Reviews by User: Diana Rooney (3)

When ordering, be sure to check your waist/leg measurements - don't go by the numeric sizes. Also, pick the harness that has your measurements in the middle of the harness, buying a size larger will leave you exchanging the harness. My measurements were the small-end of the size 10, and it turns out that it doesn't fit comfortably. Otherwise, the harness is super comfortable, the gear loops are easy to handle, and is a solid piece of gear.

Whoever designed this backpack really had their thinking cap on - it is wonderfully designed. - The Compression straps do a great job of holding the load down, and can be arranged in three different ways to help hold things down (or onto) your pack. - The Pole Mounts are not hard to use, and can be accessed even with gloves on. I have not used the ice axe holder yet. - There are four sewn-webbing loops on the outside (in theory for one of the compression styles) that are great for clipping whatever stuff you don't put in the bag (like your helmet) - If you attach your skis to the pack, they are held securely. One minor flaw is that your binding brakes dig into the pack, but that can be fixed easily. - The hydration bladder pocket fits a 3L bladder without a problem - The expandable outside pocket is great for all those little things (guidebook, maps) that you don't want lost, but are too big for the small key/wallet size pocket inside. - The foam and hip belt do an excellent job of supporting the load from my hips - and the foam is molded to provide lumbar support. I loaded this pack with my climbing rack, rope, and my heaviest skis (close to 50lbs) - and the pack (and I) stood up without a problem. - Size-wise, it will fit my climbing rack, rain gear, lunch, water bladder, and harness with a snug fit. It has plenty of space for a day hike or a lightweight overnight. My only complaint is that I can't find the "wand" pocket... but what the heck is that anyway?

My only complaint with these shorts is that the length makes for funky tan lines. That said, these are great for climbing, biking, kayaking/canoing, and whatever else you want to do outdoors. They repel water, stains simply wash out, and they are very abrasion resistant. I found they were true to size - the measurements on the chart were exact.