Backpacks

@Riaang

Great to hear positives around the Atmos! Cant wait to try it out! In my research I came across a YouTube Review that also mentioned the Squeaky Atmos. So it is something to keep in mind. I am really trying to stay below 20kg, I will provide feedback on the bag after the trip.

Those Jags are tough! My wife's is the Cheetah and they will never break, I have a older Karimor too, its a Travel/Hiking convertible bag I traveled Europe Thai Land and done numerous hikes with it and used it now in August on a Sailing trip to Madagascar and its still strong. But they are heavy and tech has moved on.

@Papa Dragon
Thanks for the tip! If I can find that Squeaky Spot I will try it. Else I will need to whistle a squeaky duet with my bag!

Just to add to some of the other posts, I bought the Atmos 65 earlier this year and am loving it. It's really comfortable and I even got caught in the rain with out a rain cover and everything remained dry... maybe I got lucky...
Anyways back to my point. I'm looking for a 30 - 35 litre pack for fast and light and the occasional full day climbing missions. Am looking at the Osprey talon 33. Any suggestions or thoughts? Can't seem to find many reviews on packs that size.

I have been using my Osprey Talon 33 litre for years now, done all 3 of my "fast" GTs in it, and done many overnight hikes with it. It is a really well designed pack, and the capacity is perfect for fast and light.

Thanks @ghaznavid
I'm just just starting out with fast and light but that is good to hear. The guy at drifters offered it to me with a bladder for 2k. I've never used a bladder but it might be worth it.

I'm not a fan of bladders, you end up carrying too much water because it's such a mission to fill up.

Hi All,

I promised some feedback on the Atmos 65 (Large 68lt) that I took on our hike this long weekend, it proved to be a great test for the pack.

Route & Weather:
Day 1 Cathederal Hotel -> Xeni Camp via Umlambonja valley. Weather very hot 36 Degrees plus.
Bag Report, Very comfortable I had about 18kg loaded with water and the weight is well distributed. The venting works well and the airflow is brilliant on such a hot day!

Day 2 Up Cockade Pass camped at the stream South of the pass head. Weather constant soft rain the whole day 10 Degrees max. Colder with wind chill.
Bag Report, We had no pack covers but I BlackBag my Sleeping bag and Drybag my tent and clothes. All food and gear in ziplock. It stood up to the weather for the bulk of the way with the main bag and outside pockets staying dry with soft rain with very little moisture getting in. Considering Cockade pass we had a couple of steep sections we needed to scramble up and i must say the pack sticks to you like a limpet, it really hugs you and nowhere did i feel off balance, it is very stable once adjusted. The bag performed well on a wet and cold day.

Day 3 Up to Cleft Peak and down via Windy Gap Camel ridge camped above Ribbon Falls. Weather Sunny and Windy.
BagReport, The bag has great capacity I had a down sleeping bag, blowup mat , 2 man tent with footprint, 2lt bladder, 3days food, cooking gear, rain gear, thermals, light down jacket, light flees jacket, battery pack and cables, small medikit all packed inside the bag with nothing strapped to the outside. With better packing you can easily up the food qty to 8 days. Organization is well designed and it is simple to access kit, I really like the big external mesh pocket. I also used the Quick Stow for hiking sticks often and it worked without being to finicky.

Coming down the Camel is always interesting and requires a bit of focus on some of the South facing sections, pack balance and the fact that you can fit everything inside made the traverse a bit simpler. The bag is a little scuffed up from sliding down the rocky bits but nothing worth getting to upset about. Although it is probably not as bombproof as my old Karrimor. (Which I donated to a novice hiker who joined us for his first hike ever!)

Day 4 Down to Hotel. Weather Early morning Thunder Storm it rained sideways! LoL!
BagReport, With strong driving rain and the fact that I left the bag open facing the wind it got a bit wet inside the main compartment, the outside pockets got quite wet but by that time everything was wet so it did not really matter. I believe in using a bag liner or drybags to ensure that gear does not get wet.

So the Atmos was tested to the full range of weather except snow. Subjected to a tumble down and nothing broke on or inside the bag...nor did it break me.

Overall I am very happy with the bag and for a first outing and lived up to the Osprey description. I had no failure on the bag.

Below the view North from Cleft, my wife used the Female version of the Atmos called the Aura 50lt. She is way fitter than me and hardly broke a sweat on this hike. Apart from not having the two outside pockets and slightly different harness shape, the bags are identical. She loved the accessibility of the "Brain pocket and Mesh Pocket." We probably need to adjust her harness a bit as it looks like it rode a bit high.

I hope this review helps a bit.
Cheers!

Bergbees, thanks for that, that is an excellent gear review, and the kind of things people need to know..

I ended up getting the Deuter 40 + 10 on special, and am hoping to try it out out this weekend, if I can convince Mrs Dragon that solo is not such a bad idea...

So hopefully I can give a report back on that next week..

Thanks Papa Dragon, looking forward to the review! Enjoy and be safe.

Deuter 40+ 10 ACT Lite review.

I got this pack on special at Cape Union Mart for R1499.

I used it this weekend on an overnight to a cave, total weight 9.85 kgs.
First impression of the quality of the pack is good, stitching etc looks neat and strong, and materials appear to be durable.

Comfort: Once I got used to where the 3 points of contact of pack with back are, I found the pack very comfortable. Hip belt and shoulder straps are well designed, with adequate but not excessive padding, and once everything was adjusted properly, load weight was very well supported.



Capacity: As I said, I overnighted in a cave, so I didn't have a tent. I did have my winter sleep system, including pillow, and inflatable mattress, thermals, light synthetic puffy, gloves, beanie and buff, spare underwear and socks, food bag, stove, canister and pot set, tarp and pegs, in the main pack. In the lid pockets, either the outside one or the one under the lid, I had map, compass, dry bag for cellphone, first aid kit and toiletries, TP, headlamp and spare batteries. Also car keys and wallet. Water bottles in the stretchy pockets on the sides, and foamy mat and groundsheet (all weather blanket) rolled up and attached with shock cord on the back. I originally started with my rain jacket in the stretchy pocket on the back, but on day 2 i put it in the top of the main pack. I only used the 40l part of the pack, so still had the +10 available at all times. I'm sure extra food, a down jacket, and even part of a tent if sharing, could fit in there quite easily. It is a tall, thinnish pack, but for me, adequate capacity

Packing and ease of use: I have streamlined my kit to use a toploading pack, and though this pack has a bottom access compartment for sleeping bag, I unzipped the divider and used it as a toploader only. When I packed originally, I packed my rain jacket last into the stretchy back mesh pocket. When I packed up in the field to come home, my rain jacket was still in this pocket, and i battled to push the sleeping bag down from the top. Pulled out the rain jacket, and it went in from the top, no problem. If I had used the bottom opening, this wouldn't have been an issue.. but as there was so much space in the pack I just packed the rain jacket in top of the main pack. The rain jacket would have gone back into the back pocket quite easily though. There are no side pockets which intrude into the main pack, however I consider this an advantage as I pack from the top only. Lid pockets are handy, and easy to access, and there is a convenient hip belt pocket on the right hand side. Water bottles were easy to get out of the mesh side pockets, but not so easy to get in with the pack on. I did manage though, and think this will get easier with use.

Apparently Cape Union Mart puts things on special when they are going to be discontinued for a different model, unfortunately. However if you can find one at one of the stores, and are in the market for a pack like this, I highly recommend that you try and get it. A great deal at the price.



Disclaimer: I have no connection to Cape Union Mart or Deuter, and paid full sale price for this pack.

Very Nice Review and great bag!