This is review of the new ALASKA II 100. -*The ALASKA and ALASKA II are very very different. Please don't get them confused!* I bought this pack early this spring. My first use of this pack on a fairly up hill 7 mile hike was exceptional considering I was using an external frame(Which is also a Jansport) for the past 8 years on the same trail. I stuffed this bad boy with 40 pounds of gear and it lifts the load very well. Fits great for people over 5'4". Would recommend Alaska 100 to anyone. Enjoy all the features this pack has to offer. Great buy!

Customer Service

Fair

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External Frame Janport

This review is for the Alaska II 115 (tall). I am 6'1" and 180 lbs. with a 35" waste. The pack fit me well after I adjusted the shoulder harness placement. I just got back from a weeklong trip in the Sierras at 12,000 ft. I carried in 85 lbs (about 8000 c.i.) that filled the pack to its capacity. The extendable side pockets and top really allow you to fill this one up. There are also a lot of compression straps, so the load didn't feel out of control. The water bladder pocket, removeable top/fanny pack and organizer pockets where also nice features. At just over 8 lbs. this pack is not light, but no pack that could handle 85 pounds is going to be light. Overall I liked it. I'm sure a custom fit Denali Pro would have been more comfortable, but I wasn't sure it was worth 2.5x the price. If you need to carry a big load, but don't have loads of cash, I think the Alaska II is a nice alternative.

Customer Service

Very Good. Contacted them several years ago about exchanging a new pack bag (D2) for one of a different color. They did it quickly with no questions asked.

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Gregory Denali Pro, Jansport D2

Let me begin by saying that all my other gear is high end(TNF mountain tent, shell, superlight bag, Nova stove, MSR filter etc.) but when it came time to stuff all that $$$ stuff into to something I chose Jansport. I first purchased the ROCKIES 100 but it just didnt fit me correctly, but I was impressed with the design and price so I sent it back and purchased the ALASKA 100, and this my friend has made all the difference. If a pack doesnt fit you correctly DONT buy it, no matter how well its rated. TRAVELING--- This is a tough pack I would recommend both for Lonely Planet style traveling through Europe or the Southern Hemisphere because even with its size it doesnt extend past my profile so much, meaning it isnt cumbersome to carry through building, hotels, train stations etc. Also, all the straps, buckles can be easly stowed without using duck tape or other semi-permanent fasteners, again making it easy for traveling. OUTDOORS--- I think this pack makes an excellent weekend to weeklong/thru-hiking bag. For extended trips I use the packs compartments as follows: 1.main compartment-its absolutely huge and can carry all your clothing for winter activities as well a great amount of food. 2.front pocket-this is the largest external pocket, I usually use this to carry fuel, for the piece of mind that if any of it leaks, atleast its seperate from the rest of my gear. For extended trips it can handle my two 33oz cannisters as well as the Optimus fuel bottle and stove in stuff sack.(with room for other odds and ends) 3.Two side pockets- perfect for my MSR(and most other water filters) inside Outdoor Research padded case in one and med kit/gaiters acc. in other. Both pockets have mesh half pockets perfect for drying wet socks/gear. 4.Top lid pocket- is large enough for several days food, thick fleece jacket etc 5.Sleeping bag compartment-perfect for my Superlight bag(long) with plenty room for packtowels, extral blanket etc. 6.No problem extending/lashing- For big loads, I lash on sleeping mat, two tarps on top of sleep bag comp. plus Mountain tent secures between top lid and main compartment. All in all a great pack for the price, good for traveling or backpacking. Unless you are mountaineer or participate in some other highly specialized sport, this pack will suffice.

Customer Service

Cant Say...

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Lowe Alpine

With its many pockets, this pack is a delight for those who love to be organized and carry lots of stuff. The pack moves with my body. I sometimes forget its there!! As a matter of fact, most of my backpacking friends were so impressed that they now have one for themselves.

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Camptrails Northface

I have had my Alaska for almost two years now and have taken it on multiple hikes, ranging from overnighters to week-long mountain treks.

The Pros: Overall I have been very pleased with it's versatility, capacity and fit. I'm 5'10" and 165 lbs. and it fits just fine. Adjusting the shoulder straps for torso length is a breeze due to the ladder suspension system. One huge plus for me is the detatchable top pocket/fanny pack--this eliminates the need to bring along a separate day pack for side hikes/summit treks while on long trips through the backcountry. Another favorite feature is the expandable rear pocket(the fabric is pleated so that it will bulge out, thus increasing capacity). I have found this to be a perfect place to put my 70 oz. Camelback reservoir--the tube is just long enough to get around to the front and eliminates the need to dislocate my shoulder groping for water bottles with the pack on. The pack is absolutely huge! So much so that on a five day, 50+ miler I resorted to only packing in the uppper main compartment, leaving the sleeping bag compartment empty to get the load's center of gravity higher up.

My concerns: First, the load lifter straps seem rather small(approx. 1") webbing and I make sure that they're loose before hefting the pack by it's shoulder straps. I've never had a problem with them though. Second, when loaded down and cinched down tight I've had the hip-belt buckle pop out of the socket a bit(not till opening, but seeing it pop open that 1/8" is disconcerting). I've had the same problem with my Jansport Couloir hip buckle as well. Kelty's hip-belt system is much easier to adjust and the buckle seems to be more solid.

Summary: If you have a limited budget(i.e. don't want to max your credit card buying Dana Designs or Gregory) and don't want to have to be a packing Merlin by shrinking down your gear to fit it inside a pack then this is the pack for you. A five-star value if you can find it for #130 or less(try Campmor).

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None

This pack is definately worth its mony all though it is a little big. So I tend to carry to much gear. I have only had it about a year and have carried it through some pretty rough places in the airizona desert it has never showed any sign of wearincluding cat claws that completly shreaded me. I am about 6'0 and weigh about 160pnds and it seems to fit me well. With no problems carrying a heavy load. I would definatly recomend this pack.

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this is an excellent pack for all puposes. it has held everything I have wanted to take and carried it with ease. the adjustments are numerous and very functional.

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I think this pack is a great buy, providing HUGE amounts of room, all the adjustment I could ever need and a great price. It may not be suitable for those under 6' tall, or the extremely thin, however. But at 6'3" and a fit 210 lbs (I am a competitive rower), the pack fits perfectly.

The pack has been on winter trips on snowshoes and overnight trips in the local Santa Cruz Mountains, handling my gear extremely well. I had no trouble adjusting/compressing the pack to shape the load as one other reviewer did (it helps to use appropriately sized stuffsacks!).

The detachable fanny pack is a nice touch, too. I tend to keep my ten essentials in it, so it is ready for any day trip.

Whether going on a family trip or a Boy Scout trip, I am able to carry my gear and enough extra to cover the "I forgot to bring..." lament typical of children. This pack allows me to "Be Prepared".

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I took the Alaska for a week on the AT in southwest VA. Although I was happy with the comfort, space, multiple pockets and price, I was fairly disapointed with the durability of the product. The seams stretched so much I thought they might tear. Also, the pack does not stand-up when not loaded and gets wet very easily. Lastly, it is difficult to adequately compress the load against your body. We nicknamed my pack ""the sloth"" by weeks end as it seemed fitting.

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I bought this backpack in preparation for a 2 week venture in Michigan's Upper Pennisula. It served very well. With the many pockets and dividers there was a place for everything there needed to be. The shoulder straps and hip belt were sufficiently padded and caused no discomfort what so ever.

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