what a great expandable pack. super versatile for winter camping, climbing and skiing. simple design that has all necessary features including an ample sized crampon pocket. Cinches down small for daytime summit assaults. straps and belt are comfortable for being light. true to size

I bought this for a trip up the Kautz route on Mt Rainier, after deciding my generic backpacks (an old Gregory) was too large and heavy for the planned carry-over, and had too many outside loops and straps for safety. The Mission 75 fits perfectly (medium/large) on a torso (C7-Iliac crest 17 3/4inches) (I am 5'10" and 150lbs). The belt strap fits slightly higher than my other packs but this is part of what give excellent mobility while climbing. As noted above the pack entry zippers make it super-easy to pack and unpack. I carried 50 lbs in training and about 40lbs on the trip comfortably. The ice axe "Pick Pockets" work very well, although my shorter Petzl Ice tool was slightly too short to reach the velcro wrap that secures the shaft of the tool, but this was a pretty minor issue. The haul strap looks a little flimsy and I'd add a sling to it if I was going to do any serious hauling, but it showed no signs of wear using the loop to pick up the pack. The pack is very lightweight, but the trade off is that the fabric almost certainly won't be as durable as Mountain Hardware South Col 75 that I ordered as a comparison. Indeed, on the trip, the Mission pack picked up one small tear in the thin top closure fabric (easy to repair with fabric tape) and the base of pack shows some minimal piling of the nylon as wear from glissading down Mt Adams and Hood later in the week. (whereas the Arcteryx soft shell pants I was wearing, do not show the slightest wear). So it may not last forever. However, it climbs, carries, and fits so much better than the South Col, that it was an easy choice as to which one to keep.

This thing is a beast, not in terms of its size, but what you can comfortably carry. I use it for longer multi days, gear intensive trips, long backpacking trips, and pretty much anything that the extra room is needed. It has a side entry zipper which is fantastic, especially when what you are looking for is on the bottom of the pack. Unloading the contents of a 75L pack can be a pain in the rain just to get to the rain jacket you put at the bottom, etc.. The back panel, ReActiv hipbelt, and the swing arm shoulder straps help make the heavier loads easier to carry and being able to remove the lid if you don't need the extra space on summit days can come in handy. It is comfortable to carry with the heavier weights as well and if you are wanting to get as minimal as possible, the frame sheet is removable to save those extra grams. The crampon area works great with included straps to secure them and the ice tool holders are easy to use and functional as well. There is a rope strap to secure your rope if you have one and the last little gem is that it is hydration compatible.