat molded to fit you, and once it is, it is perfect. In fact, right on the hips is where this pack will put all the weight - don’t worry about it pulling on your back or shoulders. Sometimes I feel like the shoulder straps are there just for looks, since the pack is so good at putting the weight on your hips. Other neat features include the built in bungee on the back, well designed compression straps, and a built in whistle on the chest strap that’s great for annoying your companions and frightening the wildlife.

But sadly, I do resent this pack. After just a couple months of use, I discovered a finger-sized hole all the way through the yellow material towards the bottom. Did I put something metal in there? Did it rub against a rock? I don’t know, but other packs I’ve owned certainly didn’t get holes in them without some sort of epic and obvious mishap. I took it back and exchanged it for the same one: great lovers deserve a second chance. I’ve been much more careful with this second one, and we’re approaching our one-year anniversary, but I fear that it just won’t last. I already see scuffs and a couple tiny perforations on that yellow fabric. Whenever I’m stuffing the pack with irregular shaped objects, I watch in terror as they bulge up against the fabric, just waiting for it to rip. Despite the great fit and features of the pack, the yellow material just appears to be weak. Since this is targeted at climbers, this seems like a pretty gross oversight.

View Details: Osprey Packs Exposure 50 Backpack - 2800-3200 cu in

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