Scandinavian Gear 65l Backpack - Multi-Day Pack for Hiking, Camping, Travel & Backpacking with Rain Cover - Large Rucksack for Men & Women with Hydration

SUMMARY: Not suitable for serious backcountry hiking conditions. Possibly suitable for casual day hikes or light duty hiking.I've had this backpack for over a month now and I've been trialing it under a different day hike conditions and finally, this past weekend, on a three day two night trip in the West Virginia wilderness. At first I was very pleased with this backpack mostly due to its excellent price value. A backpack of this size at $70 is a remarkable value. My initial opinion of the backpack, when using it on day hikes, was that it carried a 30 pound load comfortably over variable terrain including very steep mountainous conditions as well as level ground. There are plenty of straps on the outside of the backpack to tie down any extra equipment that doesn't fit inside the pack. The inside of the pack is itself rather spacious. I could easily fit my tent bear canister and sleeping bag on the inside of the pack. The only thing I needed to attach to the outside of the pack was my extra clothing in a compression bag. So, my initial impression of the bag was that this was an excellent bag especially when considering the price. However, my opinion changed over this past weekend when my friends and I took a three day two night hike in the Dolly sods wilderness area of West Virginia. My initial pack weight was 35 pounds, but by the end, after eating up all my food, my final pack wait was under 30 pounds. The pack carried well for the entire trip and was overall quite comfortable. I should also mention that my two friends had $200 custom made backpacks and when I tried those on they were significantly more comfortable than my own backpack. The high-end backpacks felt significantly lighter than my own backpack, even though they were carrying the exact same weight that I was. So, in a side-by-side comparison this backpack was significantly less comfortable than high and backpacks when carrying the same weight. Additionally, my right shoulder strap in the front became unstitched on the final day of the hike and the entire right shoulder cushion began to separate. I was able to complete the hike, however I most certainly would not take this backpack out for another multi-day hike in the wilderness. After my friend discovered that my pack was ripping, the three of us discussed the pros and cons of a budget $70 pack versus a more expensive $200 "high end" pack. We examined the stitching on my budget pack more carefully and compared it with the stitching on the high-end backpacks, and we realized that the stitching on my backpack was straining under the weight and tension in multiple places and all three of us agreed that it looked like my backpack was ready to come unraveled in multiple locations where there was tension or stress placed on the seams. The high end packs that my friends had didn't show signs of straining seams. In fact their seams seemed heavily reinforced with heavier stitching and thicker fabric in general. We discussed it as we were hiking out of the wilderness, and all three of us agreed that there was a significant difference in quality of construction between my $70 backpack and their $200 backpacks. Furthermore, both of my friends stated that their high-end backpacks have a 100% lifetime guarantee on construction. All three of us agreed that while $70 is an excellent value for an internal frame backpack, it's only a good value if the backpack can actually perform the function which it is designed to do. And we all agree that this particular backpack is not suitable for wilderness backpacking. The pack might be a more suitable choice for lighter duty hiking where you'll always be within easy hiking distance of your car. Unfortunately, The three of us, who are veterans backpackers, all agree that this pack could actually be dangerous in certain situations because it could rip or tear in a remote location and could cause serious problems for a hiker who now has a malfunctioning backpack and may need to hike many many miles back to safety, potentially leaving a lot of gear behind in the woods. In summary, I cannot recommend this backpack for BACKCOUNTRY BACKPACKING after field testing it over a three day two night backpacking trip during which the seams were visibly strained and where the right shoulder strap ripped and began to separate. It is my opinion, and the opinion of my two hiking friends, that certain critical pieces of hiking gear should be purchased from reputable outdoor companies whose products have been extensively field tested in rugged wilderness conditions. While it is certainly enticing at $70, it is my recommendation that you not use this backpack in backcountry conditions due to its inferior construction when compared with high-end backpacking gear. For a little more money, you'll get a backpack that will hold up over time.I ended up purchasing a backpack from Teton for $100, only $30 more than this pack, but the construction is much stronger. I've used that pack on a recent trip and I was very pleased with it. Although, to be fair, at one point a seam ripped on that pack too, along the main compartment. But that happened when I overloaded the already full pack with about 20+ pounds of edible mushrooms that I found!That being said, I did contact Scandinavian Gear about the ripped strap and they had EXCELLENT customer service, probably one of the best customer service experiences I've had for ANY product ever. Daniel emailed back promptly and kept in close email contact and made sure that my pack was replaced promptly. I can tell that Daniel and Scandinavian Gear are passionate about their product and they want to stand out from the crowd as a company that stands behind their product. That is very refreshing.

I'll start by giving my background so you know where I'm coming from. I'm into camping and outdoor activities, but not so much into hiking. I got roped into a 3 day backpacking trip with a church youth group. I needed a pack, but didn't want to spend a fortune on something that may only get used a handful of times. Doing a little research led me to this pack. Ordered it and it arrived quickly enough. So here's what I thinkFirst impressions-there's a lot of stuff on and in this pack. There are straps everywhere.. Great for attaching stuff to and cinching the pack closed. It has a dedicated pocket inside for a hydration bladder. The padding feels very substantial. The zippers appear to be rugged enough to handle the rigors of back country hiking. There's a cool little compartment on the bottom that my sleeping bag fits inside. The suspension system is adjustable, which is great. Zipper pockets on the hip pads are convenient.So I loaded the bag and set off.. here's what I found:It feels very comfortable when loaded with enough gear for a 3 day trek. The padding prevents the straps from digging in to your shoulders, and can be adjusted for the ideal fit. The compartment is roomy and offers access via 3 separate openings. There is a top compartment and separate side compartment that offer space for smaller items. There are some mesh pockets on the outside that I put some cord and a small shovel in. The buckles held firmly and the zipper didn't get snagged when opening or closing. The only downside for me was there wasn't a lot of airflow between my bag and my back, but rest breaks every hour kept me cool.Overall, the bag seems well made and durable enough to last for a while until I either upgrade or buy another of the same. It has a lot of the features of more expensive bags, so it's a good value in my opinion.A side note... During my hike, I noticed a hole in the bottom compartment, probably a sewing error. I emailed the company and within an hour got a reply asking for more information. I sent pics and they replied and are sending a new bag. The customer service is far and above what I expected from an entry level bag. I would definitely purchase more of their products in the future.