Trooper mark - Mountainsmith Scream Liter Backpack

I agree for the most part with the other Mark's review. A front mesh pocket would be great. But I find the two front pockets work great for storing your "10 essentials" and things you need to access quickly. However, they do not have a drain hole at the bottom of the pocket. Great for storing dry rain gear or tarp, but not so good for wet gear. Adding a drain hole would greatly increase the usability of the pockets. Being a frame less pack it feels a bit flimsy / wobbly on your back, making it necessary to tighten down all the straps, but that's what helps the pack to weight just over 2 lbs. But a lightweight frame would greatly add to the stability. The side mesh pockets are great, tall and snug. But if you over fill the pack you can fit only one tall Smart 1-ltr bottle. Pulling out a water bottle from the side pockets takes some gymnastic moves, but I use an internal water bladder, so it's not an issue for me. Overall the pack is comfortable and with the robic fabric also durable. There are numerous daisy chain loops for adding gear to the outside, as well as sturdy loops at the bottom where you can add sturdy adjustable straps for carrying heavier gear like a tent. To solve the problem of thin shoulder straps, I added after market pads from Zpacks which greatly adds to the comfort of the pack, allowing me to carry 35lbs comfortably. The only real complaint I have is the way the top load is designed. There is a blue strip that you must at least make 3 or 4 rolls to get to, to properly close the pack or it will not stay closed, cutting down on the pack volume. This is unlike other roll top closure packs where it only takes one full roll to get a tight seal on the roll top. Also, there is no top strap to cinch down the top of the pack, or where you can carry gear at the top of your pack like a closed cell foam pad. But overall I like the pack a lot and it is my go-to pack for if I'm hiking multiple days and want to go light. And for the money you can't beat it!

This review was written in the old system and had content requirements that are different than reviews written today.