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Reviews > Packs > Frameless Backpacks and Day Packs > Terra Nova Laser 20L Elite Pack > Test Report by Michael Williams
TERRA NOVA LASER 20L ELITE
INITIAL REPORT - November 24, 2009
TESTER INFORMATION
I was introduced to backpacking as a teenager through scouts in Colorado Springs, Colorado and fell in love with it. I continued to actively backpack through college and took a break to start a career and family. A few years ago we decided as a family to become very active in hiking, backpacking and camping. Currently my wife, son (8 yrs) and I hike and backpack extensively in Colorado and South Dakota as a family. We continually look for the right balance of lightweight, durable, comfortable and safe gear for our family to enhance our outdoor experiences. Product Information
Product Details
The Terra Nova Equipment Laser 20L Elite (henceforth referred to as the Laser Elite or ruck) is a small top-loading ultra-light rucksack. The Laser Elite is the latest edition to Terra Nova's Laser line of light weight packs. The ruck appears to be designed as "Super-light" race equipment and is marketed as an Adventure Racing and Mountain Marathon product. Initial Impressions
It is evident to me that the Laser Elite is a no-frills price of equipment. Everything is designed to be light weight and streamlined which doesn't leave a lot of room for extra components. When I first saw the ruck I thought it looked like a 20 L dry bag with shoulder straps, a hip belt and water bottle pockets, and that is basically what it is. The manufacture refers to this pack as a rucksack, and it should be considered a ruck as it is not a backpack with any structural support at all. Trying it out
I have used the ruck solely as a gym bag for the last week. It certainly has quite a bit volume and holds all of my clothes, shoes and miscellaneous items with room to spare. It became very evident that packing would need to be a thought out process. Without any structural support this ruck is not a "throw everything in and go pack"; the first time I loaded it my gym shoes were pushing against my back in an awkward position. The Contents of the ruck include a Soft Shell Hoody, Wool Long Sleeve Shirt, Jetboil PCS, Hammock, Emergency and First Aid Kit, 2 pairs of extra socks and 1 L water bottle and small items in the hip belt pockets.
There is plenty of room for food and a small quilt for an overnight trip.
Again, the packing needs to be thought out, you can see items bulging and sagging. Also note that the fabric is see through, I can see where all of my gear was packed.
The belt doesn't offer a lot, but this is the only area of the ruck that offers organization.
Testing Strategy
Since I will be testing this piece of equipment during the winter I will be limited to day hikes or snowshoe trips. I will primarily be in the mountains of Colorado where the temperatures and conditions will be constantly changing. I plan on focusing my testing (but not limiting) on the following aspects of this ruck. SUMMARY
I am excited to test this rucksack. I have never ventured into the ultra-light backpack arena and this should be a good introduction. By no means am I the target audience for Terra Nova's marketing of this pack. I can honestly say that I will never be an adventure racer or a participant in a mountain marathon, but I can see the usefulness and benefits of this ruck. Field Conditions & Performance
During the Field Report phase of this test I really felt that it was unfortunate that I was testing this pack in winter condition as this pack was not designed for winter use. I began testing this pack in Colorado and have taken it on 3 snowshoeing trips to Rocky Mountain National Park with weather ranging from 10 F (-12 C) to 50 F (10 C) in blowing snow and heavy blizzard conditions. For the second trip I used a foam pad to add structure to the pack and that made the pack much more comfortable, however it significantly reduced breathability on my back. The back sweating was a concern considering the conditions I was in and forced me to go at a slower pace and regulate my layers more that I would normally prefer. In addition to a sweaty back I had a hard time keeping my water from freezing either in the bottle holders or inside the pack. On my third trip I experienced the same issues and came to the decision that I did not feel comfortable talking this pack on snowshoeing trips. That is when I came to the realization that, while it performed at a less than desirable level I was using this pack in a method that it was not designed for. So I took the pack and loaded it up with summer gear I would take on a day hike and went to the gym and got on a tread mill. While on the tread mill I walked on steep inclines and also ran with the pack on. Walking was fine; however my shoulders were a bit sore from the narrow cut of the shoulder straps. While jogging, in simulated conditions, a steady rhythm developed and the pack started to shift from left to right with each stride and was not something that I would like on the trail if I was running a mountain marathon, which I will never do. One issue that I noticed while jogging was that my arms will not bend enough to allow me to get to water bottles kept in the side pockets; I had to stop and take off the pack to get water. At this point I was ready to pass judgment on the pack as something that was not for me but I decided to take the pack on vacation. I took the Terra Nova since it packed light and we planned on doing some light rock scrambling and other hiking and I didn't want to bring anything substantial on the trip. On our vacation we went to Jamaica and I learned that I really liked this pack.
The first use of the pack was some rock scrambling up Dunn's River Falls and I was amazed with this pack. At the DR Falls, the rock scrambling route actually goes up the falls and we were wading chest deep in some areas. The pack fit well, not a lot of layers to add bulk to my shoulders and I didn't really notice the light load in the pack. However the pack's water resistant features really shined in the water. I kept the pack on while I waded through chest deep water and also while walking under falling water and at the end of the hike nothing was wet in the pack. We also kept money and credit cards in the belt pockets that were absolutely bone dry, I was very impressed.
Observations I have tested this pack in a wide range of conditions, from below freezing blizzards to a waterfall hike in the Caribbean and believe that I have used the pack enough to begin to form an opinion. Some issues that I have with the pack are related to using the pack in conditions that exceed its design purpose such as winter use and would not be fair to comment on. However, when used within the design parameters of the pack there are some items that I feel I could comment on. Things I Like…
Things That I Would Change…
Field Report Summary
I do like the pack; however I will not use it in significant winter conditions anymore. I believe that this is a niche pack and its use is limited to lightweight loads in temperate / wet conditions. It is my hope that I will be able to continue the testing of this pack in a more suitable test environment for the Long Term phase of this test series. Field Conditions and Performance
Since my field report I have continued to use the Terra Nova as a gym bag as it fits that role quite well. In addition I have used the ruck on 2 separate day hikes in the foothills of Northern Colorado. The weather on these trips were quite different than what I experienced during the Field Report phase of the testing, it was actually nice and sunny without any snow. And my final use of the ruck was as a stuff sack on an overnight snowshoeing trip to the Colorado State Forest. Final Conclusion
I believe that I tested the Terra Nova Laser 20L Elite fairly and under numerous conditions that will allow me to form an opinion of the ruck sack. Overall I have mixed feelings about this pack. It requires some thought when packing, I will not use it without a foam pad for support and it is cumbersome when accessing water and gear. But I believe that these issues are out-weighed by the benefits of the pack. It virtually weighs nothing, is incredibly water tight, offers a large volume compartment, can carry a decent load relatively comfortably and is stable if packed correctly. For my use the Terra Nova Laser 20L Elite will make a perfect summit pack that will stow nicely in a larger pack and will be able to carry the items I need for an excursion from base camp. Read more gear reviews by Michael Williams Reviews > Packs > Frameless Backpacks and Day Packs > Terra Nova Laser 20L Elite Pack > Test Report by Michael Williams |