ALPS Mountaineering Zion External Frame Pack, 64 Liters, Charcoal

You won't find a better large external frame pack, don't bother getting a bigger pack because you won't be able to carry any more than this one, great quality also. This is an expedition pack for more than bug out.

The pack seemed great at first, but after a few miles of just testing it without a full load one of the cinch straps ripped right out of the stitching. I contacted alps directly and they were very prompt in responding, they asked me to take some pics and give them my shipping address. I did this immediately thinking they were going to handle the problem right away because I informed them that I bought this pack specifically for an upcoming hiking trip. The day before I left I recieved another email from them telling me I have to cut out the inside tag and the logo from the front and send it to them before they'll replace it and they told me by doing this it'll cut down on shipping costs, I feel I shouldn't have to pay anything to return their defective product. I ended up tying some cord to the strap and secured it to the frame which will probably hold better than the stitching on the replacement pack they would've sent me anyway. I'll probably keep it now that I've already fixed the issue myself but from here on out I'll stick with the brands I know and trust for my future hiking needs. Apparently it worked fine for the guy who claims to have climbed everest with it.

Great for beginners. Holds a lot and isnt too heavy. I love it. I'm 5'4" and female and this pack is awesome

I bought this for a John Muir Trail trip because it was bigger than the one I had. Also some friends recommended an external frame pack so I thought I would give it a try. The size was good, however. . . the sternum strap broke on the first day. Also the external frame rubbed against the middle of my back. This was after I did the proper adjustments for my height. After four days hiking I have a pretty good abrasion on my back. So, I am returning it.

First time backpacking - organized bag, works great!

Just like my old Kelty but lighter and has a hydration bladder available. This is a great bag for a pack mule like me!

Worked well.

If you are purchasing your first backpack to do some backcountry hiking, congratulations! It's an awesome way to explore deeper in nature than most day hikers will experience, and it gives you an awesome opportunity to soak in the beauty and peacefulness of nature. It's been too long since my last backpacking trip. You may want to read up a little on the pros and cons of internal frame vs. external frame backpacks. My original backpack is a Kelty Red Cloud, internal frame. It has over 90 L capacity, compared to the 64 L of this ALPS Zion. However, that's not the whole story with capacity. The external frame gives many opportunity to lash on extra items, as the frame is exposed for hooks, straps, and other things, so you can add on quite a bit extra. Most likely if you are packing enough for a multiple day trip, you will carry your sleeping bag and roll, or possibly your tent on the outside, so it won't eat up your 64L capacity.My preference for the internal frame has more to do with the comfort and curve to your back, especially when loaded. However, the external frame has the advantage of better cooling on your back. The internal frame will keep your back sweaty and warm. I tested this with about 28 lbs loaded, and I usually carried about 35-40 lbs in my Kelty (overkill, definitely--but back then I didn't have a lightweight tent). Being 6'0", with a slim build but fairly wide shoulders, I found this Zion backpack to be a little uncomfortable, depending on how I adjusted the shoulder straps--the frame rubbed against my shoulder blades. Ideally if you have the waist strap tight and the weight bearing mostly on your hips, you can loosen the shoulder straps enough so that this doesn't happen. I had the adjustment on the widest setting.The adjustable frame is nice--I think this smaller backpack will be more suitable for my wife; but it's comfortable enough that I would use it on a hike. The sleeping bag pocket is enough to fit my light, warm weather bag, but much too small for the bulkier 0 degree bag--but that strapped nicely below on the outside. A better design for the inner sleeping bag compartment would be to add an extra zipper to open or close that separated internal compartment. Also, the one thing that seemed a little cheap to me, was the plastic clips for the main compartment. Those straps can potentially be under a fair amount of strain, and I didn't think they seemed as sturdy as I would like--but they shouldn't break with normal, careful use. One design feature is the large side pocket for a water flask. It easily held a 1.2 L (40 oz) hydroflask, plus a smaller one on the outer pocket--but my concern was that this should be balanced with an identical pocket on the opposite side--primarily for load balancing. Water is one of the heaviest things you carry, and the pockets on the other side were not large enough to hold any significant water bottles. Also, good luck reaching a bottle for a drink while wearing the pack--unless you are double-jointed, you will have to take off the pack for a drink, unless you clip some smaller bottles on the bottom of the frame--but then they are loose bouncing. Careful packing will help you balance the load correctly, and try to put the heaviest things at the bottom. The center of gravity is higher on this Zion External Frame than on an internal pack, but the waist belt should still keep most of the load centered on your hips.I think what I like best about the external frame is the breathability behind your back. What I like least is the contact between the frame and my upper back/back side of my shoulders. Different wearers may experience a different fit.