The North Face Casimir 36

I am completely in love with this pack! I call it my "bug out bag" for long hiking days or peak bagging days, but could easily use it for an ultralight weekend trip. This pack offers a ton of versatility and comfort without all the weight you'd expect from a pack offering these things.

This ultralight top loading pack provides plenty of fit options. The "Opti Fit" system allows users to adjust the waist belt to fit a variety of sizes. I use a M/L sized pack and the waist belt can be sized to fit a 31-ish inch waist up to a 36-ish inch waist. I run around 33 inches and the pack is perfect. The shoulder straps can be adjusted from a 17 inch torso to a 20 inch torso.  Again, at 19 inches it fits me like a glove.

Comfort wise I have no complaints. The lightweight ripstop fabric and the mesh backing allow for plenty of breathability. The large waist belt compartments provide space for all those items that get pulled out of the pack frequently.

The pack offers all the "standard" features. Trekking pole/ice ax loops, hydration pouch, outer pockets for water bottles, and compression straps that offer a wide range for small or large loads. Nothing tricky about this pack at all. An outer pocket with a "drain" at the bottom on the back of the pack is ideal for wet items.

I consider myself to be careful with my gear, especially my favorite pieces. Therefore this pack has performed beautifully. I hiked 250 miles with it in the Cody, Wyoming, backcountry (rugged and dusty) during the summer of 2012, have hiked over 400 miles in the Four Corners region (14,000 mountains, canyons, and desert) in 2013, 200 miles in the Missouri and Arkansas Ozarks (heavily wooded, rugged terrain, rolling hills, and hot) in 2013, and will hike another 400 to 500 miles in the Four Corners region in 2014 with it.

I highly recommend this pack!