Wonderful, wonderful technical pack. Excellent suspension, probably the best I've tried out. Very padded hip belt, excellent access to all pockets and areas. The simplicity of the front pocket is great, although the zipper disappears when the top is closed down tight, and requires unsnapping the top to really get to the contents. The actual construction of this pack is impeccable and highly evident at first sight.

I'd definitely buy another Arc'teryx, but I don't think I'll need to for a long, long time. However, the 80 is a little big for my purposes. Still, the extra capacity is nice to have in case I ever decide to do a trip longer than a couple weeks. I like to pack as light as possible and the size of this thing makes that difficult to do ("More room! Keep filling!")

Peace.

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My biggest complaint with this pack is that it is heavy at about 6 lbs. However, it is not out of line with most other packs of this size. The Bora 80 is very comfortable. The kangaroo pocket is very useful and I have put everything from shell gear to rope to snowshoes in it. The large pockets, many compression straps, and daisy chains allow you to securely fasten things to the outside of the pack.

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I got a great deal on the Bora 80 by ordering it from MEC in Canada. It came to about $220 U.S. I'm impressed with the comfort and features of this pack. My boyfriend even got one after he saw how happy I am with mine. The top that comes off into a fanny/lumbar pack is excellent, more comfortable than other packs that have this feature. But, I have one major complaint: there is a small outside pocket on either side of the pack, presumably for water bottles. However, the pockets are only a few inches high so they only hold the bottom 1/3 of my quart or liter water bottles. As a result, my water bottles fall out which can be dangerous (if one of my water bottles tumbles out of reach down a mountain, etc.). Why didn't Arc'Teryx just make the pockets a few inches higher so a typical quart or liter water bottle could rest securely in the pocket? I've written to Arc'Teryx twice (by e-mail) but haven't received a response. I would like Arc'Teryx to take my pack, tear off the old side pockets and replace them with pockets that would actually hold my water bottles securely. This would be an easy fix and should be changed in future models.

Customer Service

Excellent customer service when I've called but I sent two e-mails from their web site and received no response although several weeks have passed.

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Best pack for long hikes I have ever owned, when the straps and waist are fitted properly. The large side zipper is extreamly convinent aswell as the pouch, over all very durrable.

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I haven't used this pack, but I think I've spent enough time in the store with it to have a useful opinion. And I got a friend to get one :) It's very comfortable. It has plenty of lash points. The kangaroo pocket is a godsend, and things really don't fall out of the top. The detachable top/fanny pack has decent support, though not quite like a Dana (it has its own hipbelt, while the Dana uses the main hipbelt). It's very well built, and it's easy to switch out the hip belt for another size. On my body, this pack feels like it's letting the load sit a little too far from my back. I don't know if that's something that I could change by adjusting the aluminum stays. The pack is wonderfully comfortable, on par with or better than anything but a Dana, for me, at least. And if you buy at MEC, the value is amazing! $220 US or so. And MEC has them in more nifty colours than does REI.

Customer Service

Amazing. My friend got a 65 instead of an 80 at MEC, and it came with a women's hipbelt. He called Arc'teryx, who told him to go to REI to trade it in for the right hipbelt (for free). He actually decided to get the 80 instead, and was able to upgrade for $20. Both REI and Arc'teryx have really excellent customer service!

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EMS, Gregory, Dana, Lowe Alpine, other Arc'teryx, North Face...

The fact that Arc'teryx is a local company does not influence my recommendation for this pack. Fits like a glove. Hauls gear like a rented mule. More bombproof than NORAD HQ. This is a pack that is suited for almost anything (though I would get the Bora 95 for doing anything close to a through hike). The suspension system really shines on trails where you are having to duck and weave through the woods, or while on skis. Best pack for the money, no doubt about it. Just get one. BTW, the pockets are ** NOT ** for water bottles. They are for ski-ends, trekking poles, tent poles, etc. Just get a Camelback or similar and toss 'er in the Kangaroo Pocket on the back and be done with it.

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Dana, Gregory, Northface

This summer I took the Bora 80 on a month long trip to Russia to climb Mt. Elbrus and other peaks in the Caucasus. The pack has tremendous carrying capacity, lots of lash points and generally carries well. I really appreciate the side zipper to access the interior of the pack without having to unload things from the top. The fanny pack is a nice added feature and is well constructed. I did have to purchase an additional pocket to attach to the outside of the pack for carrying quickly accessable items and I do not like the way the pocket attaches to the pack - kind of flimsy. My other main complaint about the pack, although I knew this when I bought the pack, is that it is very heavy.

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Gregory, North Face

The Bora 80 is an excellent internal frame pack. It was very easy to adjust the pack for my body, since it uses a convenient Velcro panel arrangement for adjusting the height of the shoulder straps. As a result, the pack fits great, and the hip pads are snug and very comfortable. One note: the hip pads are semi-molded and not terribly flexible, so the pack doesn't compress very well for air travel. Headroom is great for such a tall pack, with a very nice contoured area at the top to allow you to tilt your head back -- no hunching forward or neck pains with this pack! Several conveniently located pockets increase your packing options, with the top detachable fanny pack being especially convenient and roomy for snacks, camera, and other common trail items. I do wish that it had more external pockets like most external frame packs, but the Bora 80 is certainly more streamlined and easier to manage than a bulkier external frame pack. Access to the main compartment is simplified with a side zipper, but it's somewhat blocked by the compression straps, making access a little more inconvenient. Nonetheless, I've found it to be a very durable, comfortable pack for extended trips. A bit on the expensive side, but in my mind, the extra comfort makes it worth every cent.

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I have owned my Bora 80 for two years now. It is the finest piece of equipement I've ever owned. I spent two months in Europe with an average of 40 pds on my back from flat walking and climbing in the Alps (+ 10 000' mts) and my upper body never got sore. The bag and hipbelt conformed exactly to my contours and provided me with incredible confort. I might never use any other

Customer Service

I've never needed to call them but their Canadian so I must imagine that it will be good and friendly.

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Gregory packs and Low Alpine *Do not match up*

I have had my Bora 80 for one season. I backpacked 8 days on Isle Royale in the middle of Lake Superior. The pack was ideal to carry food and provisions for that length of trip. The durability of the pack in unquestionable. I'm 41 and I have it in my will to give to my great-grandchildren.

The pockets on the side of the pack "CAN BE USED TO HOLD WATER BOTTLES". Put a strip of Velcro (rough side only), 5" long, down the side of your 32 oz. water bottles. It provides plenty of friction to hole the bottles in place. Also, it identifies your bottles from everyone other when its your turn to filter water for 20 bottles.

The Kangaroo pouch is great for wet gear and odd-shaped items too. The waist belt was comfortable and rigid enough to balance the load when I got into one of those "Oh NO!, I'm losing my Balance!!!" Enjoy!!! Great Choice.