Bought this pack on sale for $150 at the Lowe Alpine factory in Broomfield - great deal! It is the first pack I've owned that fits me well, and unlike the others, it fit me almost without adjustment of any type (YMMV). It is *roomy* - you will have to fight yourself to not carry more than you should - and is great for solo winter outings, when you are the only pack animal on the trip and all your spare clothes are bulky. I especially love the super-roomy lower compartment *and* the extremely big and accessible and easy to use entry to it - much easier than any other pack I've had for getting to my sleeping bag, spare clothes, etc.

Customer Service

Lowe makes great gear, and for those of us lucky enough to live in the Front Range, their factory in Broomfield has killer close-outs every quarter (I'm going this weekend! ;-)

I've had this bag for two years and it's very attacked me. It rides well unless you're carrying 50+. There has only been one trip in which I didn't have room and that was due to my trip-mate not having enough room. If you're looking to buy,.know that this pack is big. Most people buy big to ensure that they always have room but they don't realize that the pack doesn't ride well with much less than it's max either. Food for thought.

Customer Service

I ripped the zipper for the divider and the velcro for the bottom compartment but repaired both myself to avoid any time with it.

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This was and is my one and only internal frame pack.

this was my first interior frame pack, and i was fairly disappointed in it. I am a very picky gear freak and the contour did not meet my needs. First, durability in construction and materials was shoddy. Shoulder straps started out will little support and quickly turned to mush. Same with hipbelt. Somebody mentioned that the the shoulder straps met too close together at the top and this is true. It would be more ergonomic to widen the gap a bit. Pack sagged with 40+ lbs loads. I felt with greater loads, the hip belt, suspension and shoulder straps needed to be beefed up more with a denser material to handle it. My friend still has his and his has totally delaminated on the inside, and he makes sure he dries it out after its wet etc....
The one positive that i wished was carried over to other pack designers is the A shaped opening for the sleeping bag compartment is great! allows easy access to a very spacious compartment that can handle winter bags.
i ended up upgrading to a north face pack and that didn't support 40+ loads well either, so i ended up getting an osprey motherload pack (7000 cu in.) The osprey is going to be the last pack i ever buy. (unless they make one injected with helium to lighten all loads). absolute bombproof construction, fantastic support with all weights, can handle winter bags, has convertible fanny pack for top lid and vector system. check out www.ospreypacks.com.

the contour is a good pack for it's price though.

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North Face microfit pack, Osprey Motherload, another Lowe Alpine pack

I have had a Lowe Contour IV for about 5 years now and it is my first internal pack frame. Prior to that I used Kelty external frames for over 17 years!!! The Lowe contour four was bought based on reviews much like this one as well as trying out different packs at various stores. I tried an EMS bag and the salesperson spent 45 minutes just explaining how to fix the straps! Too complex for me. The contour four felt good from the start. I also tried Gregorys as they were highly rated. the contour four has gone over 950 miles by now and still looks like new. It is holding up real well. The only down side to this pack is the lack of pockets on the outside which having come form the external frame world of Kelty might explain why I miss them! My Kelty had pockets everywhere! Once I got a system down of loading this pack and now know where everything is based on this repetitive system I do not have a problem with the lack of pockets. I do love the bag and it has plenty of room inside for everything including my EMS Simoom tent when I carry it! I recommend it.

Customer Service

17 years with 3 Kelty external frame packs

This was my first pack, and a good one it was!
Good Points:
Reasonable weight.
Actually handles >40# loads.
As big as you need for anything but 2-week cold weather trips.
Beefy construction.
Bad Points:
Small sizing - if you have any torso at all, make sure you try it before you buy it. I doubt the regular size will fit anyone over 19" torso, and larges are few & far between.

Customer Service

Easy to get hold of a real cust-serv person. Reasonably accomodating.

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Dana Alpine, Gregory Makalu Pro

i've had this pack since 98 and it's been all around wonderful. it molded to my back and hips within a couple of months, and it provides excellent comfort when on week long trips. it is big enough to hold all of my stuff, and fits firmly agaisnt my back so that i don't sway with it on.

I bought this pack on closeout last year. So far it has been a very durable pack that is also comfortable to wear. The only down side is that I wish it had more external compartments to store gear in.

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None

Not a bad pack, though I wouldn't recommend it for a thru-hike where one must carry more than 40 pounds. Space is gracious but the hip belt does not support a lot of weight. Bottle pockets are nice but need to be larger. Lashing down anything else takes a lot of imagination to create function. I would recommend looking around before buying this pack. Though, it can serve it's purpose well.

Customer Service

Thankfully, This pack lasted 1328 continuous miles with minor problem of stiching-no need to call manufacturer

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None

This pack is easily one of the best gear purchases I have made. I got it on close out from Sierra Trading Post for around $60 off MSRP (the newer style was already available). My first trip with it was through the Smoky Mountains. Not only does it have more than ample storage for week long trips but it's extremely durable. My Contour has exceeded expectations on every trip it's been on from the Red River Gorge in KY to the Black Hills to Absaroka in Montana. Five years and still going strong. Highly recommended backpack.

Customer Service

Never used (never a need) but here's the site info: http://www.lowealpine.com/

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Arc Teryx Bora 90

This pack is easily one of the best gear purchases I have made. I got it on close out from Sierra Trading Post for around $60 off MSRP. My first trip with it was through the Smoky Mountains. Not only does it have more than ample storage for week long trips but it's extremely durable. My Contour has exceeded expectations on every trip it's been on from the Red River Gorge in KY to the Black Hills to Absaroka in Montana. Five years and still going strong. Highly recommended backpack.

Customer Service

Never used (never a need) but here's the site info: http://www.lowealpine.com/

Similar Products Used:

Arc Teryx Bora 90