TERRA NOVA LASER 20L PACK
TEST SERIES BY EDWARD RIPLEY-DUGGAN
INITIAL REPORT
October 31, 2009

INITIAL REPORT: October 31, 2009

FIELD REPORT: in early January 2010

LONG-TERM REPORT: in March 2010

TESTER INFORMATION

I enjoy walking in all its forms, from a simple stroll in the woods to multi-day backpack excursions. Though by no means an extreme ultra-light enthusiast, from spring to fall my preference is to carry a pack weight (before food and water) of 12 lb (5.5 kg), more or less. In recent years, I've rapidly moved to a philosophy of "lighter is better," within the constraints of budget and common sense.

INITIAL REPORT

PRODUCT INFORMATION AND SPECIFICATIONS

TERRA NOVA LASER 20L PACK

Receipt
The pack was received in good order. It has one descriptive hang-tag outlining the main features, and no other attached information (nor did I feel further explanation was required).

Initial Impressions
I have used a number of lightweight daypacks over the years, but this is, I believe, the lightest I have yet carried. Surprisingly, it is also the most fully featured, although that may be because I usually tend towards minimalism in such gear. The numerous pockets have obvious potential for keeping odds and ends close to hand. The pocket high on the body looks like an excellent place to store a working GPS, which will fit there with room to spare. The waistband pockets will also work for this, something I have also already tested.

My first move was to see if the pack is large enough to carry all the odds and ends (a significant amount) that I use in the course of a hiking day, or otherwise carry as precautions. It is indeed large enough, and then some. In fact, I have found that I can fit a lightweight sleeping bag (in compression sack), and a structured tarp with a pole, with room left over for jacket, cook gear, plus a moderate amount of food and water (though no pad, unless fully inflatable). It seems to me, based on my preliminary observations, that this pack is potentially adequate for mild weather overnights, provided the gear used is lightweight. Unfortunately, given the fact that it has arrived near the beginning of winter, when heavier gear is needed for a margin of safety, I may not be able to fully test its potential for this purpose (unless we have a spell of warmer temperatures).

Though the body of the pack is too short for the poles used in my structured tarp, they can be made to fit in diagonally by allowing them to protrude slightly from one of the two hydration ports. The website mentions the pack in conjunction with Terra Nova's very lightweight Laser Photon Elite tent, which (in conjunction with the mention of "one or two day events" on the hang-tag) leads me to think that this pack is designed for more than day trips, albeit with lightweight or ultralight gear.

This is a pack of a rather complex design, very well executed. The quality of manufacture is impressive; no loose threads, superbly sewn.  When filled, the main body is approximately teardrop in shape, constructed from a fabric barely heavier than silnylon, although with a sturdier nylon base. It fits me well, despite the fact that I am by no means skinny. With the shoulder straps near full length, the waistbelt sits a bit higher than is customary, but this isn't likely to be an issue for a pack intended for such light loads (or so I hope) For carrying in this manner (rather than higher on my body) I may need to reposition the chest strap; the shoulder straps have provision for this adjustment, with at least four loops for adjusting the chest strap position.

The bottle pockets are quite low in volume, clearly designed for a soda bottle or equivalent. The hydration sleeve in the interior of the back is large enough to take a fairly substantial bladder of Platypus type, so I will likely be using bottles, but periodically refilling them from the bladder within, or simply using a hydration tube from the interior, weather permitting. Access to the main body of the pack is via a full-length central water-resistant zipper.

The mesh pockets are large enough to fit a windshirt or even a low volume insulated piece, and still have room for some snacks. The hipbelt pockets, which have neat tabbed string pulls (as do all the zips and cords), look handy for low-volume essentials, or even a spare pair of socks. The compression system is fairly standard of its kind; a thin elasticized cord passes through a number of triangular urethane tabs outfitted with holes, and is tightened by use of a cord-lock. From past experience, I know that I need to be careful of such projecting cords, which can snag on brush. I was interested to see an extra set of the urethane tabs with holes near the top of the zip, which would seem to allow for the attachment of a piece of lightweight gear with a thin cord.

The pack is completely frameless, and most of the rear is lined with mesh to enhance breathability. It is far too small for a Z-Rest or similar pad to be used inside for structure, but this is just fine in a daypack, or for that matter an overnight pack carried with a light load. When folded down into a ball, the pack will just fit in the pocket of the jacket I am wearing as I write this (one that I often wear on the trail).

The image at the head of this report shows the Laser 20 with a fairly full winter load, including a sleeping bag, down jacket, shell, thermos, first aid kit, etc. It carries comfortably with this load, and there is still some unused space. No crampons are included. From preliminary wearings the pack seems very stable indeed, even with a fairly full load like this one. It hugs my body well, without any swaying or play. It promises to be perfectly adequate for winter dayhikes on trail, cross-country skiing, and a wide range of similar activities. I will report on my experiences in the coming months.

This concludes my initial report on the Laser 20 L pack. I sincerely thank Terra Nova and Backpackgeartest for the opportunity to test this interesting piece of lightweight gear.

This report was created with the BackpackGearTest.org Report Writer Version 2.