Backpacker Magazine – Gear Guide 2011

Gear Review: Mountain Hardwear Molimo 70

The Molimo fit everyone from beanpoles to fireplugs.

by: The Backpacker Editors

Tags:
• Gear
|
• Backpacks
|

---

[best fit]
With fine-tunable Velcro attachment points for hipbelt and shoulder straps, plus 2.5 inches of torso adjustment, the Molimo fit everyone from beanpoles to fireplugs. “It was simple to find the sweet spot,” said one tester after a trek in Washington. That makes it a great choice if you’ll be sharing a pack, or simply have trouble finding a good fit. Testers also praised the hydration sleeve, which opens with an external zipper, making on-trail refills—often a pain with a loaded pack—easy.

The polyurethane-coated, 315-denier nylon packbag repels light moisture (seams aren’t sealed). And after five hot days in Colorado’s Maroon Bells Wilderness, another tester described the stretch nylon on the hipbelt and shoulder straps and the well-ventilated back as “ideal for shirtless hiking.” The suspension managed up to 50 pounds, but above that, testers found the lumbar pad angles into the spine. Plus: A cat’s cradle of compression straps shrinks the Molimo into a passable daypack. Tip: Keep the suspension’s Velcro clean to maintain long-term holding power. $250; 4 lbs. 15 oz.; 70 liters

See all backpack reviews from the 2011 Gear Guide


Subscribe to Backpacker magazine
Sign up for our free weekly e-newsletter