A great 3 season pack. I had to get a slightly bigger pack (Denali Pro) to handle the bulk of winter cloths/bags. The bottom panel is excellent for stuffing a sleeping bag in without having to resort to a compression sack. Simple design with a good amount of room. I find it starts to reach its limit though around 40-50 lbs otherwise it is pretty comfy. The bottom also sticks out too much in a trapezoidal shape when it is full making it hard to go down narrow wooded trails without getting snagged constantly. A nice pack though for the price.

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Gregory Denali Pro, Trango Alpine

A great 3 season pack. I had to get a slightly bigger pack (Denali Pro) to handle the bulk of winter cloths/bags. The bottom panel is excellent for stuffing a sleeping bag in without having to resort to a compression sack. Simple design with a good amount of room. I find it starts to reach its limit though around 40-50 lbs otherwise it is pretty comfy. The bottom also sticks out too much in a trapezoidal shape when it is full making it hard to go down narrow wooded trails without getting snagged constantly. A nice pack though for the price.

I got my pack at Campmor for $160 and it was a great deal in my opinion. On my first trip with it, the pack became uncomfortable after only an hour of hiking. Once I realized that I didn't have the pack fitted perfect I made a few simple adjustments. It was like night and day. For the rest of the trip it hardly felt like a had anything on(exagerating of course). There are places to strap just about anything on to this pack. Mine did not come with the hydration bladder(would have been nice). The one thing I wish this pack had on it was a front loading zipper. Overall, this is probably the best pack for the money today. I would recommend to anyone to buy wrist loops with your pack. They attach to your D-rings and provide A LOT of support to your back when hiking. You can get them at Campmor for like 5 bucks. Merry Christmas everyone!

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Kelty, North Face

i've carried everthing in this pack.from hockey gear and beer,to chainsaws and shovels.i also use it for mountaineering.this is a fine pack.

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i've also tried their 50 liter pack.this is a great daypack.

A great all around pack. The absolute best for the money right now. There are some major differences in models from '95 to present so check to make sure which Contour IV your looking at when buying one. Hipbelt & harness is much better on the newer model. Diamond fabric is better too. The thing I like most about this pack is it's large access panel and all around simplicity.

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My Contour IV is quite old (in terms of production models) and doesn't even have the paralux fit system or elasticized side pockets, but has served with excellence on weekend backpack trips and 3 weeks in Europe. The pack is huge and can be ridiculously overstuffed, this feature comes in handy for short term travel when I haul around lots of clothes and items in europe, but if you need that much space for 3-4 days backpacking you need to sit down and throw out half of your gear. The newer packs with the more comfortable padding and included hydration system make this an even better value. If you are a first time pack buyer think about how long your trips are really going to be and consider a smaller version. Then if you still are sure you want one pack to do it all, the contour can. note: If the pack seems too empty on a trip, just offer to carry some gear for your buddies, you will never be turned down

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Very comfortable and adjustible. I really like how there are so many places on this pack that you can attach gear. There is a ton of space in this pack. More than you will need for weekends but about right for a week or more. It is pretty easy to get to gear at the bottom of the pack also, expically since the divider doesn't zip all the way around leaving just enough room for a hand to pull something out. Overall a gread deal for the money.

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I have an older version than the one pictured. Great size, I have used for trips up to 8 days in length and it hold plenty of gear. Straps are a little thick and more pockets on the outside would be nice.

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Great Pack, have used one for last 8-9 years as a rental. Bought one last year. Roomiest thing I have known on the market. Great for tall backpackers. Downside, not many external straps/sites for adding bulk items and extra bottles.

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I bought the Lowe Alpine Contour IV in May 1998 and have used it extensively ever since. It's not a bad pack by any means, but is losing velcro attachments and had poor balance on the back. This is a nice weekend pack, but for extended expeditions, it has minimal value.

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Damn near every expedition pack on the market. Prefer Marmot for toughness and fit.