The Ultimate Direction
I have reserved writing a review of this pack until I had
tested it under more than a day run. This week it was tested more than ever
expected. For a 2 day 30 mile
backcountry run I chose to take this with me to a remote lake off the JMT from
Lake Edison (VVR). This pack held my
Mountain Hardware 15 ounce down sleeping bag, 3 days worth of food, an ultimate
direction bottle full of water, a
partial foam pad and a few incidentals adding up to a 10 pound load. I kept my camera in the left shoulder pocket.
I was able to contain all items within the main compartment and still roll the top over much like a dry bag and it is this feature and the materials that have completely impressed me. Not only was this pack comfortable with the ten pound load, it had no bounce when running. There were no rub issues and the load remained firm against my torso.
The true test of this pack came when I made a very sketchy creek crossing in water that came up well above my hips and the bottom of the pack. The incredible force of the water this year in this particular creek and the slippery rocks created an environment in which loosing footing and floating away for 50 feet became part of the trip’s adventure. The amazing thing, other than not drowning, was that everything within the pack was totally dry despite having been completely immersed in the current. I was sure the camera pocket would have failed to keep my device dry, however my camera suffered no moisture issues.
This is the second Ultimate Direction pack I have purchased
and am completely satisfied with this pack, the materials and design.
