Owner Review

L. L.  Bean Saddleback Mountain Day Pack

Name:  Ben Ellis     
Age:  33
Gender:  Male
Height:  6’1” (1.85 m)
Weight:  205 (93 kg)
Email address:  twistedstrings@hotmail.com
City, State, Country:  Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
Date:  12-17-03
Backpacking Background:  I started backpacking while in the Boy Scouts.  I
backpacked Philmont as well as several other long distance trips while obtaining
the rank of Eagle in the Scouts.  I have backpacked throughout Arkansas, Big
Bend, Guadalupe National Park and various trails and parks throughout the
Southeast and Colorado.  I am an avid fly-fisher and love combining backpacking
and fly-fishing.  After carrying a heavy pack for several years I am trying to lighten the load and cutting down on my total pack weight.

Manufacturer:  L. L.  Bean
Year of manufacture:  2003
URL:  www.llbean.com
Item Number:  TA45438 
Listed weight:  1 lb. 11 oz. (0.77 kg)
Weight as delivered. 1 lb. 10 oz. (0.74 kg)
Product description: This is the lightest daypack in the L. L.  Bean line of packs.  It is big enough to carry a lunch, rain gear, and any necessities I need for a day hike.  It is a panel loading design with two daisy chain attachment straps running up the front of the pack.  The back panel and shoulder straps are nicely padded and the shoulder straps have a sternum strap to help keep the load close to the body.  It has two side compression straps and two ice axe loops.  Ultra durable 420 denier ripstop nylon is water resistant and appears to be ready to handle rugged use. The seams are bar-tacked and the stitching is top-notch.  The waist belt is not padded and is made of 1.5 inch (3.81 cm) webbing with locking buckle. Wicking back panels, made abrasion-resistant mesh. 1,500 cu. in. (24.58 L) Fits torsos 16" to 20" (40.64 cm to 51 cm).

Location or locations where the test was conducted:  I have used this pack on hiking trails, running through airports, and as my everyday hauler.  I live in Arkansas where temperatures range from really hot to really cold!  110 F (43.33 C) degrees down to 0 F (-17.77 C) degrees.  Arkansas has hot dry summers and wet cold winters.  Spring and fall can be a mix of the two.

Review:  I ordered this pack from L. L.  Bean and was delivered on the date quoted.  Overall this pack looks very well made.  I ordered the green pack and I really like the color.  It has done a pretty good job of hiding the dirt that I always end up getting on my gear.  It has really nice padded shoulder straps and an elasticized sternum strap.  Both shoulder straps have a D ring sewn in the straps for attaching additional gear.  There are two ice axe loops sewn in the bottom of the pack as well as two side compression straps.  The back panel is also nicely padded.  My big beef with this pack and most other daypacks is the hip belt.  I have a long torso and if I buckle the hip belt while wearing the pack it hits me just below the rib cage.  I have tried several different daypacks by different makers and found this to be a common problem with them all in regards to fitting a longer torso.  Even without the hip belt the pack is very comfortable with the nicely padded straps and back panel.  I have loaded this pack up with about 15 pounds (6.80 kg) and it carries quite well.  The back padding seems to offer a bit of support so that this pack doesn’t curl up at the bottoms as in some daypacks.  The pack has a cordura nylon bottom and a nice large front pocket with a change pocket and key leash.  The zippers are nice heavy-duty YKK zippers with zipper pulls.  The zippers work great with no snagging on the material.  I have been caught in a couple of minor rain showers and the material sheds water very well and my gear remained dry.  The one outside pocket is just big enough for a 1-liter Lexan water bottle and a few extras.   There are no provisions for a hydration system.  Overall I am really pleased with the pack.  It does just what it is supposed to do…carry a light load comfortably.  I really like the way L. L.  Bean has used black thread in stitching their logo on the front of the pack.  It blends in very well with the pack and I don’t feel like a walking advertisement.

Summary.  This is a nice daypack at a good price by a well-known outdoor retailer.  It does just what it is supposed to do…haul a light load comfortably.  I like the environmentally friendly color and padded straps and back panel.  I also like the fact that it is not overloaded with a bunch of extra straps and features that I don’t need on a daypack.