User Review: Dana Design ArcLight Glacier

Reviewed October 17, 1997 by Ken Grant

Rating: rated 5 of 5 stars
Design: Internal
Size: 5000
Number of Pockets: 3
Max. Load Carried: 50
Height of Owner: 6'1'
Price Paid: $240 (sale)

I've owned the Glacier for four years and have found it excellent for loads of up to 40 pounds. As pack weight approaches 50 pounds, the Glacier rapidly becomes uncomfortable. I'm sure for those loads a Terraplane would be good to have.

The Glacier is very comfortable, offering enough adjustments to keep you happy on the trail. I remember no significant break in time. I remember no significant break in time. The two long lined back pockets are great for carrying water, fuel, or wet items you don't want in the tent's main compartment. The hood converts to a day (fanny) pack that works well.

The sleeping back compartment at the bottom is rather small. If you have trouble fitting your bag in consider a compression sack or use the Dana feature of folding in the bottom compartment and strapping the bag to the outside.

In deciding which backpack to choose consider your longest typical hike--not the longest you could possibly imagine. Since I've learned to pack reasonably light, I can't imagine needing to carry as much as I've carried before. For my needs (up to 10 days on the trail in summer), the Terraplane would have been an overkill. (Even the Glacier gets pretty slack by the end of a summer trip.) And the Glacier is considerably lighter.

The Dana worksmanship is excellent and the warranty is lifetime (whatever that means in an age with mergers so rampant).

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