GoLite Women's Pinnacle

I year and a half ago, I wanted to get into backpacking, but didn't want to spend a fortune on gear.  I also knew that since I was hoping to thru hike the AT soon (ended up doing it the following summer) and I liked the ultralight style of backpacking, that I wanted a pack that would lend itself to both. 

I'm 5'10, 145lbs.  It fit all my gear, and me. It held up amazingly, with only one small puncture in the side mesh pocket (which to be fair is from shoving my trecking poles in there when I hopped into town, not from snagging on anything.) 

It's not waterproof, so pack in waterproof bags, and/or get a pack cover.  I love the simplicity of the design - one main compartment, an outside zippered pocket, and 2 mesh pockets for my waterbottles. 

Note: I think I bought the 2009 model. The back and straps do not have the same mesh as the 2010 model did. Some thru-hikers had the newer model and complained that the mesh rubbed them the wrong way. 

I did not give it 5 stars because there is very little padding on the hips which sometimes can be a little uncomfortable when my pack is at capacity, and I would like to see either pockets on the hipbelts (which I know would add weight) or for GoLite to develop a way to attach hipbelt accessories (ie: granite gear puts loops on their hipbelts, and all the accessories slide into them.) I needed a convenient place to carry my camera and a snack or two on the trail.

Overall, have recommended this pack and this company to friends, and will continue to do so! 

I bought the Pinnacle last summer after camping and hiking with a smaller, heavier pack. With a move to Thunder Bay coming in the fall, with unlimited opportunities to explore the north shore of Lake Superior, I decided to buy a lightweight, convertible pack - and the Pinnacle won the draw. It has been used to haul gear on rappels, ice climbs, air transport, weekend trips, winter camping, the gym, and even the occasional load of laundry.

The women’s-specific style (size small) fits my 5 foot 4 inch, 115 lb. frame perfectly, and the Compacktor system makes for a very small-sized pack when one is needed. The Pinnacle’s outer pocket holds a climbing or bike helmet with ease, and the ice axe loops do actually work well, in spite of their bare-bones appearance.

Compression straps are long enough for sleeping pads or small tents, and their quick-release buckles are handy when wearing heavy gloves. The shoulder, waist and chest straps are luxurious compared to the pack’s overall simplicity; even when fully loaded with 30 lbs, the pack is very comfortable to wear for long periods. I was initially a bit concerned about the fabrics used in the pack, but after scrambling up cliff faces and bushwhacking repeatedly, the fabric has yet to fray, never mind rip.

If the Pinnacle has any limitations, the lack of waterproofedness is definitely one of them. The pocket zipper is waterproof, but the rest of the pack definitely is not. In a moderate drizzle, it soaks through in a matter of minutes, requiring the use of a dry sack or plastic back to keep the contents dry.

It’s also important to remember that the Pinnacle is designed for ultralight use, so when winter camping, plan on building a snow cave, using firewood for fuel, and not having a lot of creature comforts with you!
For 3-season use, though, the Pinnacle has ample space for multi-day trips, and is definitely my go-to pack for all my excursions!

I like this sack. It's very light and comfortable. I am 5'5" and I ordered the medium woman's backpack. At first it was uncomfortable, but I was able to adjust the straps, and now I can walk for several miles without any discomfort. My max pack weight was about 30 lbs with bear canister and snow shoes.

My only issue is that the black buckle on the left side of the chest strap comes off unexpectedly and can get lost. I know that I am not the only person with this issue--two of my backpacking friends on the last trip had the same issue.

Overall, I am very happy with this bag.

Great light pack, no frills.

I've been using this backpack for the past 2-3 years mostly for backpacking but also for some day hikes (it's definitely light enough to do that). I'm 5'1" and about 100 lbs and use a women's medium. While the shoulder and chest straps adjustments work well for me, I do wish the belt would go a little more narrow.

My biggest pet peeve is that I have to unpack any big stuff (eg bear canister or sleeping bag) and that involves taking everything out of the top loading backpack to fit a full 3 L Platypus in. It's annoying but everything does fit in the end, and if it doesn't fit: that's what those side straps are for.

Aside from those gripes, the backpack has stood up very well to three-season hiking without a snag: rain, scrambling, sliding down some rocks, even some snow. I do put everything inside into a big garbage bag though.

What the heck are the two loops for at the back bottom of the pack, along with the two plastic nub/hooks that don't actually hook into anything? I would like to be able to carry my tent strapped to the bottom back of the pack, but it's just wasted, unusable space.