Arc'teryx Bora 70

I'd had an old Camp Trails pack for ten years, and although it got me through, it just wasn't comfortable anymore (coinciding with my transition to 'gear guy'). So before a Bruce Trail Trip in Ont and an awesome holiday in the Yukon, I picked up my 'dream pack'. It was the best thing I could have done.

In the Yukon (in late July) three friends and I hiked for seven days straight. My pack was pretty full and heavy for the first few days, but I had everything I needed and the pack was such a treat to wear. When we would stop to rest I didn't even take it off sometimes, it felt so good. Also, my friends would be doing the classic 'lean forward to shift the weight of the pack off your shoulders while resting' trick, but I just stood there, comfy as ever, taking some pictures or scanning around with my binoculars.

I found the pack to be just right in how wide it was. I'm pretty thin and use hiking poles, so I need to swing my arms easily - no problems with this pack. Also, the bear barrels we were using would fit in sideways (barely) which made packing a lot easier. I love the side zipper, I could pull out my pots and stove for a hot lunch and not have to repack everything. When I strapped my thermarest (in a stuff sack) to the handy little straps on the back at the bottom of the pack it provided enough leverage to allow my pack to easily stand up when I put it down, which was real handy lots of times.

The lid is a floating one, so you can overstuff the pack. The back pocket is great, you can jam in a tarp, or a rain jacket or nothing at all! The back pocket itself holds more than it looked like it would, and I loved it.

The compression straps work great, and I was able to carry my tripod on the side and not worry about it being in the way or coming loose. There's lots of webbing and daisy chain attachments for clipping on stuff like rope and water bottles. The pack itself is of average weight- no problem!

As everybody else always says, this pack is one of the comfiest around. I've never worn a Dana Designs, but since they are twice the price, I don't think I ever will. Arc'Teryx packs are top of the line, and made in Canada. Am looking forward to many years of awesome trips in comfort with this pack. I loved it so much, I picked up a Bora 40 for a day pack, can't wait to ski at Tremblant next weekend!

I used the Bora 70 all summer as a guide for overnighters in the Sawatch range of Colorado. Functionally it is an excellent pack. I have used it to carry about 60 pounds of water for a short distance, and that load did not seem to overtax the frame's abilites (although it was quite off-balance since there were 60 pounds all in the very bottom of my pack). My normal load was probably about 30 pounds, and it handled this very well.

Now for a few shortcomings. This pack has no effective system for holding water. The water bottle pockets on the bottom sides of the pack are nearly impossible to put a nalgene into when the pack is stuffed. I bought a 1.5 liter camelback pouch, which fit fairly well into the map pocket under the lid. This, however, is a little high on my back to have significant weight for my tastes. The bulge from it also reduced the capacity of the top pocket. My other complaint is the hipbelt. At times it seemed very comfortable, but on a few longer trips it bruised my hipbones and therefore became very uncomfortable. I have since learned that Arc'Teryx makes two styles of hipbelt, which are interchangable. Any Bora 80, 90, or even the 65's and 62's I have seen in stores since I purchased this pack have a belt that is at least twice as thick as the one on my pack. I borowed such a hipbelt from a friend who owns a Bora 80 and it made worlds of diffference. The hipbelt I have is identical in composition to the one on the Bora 40 daypack. I went to see about getting the thicker belt, but they were $60 at REI for just a hipbelt. I believe it was an error in judgement by Arc'Teryx to put this belt on a larger capacity pack and am going to write them and tell them so.

This would be an excellent pack if the hipbelt was the proper model for this pack's capacity. I would recommend Arc'Teryx products, but I would recommend buying this pack only if it did include the thicker belt. I have a '99 model, so it might have changed.

This is a nice pack. I own/use packs from all the major brands (Gregory, Dana, Osprey, Mountainsmith) and this is my primary pack. I bought it back around 1996 when it was the only pack they made and have used and abused it and it still works great.

I agree with most of the other reviews, but I have some custom work done on mine. The front hinge pocket that originally came on mine was pretty much useless, so I had it removed and the straps modified to accept an Osprey Vector Summit day pack. The wand/ski tail pockets are just that, too small for water bottles or anything else. This pack is heavy, I think it's probably the heaviest I own, which doesn't make it the best for short trips/light loads, but it's a comfortable, tough pack that will get you there and back. Too bad they don't make it anymore.

The Bora 70 is a top quality pack. The materials and workmanship are great. I really can't say enough about the hip belt and shoulder straps--they are both fantastically comfortable. The pack design is a fairly straight forward top loader. A side zipper allows slightly easier access to the main compartment and a front pocket can be used for often accessed items.

The only mild complaint I have is the lack of a sleeping bag compartment (which is available on the newer/larger Bora 80 packs). I find the size of the Bora 70 very suitable for 4-5 day journeys since I am not a large person and normally travel lightly. I got a great deal on the pack at an REI clearance sale -- the Bora 70 usually sells for around $300.

This is a great pack. The pre-molded suspension system is incredible. The pack is the most comfortable I've ever had. My only complaint is that it is very narrow. This is great for climbing but it is sometimes hard to pack it efficiently. And it is also very high when packed to the max. This makes for hard bushwacking. However if you have better equipment than me (ie. down bag and small tent) then packing it should not pose a problem.

This backpack is a testament to the mentality that you should watch out for how big of a pack you get because no matter how big it is, you WILL fill it up with stuff. I learned that 4400 cubic inches of space is optimum. It is all you need. The comfort of this pack on the back and shoulders is superior to any pack I have had by a longshot, as well. Looks cool, too.

The Bora 70 is a fantastic pack. Immaculate construction and durable materials lend themselves to a pack that is prepared for the long haul. The suspension is fully adaptable to any size/weight load, and the hip belt and shoulder straps are down-right cozy. My only complaint is that there is no seperate sleeping bag compartment-- at least not in my model. (I think mine may be a 1995.)

This pack is great. The injection molding technology is as good or better than any pack I have examined. It fits as if part of me. But I'm sure a lot of packs do the same. Construction is flawless. Buy this pack through MEC and you'll get the best deal around. Opt for air freight from Canada, it's worth it.

Arc'Teryx makes great packs. Construction is impeccable and rock solid. The foam molding is excellent and the suspension is great. I've carried all kinds of loads and it has always done me right. I'd definitely say that Arc'Teryx packs are right up there with the best of them. Well worth the price.

An exellent pack for heavy loads. Great versatility. Outstanding suspension. Only complaint -- Lacks pocket for water bladder.

Wears well and is comfortable with alot of weight. I would recommend.