No home run... - Granite Gear Nimbus Trace Access 85 Backpack

...but it could have been. After receiving my new NTA 85 size Short today I was at first impressed with seeing it's well done aspects, so after checking the torso adjustment recommended and finding it on the 16" setting (which is my torso size), I loaded it with 30 lbs to check the feel. That's when my disappointment set in. Several huge design flaws became very evident and makes this a pack that will not work for anyone, PERIOD. I know this is going to hurt sales of this pack, but my number one concern is for the end user's fine experience. The following is a synopsis of my experience:
1. The size M hip belt that it came with when fully tightened was slightly too big to stay in place walking around, though I used the sizing chart on Granite Gear's web site the Medium called for there is too great in circumference when cinched as tight as it will around my 30" waist/33" hips. Its fit was only snug at the bottom, so it would squiggle down a bit as I walked. Rigid and vertical without any ability to cant to the shape when in position, so the very bottom edge digs in causing numbing in a matter of minutes and from the middle of the belt to the top edge there's no contact at all; standing off my body 1" of air. I'm a small 66 year old man 5’8” with an athletic build, a 30" waist and 33" hips. The hip belt doesn't cant with my hip shape. May be easy to remedy with an exchange for a women's small size; but probably not considering the rest of the design flaws and here they are.
2. Remember, it's a total 30 lbs including the pack and I loaded the items properly. I put on the pack, cinched the hip belt as tight as it could go, tightened shoulder straps, sternum strap and then the load lifters. Oh yeah, the load lifters when snugged were horizontal and at the end of adjustment, which caused the shoulder straps to tighten excessively to the point that I could tell this was an unsolvable problem. It's well known that the load lifters optimum angle is 45 degrees; acceptable between 30-60 degrees and these were zero. This means that the physical height of the pack is 4"-5" shorter than they needed to be correct by design. If actually used for even a day this alone would make the pack unbearable, due to the pull back pressure they put on the shoulder straps. There's no solution for this outside of complete redesign making the pack body 4"-5" taller and bringing their lateral location toward the center of the shoulder straps. (FYI, I spent two hours in adjusting from 17" to 18" where now they were a negative angle wrapping around and down the shoulder straps causing even more stress on top of my shoulders, too. I even tried the 15" adjustment with only a 5 degree rise and that's not even close.
3. With a secured 30 lb. load the pack wobbles and sways out of control with every step to the point that I could now see that Granite Gear has a great need for designers that actually have backpacking experience and people to test in the field to give them real feedback from use. That's where I come in. I'm doing R&D for several companies whose names I cannot mention that respect the knowledge of experience with good pay; primarily so they don't end up putting themselves out of business with spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on some know-nothings brain flatulence. I'm estimating hundreds of thousands of dollars lost with the production of this pack alone; not to mention the damage to reputation. Gross mismanagement there.
4. The maple core frame is another flop. When on it's very uncomfortable and restrictive due to having no flexion. Forget about shaping to the curve of your back to adjust this. The edges of the maple core sheet are rough sawn and as they're not sanded smooth will accelerate the corners wearing through the two 2" wide corner pockets where they are supporting the top of the pack.
5. Other points of improvement needed are, the shoulder strap padding needs to be more comfortable, the yoke sucks and so does the one point connection of the hip belt. This is probably the reason it's so uncontrollable. I'm always looking toward a better mouse trap, but now that I've tried this maple core panel, I'm not impressed with the fit, nor does it appear that it will endure the rigors of extended trail use.
All this from an ooold trail tramper since the '60s that was trying to go a bit lighter. I'm not on the ultralight groove, but cutting my base weight by 4lbs/4ozs was my endeavor, without sacrificing all that I like about my Arc'teryx Bora 80. Yeah, it's heavy even empty at 8lbs/8ozs, but I can carry 42-50 lbs in comfort and it's married to me with every move I make. I see my error in trusting some award winning baloney about this pretender.
What the GG NTA 85 has I do like is great materials and manufacturing, the front double zip access, a roll top, etc. GG, but as pretentious as this is you don't get to second base. You're out, when it could have been a home run. 1 star too many.