Expedition Packs

Recent Expedition Pack (70L+) Reviews

Mile High Mountaineering Fifty-Two 80

Same issue with my 5280 as one of the other reviews stated, The shoulder straps twisting to the outside thus making it very uncomfortable to wear. Both sternum straps ended up pulling out of the guide rails.  Full review

Tatonka Yukon 70+10

Good product, happy to use Worked well for me while guiding, 70 l. fits a life-size billy cape easily. Durable, good harness straps though they absorb rain they dry fast. Carries 70-lb load no problem. Heavier for longer I would want a full frame. Full review

BlackWolf Maikoh 70

A tremendous pack in terms of build and reliability, however, for someone like me that is quite boney and lacking hips and a decent backside, it is incredibly uncomfortable for extended hikes; anything beyond three hours is a problem for me. I have had three other BW packs and they were sublime in terms of comfort and I regularly hiked for 10-12 hours at a stretch with each of them. When I initially tried the Maikoh 70 I admit to having a few reservations about how the shoulder straps and hip belt… Full review

BlackWolf Maikoh 70

Very comfortable pack with plenty of pockets to keep your goods nicely stowed. Ideal for a weekender or multiday hike Bought this pack when I decided to move into the long distance hiking game and it is proving to be a great decision. The Black Wolf Maikoh 70 is a very comfortable pack with plenty of storage options to keep your gear nicely stowed, ideal if you’re anything like me and hate bits and pieces dangling off your bag. The main storage area has three entry points—top, middle and bottom—with… Full review

Osprey Aether Plus 100

Mediocre build quality. Mediocre to good carrying comfort. I did a 133 km in mountain ranges in Norway with this back, carrying  24 kg with the backpack. Never again. This is not a backpack for carrying more then 17-18 kg. If you carry more, the carrying comfort is very questionable. When I lift the bag it makes sounds as if it is going to break, split, or tear.  I don't understand where the good reviews come from. This is one of the worst backpacks I have had until now. But I am spoiled. I use… Full review

U.S. Military ILBE Pack

Unwieldy, complicated, and awkward. I got one of these when they first came out in the fleet and used it for about two years in the field. Everybody was excited to replace the MOLLE pack, which constantly broke. I remember looking at this thing in both awe, wonder and disbelief when they handed it to me. It just looked awkward. All I ever heard was how it was designed by some fancy mountain pack company to be ergonomic etc. Maybe it's just me, but after using it in the field I thought this was one… Full review

Osprey Aether Plus 85

For a large pack, it carries well, has lots of functional details, and a modest weight. After several decades of use on many backpack and climbing trips, it was time to replace my reliable and old-school Dana Terraplane pack. I sought something similar in size (~5000 cubic inches), lighter in weight, durable, and with contemporary features (e.g., pocket for water reservoir, hipbelt pockets, removable daypack). I have smaller and lighter packs for shorter trips in reliably good weather (summer). Full review

Osprey Xenith 88

It is an expedition pack which I have used for 2-3 week length treks. It functions well. The hip pads are great and provide more load-bearing support than any other pack I have owned. In all, it is a durable pack and my go-to for long journeys. I have owned this pack for 4 years. I have used it on 5 major treks in Asia and USA. The pack is still going strong. I am 6.0ft, 185 and it fits very well, no special adjustments were required and I did not have the hip pad molded. Carrying weight doesn't… Full review

Osprey Xenith 88

If you have a strong back, strong legs, high stamina, and need to carry a lot of loads, this pack is the right one for you. I bought this pack new from Outlive, a company of Eiger Adventure Group which is an official distributor of Osprey (and also all other overseas brands). I thought I was crazy for carrying loads for the group, it totals 18KG. It was only a 2D1N trip. Within the first 4 hours hiking, I was feeling very miserable. Not because the pack, but because the load. I cannot carry this… Full review