User Review: Granite Gear Alpine Vapor

Granite Gear Alpine Vapor
Above: The current Alpine Vapor, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed February 18, 2008 by patrickb

Rating:
Design: Top loading internal
Size: 3600
Max. Load Carried: 100
Height of Owner: 6'4"
Price Paid: $160

This product is basically a blend of Granite Gear's Alpine Light pack and the Vapor Trail. Sadly, this blend has lost many of the great features that made each pack excel at its particular niche.

The Alpine Vapor no longer has the thin minimalist suspension that made it so ideal for many alpine uses. The removal of the top hood was done to save weight, but is virtually offset by the addition of a fairly hefty suspension system. And by losing the top hood, a lot of compartmentalization ability has been lost. As both a professional guide and long distance hiker (PCT 2006), I also own the "originals" behind this new pack and love them both for their own jobs.

Granite Gear has made a big mistake with this pack, I feel. Slimming down the ice tool attachments and bulk in the back was a plus. The addition of the side pouches was great - I had actually done the same modification to my own Alpine Light.

But losing the top pouch and the addition of the bulky suspension and hip belt are a major loss to this pack. This pack is one step forward with some of its improvements, but took two steps back at the same time.