Granite Gear Nimbus Latitude Pack : Comfort by Design

A heavy pack is one thing; an ill-fitting heavy pack can ruin a vacation (and your back). For my 2.5 week hiking trip in the Grand Canyon, I wanted a lightweight, comfortable pack that would hold all of my camping gear. I chose Granite Gear's Nimbus Latitude pack for its 3D frame technology.

Much to my delight, the Latitude was a comfortable pack, even on days I spent many hours hiking through hilly regions of the canyon. The pack does an excellent job of distributing weight; I didn't feel any hot spots or experience pinching or rubbing. The lightweight Latitude frame is molded to work with the back's natural curves, has built-in "flexibility zones," and can be adjusted for a custom fit. I especially liked the padded shoulder straps and belts, which kept the pack from shifting around on my back.

Made of out water-resistant, highly durable Cordura nylon, the Latitude held up well to a few weeks of wear-and-tear, demonstrating an excellent resistance to scratches, tears, and general damage. On several occasions I dropped the pack--once I accidentally dropped it off a cliff, and it fell about 200 feet--but it still looked great by the end of my trip.One of my favorite features was the easy access front loading system, which came in handy at the end of long days when I was in a hurry to set up camp.

The internal compression straps and various compartments helped me subdivide my items and held my stuff sacks in place. It was easy to detach the draw cord pocket where I stashed a few essentials.

Bottom Line: At 3.5 pounds, this 3800 cubes pack is very light and sturdy. I think it offers better back support than the typical two-dimensional frame packs. If you are serious about your hiking needs, this bag is a wonderful investment.--M.O. (Sept 04)

Price: $230.00

Manufacturer's Site: www.granitegear.com

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