Contributions by ELGulbranson (2)

I purchased this pack in April '06 and have since used it on a number of trips in the Blue Ridge Mountains and Lake Superior Hiking Trail. It handled heavy loads with ease, and was balanced enough to handle some impromptu but necessary bouldering. One downside is the base of the framesheet is curved towards your back and so there is some friction there that is not to comfortable when you are wearing one shirt. A high note, the covering by the tool straps protects your pack and stuff inside it from any sharp objects or blunt tools that you may carry. Plus you can load this pack down with tools, ice axes, rope, helmet, rock hammers, saws, coffee mugs in such a way that they aren't clanging around or getting caught on branches. Sweet! With some ingenuity you could pack this thing for a 3 nighter but I found that 2 nighters are what this pack is designed for. The suspension is almost too good, it has more rigidity than the other Osprey suspension systems, but it helps for hauling heavy items. Plus the top compartment is HUGE and you can easily open it with one hand while you are wearing the pack! Allowing you to retrieve items quickly (camera, field notes, bird guide, map, snacks, etc...).

I was skeptical at first about how accurately altimeters measure altitude, especially those that use a barometer to do it. However, I have found this watch exceptionally good at measuring altitude with a precision that is within a 1:24000 topoline. Just as long as you calibrate either the barometer or altimeter-which is accomplished easily by topomaps, GPS, or other means-the watch will work fine (You shouldn't rely on a single instrument anyways to get around in the wilderness). The temperature I have found to read just fine, even though the Summit is on my wrist when it measures temp, it always measures ambient air temps and not that of my body (again, double checked by a thermometer). The 6 hour forecast actually works (as long as it is calibrated correctly)! The only downside to this watch is the compass. I have found that the compass bearing oscillates quite a bit unless the watch is level and motionless. But the oscillations eventually dampen and the bearing can be accurately read (again, measured against another compass w/same declination), good enough to find your way through thick Rhododendrons and briars, and the declination is a sweet little addition. All in all a great field watch without breaking the bank, and backcountry shipped my purchase expediently good job people!