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AT GA-ME, 2010's Review of Mountainsmith Day TLS Lumbar Pack
I just bought this pack and received it today. I will definitely write a post-use review later, but I couldn't resist saying something now.
This is a quality built pack. The belt is snug yet stretchy, and it is very wide and secure. The pack grabs your hips and pulls into your spine. Loaded up and cinched, it seems to become a part of you, promising not to annoyingly jump around, something I look for as a trail runner. Putting it on with a load is very encouraging. The zippers and construction are top notch. It feels very durable. No question it can take some abuse.
I selected this pack for trail running with a Ribz front pack, giving me 25 L of carry volume and a body centered load for increased stability. I looked at combining small volume backpacks with the Ribz front pack, but I wanted weight transferred down to my hips. The lack of decent belt systems on such backpacks (that do more than stabilize the swing of the load) and no rigidity in the back panel meant most of the weight would be carried on my shoulders, making me very uncomfortable at an initial max combined carry weight of 19 lbs. The Day TLS was the perfect solution. I can't wait to actually hit the trail with it.
The center compartment will hold about 2 days of compactly packed dehydrated food (in my case 2.3 lbs x 2) and there is a front pocket that can hold my Golite Poncho and a mid-weight poly-fleece shirt. I'll put a wide mouth mixing bottle for protein shakes and veggie drinks in the bottle carrier on one side and my gravity feed Sawyer filter rolled up in the other. All my other food (1 day) and gear will go in my Ribz, giving me about 150 miles of range in 3.25 days. There are so many options for attaching gear below and to the front of the pack, gear like a sit pad or air mattress and a full body bug net .
Although Mountain Smith has listed this pack at 1 lb 12 ounces at the their site, the tag I have on this recent purchase says 1 lb 7 oz. Campsaver weighed one for me some time ago at 1 lb 13 ounces (see Q&A), but I waited for the new batch to come in and the tag from this new batch item does say 1 lb 7 oz, just like the spec provided here by Campsaver indicates. I wish I had a scale to confirm this.
I replaced the 3.7 oz shoulder strap with 6 ounce Strapettes (cushy padding), adding only 2.3 oz, but it allegedly allows you to push the weight limits of the bag for a better ride. I'll likely end up cutting off the straps and pads of my Ribz and securing it to the Strapettes with paracord to save some weight. The shoulder pads of the Strapettes (and even the shoulder strap) are much better than the Ribz, which are very thin. Making it all one integrated unit will eliminate the inherent strap confusion of the Ribz.
Mountain Smith has been tweaking this pack for a very long time. It's obvious time and an attentive ear has made this a spectacular lumbar pack. It's a work of art! Buy one and see for yourself.
This is a quality built pack. The belt is snug yet stretchy, and it is very wide and secure. The pack grabs your hips and pulls into your spine. Loaded up and cinched, it seems to become a part of you, promising not to annoyingly jump around, something I look for as a trail runner. Putting it on with a load is very encouraging. The zippers and construction are top notch. It feels very durable. No question it can take some abuse.
I selected this pack for trail running with a Ribz front pack, giving me 25 L of carry volume and a body centered load for increased stability. I looked at combining small volume backpacks with the Ribz front pack, but I wanted weight transferred down to my hips. The lack of decent belt systems on such backpacks (that do more than stabilize the swing of the load) and no rigidity in the back panel meant most of the weight would be carried on my shoulders, making me very uncomfortable at an initial max combined carry weight of 19 lbs. The Day TLS was the perfect solution. I can't wait to actually hit the trail with it.
The center compartment will hold about 2 days of compactly packed dehydrated food (in my case 2.3 lbs x 2) and there is a front pocket that can hold my Golite Poncho and a mid-weight poly-fleece shirt. I'll put a wide mouth mixing bottle for protein shakes and veggie drinks in the bottle carrier on one side and my gravity feed Sawyer filter rolled up in the other. All my other food (1 day) and gear will go in my Ribz, giving me about 150 miles of range in 3.25 days. There are so many options for attaching gear below and to the front of the pack, gear like a sit pad or air mattress and a full body bug net .
Although Mountain Smith has listed this pack at 1 lb 12 ounces at the their site, the tag I have on this recent purchase says 1 lb 7 oz. Campsaver weighed one for me some time ago at 1 lb 13 ounces (see Q&A), but I waited for the new batch to come in and the tag from this new batch item does say 1 lb 7 oz, just like the spec provided here by Campsaver indicates. I wish I had a scale to confirm this.
I replaced the 3.7 oz shoulder strap with 6 ounce Strapettes (cushy padding), adding only 2.3 oz, but it allegedly allows you to push the weight limits of the bag for a better ride. I'll likely end up cutting off the straps and pads of my Ribz and securing it to the Strapettes with paracord to save some weight. The shoulder pads of the Strapettes (and even the shoulder strap) are much better than the Ribz, which are very thin. Making it all one integrated unit will eliminate the inherent strap confusion of the Ribz.
Mountain Smith has been tweaking this pack for a very long time. It's obvious time and an attentive ear has made this a spectacular lumbar pack. It's a work of art! Buy one and see for yourself.
This review was written in the old system and had content requirements that are different than reviews written today.
Would Recommend:
Yes