Dana Design ArcFlex Terraplane

As an outdoor professional, I bought my Terraplane in 1996 through a work for trade deal from Appalachian Outdoors. It has been my only pack ever since. I have used it on every trip from Malaysia to Maine.

My friends gave me a hard time spending 300 bucks on a pack, but 20 years later, I still have it. I have always believed in buying something once, even if it is pricy. I still have my Wiggy's sleeping bag and WhisperLite Internationale stove I last used to make coffee and warm a baby bottle on the summit of Haleakala.

Do your research, spend the money once, take care of it properly and things will last for years.

My kid will inherit my pack, mind you he's getting little else! 

I have carried this pack since 1992. Ten day long trips over snow in May and equally long treks to the Sierra crest in summer. Holds a big Garcia bear can just fine.

I would recommend this pack with the addition of a Kelty quick release buckle for river crossings yet mine was so water tight last may I floated part of the way across falls creek!! Truly a bloody great sack, (TY Collin Fletcher) in more ways than one. Never had a loose thread or anything except a sternum clasp fail.

The removable top sack marries to the removable hip belt making an epic summit and back daypack. I slip hydro bladder in one of the outer pockets and loop the hose through the lateral compression straps.. very convenient!

After over 1500 miles of backpacking my Arcflex Terraplane is still going strong. The one modification I made to mine was the removal of some hip belt padding 'cause I am a short guy with a long torso.. the dental floss is still holding the belt together! I say get this pack, even a used model if need be.. you won't be sorry.

I took this pack into the Wind River Range in Wyoming on an extended mountaineering trip. I spent 21 days this June wandering around in the snow (up to 10 standing feet of it) and lugged around more gear than any human ever should. While all my expedition mates complained of sore shoulders and bruised hips my Dana babied my back and hips under VERY heavy loads. I also added a Beavertail to my pack to help carry weird objects (my soaked rock shoes, snow flukes, snowshoes, etc.) an add-on I would recommend to anyone who likes to carry extra toys.

Had this pack custom fitted to me. I would highly recommend to any backpack enthusiast to carefully select your pack of choice. Try on as many as you can and have the sales people fill them up for you so you can try it on when the pack is weighted. I own a number of packs and this one is more comfortable with 65-70lbs in comparison to my northface day pack with a 25-30lbs load. Beaver tail and water bottle attachments are key.

This pack is outstanding. While leading a hike in the Adirondacks my co-leader was forced to hike an injured camper out. I carried both his Dana and my daypack strapped on to my Dana. It handled an enormous load with class.