Dana Design ArcLight Swiftcurrent

I'm a huge mountain of a man, 6'5" 300 lbs but active. I have to choose all my equipment carefully. Kayaks have to have extra large cockpits, skis extra long and sleeping bags cavernous. I just got a '98 model Swiftcurrent from Northern Mountain Supply ( great outfit!!!) and I'm THRILLED! The pack fit like a glove outta the box. The adjustable shoulder cants and the hip belt fit as if they were designed for me. AFter some fine tuning (there are MANY options available on this beauty) the pack and I seemed to become one, and a 40 lbs load just didn't seem to be there.

I'm looking forward to trekking with larger loads and I'm sure that I'll be just as content. As for those who are worried that this pack is "Hecho en Mexico", mine was but the construction is flawless throughout (though I AM soory that Dana got gobbled up by the soulless K2 sports machine. If you're BIG like me, this is THE PACK for you! And a beauty to boot!

I got the pack less than a week before I was going on a 12-day trip in New Mexico and I had NO problems. This pack is amazingly comfortable. Although it has only two pockets it is amazingly convertable. The top comes off as well as the hip belt so that you have a daypack built in. The bottom can fold up with staps for short trips when you need more then than the top. The head-space feature lets you look up unrestricted. The beaver-tail makes up for the lack of pockets. Great for therm-a-rests, discarded layers, raingear, etc. Do make sure that they are cinched TIGHT. The ice-axe holders on the beaver-tail are pretty useless if you're in hot weather. There are plenty of spaces to attach water bottles and wet shoes. Great pack, I definitely suggest it!

I am 16-years-old from Massachusetts. I bought this pack this year on sale from Campmor for backpacking in the White Mountains and I am very happy with it. I used to have a Mountainsmith Frostfire 1, and I bought the Dana Design because the mountainsmith broke. The swiftcurrent is the most comfortable pack I have ever used!!! But there are features that I do not like about it. Such as that it doesn't have any water bottle pockets, and that there isn't a divider for your sleeping bag. Despite these two things this is a GREAT PACK, and I highly recommend it to anybody, and make sure you get it on sale because otherwise it is $350.

I am a 14-year-old from Raleigh, NC, and I Just bought this pack and it is great!!!!!!! I cannot say that I am the most experienced hiker since I am only 14 but this pack is well worth the high price. I like the way the top pops off to make a daypack.