Mountaintop 40L Pack Review
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When I decided to make a more serious commitment to spending more time backpacking, the next logical step was to upgrade from my sporting goods department store pack to one that would be able to carry more stuff and provide a bit more comfort. So I started doing some research. I planned to take advantage of my fiancée's Amazon Prime Membership to order an entry level pack. I wanted to stick to a budget of $50 or less including shipping, more or less out of necessity, but I also thought it would be beneficial for anyone else that has been thinking about investing in a new pack without breaking the bank.
For two weeks I read about what to look for in a backpack based on what type of backpacking I planned on doing. I decided 40L sounded like a good starting point, because I'd likely be carrying some hand-me-down gear for a while until I gradually build my collection of ultralight gear, and by that time I plan to downsize my pack. I also was looking for a pack that would provide good accessibility because I know that I will often be hiking with my dog, and she can be enough to handle without having to dig through my stuff to find her water bowl.
I also read through reviews of different packs that fit my criteria on Amazon. I tend to stick to items that have at least a couple of hundred reviews and I shoot for ratings of 4 stars or better. I came across the this pack, and it had everything I was looking for. It was well inside my budget, costing just $34.99. They also had a ton of color options, but I decided to go with black because I'm classy. Four days later it was at my door and I got a chance to check out all the features up close.
The main compartment has two large openings, one on top and one on the bottom, so I could pack a jacket near the top and Koda's water bowl in the bottom so it didn't drip water down onto everything after she'd had a drink and could be taken out easily. It also has a divider to slip thinner items into and separate them from the rest of your gear; I used it to pack my freeze dried meals. The secondary compartment isn't as deep as I would have liked, but I was big enough to hold two meals for Koda, my headlamp, a book, and a beanie.
It also has a velcro flap with a pocket that is just about the right size for your phone or other electronics, but I didn't use it because I was planning on skipping the camera for the first trip and using my phone for photos instead. It also has three sets of straps, one on each side and one across the outside of the lower backside of the pack. Eventually I'll use the set on bottom for a tent, and for now I can attach other things to the outside for quick access, like I have with my first aid kit.
The pack has padded, adjustable, shoulder straps and a couple of mesh pads on the back piece to provide a little cushion as you hike. It also has a sternum strap and hip belt to keep the pack from bouncing around and allow you to carry much of the load on your hips. The buckle of the hip belt is also where I attached the homemade leash I made for Koda so that I can hike hands free.
So far, I've only but a little over five miles on this pack so I will be updating my review from time to time to so you have the latest on it's condition, but after it's first use I feel confident rating it in a couple of areas. Comfort wise, I feel like I got exactly what I paid for in this pack. I'm sure there are much more comfortable ones out there, but for $35 it fits the bill - 7/10. It doesn't provide good ventilation, but the padding is sufficient and the hip belt was a game changer after lugging all that gear for a couple of hours. The one downside of the hip belt is I feel like it sits a little too high for my frame, but it is definitely manageable. I also wish the it had a few more D-rings to clip things onto the outside, but the accessibility is pretty good overall as well - 8/10. Using Nomad math I give the Mountaintop 40L pack an overall rating of 7/10. Definitely worth the $35 investment. If you are interested in this pack I'll provide the Amazon link below. Now, go and conquer your coordinates.
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