User Review: Mountainsmith Maverick

The Mountainsmith Maverick ~60L pack is a solid pack for the weekend warriors of the world! It encompasses the bare essentials for those living on a budget yet offers the space, watertightness, and comfort of a slightly more expensive and technical bag.

That being said... based on my experience with this pack over 4 years, I would not push its capabilities beyond 3 or 4 days of backpacking. The internal frame is not built to carry food water and full loads with all the gear a week long trip might call for. It becomes VERY uncomfortable with loads exceeding 40 pounds and uncomfortable at 35 pounds. The internal frame is just not up to the challenge. It bends and contorts with the weight, digging into your upper, lower and mid back creating back sores after 2 miles of hiking.

I give it a 4.5 star rating for weekend packing, and a 1.5 star for any trip lasting 5 days or more with the capabilities I pack into the out of doors.

Oh and the poles that came with mine are pretty good. I used them for a few years before they broke. I really liked those poles, ok handles but good shock absorbing properties. Put many miles on them before I retired them to a friend.