User Review: VauDe Tour 50
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Rating: 
Design: Top loading, internal frame.
Size: 50L
Number of Pockets: 3
Max. Load Carried: 45lbs
Height of Owner: 5'7
Price Paid: $43
I bought this pack on a whim on steep and cheap, because of its cheap price, and low weight. Do not be fooled. I stupidly decided to test this pack out on a 6 day trip through the Canadian Rockies, and found many things to be wrong with it:
1. The pack advertises an adjustable frame, which can increase the space between the pack and your back for ventilation, and decrease it for technical stuff. While this is great in theory, in practice it was horrible. Under weight, the mechanism was too weak to hold the frame away from the pack, so it would always collapse into the back in "technical" mode. Unfortunately, this meant having a giant black piece of plastic jutting into your back. Comfortable. so on the 3d day, I broke of the mechanism, removed the frame, and used my Thermarest for a support system. much improved. Surprisingly, there is much more wrong with the pack.
2. the bottom sleeping bag access zipper, while a handy addition on most packs, is too short on this one, so while closed, constricts that part of the pack, making bottom items impossible to reach, and straining the zipper when the bag is stuffed. A problem because the zippers on this pack are VERY small.
3. the hood does not float, eliminating lots of potential carrying capacity of the pack.
4. the hip belts look like they should come off a 20l pack at most. they are approximately 3 inches long. As well, there are no hip stabilizer straps, making a good fit hard to achieve.
5. Actually, a good fit would be impossible to achieve. The frame is a simple hoop of wire that does a horrible job of conforming to anybody's body, despite being (or because?) a one-size-fits all pack.
6. after 6 days, there is already a hole in the bottom.
7. the hood pocket zipper is located near the shoulder strap size of the bag, meaning if the zipper is open, and the hood is lifted, all hood contents fall out.
The good:
nice hydration sleeve, nice large baffled side pockets, but hidden behind compression straps.
To be fair, I was carrying heavy loads and stuffing the pack quite full. Still, I can almost guarantee that you will waste your money on this pack.
You Might Prefer...
- VauDe Tour 40
- VauDe Tour 60
- Osprey Atmos 50
- Arc'teryx Bora 80
- Gregory Baltoro 70
- Granite Gear Nimbus Latitude Ki
- Kelty Redwing 3100
- More Internal Frame Backpacks »
Where to Buy
Sorry, we couldn't find any online retailers selling the VauDe Tour 50. You may want to check pricing and availability directly at these sites:
- Backcountry.com
- Backcountry Outlet
- REI
- Gear for Adventure
- Trailspace Classifieds
- eBay ( US | Canada | UK | Aus )
- GearTrade
Retailers: Do you sell the VauDe Tour 50? List your site here.
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