Gear Review: Sierra Designs Revival 65/Jubilee 65 Weekend Pack
If you're an organizer, this is the pack for you.
[best organization]
There’s nothing retro about SD’s first line of backpacks since 1986. A laser-cut plastic framesheet and single exposed DAC aluminum stay provide structure, while strategically located molded-foam panels cushion loads without inhibiting air circulation. A pivoting hipbelt conforms to different body shapes and minimizes friction. “The Revival stayed secure with 50 pounds aboard,” says one tester. “And it stayed in line with my center of gravity as I was high-stepping in sandstone country.”
But the layout of the packbag is what boosted the Revival from good to great. “I like a little order, not cram-and-go,” says one tester. “Two lid pockets separate headlamp and snacks from my toothbrush. A shove-it pocket stows my shell. And I could access the inside of the pack from the front-zip compartment.”
Women’s warning: The short hipbelt on the Jubilee barely reached past our size 6 tester’s hip bones. Tiny quibble: The bottle opener stitched to the shoulder strap seems overly optimistic. $240; 3 lbs. 15 oz.; 65 liters