For heavy-duty day mountaineering, I like this pack a lot. It is light, so that when it gets stripped down it carries like a daypack, and the suspension definately grabs your back like most people say it does when you are carrying more weight. I have a few quibbles, though. I have carried up to 45 lbs in it, and I've found that 30 lbs is pretty much the hard limit, at least for my back. Second, the foam frame comes up really high, so when I am climbing with it with a helmet on, it keeps bashing me in the back of the helmet when you look up. Not a big deal, but I stopped climbing with it. Finally, after only about 150 trail miles, the fiberglass stays wore through the bottom of their housing, and poked into the rest of the pack. I have to sew them up every so often. But, then again, I am pretty hard on my packs. And for 90 bucks on sale, I really can't beat the performance this pack has given me.

Customer Service

Dana Design's service is always exceptional.

Similar Products Used:

Lowe Alpine, Mountainsmith, also Dana's Terraplane X-Overkill

Best pack I've ever owned. Those suspension rods wrap your back and hold on like grim death. This pack simply won't shift, period. Plenty of room for a long solo weekend. Built to survive a nuclear blast, like all pre-buyout Danas. If you can find one, grab it.

Similar Products Used:

None

So far I am very pleased with this pack. I didn't think the fiberglass rod suspension would carry much of a load, but it has proven to be quite comfortable with up to 30 lbs. so far. The listed capacity is 3100 cu. in. but it seems like it could hold more. The Large horseshoe shaped pocket on the outside is quite large, and handy for grabbing frequently used items. The waist belt seems a little sparse in length, has been comfortable so far. The only complaint, not a big one, is that the top pocket is sewn on, and cannot be removed. The main compartment is fairly tall and narrow. A large sleeping bag would proberbly not fit horizontally unless a compression bag is used. All in all, this is a very good, lightweight overnight size pack. I would not recommend getting the all black color, as hard to see into the main compartment due to the black hole effect.

Similar Products Used:

North Face Thin Air
Jandd Zoor Alpinist
Vortex

The Jet Pack is quite simply the best pack for I have ever used. Not only is it light and comfortable, it's well built too. The suspension system rocks! You won't even think about wearing it. Which to me is the best compliment I could give a pack. Although it is a small pack you can jam incredible amounts of gear into it. The pockets (only 3) are well placed and easy to access. It takes a beating and keeps on ticking. Crampons no problem, Shovel ditto. The pack is designed to last. Wear patches in all the vulnerable places. Bombproof and carries a load very well. I will never buy another ""cheap"" pack because I don't have to now. Works great on the Mountain bike too (slim profile).

Similar Products Used:

Kelty, North Face, EMS, Eureka, Jansport, US Army.