Since I started backpacking in middle school I have owned numerous packs that include internal and external frames. Several years ago, I began mountaineering in the Sierras and Cascades. These trips typically push the pack weight up over 50 pounds. Due to ill-fit and inferior design I got tired to packs that were very uncomfortable. Two of my friends own McHales and I decided to try one. I spoke with Dan personally and he assisted me in designing a general mountaineering pack and an extended backpacking pack. I'll admit that I was a bit of a pain with all of the features that I requested and he delivered on everyone of them. Even though 3 of the features are not standard. McHale packs are superior in several key issues: The pack "fits like a glove" and while back country skiing, the pack stays securely on your back and does not "flop" around, the hip belt is amazing and extremely comfortable AND the by-pass shoulder straps are very easy to adjust and the most comfortable on any pack I have worn. On the By-Pass houlder straps the tension and load lifter are separate adjustments!!!!

Customer Service

Dan delivers!!! Through the use of demo packs and digital photographs my pack fits perfectly. My shoulders are very hard to fit and this pack fits them. McHales are truely custom built packs and Dan accomodated everyone of my special request and at a reasonable price.

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Gregory, REI

The Alpine II Bayonet Sarc is the second of my two packs purchased from Dan McHale direct. If you have read my review of the original Sarc pack, it goes without further saying that Dan McHale, in my opinion, builds the finest packs...period! I have learned a lot regarding customer's preferences in Outdoorreview.com and wanted to share my two cents as to McHale's packs. This Bayonet version of the Sarc is approximately 5000 cu inches that can easily be increased to 6000 plus cu inches by expanding the compression straps. The three pockets from my Sarc are designed to be added to this pack, increasing the load to well over 7000 cu inches. That's a lot of volume. If I was impressed with the original Sarc, I was REALLY impressed with this pack. The way the Bayonet system is designed and built into the pack is an engineering marvel! I had to re-order the belt to be a little larger and once again, Dan was there to send one out to me in the next few days as I was leaving on a x-c ski trip. When I removed the first belt to replace it with the newer one, I got to see first hand the absolute bullet-proofness of the materials and the stitching. Forty pounds with this pack is easy! The belt and pack fit me like a second skin. I'm sure that additional weight with this pack will be a breeze! The way the pack folds down for assaults and day hikes is amazing as well. This is a pack for someone who appreciates quality and once you have this on your back, you will feel as if the weight is just a minor extension of your body. I could strap almost anything on this pack, tighten it up and it'll feel as if one unit. The Bayonet is a pack for the person who appreciates quality and workmanship on his/her back and who doesn't want to feel like a Sherpa lugging massive amount of volume and feeling it at the same time. I was looking at the Gregory Delali Pro and Makalu, both well designed and excellent packs. After reading about McHale and e-mailing with some of the folks who have purchsed the packs and who published their reviews, I was sold. For a little more than the Gregorys, which I think are beautiful packs as well, I chose the McHale with no complaints what-so-ever.

Customer Service

Definitely first class! I called Dan up yesterday to order a rain cover for the larger of the Sarc packs and he said that he'll send it out by the end of the week. That's service.

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Low Alpine Systems, Sacs Millet (LaFuma)

I've had this pack for about five years now, and I absolutely love it! I'm a woman and rather petite, so I spent a fair bit of time trying other packs-- particularly women-specific packs-- and was disatisfied with the hip belts and suspension systems on every one. My McHale pack is far superior to any other pack I've tried. After years of suffering back, shoulder, and hip pain with other packs, I'd come to think that pain was a given with backpacking. I'd started to avoid longer hikes because the discomfort was just too great. But then I heard about McHale's packs. The price was steep, but the folks on the phone were very helpful-- they even had me measure my torso several times because they didn't believe the measurements (despite my short height- 5'3"- I have a relatively long torso-- perhaps why other packs were so uncomfortable).
The pack I received was extremely well constructed, and I've never had any problems with its durability. It's definitely not lightweight, but it's well-built-- nothing is going to rip out on you, and the zippers will hold up to anything. I love the option to fold the pack down for shorter day hikes or summit attempts, so its rather versitile. The hip belt is outstanding-- I've hiked for about 15 miles carrying a nearly 70 pound pack (I only weigh 120 lbs), and experienced no discomfort whatsoever. And there are a multitude of adjustments for the shoulder straps, that you can adjust on the fly to shift the weight around.
This summer I went on a backpacking trip with another woman who was experiencing much discomfort with her pack-- I offered to take some of her load, and I still felt so comfortable I was hopping about like a kid! I try to leave as much weight as possible at home, but with this pack it doesn't seem to matter so much. It handles weight so well, that a heavy load with this pack is much more comfortable than lighter loads with other packs I have tried.
This pack isn't cheap, but it has been worth every penny. I don't expect that I'll ever have to buy another pack (something to think about if you find yourself replacing your pack every few years), and it's brought the pleasure back to backpacking. My friends are jealous.

Customer Service

I haven't talked to them since I purchased the pack, but as I recall, they were great-- they provide instruction on taking your measurements (which you send in) and they let you choose all of the colors-- pretty cool. They give you a video that is very helpful in providing info on pack adjustments, etc.

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I have a Dana Designs pack that I bought about six years ago-- it's really painful with any kind of significant load and has a very inadequate hip belt. Maybe they improved them. I've also rented some other packs-- North Face, Lowe-- I wasn't happy with them.

This was my first REAL pack, coming from a coleman external flex frame. The bayonet feature is phenominal. I weekend pack, so the load varies. I can roll the pack down to a large day load, yet still maintain the ability to expand.The pack belt does what it says, distributes the load so you actually walk upright. The Shoulder suspension system is GREAT. Like most who spend a pretty penny I Guess I rant on a bit.I've had the pack over a year.....it looks as goos as new with minimal salt stains on the straps. I Soon placed an order for a sarc for day packing.That I'll review in its appropriate area. Dan McHale Is MORE than helpful.Its not everywhere you call to order and the OWNER answers the phone. He shoots straight and I personally believe he delivers your dollars worth. Its custom made to fit YOU. For what its worth I wouldn't part with mine. Ron

Customer Service

No probs.

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McHale Sarc