REI Half Dome Pack

If you like dayhikes with light, bulky loads (lunch, jacket, windpants) this is your pack. The price is good, and it's a nice pack for just strolling a few miles. The pack itself is fairly lightweight.

After a year and a half the fabric and stitching seem to hold up well. The volume is good for long dayhikes, and the shovel-style pocket is useful for snow shovels or wet coats.

What I didn't like about the pack were the thin back padding. I usually put my jacket or fleece layer here to protect me. A mesh back (like an Exocet) would be nicer on summer hikes. Additionally, any item with any weight drops to the bottom of the pack.

I'll probably hang onto mine for awhile, but I'll use something else for overnights and gear heavy loads.

I use this pack for winter dayhikes, when I carry a lot of bulky clothing, but not a lot of weight. I like the external waterbottle pockets and the three smaller pockets for organization, but the construction is beginning to concern me. The fabric, zippers, etc. have survived two years of heavy use quite well, but the foam is shot. The formerly padded back offers no cushioning now, and worse yet, it will not even hold the shape of the pack. Any load carried eases down to the bottom, pressing uncomfortably on my lower back. I am considering getting a new (different) model.

Great backpack for long day hikes and ultralight overnights. I carried it with 30 lbs on a backpacking trip in Colorado and it was awesome!Works just as well packed full as 1/4 full. plenty of places to strap stuff on.

If you have any more questions contant me. I would be happy to help.