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By KF from Phoenix, AZ on 06/24/2008 Pros: Durable, Good Padding Best Uses: Airline Travel, Backpacking Describe Yourself: Casual/ Recreational What Is Your Gear Style: Minimalist Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend I bought my Needle primarily as a travel pack - I'm 5'1 and had trouble finding a good, simple pack that fit, that didn't scream 'tourist pack' and that I could carry on a flight (and is comfortable to run through airports and subways with). This slides neatly into the overhead bin, especially when not fully extended and cinches down pretty tightly. I've done week-long trips with it, including London in January.
If you like lots of organizing pockets, this is not the pack for you. It is, however, very easy to stuff this pack and use every in of available space, although that can make unpacking interesting when the pack is fully stuffed.
By bray from Delta Junction, AK on 06/03/2008 Pros: Durable, Easy to Pack, Good Padding, Strong Zippers Best Uses: Backpacking, Camping, Short Travel, Weekend Trips Describe Yourself: Casual/ Recreational What Is Your Gear Style: Minimalist Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Comments: handy, simple design. i like this pack for weekend camping/hiking
Where are the load stabilizers? By snowsurfchick from mammoth lakes, ca on 05/20/2008 Pros: Durable, Easy to Pack, Good Padding, Strong Zippers Cons: Bad load stabilization Describe Yourself: Avid Adventurer What Is Your Gear Style: Minimalist Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend Comments: There's plenty of room in the pack for all my gear. Its too bad there aren't any load stabilizing straps. The top of the pack doesn't sit closely to my back; it just flops around. The sternum strap doesn't go high enough up the straps, making it uncomfortable over my chest. Other than that- the pack has plenty of padding and room inside. I can even lash my rope to the outside comfortably. If you're a giant man (over 6'6") this pack may work great for you.
Great for backcountry skiing By Skimore from Boston, MA on 05/02/2008 Pros: Durable, Good Padding, Strong Zippers Cons: Difficult to adjust weigh, Not Enough Compartments Best Uses: Backpacking, Weekend Trips Describe Yourself: Casual/ Recreational What Is Your Gear Style: Minimalist Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Comments: Used this backpack last weekend to hike and ski Tuckerman's Ravine, NH. The pack worked great for 5 hours of hiking with skis and boots attached in an A-frame configuration, plus additional gear and provisions in the pack (45 lbs total). The only disadvantage for me was that it was difficult to adjust the weight onto my hips and off my shoulders; I am 6' tall and for some reason have this problem with many packs.
Great pack for a day in the backcountry By Snow Ski Scott from Flagstaff on 05/01/2008 Pros: Durable, Good Back Support, Good Padding, Strong Zippers Cons: Not Enough Compartments Best Uses: Backpacking, Short Travel, Weekend Trips Describe Yourself: Avid Adventurer What Is Your Gear Style: Minimalist Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Comments: Great for to haul my skis and some essentials early and late season. Looks like it will work good for snowshoes too. Could use some separation in the larger compartment for better organization.
By Tim from Maryland on 04/30/2008 Pros: Durable, Fashionable color, Good Back Support, Good Padding, Strong Zippers Best Uses: Backpacking, Camping, Extended Travel, Weekend Trips Describe Yourself: Casual/ Recreational What Is Your Gear Style: Comfort Driven Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Comments: Info in catalog was accurate.
By Reconjohn from Upper midwest on 04/24/2008 Pros: Durable, Easy to Pack, Good Back Support, Good Padding Best Uses: Airline Travel, Backpacking, Camping, Extended Travel, Short Travel, Weekend Trips Describe Yourself: Professional Guide Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend A very good single alum. stay/plastic frame sheet supported ruck sack. Hauling 20-25# with Parkour style agility is not a problem - as long as the pack will fit you (check your torso length!). I like to see an optimal combination of comfort, durability and low overall weight. This pack is very good in that regard. The versatile strap connector design is first rate. That the top comes off as a useful daypack without needing any additional straps is quite impressive.
The needle isn't perfect however - I feel it still could be improved without increasing the weight too much by adding stabilizer straps to the shoulder (specifically) and hip belt areas. It's stable as is, but not 100%. Also, while the front strap/fastek buckle combination between the top pack and bottom pack make for a great design, they aren't sewn far down far enough on the bottom-front of the main pack and allow for a small gap just behind the base of the neck for potential debris/water to get into the pack if the pack is loaded fully. Shoulder strap stabilizers cure this and I've modified my pack likewise so I don't have this problem. The water bladder/framesheet area could be improved by ditching the wide horizontal hook&loop strip, replacing it with two small vertical strips and adding a hanging tag for the bladder hook to help the support of the bladder. The area is plenty wide for any bladder I've used (easily 1" play on each side of the 100L Camelbak), but seems to keep the bladder in place farily well even while running. I have not field tested this pack without the bar/sheet installed, but you'll lose 7.4 oz. without it and just having tried it during this review around the house, I suspect removing it will be an improvement in my case.
All things considered, this truly is a very good pack, well designed and constructed. This is a very hard to beat value for a quality pack!
By Bill Da Thrill from Los Alamos, NM on 04/10/2008 Pros: Durable, Good Back Support, Good Padding, Perfect size Best Uses: Hikeable ski pack Describe Yourself: Casual/ Recreational What Is Your Gear Style: Comfort Driven Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Comments: Pack is perfect size to fit my two alpine ski boots with room to spare. Set up skis in A-frame, very stable. Comfortable padding and didn't notice the pack (any discomfort) till I reached my goal (1200' vert). Would like a side zipper.
great, simple little backpack By lazyd from seattle, wa on 03/26/2008 Pros: Durable, Easy to Pack, Good Back Support, Good Padding, Strong Zippers Best Uses: Airline Travel, Backpacking, Camping, Extended Travel, Short Travel, Weekend Trips Describe Yourself: Avid Adventurer What Is Your Gear Style: Minimalist Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Comments: i travel super light through the mountains in the spring summer and fall and this bag is perfect for a three day trek. real durable. be warned it is a small bag, but it works perfectly for me.
By Ray Guzman from Slidell, La on 02/28/2008 Pros: Durable, Easy to Pack, Good Back Support, Good Padding, Strong Zippers Best Uses: Backpacking, Short Travel, Weekend Trips Describe Yourself: Casual/ Recreational What Is Your Gear Style: Comfort Driven Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Comments: very well made, prefect for short trips, or ligth travel.
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