This is quite possibly one of the greatest packs ever made. It is big enough to handle any trip, short of a major expedition (If you can't live out of this pack for at least a week, you are bringing too much stuff). I've taken mine climbing and backpacking, throughout Colorado, and it's performed well under all conditions. Some people may complain that it is a little heavy, but the awesome suspension makes up for it.

This pack is very well thought-out and designed. It carries extremely solid for significantly less money than some of the other packs on the market. The wedge shaped pocket on the front of the pack helps item wedge themselves into place as you walk. I found this to be a significant improvement over the bullet-shaped pockets used on the Terraplane from Dana. Items just don't tend to shift as much inside of this pack.

The stitching, like everything Arc'Teryx makes, is absolutely bomber. Unlike everything else that Arc'Teryx makes, however, this pack is pretty darned heavy. Lots of nice features, though. I'll give it a just because it does have drawbacks, but I wish that I could give it a 4.5.

Customer Service

I sent in my Snoyo pack for a busted strap. The item was back to me within 3 weeks and good as new.

Similar Products Used:

Dana Terraplane.

I have owned the Bora 80 for over a year now and have found it to be the finest backpack available. No question about it. I mainly use it to lug my 50+ pounds of climbing gear around. The Bora 80 distributes the load evenly and with more comfort than any pack I have ever used.

Similar Products Used:

None

Top notch pack, best suspension in the price range. Gets better with each use. Kangaroo Explosion pocket is key, holds all my rain gear, ground cloth, and 4 bass ales! Great comfort, gets better each time I use it! I'll never go back!

Customer Service

n/a

Similar Products Used:

Gregory, Lowe Alpine, North Face--nothing came close to suspension and comfort

I love this pack. Heavy loads are not uncomfortable thanks to the awesome suspension. The stays are perfect, hip belt fits like a glove, and the shoulder straps are comfy. So many adjustments you can make to improve fit - it is unbelievable. the way the hip belt sits allows your legs free range of movement. some other packs impede that by fitting differently.

only TWO complaints: i wish that (a) the side pockets could hold nalgenes (i know everyone says this), and (b) i wish that they could have made the top lid/fanny pack a bit deeper so you didn't have to put such flat stuff in there.

overall, oh my goodness, this is the most amazing pack i have ever owned. even if you don't buy one, at least go into a store and just try one on.. i bet you'll love it.

Customer Service

i have emailed customer service once (bird@arcteryx.com) and they replied within 24 hours. awesome.

Similar Products Used:

None

Pretty good pack for the money.
The good: It carries well, is fairly adjustable, the side access zip is handy, the kangaroo pouch is versatile, the straps are supportive and comfortable, and the pack expands to a pretty large volume. It's a good size, too. Unless you're doing an winter ascent or extended trip, it hold all you need.
The bad: It's heavy, it's not as adjustable as the Dana or Gregory packs, not as light as the Ospreys.
The kangaroo pocket is too small for a shovel, the top pack is too flat and small, and on the older ones, the recess behind your head is too small and loses it's shape if you overstuff the pack. It's not the most supportive pack if you overload it, and the pack isn't modular.

Overall, a good pack at a good price.
It's great if it fits you, but it's not that adjustable. I've used it everywhere from the Himalaya to the Cascade volcanos to plain old camping and hiking. It's durable and reliable.

Similar Products Used:

Dana packs (all)
Gregory (all)
Marmot
TNF
Lowe
Osprey
Pretty much everything...

An excellent overnight mountaineering pack with a few exceptions. The pack is slightly smaller than I would of liked. Maybe a Bora 90/95 would have been better. Also the pack dos not have many "alpine" features. I used this pack to hike into base camp and then stripped it downt to summit. It worked great. This made me a fan of Arcteryx packs. The pack is durable we very comfortable. I liked it enough I purchased another Arcteryx pack for day summits.

Customer Service

None

Similar Products Used:

REI packs (always seems to be some drawback on REI products).

Hmmmm...very suspitious. I just posted a somewhat unfavorable review of this pack to this site (the first I've seen). It appeared on the site for about one day, then mysteriously vanished! Oh well, let's try again.
I found this pack to be mediocre. The supsension is fine up to about forty pounds. Beyond that weight it begins to sag. My main complaint, however, is the shoddy workmanship (I am astounded that the other reviewers seem so impressed with the pack on this count). Let me be specific. The stitching is imprecise, indeed messy at times with far too many hanging threads for a pack of this price. Furthermore, in contrast with most other packs at this price point (and every Gregory pack, including those costing a hundred dollars less) several of the seams inside the pack are not taped (specifically in the sleeping bag compartment and in the top pocket), leaving a messy ragged appearance and greater exposure of the seam to wear and tear. Lastly the stays are sewn directly onto the inside of the pack bag with no inner lining for protection. Over time this will lead to the degradation of the threads attaching a vital part of the suspension to the packbag.
moral of the story: don't believe everything you read on the web (particularly if it's edited) and inspect with care in person every pack you are considering. Online web "bargains" are, as often as not, false economies.

Customer Service

I contacted Arc'teryx about the hip-belt, one side of which has a long crease in it (making for a hotspot over a long hike). I was informed that Arc'teryx does not deal directly with customers and that I should go to the retail outlet where I bought the pack. Thanks!

Similar Products Used:

Gregory, various
Osprey, various,
Dana, various

I have mixed feelings about this pack. The suspension seems to work well, although I disagree with the load bearing estimates some of the reviewers here attribute to the pack- I found it to sag uncomfortably when the load crept up towards 50lbs. I found the workmanship to be poor for a pack at this price. The stitching was imprecise with many hanging threads. And some of the seams (in the sleeping bag compartment and top sleeve) were untaped, exposing them to greater wear and tear. Further more the design of the occipital cavity seemed poor- I find when the pack is full the load droops over the cavity removing any extra headroom. I also found a crease in my hip-belt, a possible source for hot-spots. To be honest I think you can buy a better pack for less money- better designed and certainly better constructed. The Gregory packs I have since inspected seem better made and more intelligently designed. I was (and am) disappointed with this pack and intend to return it. moral of the storey: don't believe everything you read on the web, and _always_ inspect a pack before buying it, no matter how good the reviews of it are.

Customer Service

I called Arcteryx about the hip-pad and was told that the company does not deal directly with customers and that I should contact the store I bought it from. Since I bought the pack online this was not very helpful advice.

Similar Products Used:

Osprey Advent (snug fit, well made, but only one stay so limited hauling capacity)
Dana Terraplane (I liked the pack but the shoulder straps were uncomfortable)
various Gregory packs (I like them all)

I bought the Bora 80 recently and love the features on it. Got it for a good price - $320 Canadian + Taxes. The only complaint is with the hip belt. When the pack is loaded, thehip belt rides up at the front. I am constantly struggling to push it back down and keep it from riding over my waist. Has anyone else had this problem??

Similar Products Used:

None