Montane Summit Tour 50 +15 Backpack

Mobility

Climbers loved the V-shaped packbag, as the low-profile silhouette didn’t hinder movement. Four compression straps locked smaller loads to our backs.

Daypack

The toplid zips off and unfolds into a 15-liter daypack with three zippered compartments. “I liked the detachable daypack for travel and for summit- and dayhikes when I didn’t want to carry the big pack,” said one wide-ranging tester.

Access

A U-shaped zipper opens the main packbag, but the single zipper head makes it impossible to target one area.

Organization

Testers wished for an exterior stuff-it pocket to store wet gear.

Comfort

A full-length, plastic framesheet and curved, aluminum stay that’s integrated into the molded foam lumbar pad kept us comfy with moderate loads . “I carried 45 pounds of gear and three bottles of wine to camp and the weight sat right on my hips,” said one tester after a week in Yosemite.

Ding

Testers broke teeth off the light-duty zippers.