day pack for climbing

I've been really happy with my REI Pinnacle 35. Sturdy, has straps that can hold two ropes on the outside, room for gear on the inside. The price was pretty good too.

Matt -

Haven't climbed in it and decided I won't - going to return it. Just too pricey. I can tell you that after wearing it around town on my bike for an hour of errands, it feels exactly like any other pack.

Two things distinguish it from other packs: feels burly as hell with solid materials, much burlier than the old Bullet I have; and the top opening/closing design is sweet.

DMM Zenith is yet another possibility.

dmmclimbing.com/products/ze…

youtube.com/watch?v=czz9FNr…

Ryan Nevius wrote:The Black Diamond Bullet and Hollowpoint make a great pair for a long day of trad climbing. Extremely durable packs, especially the Bullet.

I second the hollow point. I just purchased two of them - they are awesome. If you go through any squeeze chimneys,or funky off-width madness ie: Epinephrine, Beulah's book classic start, etc. You may need to be prepared to drop the pack and hang off harness - because the Hollowpoint is rather voluminous.

I also own the bullet - and I am pleased with it. I just find for longer stuff, or for being in a position to manage the sharp end all day/guiding - the hollowpoint has more to offer.

M2Cs

Tom Sherman wrote:I really like this bag, but there is one mistake with it. The minimalist closure system has a rod through loop on the opposite side of the aluminum closure buckle. This is to do some moving around with the closure system. They cut corners here and made this piece a half cm too small and it can come out under certain loading conditions.

Thanks for the review, Tom. I ended up getting the Ascensionist 35 and love it so far. Really like the quick open top. You were right about the framesheet - I only used it for a day or two and it sits in my closet. I keep the hipbelt on as it takes some weight off my shoulders.

I'm curious about the quoted, do you have any suggestions on replacing that little rod with something bigger? I haven't had any issues with it yet but could see it being a problem in the future.

Also Arc'teryx makes the Cierzo pack in two sizes. The smaller one is pretty clutch for capacity and functionality.

Ethan Little wrote: Thanks for the review, Tom. do you have any suggestions on replacing that little rod with something bigger?

Yeah I'd been meaning to throw my 2cents around a little more. IIRC the issue happens when you overstuff the bag, and then add a rope on top cinched under the collar-hood. Something about the heavy load (rope) pulling at such a distance (full extension of their lil clip thing) can lead to it popping out. I think it has to do with side to side tracking to (from the long extension). Can explain with pictures at anyone's request.

If you notice, in Patagonia's literature/ Steve House video review, etc. You will see that they unthread that attachment piece at the bottom, and attach it into the upper slot, or sometimes just thread it through the upper slot (needs to be completely taken off still) while still locked into the bottom. This is bullshit. That thing is nearly impossible to get through the webbing loop, and I think it is impossible to do with gloves on, I can't remember. But the fact is, one would never, in the field when taking your rope on and off (and freezing your arse off) readjust that strap's path through the webbing attachments.

In my opinion, if they had made the webbing loops 1-2mm bigger (more open) and then made the bar-stock a full cm, maybe 1.5cm longer, this would have been a 100% bomb proof solution. (At the cost of grams) Not sure if they made that connection shitty so it would pop before ripping the bag? Claimed warranties?

A thought just came to mind. Maybe you could attach a junko-weighing-mere-grams accessory biner or even a large enough keyring to the upper attachment. and use that as a clip guide while attaching a rope, without having to rethread strap!!!

To Review:

Packed Bag, Strap through Lower


Overstuffed Bag, Strap through Upper, NOTE: this bag will not close if helmet is removed, and strap is not moved


This is what we're looking for,but notice strap under crampons, this is going to be a PITA, if understuffed or rope removed you wouldn't be able to fully tighten, if stuffed correctly, you risk the big stab when cinching, you will put strap over crampons. Cannot tell if strap is through both upper and lower. Also Note Mesh Daisy Mod, this is +++!


Understuffed with rope on top, strap through lower. This is where I am seeing failure, she may be ok because understuffed, don't know.

So the fix may be a clip on the upper, or maybe I am doing something wrong, or maybe my pack is defective, and yours' wont blow the bottom. But I know one thing, I don't think anyone is monkeying with that strap in the field, especially each time they take their rope on/off. I've been just throwing my rope on my neck if I have to (at least there I know if I still have it or not), but will look into clipping upper.

It looks like the Pataguchi pack is missing a keeper loop at the top of the pack for a rope... What's keeping the rope from sliding down the 'front' of the pack beneath the hood and strap. It's got a full range of motion in that direction. I think that's what you're talking about Tom... So if it's overstuffed, the rope is held on both sides under the hood still, but nothing is preventing the rope from sliding down.

I'm thinking of the BD Axis pack that has the hide-away red strap by the top handle. It wraps around the rope, through one of the haul loops, and doubles back to a buckle. this prevents the rope from sliding down the front of the pack.

Edit: What if you were to clip the strap to the top, and then the hood and tighten from there? That should at least limit the travel of the rope down the front again... Just noticed you mentioned this at the very end, but just throwing it out there! I was looking at this pack since I've got a coupon in addition to the sale!

EricV wrote:What if

Yeah I am thinking this could be a good resolve. Will try. Your axe handles also keep it up to some extent, but I think when thrashing around, the ability for it to move without the upper stay is what is causing the problem. I have these little accessory biners, EMS used to use them to affix price tags to gear. They weigh probably around the same if not less than a nickel. I bet that would be the fix. Again this is a great pack, but in getting this thing feather light, I think it is missing the one thing there...

My only other question about it is: how easy is it to get access to when the rope is attached?

My gripe with the BD Axis was since it's a zipped top access, when the rope is attached, you cannot access any of the pockets. It looks like there is a small pocket on the hood which is great, but can you get into the main compartment at all?

The small pocket on the hood is good to have, but doesn't carry anything huge. You won't have access into the main compartment, because the rope is sitting on this. It's just really a big open knapsack, so your rope would be right in the way. But I think you're overthinking this. The Ascentionist, once you get dialed in using it, is so fluid that a rope sitting on the opening isn't really in the way. (Pull gray tab rope falls out of way, reach in, grab, put rope back, pull gray cord, cinch strap) I really can't imagine any reason why you'd want to get into your bag without moving the rope anyway, what are you going for insulation? That's a drop bag stop anyway. Other than a partner grabbing a candybar out of your hood, the minimalist design on this thing means a certain way of doing things. Idk maybe I'm preaching too much, and maybe although I think this thing is phenomenal, maybe it's an 'alpine pack' and explicitly not a 'day pack'. I would never need anything else though for a winter outing, and come this summer I'll tell you if it is a good day, rock pack.

That makes so much more sense. The way my old BD strap worked, you had to unhook the whole piece of webbing that was doubled back, and then try to coax the rope off the top... it was very inconvenient, but that definitely makes sense. Thanks for clarifying!

EricV wrote:That makes so much more sense. that definitely makes sense. Thanks for clarifying!

LOL I hope your serious and not busting my balls/ trying to understand my garble. But yeah it's pretty simple, I tried to lookup the axis, and guessing how you attach a rope to that, should be easier. The rope should kind of sit on top still, between your hood and your axe handles... kind of.

Clear as mud! Haha!

Sierra trading post has the bullet for $37 right now. They always send out coupons for 30%-40% off. Sometimes the coupons don't apply to all items, but the one I tried did apply to this pack, which took the price into the $25 range. Here's a key code, but I think this one ends today. MWH57459.