care to discuss your winter day/climbing pack ?

[cushetunk]

I've had the Mammut Spindrift 40 all winter now and I like almost everything about it.

 

[Chip]

I've had the Mammut Spindrift 40 all winter now and I like almost everything about it.

just ordered the Spindrift 35. What don't you like about it ? (I still retain the power to return, unused.)

 

[cushetunk]

just ordered the Spindrift 35. What don't you like about it ? (I still retain the power to return, unused.)

I thought the plastic stay for the back interfered with the hood closing, and didn't do much to make the pack more comfortable. I removed it and haven't used it. I also didn't like that the hood isn't a "floating hood"; instead it is stitched in place, so you can't extend it.

Other than that, I pretty much think it is a work of genius.

 

[ADKdremn]

Chip....I know you already ordered a pack, but maybe you want to check these out. Cilogear.
Probably some of the most versatile alpine packs out there with endless options for webbing/carrying skis/axes/ice tools, etc, etc. I own one just for backpacking simply because I can stuff the kitchen sink in it and then it is so easy to compress the thing for summit day without all kinds of extra fabric flapping around. Truth be told, I don't get near enough use out of the thing. The owner used to be based in NYC, but has since moved to Seattle. At the time I bought mine all correspondence was with him. How often do you get to talk to the owner of a company. He was great. I told him what I was looking to do with the pack and he made suggestions, etc. Really a great gear buying experience.

 

[kaseri]

I only use packs made by Cilogear out of Oregon. Really well made and carry a load better than anything else I've ever used. I've owned over 15 packs by different makers all at the same time. Ever since going to Cilogear I've sold every other pack off.

http://www.cilogear.com/

 

[ADKdremn]

Woops....Oregon not Seattle like I said. I knew it was the Pacific Northwest somewhere!

 

[Chip]

Chip....I know you already ordered a pack, but maybe you want to check these out. Cilogear.
Probably some of the most versatile alpine packs out there with endless options for webbing/carrying skis/axes/ice tools, etc, etc. I own one just for backpacking simply because I can stuff the kitchen sink in it and then it is so easy to compress the thing for summit day without all kinds of extra fabric flapping around. Truth be told, I don't get near enough use out of the thing. The owner used to be based in NYC, but has since moved to Seattle. At the time I bought mine all correspondence was with him. How often do you get to talk to the owner of a company. He was great. I told him what I was looking to do with the pack and he made suggestions, etc. Really a great gear buying experience.

Thanks. I'll check those out too. Like I said, I still have the ability to return the new one.

 

[Hikes4fun]

I only use packs made by Cilogear out of Oregon. Really well made and carry a load better than anything else I've ever used. I've owned over 15 packs by different makers all at the same time. Ever since going to Cilogear I've sold every other pack off.

http://www.cilogear.com/

I also have one..I use to use it more, but I like the Stratos' back compression better for snowshoe carry....It is a well made pack and very versatile w/ it's unique strap configuration...Very well made too..My 14 y/o stepson used it while at camp for 2 weeks in the ADK's and it came back looking realatively good

 

[J.Dub]

I only use packs made by Cilogear out of Oregon. Really well made and carry a load better than anything else I've ever used. I've owned over 15 packs by different makers all at the same time. Ever since going to Cilogear I've sold every other pack off.

http://www.cilogear.com/

I've got the Cilo 30L, 65L and 75L Worksacks and think they're the shiznit, which is why I'm trying to sell off some of my other packs.

That said, for quick "stuffability" of snowshoes, there very well may be better packs than the Cilo's. (Maybe the Spindrift that the Chipster has on order will work better for his applications.) For overall flexibility and compression, though, I love the Cilo's, even though there is a bit of a learning curve with them.

Graham (CiloGear owner) is great to deal with, to boot. He made me up a custom set of compression straps to replace/add to some that were missing when I purchased my packs secondhand.