Deuter ACT Zero 50+15

For those of us who might only be doing two or three day trips, 65l of storage in a 50l pack is a good compromise.

I really only have time to do short hikes, a couple of days at a time so I need a pack that wasn't huge. Of course my hiking buddy doesn't always carry his share of the gear, he is nine, so a pack that can expand when needed is nice.

This pack fits me well and there seems to be a place for everything and it is well though out. A place for trekking poles that is accessible but not in your way, a place for my reading glasses and so forth. Now I know a lot of modern packs are like this, but for me things just seem to have a place where I would put them.

Now the bad. The pack is rugged and well made but one of the pull tabs wasn't crimped correctly and broke on the first use. I would have hoped QC would have picked this up. Deuter did offer to fix it for free but the shipping wasn't worth it when a half knot would do.

When my hiking partner stops growing I might get him a Deuter as well, just the largest pack they make so he can carry my gear as well.