Gear Review: Granite Gear Leopard V.C. 46 Multiday Pack
This pack's balance and close-fit is made complete with it's most exhaustive compression system.
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After carrying the Leopard with more than 40 pounds in the Olympic Mountains, with an ice axe and crampons lashed on the outside, our tester deemed this hauler great for off-trail scrambling, thanks to its excellent balance and close fit. There’s no end of lash points on this pack, with multiple daisy chain attachments on the crampon pouch, eight on each hipbelt, four on top of the lid, and two under the lid. Add to that the most exhaustive compression system of any pack we tested (three straps on each side, four to secure the lid) and extremely effective load stabilizers. “I scrambled up steep, lichen-covered rock in the Bailey Range with mountain-goat agility,” reports our tester. The pack comes with a removable, flexible HDPE framesheet, or you can upgrade to an inflatable “air mattress” frame support that costs $50. The upgrade saves three ounces and ups the load-carrying ability of the pack by at least five pounds. The pack has options for both unisex and women’s-specific hipbelts. $230; 2 lbs. 12 oz.; 46 liters; 3 sizes each for men and women; granitegear.com