This pack is excellent from what I have seen so far. At this point the pack has gone with me for a short 12 mile day hike on the Low Gap trail in Indiana. It was very comfortable, and with a light load (35 lbs.) felt as if it was barely there. I plan to take it for a 70 miler this summer in New Mexico, so it is obviously a very large pack.

Customer Service

Have not needed it. But I did replace the bite valve from the hydration with a Bullet Bite Valve from MSR.

Similar Products Used:

Kelty...Jansport...Gregory

geez, can't believe the pack is discontinued, I have been using it bi-WEEKLY since 1999 on trips (I used to always get by with it as carry on in airplanes, the 50 litre size crimps down so small!). I have hiked in France, Spain, USA (east) and Canada (east west) with this pack. Exept for a little sun bleaching and a small weird discoloration from some chemical on the side of a train wagon cutting through a rail park it still looks new. I have replaced only the waist buckle once, it snapped off on an ice climbing trip when the car trunk was shut on the buckle. As far as waterproof goes, the fabric is more than comparable to the competition. Besides, you can't rely on that alone when you hike, you gotta keep your stuff (wet and dry) seperated in baggies anyhow. The lengths of hikes I go through and the terrain, there is no way anything stays dry. It become a matter of how quickly it can dry. the pack is a little more expensive than the competition but SOOOO much more stable and form fitting. sure there are not many pockets, but if you organise your stuff, no problem. You have no idea what I have strapped on this puppy: snowshoes of all types, axes and skis, crampons and snow shovels. I have hiked, walked and biked (yes, for my height, biking is fine with this pack), ice climbed with it. The load is stable and flat, you don't project a huge mass of weight way past your COG. I like to say it is a 50 litre pack with an 70 litre set of straps: I filled it with water bags and put it on and it was as comfortable as a 70 litre weighted pack! It is a shame that all not enough consumers saw how worthile it is to spend a bit more. All my friends are bouncing around with their packs, and my stuff is snug, secure where I need it. It is the ONLY pack I climb with. I guess that is what happened, not enough people actually climb with their packs, so they don't invest in a climbing pack. I went to Banff Alberta last fall for a hike. I carried the empty crimped down pack with me in the plane,wearing my boots. These are the two things I can't replace easily on a trip. this is not crazy, this is logical. oh, one more thing, I love the fact that all straps on this pack are easily tuckable out of the way, they never get caught in branches or equipment and don't flip flop in your face while on mountain tops either. Thanks Lowe Alpine.

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Canadian Army 60 litre 64 issue pack. Jack wolfskin 40, 60 Salomon Raidwind (for adventure races)

I've been using this sack for about 2 years now all over the trails in Mexico, I was happy to find that this pack is really comfortable and found that the hydration system was very useful. The crossbow system makes the sack very stable unlike previous sacks i owned. It has taken a lot of beatings from my expeditions and still hold pretty well. I would reccomend this sack to anyone. Unfortunately this sack has been discontinued by Lowe Alpine.

Similar Products Used:

Kelty.. Karrimor.. Eureka

I luckily found this pack on sale otherwise, I would have never bought it. That would have been an mistake. I bought it for climbing orignally it works great and is super comfortable. I also took it backpacking for a month with a 70 pound load; it is beautifully balanced and is as nice on your body as it can be for insane loads. Its only downfall is that on extremely hot days 80F plus; it just can wick all of your sweat away, but did a much better job than all my friends packs.

Similar Products Used:

None

I bought this pack when it was discontinued by Lowe, and I have been very satisfied with its overall performance. It's a huge pack with the capability to haul huge loads. The quality of construction is impeccable, with excellent materials and workmanship. It's design is also admirable, drawing close resemblance to Lowe's flagship packs - the Contours. The load distribution and structural design also enhances the comfort of the pack. I highly recommend this pack (if you can still find one on the market).

Customer Service

Actually, the pack came without the internal hydration system that should have been included. I notified Lowe and the hydration system came to my door in a week.

Similar Products Used:

Other Lowe packs, Jansport packs, and K2's.

Great Pack. Quite comfortable to wear and virtually a black hole when it comes to fitting everything you'll need. The Crossbow's load transfer system works well when the pack is filled properly paying close attension to the weight distribution of your items. The exterior is tough and ready for the abuses of the trail and more importantly airport baggage handlers who know no rules when it comes to insuring the safety of your backpacks. I have found all the fixtures( i.e. adjustment hardware) to be sturdy and especiilly intutive when it comes to customizing the fit of the pack. My only complaint has to do with the way the shoulder loops attach to the main body of the pack. If you will notice this construction at the top of the pack you will see how the two loops of the shoulder straps meet in the center of the pack. I would think that a minial distance of 3-4 inches between the attachment points of the shoulder straps would have been more anotomically correct and contributed significantly to the comfort of wearing this pack on long trips.

Similar Products Used:

None

I love having the ability to throw everything I need into the pack's cavernous main compartment and then being able to put my essentials in the large lid and front smaller pockets. The waist belt feels really good after the first sore day on the trail compared to other packs that just make you cringe when thinking about putting them on again. There is only one thing that I would change about if Lowe still produced them and that would be a stronger material on the very bottom of the pack like maybe a balistic cordura or something to that effect. If you want one of these packs you might check out Sierra Trading Post, that is where I got mine and they sell it for a reasonable price( I think I paid $240 with S&H and tax if there was any I forget).

Similar Products Used:

None

A good pack, in general. Sturdy construction, an effective suspension and generally functional design are its hallmarks. Carries all but monstrous loads well; if you've truly overdone it, however, the suspension loses some of its effectiveness. Also on the downside, there are some annoying design elements, including rear pockets that could be larger, and side compression straps that are sub-optimal when using accessory pockets. It is a tall and narrow pack, allowing you to move your arms around it easily - a boon when skiing, but a drag (literally) when it gets caught overhead. The hip and shoulder straps are among the less comfortable that I've tried. At its best when carrying 40-50 lbs.

Similar Products Used:

Mountainsmith, North Face, Dana Design

It's too bad Lowe discontinued this pack (70+15)...it is a great one! This is the most comfortable pack I've ever worn, handsdown. Immaculate construction, built like a brick, generous padding that molds with a use or two, and numerous straps allow very customized fit. Once it's dialed in, you can run down a mountainside, in control, with a large load. The only 2 downsides are the list price and lack of true exterior water bottle pockets. The pack has basic ski slots, with an internal water bladder holder. The internal system is nice, but I always like extra exterior water bottle holders. If you can find one on sale, try it on with some weight and the crossbow tightened down...you'll probably be sold.

Similar Products Used:

None

It's the best pack i've ever tried in terms of features and comfortability. Got it for US 199.00 from REI. I recently took it out for an expedition doing a tough traverse of my country main range, the Titiwangsa range. It prove to be very useful pack, it certainly drew lot's of admiration from my fellow friends because of it's comfortable cooling harness, useful features like the hydration system and the cool looking design. The pack helped me a lot in my expedition as i had to track around 8 hours a day, carrying around 20 kgs and climbing the tough and steep terrain in the tropical forest. I'll definitely recommend this pack to anyone. It certainly impressed my climbing mates as one intends to buy a Lowe Alpine to replace his aging Karrimor. I'm sure this pack will serve me well in future trips.

Similar Products Used:

Karrimor Jaguar 65GR, Lowe Alpine Appalachian ND55+15 and Kelty.