Granite Gear Nimbus Meridian Ki

Great weight distribution. Durable. Comfortable. My best friend on the trail. Great customer service

I am a small woman and I bought this pack after being frustrated with the way other packs (Osprey, Gregory) just plain hurt my body after a trip. It's maiden voyage was the first trip of my 6 mos backcountry trail crew season and the verdict? I'M IN LOVE!

The pack is easily adjusted to fit my small frame, and due to the flexibility of the frame sheet, and the pivot points on the belt and shoulders, it moves with me as I walk. I usually have to pack in 35-50 pound of gear, food, and tools, and the Nimbus Meridian always comfortably carried this weight...while still being kind to my hips and back. I find that because it is smaller than many standard packs, more care must be taken when packing it in order to get the most out of its suspension...no shoving things in willy-nilly with this one.

It can be loaded from the top, but I also love the full length panel zipper down the front. It makes it easy to access gear (like a first aid kit) on the trail without digging through you pack. The zipper is backed up with straps on the front that are great for a sleeping pad. There are also compression straps on the sides that allow you to cinch up your load. They also double as a way to strap tools an gear to the outside.

That is enough about the use, how about the abuse? On a trail crew, my gear takes a beating that most backpackers will never put theirs through. This pack has rolled down steep slopes, been smooshed by a log, had axes, pulaskis, and saws strapped to it at various points, been strapped to a mule, used as a much needed barrier between my butt and the muddy ground, and been expose to snags, brambles, and branches. After 6 mos of this I have not seen any abnormal signs of wear and tear, other than it being filthy!

The customer service at Granite Gear is fantastic. My pack was one of many that had issues with a squeaky framesheet. I contacted them about this, and they sent me a new one free of charge, within a week. The squeak has been resolved!

I love it. You should buy it.

My trusty go-to backpack that has carried heavy loads, but comfortable enough even for simple day trips.

I'm a smaller woman, so I got the Short torso size. I've put this backpack through the ringer since 2008 or thereabouts. It has been on multiple backpacking and camping trips, both domestically and internationally (Patagonia x 2, Atacama Desert, Bhutanese Himalayas, Italian Dolomites, Mongolian Altai range, etc.). I have never noticed any tears, so I'd say durability is A+!

One of my favorite features has been the hip belt—it has a pivot point that allows the pack to shift with my body and rides very stable. This has not only been a great pack at carrying full loads (3 nights worth if I'm feeling only semi-minimalistic), but it's also my go-to for even day hikes in Colorado just because of how comfortable it is.

Now that it is the age of a freshman in high school and not as water resistant as it used to be, the colors have faded unevenly. I think I'm also ready to upgrade to its younger sister (GG Blaze 60) which appears lighter and has pockets on the hip belt. Same adjustability of the backframe, which was also a bonus with my old pack, but the newer Blaze doesn't appear to have the pivot point.

Background

I've taken this backpack on over 800 miles worth of backpacking and hiking trips over 13+ years in mountainous terrain in Colorado and three other continents in various weather conditions.