Dana Design Terraplane Backpacks

I am considering purchasing a used Dana Design Terraplane backpack. Can anyone tell me the differences between the Terraplane Designs ie(Terraplane X, LTW, Arcflex, Overkill and just plane Terraplane.) I want around a 5,500cc pack with comfort for 40+ pounds, hydration capable, with front access and top pack that turns into a day pack. I know some of these features are included in some of these packs but since they are discontinued it is difficult to find the differences. I am interested in the Dana's based on their great history of quality and load carrying comfort but perhaps the newer packs with new technologies have superceded them? Any help would be appreciated???

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Arcflex is the family of packs the Terraplane and Astraplane belong to. It refers to the suspension system. The just plain "Terraplane" was the original version. All in the family are basically the same with minor variations. "Overkill" (the one I have) is made with 1000 denier cordura vs the 500 for the other versions, so much heavier duty (and much heavier weight - 8.5 pounds empty, but it has stood up to a number of month-long expeditions from Alaska Range to Antarctica with no visible wear for some 10 years now). The OK was also the first version with the side zips, which really improved the access when you are sitting out a week-long storm at 17,000 ft on Denali. Terraplane 10th Anniversary Edition is just what it says, but added the side zips and a couple other features from the OK to the basic Terraplane. Terraplane X is essentially the 10th Anniversary Edition as it was continued beyond the 10th Anniversary year (version my spouse has). The LTW is a "light weight" version (not very light compared to some newer packs of the same capacity, but lighter than the original versions). I vaguely recall that the LTW was also slightly reshaped as a women's pack, but don't hold me to that.

Note that certain versions are strictly top-loading for the main compartment, while others have the side zips to provide extra access without unpacking everything. The other major difference is whether the whole pack is 500 denier, 1000 denier, or a mix.

Quality and design when Dana Gleason owned the company were excellent, though the packs were heavy (my son has a Bomb Pack, which is a bit heavy for a day pack, but was intended for ski patrollers carrying avalanche control devices; he uses is as a weekend backpack). The packs stayed much the same in quality for the ones continued through the two subsequent sales of the original Dana Designs. The Terraplane still exists under a different name and some design changes in the latest corporate owner (Mr. Gleason will vehemently tell you otherwise).

When Dana Gleason sold the company, he continued as consultant/advisor for a year or so, then got upset at how things were going. That's when he started Mystery Ranch. He tried selling that at one point (without success). I think he still owns MR.

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The basic Terraplane packbag design dates back to when Gleason owned the Kletterworks. The Kletterworks Terraplane was a soft pack, add an internal frame and you have a Dana Designs Terraplane. Tweak the frame again and you have a Mystery Ranch pack. All are built to take a whale of a pounding.

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Is it worth $240 in today's Backpack market? I am also considering a new Gregory Baltoro or Palisades for $267 and $318 ?

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There's one for sale right now on WhiteBlaze.com so check it out. I used a Terraplane LTW extensively for many long backpacking trips and highly recommend it. Get it for comfort, especially if you want to haul up to 65 pounds with ease. Any more and it starts to sag which is why I upgraded to a Mystery Ranch G6000 pack at 6400 cubic inches.

The Terraplane is a near perfect backpack, that's why for a few years there it was all I saw on wilderness trails. There's a bunch out there so you shouldn't have much of a problem. Marmot now sells them, both the Terraplane and the Astralplane, but I have no info on quality, etc.

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The original Dana Design packs, I have one from 1977-78 and it STILL is good to go along with the current Mystery Ranch packs of which I have five are the FINEST serious load monsters I know of and I have had/used a lot of packs.

I would say that only McHale is a packmaker that "might" be better, or as good,however, I have yet to carry one. But, nothing else compares to DD or MR, IF, they fit you, of course.

If this is an original DD and FITS you, BUY IT, you will not be disappointed that you did, if you need a hardcore pack for rough use and big loads.

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The Terraplane LTW is made of a newer fabric that is lighter, therefore a little thinner, than the old D2 proprietary fabric, although the ripstop looks just the same. You will notice the difference if you have samples of each. I have used Dana for 18 years, and though I don't know all the details and names of materials, I think the LTW is an improvement over the original Terraplane simply because of the weight difference, nearly 2 pounds lighter. However, I also think the advantages of the side zip access might justify the heavier weight in the Terraplane X and 10th Anniversary packs. The first year or so Marmot took over Dana Design, the Terraplanes they were turning out with the twin column front pockets were/are identical to the Terraplane LTW. There are still some available from a few dealers at pretty good prices. The later Marmot version of the Terraplane comes with a single large front pocket that incorporates a smaller pocket on one side of the large pocket, which does away with the center daisy chain of the Dana Design. However, the Marmot front pocket acts as a shovit pocket for skis and poles, which is a nice touch. The Marmot design uses the same suspension system, but has a different backpanel which is actually more comfortable than the old Dana backpanel. The Marmot Terraplane also leaves off one compression strap the Dana had that connected to the bottom of the shoulder straps. Even die hard Dana users (like me) won't notice the missing strap unless the new Marmot design and the old Dana design are compared with the same load, one after the other. There are still some of the new Marmot Terraplanes (single front pocket) available from a few dealers for a pretty good price. I believe the original Terraplane design is as good as a pack design will ever get. The new single pocket Marmot is the same pack with a different front pocket layout. Just a matter of taste. You can't go wrong with a Terraplane.

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Thanks for the heads-up grhoon. The Terraplane design is as good as a pack design will get, I agree, and so the Mystery Ranch big packs follow basically the same design but with beefier suspensions. The same back long two-pockets, the same bottom tent/pad straps, a better lid and lid straps, a much beefier hipbelt/yoke combo, the same internal load strap, the same location of the water bottle holders on the sides, etc.

Only one drawback on my G6000: The back center zipper allowing access to the main bag compartment. Don't need it, never use it, just adds extra weight to an all ready heavy pack. And the bottom sleeping bag compartment with the big zipper and the compression buckle could also be done away with as I just stuff my sleeping bag stuff sack down in from the top. But I'm getting ready for another trip and eyeballing my MR lovingly, etc.

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