Mountainsmith PCT 45

Summary

Bought this as a first weekend pack...

Bought this for a weekend pack several years ago. Today I use it to get a week's worth of groceries or use it to haul new gear to test. The floating lid, pocket and omni utility IS a good thing for some of us. It is relatively light for an older pack that is bomb proof!

We use these and the women's CDT for outfitting. They are a great adjustable/ specific harness fit and have some great little features true to Mountainsmith's excellent craftsmanship. The Mountainsmith pack covers are cool (if you don't like red and you're after the 'stealth' look!)

The front pocket can take a lightweight tent leaving room for all the rest of your gear inside (ie. you can use this light little pack for some big adventures!)

I bought this pack four seasons ago and have used it for ultralite hiking for up to a week, but I think where it has excelled is the three seasons I have used it as a pack for trail crew and as a ranger. I have abused this thing, carried all my EMS gear in it, attached all sorts of saws and axes to it and it has held up fairly well.

I do have to say that all there are some wear spots on the base from trail work, but that is to be expected. As a overnight pack it works great, and think that I am going to replace it in my daily use as a ranger with my smaller Dana Bomb pack.

One complaint if any is that you cant carry anything on your shoulder with the pack on b/c of the stays, they ride a little high on the shoulder and interfere with my saw or a log trying to rest while hiking.