This is a great, comfortable, spacious pack. I traded in a Kelty external frame pack for this model and have done a ten miler with it, very happy. Heavy duty construction on everything, so not for "ultralight" hikers, but more for hikers that want space and toughness for the next 20 years of ownership. I think the base weight is around 8lbs. I like the hybrid & expandable external/internal frame system and being able to slip a tarp in between the bag and the frame is cool & very useful. The two large pockets that run on the outside are where my rain gear and extra warm layers live for quick access. I like the molle attachment points on the hip belt for adding dump bags, accessories. The inside is one big cavern--so secret pockets or nooks and crannies. Only one sleeved pouch on the back which is where you'd put stuff like a hydration bag if that's your system. I put maps & ditty bags in there.
The detachable top section is a little smaller than I'd like, though.... you can get a 1L Nalgene in there, some trail mix and a light rain jacket in it with a few other small objects and that's about it. Not a deal-breaker, but smaller than I expected as it's billed as a detachable day pack. Their system of detaching the shoulder straps and attaching to it to make it a day pack seems like crazy overkill since the pack is so small--a better design would be to use 1'' webbing for the straps because it's basically waist-pack sized in terms of volume.
Like practically every sin...
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