Granite Gear Alpine Light

What a great pack! This is a brand that isn't that well known around my region. A few people recognize the company but not many. They don't know what they're missing. This is the best alpine climbing pack I've ever come across! It has the right features - the stuff you really need. And, it doesn't bog you down with stuff you don't. It's really well thought out, ruggedly made and of top-quality materials.

Your ice tools are sheathed in easy-to-access hypalon tubes. Your crampons lash between the tools on a reinforced back panel with nice, beefy hypalon straps. The waist belt is a simple no-frills band of webbing that doesn't interfere with your climbing harness (one frill: the waist belt includes plastic reinforced loops to act as holsters for your ice tools, or extra loops to hang biners off of). There is even a clever little hidden pocket on the outside to store a file for sharpening your picks. The main compartment is a good size for a day-and-a-half (if you pack light). It has a nice compression system that works well. The top pocket comes off if you need it to. The back pad comes out (z-rest). It has a hydration bladder pocket, it has haul loops front and back. The shoulder straps are curved and come in dramatically at the chest - I find this makes the pack more comfortable to climb in. There's a long extension sleeve so that you could stick your legs in up to your waist for an emergency bivvy (hope I'll never need this feature...). Everything's there, but none of it gets in your way when you're actually climbing.

The only problem seems to be finding a dealer that carries them. Try the 'Snow Leopard' online.

I had never even heard of this manufacturer until I stumbled onto a pair of their gloves (sno country gloves - really nice!!); now I've checked into their whole line of products and I'm quite impressed.

The Alpine Light pack is a technical pack designed for ice climbing and mountaineering. It has all the features that you'd ever want. Hypalon tubes for your ice tools, reinforced hypalon patch for your crampons, good compression strap system, gear racks on the waist belt, a removable foam back pad that you can use to sit on for a makeshift bivvy, and an expandable collar that you could crawl in to up to your waist for that same makeshift bivvy situation. It even has a clever little hidden velcro pocket for your file to keep it handy for sharpening your tools! Well, I hope I never need to use those makeshift bivvy features; but, the rest come together to make this the nicest climbing pack I've ever used.

Bomber construction!! This thing will hold up well, I'm sure. I did my homework: I've compared it to similar packs from Lowe, Black Diamond and others. This one is a keeper!! They can be hard to find. Try Snow Leopard online site. They carry Granite Gear stuff. Amazing that a company that makes such good stuff is so hard to find!!

Great tool tubes and crampon patch -- bomproof. I've used it with poles and snowshoes strapped on over all the climbing gear with 30 pounds inside and it carries very comfortably, especially considering the unpadded hip-belt. I love this pack.

The only small nit I have is that snow collects a bit where the back pad fits in its slot. Other than that, it's a great pack.