Obnoxious, bright colored things are my thing. When I saw the So iLL 20L Dry Pack in all of its highlighter yellow goodness, it was love at first sight. I envisioned taking it all over the trails, the city, to my favorite rocks. But it didn’t quite end up that way.
The Mountain Hardwear Scrambler 30 isn’t anything new for 2016, but this trusty backpack has survived 2015 and 2016 without any real issues. It’s the bag that I reach for over and over again for hiking, climbing and commuting. It’s burly enough to withstand inclement weather and holds a ton of gear and snacks for a day at the crag. You can even strap a rope on top for the approach, or for biking to the gym for a post-work climbing sesh. After two years of abuse, it’s a little worn in some spots, but it’s nothing a little duct tape can’t fix. Now this workhorse of a bag can be yours.
I just arrived at Wye Creek, home to some of the best sport climbing near Queenstown, New Zealand. It’s about a 45 minute approach and a relentless uphill battle. We’re half way up to the crag and my climbing partners are now sweating like crazy, trying to grab a drink of water, a snack and some different pants because it’s kind of hot to finish the approach. The only problem? They have no idea where they packed the goods and they can’t see everything inside their bag. Out comes the rope, their harness, their rain shell and then finally, the snacks, at the bottom of the bag. For moments like these, the Black Diamond Demon Duffel is a lifesaver.
With summer backpacking in full swing and fall backpacking just on the horizon, the Mountain Hardwear Ozonic 50 OutDry Backpack is a solid carry to have.
Boreas Gear, sister company of Alite Designs, is a San Francisco-based company specializing in ultra-cool packs and tents. I got the chance to test out their lightweight & minimalistic commuter bag, the Topaz 25, over the past few months.