This is a totally great pack. I believe it to be one of the best on the market. I bought it through REI (http://www.rei.com) for about $340. The price is a bit heavy but worth every single penny.

I've been using the Arcteryx Bora 80 for 2 years now and, so far, I'm very satisfied. This pack is ruggly built, the ergonomics are great and I find it really comfortable, more than the Lowe Alpine Crossbow 70+15 that I tried before. I have only two complains about this bag and they both concern the detachable top section. First, I find it a little unstable when the pack is not fully loaded. Also, It would be great if this pocket was designed to be hooked to the main padded belt instead of the small one hidden in it (you actually can but the whole detachment/attachment process is a pain in the butt...) Otherwise, this is another great canadian outdoor product.

Similar Products Used:

Lowe Alpine Contour IV and Crossbow 70+15.

Arcteryx Bora 95 The absolute best pack I have ever used! Construction is typical Arcteryx. Only the best of materials used. I have had this pack for 3 years now and have loaded it up to 65lbs. Not one problem with any of the seams. The side bottom pockets are not for water bottles. However I carry 2 qt. bottles and a 110oz. bladder in the kangeroo pouch with no problems.
The suspension is excellent. The pack is a little heavy and pricey ($395). Like anything else you get what you pay for.

Customer Service

Arcteryx customer service has beeen great. Haven't needed anything repaired but they have been there for tech advice. Answered my e-mail in less then 24 hrs!

Similar Products Used:

North Face

I have had my Arcteryx Bora 80 for about a year now and it has been great on over 5 trips. Last, November, I used on a 23 day trip in the Cedar Mesa Wilderness Area of southeastern Utah. On average, I carried about 60 lbs in my pack, and the weight was increadibly well supported. I was able to hike just as fast with a full pack as I would on a dayhike. Also, the more durable condura nylon on the bottom and front of the pack performed well against the abraision of sandstone during pack-hauls. I had one spot that was worn, but no actual holes appeared because of abrassion. My only suggestion is that additional side pockets would be helpful on long trips.

This backpack is great, the suspension holds everything I can put in it perfectly. All of the features on it are perfect. everything works great and the size is suitable for every type of activity that I have done from a week long backpacking trip to a climb of Mt. Rainier to snowcamping.

Absolutely the most comfortable pack I have ever purchased or tested. The contoured panels and shoulder straps distribute weight evenly throughout the upper and lower body via the well padded hip straps. The packs side zipper allows full access to the pack from top to bottom allowing for convent retrieval of supplies in a hurry. Ample room in main compartment and easily compressible.

Similar Products Used:

None

I have used the Bora 80 for almost two years. The heaviest load I carried was about 65 lbs. Durability and comfort have been stellar. You get the impression that the stitching and the materials will never fail in your lifetime. I have used a Lowe Alpine pack before and had concerns with regard to the the laod stability. The Bora 80 will keep your load stable. The suspension sytem is wow! It really transfers the load to your hips without comprising performance on the trail...not to mention the body hugging fit. My only durablity concern is the garter for the chest strap-it seems to have loosened over the years of use. I would also like to wish for D-rings on the shoulder straps.

The side panel loading is feature which I loved. You won't need to dig out all your gear to get a cannned good at the bottom. Stoves, sandals and even tents can be easily acccesible. I also like the key clip in the top pocket which can also convert into a fanny pack. This is a very good feature, but I just hope that the lumbar pad could be thicker. I also wish that the side wand pockets be made bigger to accomodate a water bottle more securely. The Kangaroo pocket can fit anything which is also outfitted with a thick zipper (# 10) and two daisy chains. I would also like to wish for a small internal mesh pocket to put little things since it has no pocket in the top lid.

Overall, this pack is THE pack! Arc'Teryx has also had a very good and solid reputation when it comes to their products...this is an indication of things.

The only reason I sold mine was to get the Bora 65 which is in the volume that caters to my specifications.

If the pack fits your volume range, you will have a stable, comfortable and body hugging fit carrying a very for a long time.

Customer Service

I have asked for brochures and stickers...they gave it-I live thousands of miles away. I have had made inquies through a specific e-mail and response has been good so far. I would still see if they will be as accomodating if I encountered bigger problems.

This pack is so comfortable on my boney hips.
The hip belt foam is the best. I use the vertical outside pouch to carry my pad and some loose stuff for quick access. Best pack I ever carried.

Similar Products Used:

I tried using a Gregory Palisade Plus for a few trips, but although the pack was a good pack in all areas but the hip pad was sooo hard!! It hurt so much to carry it after a few miles I had to sell it.

Function and Style combine to form the perfect pack. I absolutely love the suspension system of the Arc'Teryx Bora 80. Recently I carried approx 40 pounds of gear up Mt. Rainier to just below camp Muir (at 10,000 feet). I was surprised at the relative comfort for the amount of weight that I was carrying. For those of you who climb alpine style you will most definitely appreciate this pack.

The 3/4 lenght side zipper makes it easy to get to your gear without having to dig through everything. A more then generous headpack gives you plenty of room for things that need to be kept close at hand. And the overall construction is ultra durable.

Really the only downside of this pack is the price. My local REI sells it for about $380. If you want the pack but don't want to break the bank, try ordering it online or from MEC in Vancouver BC. Their price is lover and with the exchange rate it comes to about $220.

This pack is really awesome, it's the kind of pack that surprises me everytime I load it by feeling lighter than I had expected to feel!, It laughs at heavy loads, how many packs can you say that about? Sure, people whine about its' weight but it's a moot point when you're carrying a full load, compare other packs in it's class and the point becomes clear. The only feature I wish it had would be an integrated crampon pouch on the exterior... something I can live with though.
The quality of the materials and construction are as good as you'll find, something I've come to expect from Arc'teryx ,(I also own the Borea ski pack). This is a five star product.