Description of Kelty Beam 82 Backpack - 5000 cu in:
Fit everything you need for two weeks in the backcountry inside your Kelty Beam 82 Backpack. The Kelty Beam features a breathable back panel, hip-belt, and shoulder straps so you don't get a soaked back as you hike along a desert wash or up mountain slopes. Load lifter straps, compression straps, and belt stabilizers help steady your 60-pound load, and plenty of pockets help you stay organized. A sleeping bag compartment lets you get to your bag without having to unload the rest of your gear, and a hydration sleeve holds your water bladder (not included) so you stay hydrated during your journey.
Bottom Line: Load your gear into the Kelty Beam, and traverse mountains, forests, and canyons for days on end.
This is an extremely comfortable pack with many ways to adjust it so that it fits perfectly on your body. I don't get the achy shoulders, achy back and/or achy hips. In addition it has good airflow so your back can breath and is not sweaty.
I have used this pack in 15 degree weather mountaineering/snowshoeing this past winter as well as 95 degree weather hiking this summer. However, the only con about this pack would the big open hole at the bottom of the pack where the external frame bulges to let air come up in order to cool your back. The problem occurs when glissading with this pack and you end up with 10-15lbs of snow/ice shoved up into the hole/mesh against your back. Then after your glissade you have to stick the ice axe spike into the hole, swirl it around in order to dig out all the snow and ice out otherwise you're carrying 10-15lbs of snow/ice.
This is a comfortable and well-made pack. Even though it is large (5000 cubic inches) it really doesn't feel that big. Perhaps that's because the design keeps it from heating up your back, or because once you put your do-dads in the two side and one front pocket, there's less room in the bag itself. There are two covers (one fixed and a detachable one that goes over it). The hipbelt is wide and comfortable, and has two small pockets for chapstick, etc. Like any pack, it takes some adjustments to get a good fit. The lash tabs and ice axe loops are useful. Probably the one drawback is that there aren't straps under the bottom of the pack, so lashing a tent on the bottom is not an option (but with 5000 cubic inches, who would need to?).
