I just purchased this pack and haven't used it yet. So this review is about the design choices and makes no claim on comfort under load bearing.

First of all, let me say that at this price tag, I would expect a flawless product. I didn't feel like this is the case hence this review. Let me say however that there are no doubt very nice aspects of this bag, like the quality of the fabric (which is a bit the specialty of Arc'teryx) and colored inside, detachable daysack etc...

I will however outline some of the design issues with this bag that I would have liked to see different:

1. The hydration pack pocket is in the wrong place and it is to small. It does not fit my 3L HP. It is in the top lid of the bag, which means it will warm up fast in hot weather and it does not keep your food cool. Ideally I would have liked this to be in the back of the main compartment so I can put my food next to it and its weight is in the ideal place. The good points for smaller HP owners would be it is at hand for regular refilling and as the lid is the daysack you can leave your HP in there for day hikes.

2. The zippers are very big and even though they are meant to be waterproof, where the double zippers meet there is a quite big gap killing the waterproofness. I expect this to become an issue especially in the top of the lid, as there is a double zipper right in the top. I wouldn't feel very confident storing papers or electronic devices in that top pocket. Especially if a puddle builds up the water could just all end up in the pocket. One has to wonder anyway what the advantage of a double zipper on such a small pocket is.

3. There are to many compression straps and buckles. The bag is literally loaded with them. I especially worry about compression straps on the bottom of the bag. They seem quite fragile and perfectly placed to get caught to all sorts like branches, other luggage etc. risking them to be ripped out of the fabric, which would leave you with a whole in the bottom of your pack. To make matters worse, I see no way to actually get the loose ends nice and snug, they kind of dangle and are so long that they loop back onto themselves all the way to the back even if you try to use the entire space. Who needs compression straps on the bottom of a backpack?

4. There is two extra water bottle pockets at the bottom sides of the pack. I'm sure they are quite nice when you use them exactly what they are meant for, but for everyone else they are a nuisance. They dangle outside the pack and they have an elastic to close them a bit, but they don't close entirely (stiff fabric), making them like dead weight for most users I suspect (you can't take them off either, unless you cut them off permanently). The idea of having pockets that are reachable without taking the pack of is really a plus, think of your pocket knife, compass or a muesli bar, but at current trying to store small items in there is a risk as they don't close and they definitely don't close if you have to do it with one hand while wearing the backpack. Why not make proper pockets integrated in the pack with a well thought out system to close them securely with 1 hand, or even just velcro would have been safer and more practical...

5. I have some doubts about the ventilation properties of the suspension, as it uses quite dense foam and we'll have to see how it performs under the sweaty conditions of summer mountaineering.

All in all, I would rate this pack around 275 € as it is top line, but not 375€ as it is not at all perfect.

Customer Service

The website of Arc'teryx has an excellent illustrated guide of how to fit their packs. Other than that, not needed yet.

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Crap Aldi backpack that hurt my shoulders for years...

A bit of a heavy pack but should never die on you - that's the trade off. Got poured on one day with hail - the whole bit - and the watertight zippers held. Nothing got wet. Super comfy. Never anything more so. Quiet. My previous pack squeeked my crazy. Good pockets. The kangaroo pocket is really useful. The pocket inside the kangaroo is much less so. If the kangaroo is full you can't access anything iside that other one. There is no pocket in the lid - that is unfortunate but bearable. The side pockets are cavernous so you can put small items there when using a water bladder.

Customer Service

Haven't used yet.

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North Face Fusion Kelty Zuni Mountainsmith Wizard

This is the third backpack I've ever owned and it will the last. Even with a load over 60 lbs (on my 160 lb frame), the pack feels comfortable. I've done trails over a week in length and unlike many of my fellow hikers I've never had a problem. Its seems I carry a spare buckles and sewing kit to repair other peoples packs. Price was in Canadian $$ In addition to backpacking, I also lived out this pack for a year while I travelled around Australia and New Zealand. Aside from comments about the side pockets, I couldn't have asked for a better pack.

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External frame from ???; Basic MEC internal frame.

This pack is a well made piece of equipment. By far the best I have tried. It carries heavy loads (45 lbs) very well. The waterproof zippers are nice. They keep weight down and are pretty effective at keeping water out. The side pockets are still a little small, even after they were redesigned (however, you can cram a nalgene in them if you try). The sleeping bag compartment is large enough for my winter bag, which is a plus. One problem I had with this pack was the hip belt to torso ratio. I needed a medium torso length, but the medium hip belt was way too big. I have relativly broad shoulders and a slim waist, so the medium belt would not hold the load on my hips properly. I had to buy a small hipbelt to replace the medium to accomadate my build. I imagine this would be the same for tall slender people as well, as the medium hipbelt's smallest setting is 32 inches. The shoulder straps, hipbelt and back panel are made from a thermo moulded foam material that is top of the line. It gives just the right amount of cushioning while still providing awesome support. This pack may be pricey, but trust me, when you are lugging heavy loads over uneven terrain, you will appreciate the load carring capacity of this pack. Comfort is key. There is no point in being miserable while you are on the move.

Customer Service

I haven't needed it yet, however REI's customer service is THE BEST, PERIOD.

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Customer Service

I contacted them with some questions before I bought the pack and they were just amazing.

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Gregory packs, Dana Designs (good value!)

Being out of the "overnight backpacking loop" for about 15 years and (putting on the lb's in that timespan), I researched, heavily, backpacks in an effort to make sure that I was buying as comfortable a backpack as possible. I couldn't have been happier. No backpack related aches and pains to report here as the Bora 80 came through in flying colors over a 3 day timespan in Desolation Wilderness. The weight distribution of the pack really made it easy for me to take the climbs with little or no worry at all. I did pack heavy because I wanted to be able to carry enough to go solo (although I did go with a group of 7). The additional kangaroo pouch came in handy as I needed a place to store my swimming trunks. I used a Camelbak Unbottle 100oz but was not able to slip it into the hydration-ready sleeve inside the pack but that was ok. I just slipped it into the pack and away I want, water at my ready. The daisy chains were very usefull as I placed my camera bag on one of them along with my map holder. I didn't find the need to utilize the side-zipper access capabilities. My first overnighter in 15 years, and thanks to the Bora 80, I'm planning on doing several trips each and every year until I'm 6 feet under. Oh, by the way, I feel pretty confident that this will be the last backpack I ever buy. And the price at Mickies Place was just what the doctor ordered. I got lucky. Thanks Arc'Teryx!

Customer Service

No reason to contact Arc'Teryx 'cept to thank them.

I have had many, many different backpacks from many different companies. Never, has any suited my needs better than the design and versitlity of this pack. Three thumbs up!?

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I don't like to talk poorly about other's, but ahhhggg.northface.ggghhhh. Sorry, couldn't resist

This was one of the last packs to be cut before I made my final choice on an internal frame pack. The organization of storage compartments on the pack is typical for well designed internal frame bacpacks: 1)in addition to a large main compartment, there is a single, spacious "kangaroo" pocket running vertically along the front of the pack; this pocket features a small drain hole and full length zipper access. 2) The sleeping bag comparment is separated from the main compartment by a cloth panel, and is separately accessible via a zipper that runs horizontally 3/4 of the way around the pack. I have a more difficult time packing and closing this compartment than I do with sleeping bag compartments that feature a zippered semicircular access panel. 3)The only side pockets are small and low. A 1 liter Nalgene bottle will fit in these, but they are prone to accidental ejection--e.g. I found a loose bottle in my pack cover after one hike. 4)A hydration bladder sleeve pocket is sewn into the main compartment, and a hose exit hole is provided on one side of the pack. The provided "pocket" is large enough to hold a 3 liter Platypus bladder VERY snugly. Unfortunately, the pocket appears to be an afterthought, as it is only sewn on one edge, and thus allows the bladder to be pushed around when the main compartment is stuffed. This can lead to the bladder being off center or pushed away from the back panel which leads to dimished load balance. The hydration bladder will also occupy part of the prime loading space in the main compartment. I wish the hose opening was larger (it's difficult to feed a bite valve through) and that one was provided on both sides of the pack. 5)The lid has a pocket and is removeable for day hikes, etc. 6)Extras: good compression straps on sides and bottom provide load control and gear attachment points; 2 ice axe loops are provided with velcro loops higher on the pack to secure the shaft (not all packs that have axe loops include this). My take: everything about this pack screams quality--good fabric, good balance, well padded straps, and a smart overall layout. The pack even looks nice. When I loaded the pack to 40 lbs (including the bag itself), the balance was still very nice, but the pack sagged and began to slide down my back. This took only a few miles of hiking on moderate terrain to be painfully obvious. I would hate to know how more weight on rougher terrain would be handled. The pack fit beautifully and was initially comfortable, but I could not make any adjustments that prevented the load from sagging. By contrast, the Gregory Lassen I tried later did not sag like this with the same weight. Based on my experience, I would not recommend this pack for anyone who plans to even come close to filling this pack.

Customer Service

Arc'Teryx: N/A; REI: Excellent--they accepted the return without any trouble.

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Gregory Lassen Kelty Pacific Crest (external)

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Lowe Alpine Gregory

As previous reviews state, this pack is very comfortable with loads under 50lbs, however I've found that this pack cannot handle anything higher as it loses stability. I love the aesthetics, and the thermofoam backpad, and the top pouch converts to a very comfortable fanny pack. Arcteryx redesigned the side pockets to accept bottles and larger items much more easily than previous models. The faults: I've used an older Bora 90 and in comparison the material used in the newer Bora 80 is not as durable--the material in several places had ruffled up after only 3 days of use, the plastic strap retainers on the bottom have broken off after 12 days of use. I don't care much for the weight of the pack considering the pack volume in comparison to the newer model packs out there. Conclusion: This pack is an extremely comfortable backpack when hefting loads under 50 lbs. It allows a great variety in adjusments to handle downhill descents or uphill treading. I love the aesthetics (consistent with all Arcteryx products), but I do worry about the durability. My next pack will probably be an Osprey--unless Arcteryx redesigns this pack with stronger and lighter material.

Customer Service

Never used.

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