Boreas Gear Lost Coast 60

A solid, lightweight pack with a set of well thought out features; not only in what it includes, but also in what it excludes.

Fit: This is one of the pack's few weak points. I bought a Large model, and I'm 6'2". The real design oversight is that the load lifters at the top of the frame sheet are not sufficiently high enough to remove weight from your shoulders. Overall the frame sheet does a good job of transferring weight to the hip belt, but you'll be carrying some weight on your shoulders if you've got a longer torso.

Comfort: The padded frame plate and hip belt are comfortable with good padding, and the shoulder straps have good padding as well. The padding is not generous, but it's not so stingy that it's uncomfortable.

Capacity: This pack has two internal pockets; one main one, and one exterior pocket with an elastic closure.  The internal pocket closes with a simple drawstring closure, and has no dividers or other organizational elements. It's conceptually like a giant stuff sack. By not including dividers, specialized pockets, or other such features, the pack cuts weight.

Organization & Accessibility: The pack has one drawstring opening to the main compartment which consumes all of the volume of the pack. It additionally has an exterior pocket on the back with an elastic closure, and two elasticized side pockets. These align with the compression straps on the side of the pack, which can be used to secure long items stowed in the side pockets.

The brain contains three compartments accessible by zipper: one underneath constructed of mesh, and two in the top; one facing to the front of the pack and one facing to the back. Additionally it features two zippered side pockets on the hip belt with elastic ribbing to prevent them from crushing. The pack facilitates basic organization, but doesn't go overboard keeping with its lightweight intent.

Ride: Most of the pack's weight is effectively distributed to the hip belt, but people with taller torsos will find that some of the load will unavoidably be carried on the shoulders. It isn't particularly uncomfortable. The pack is designed for light loads, and tunes some components of its design as such. Past approximately 30 lbs the pack has a tendency to lose stability. This is a pack for backpackers who bring lightweight gear with them and leave the kitchen sink at home.

Compression: The pack has two compression straps per side that effectively compress down the main compartment, as well as 5 straps for compressing the brain down onto the top of the pack. It effectively compresses to smaller loads.

Ease of Use: Due to its simple construction, the pack doesn't have many features to break, and its construction in those places is more focused and very sturdy.

Features: This pack includes a lightweight fitted rain cover that compresses into its own tiny stuff sack. The shot of the product Trailspace has included for this review is accurate: there are not many straps dangling off the pack. It does in fact have daisy chain nylon straps, but the daisy chain straps are taut with the body of the pack, and have small envelopes which hide them away when not in use. There are ice axe loops on either side that also fold into these little pockets, and daisy chain nylon straps on the shoulder straps similarly hidden away.

Construction & Durability: The body is made out of lightweight waterproof Silnylon, except for the bottom of the pack which is made of heavier denier nylon. Seams are rolled and double stitched, and it uses intelligent placement of nylon compression straps to support the load. The pack's construction is designed for lightweight loads, heavier weight loads will likely exceed the structural capacity of the pack.

Conditions: I've used this pack throughout the year in rainy mid-Atlantic weather on several occasions. No monsoons, but it's held up well to light rain without the rain cover, and significant rain with the cover on.

I definitely recommend the Boreas Lost Coast 60. This will be a great pack for the weekend or long distance hiker.

Though I haven't used this pack on the trail yet, I'm impressed by the roominess and quality of the materials. Top notch quality construction. This pack is a huge improvement on the pack I used to carry. The Boreas is amazingly light. Can't wait to hit the AT when Spring arrives.