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Reviews > Packs > Internal and External Framed Backpacks > Deuter Act Lite 50 10 > Rick Dreher > Long Term Report
Long-Term Report—Deuter ACT Lite 50+10 Product Information Name and Model: Deuter ACT Lite 50+10 backpack Tester Information Tester: Rick Dreher Report date: January 20, 2005 Introduction The Deuter Aircontact (ACT) Lite 50+10 is part of Deuter’s Aircontact pack series (comprising at least ten models). At about $150 retail, this internal suspension top-loader is middle sized and mid-priced, offering a cleverly designed, well-made backpack at a competitive price. The Lite editions of the ACT series have a simpler, lighter frame and padding, and in places use lighter fabrics in places than their heavier brethren. The ACT Lites have gone through a weight-reduction program compared to the other Aircontact packs, all of which emphasize back ventilation. [Note: this pack differs significantly from the Aircontact 50+10SL also being tested in this BGT series.] Deuter gives the ACT Lites thick, narrow open-cell foam pads faced with wicking mesh fabric to hold the pack away from the wearer’s back. The idea is to both carry away sweat and leave a chimney-shaped void between pack and back, to increase airflow and reduce heat and sweat. Deuter claims the system drops back temperature as much as 5 deg. C (8 F) and reduces sweating 15%. When packed, the ACT Lite 50+10 presents a relatively slender profile, especially when no water bottles are in the side pockets. I find a narrow pack without a lot of external features to be a boon when traveling brushy areas or off-trail scrambling. The ACT 50+10’s main compartment is slightly pear-shaped, being wider on the bottom than on top, which subtly affects packing. (More on this later.) Product Description The top-loading ACT Lite 50+10 has a single main compartment that’s dividable into two sections using a zippered fabric flap about a quarter of the way from the bottom. The main compartment had two drawstring top closures: one at the top of the compartment and a second atop the extension collar (delineated by different fabrics). A crescent-shaped zippered flap gives access to the main compartment’s bottom section from the front. If the internal divider is used, this is the only way to access a sleeping bag or other items kept on the bottom. A zippered pocket is sewn into the flap’s inside face. Pockets Aplenty The ACT 50+10 has a sewn-on top pocket. The pocket’s position can be adjusted to accommodate the extra pack height when using the extension collar, meaning the pocket can always be centered atop the opening for best balance. The top pocket has two additional pockets sewn in: one on top, which includes a key-keeper strap, and a larger one underneath. There’s an open-top mesh pocket, low on either side of the main compartment. Inside the main compartment is a large, deep hydration system pocket. A hook-and-loop reservior hanger is sewn above the pocket opening and there is also a weather-protected drinking tube exit point. One last zippered “ditty” pocket is sewn to the right hip belt wing. Frame & Suspension The ACT 50+10’s “X” frame consists of a pair of aluminum stays housed in separate webbing channels that cross one another approximately mid-back. A third, short metal stay holds the X stays apart at the top, basically forming a triangle with the top of the X. The frame is stout but does flex, allowing the pack to move with the body. The stays are paired with a thermoplastic frame sheet (curiously not described in the Deuter literature). The X stays are bent to follow the back’s shape and ride fairly close, as is typical with vertical stays. The three removable stays contribute 7.4 oz (210 g) to the pack’s weight. (I did not try the loaded pack without them.) This suspension does not sag on the trail--the waist belt and load control straps are solidly anchored in position by the X-frame. However, as noted later, a solid frame doesn’t necessarily assure that load balance is always maintained. Fitting As detailed in the Initial Report, the shoulder strap top harness attachment point is vertically adjustable using Deuter’s Variquick system: a vertical row of nine webbing loops anchored on either side, giving approximately 4.5 in (11 cm) of adjustment range. The system is very easy to use: it takes only a few seconds to change the position. There are no other sizing adjustments, such as interchangeable waist belts or an adjustable space between the shoulder straps. I’ve alternated among the top three positions in using the test pack; the most comfortable one varies, depending on my load, whether I’m using the extension collar, and my fatigue factor that day. The system’s ease of use encourages experimentation on the go—a plus. Straps Myriad straps adorn the ACT 50+10. The top pocket is held in place by three straps—two in back and one in front—as well as the sewn-on fabric flap in back. This flap prevents the pocket’s being removed without surgery. All three straps adjust for centering the pocket atop the main compartment opening, important for maintaining balance and weather-resistance. Two adjustable load-control straps run from the top of the main compartment to the front of each shoulder strap. They’re solidly anchored on top by the cross-stay, which ties them into the suspension system. There are four main compartment load-compression straps: a top pair fitted with quick-release buckles and farther down, a second pair without quick releases that just clear the tops of the mesh pockets (so they won’t interfere with pocket access or prevent carrying tall bottles). The elastic-damped sternum strap is vertically adjustable, sliding up or down webbing anchors in front of the shoulder strap pads. The pack’s front side features a crisscrossed bungee cord that I use to carry my for carrying my bulky foam sleeping pad (when hammocking) or to store wet clothing outside the pack or keep a jacket handy for rest stops. On each side of the pack’s front is a hideaway pole/ice axe strap and at the bottom, corresponding axe loops. Two more load control straps run from the pack body to the waist belt. Fabrics and Foams The blue, gray and black ACT 50 is fashioned from various weights of coated rip-stop and taffeta nylon and polyester fabrics. The pack’s bottom is double-layered for strength. Shoulder straps and waist belt are faced with wicking fabrics, as are the back pads. The shoulder straps seem to be padded with closed-cell foam; the waist belt padding is a combination of closed- and open-cell foam, as part of the pack’s ventilation strategy. The two back pads are open-cell foam. Hardware Black buckles and sliders are described by Deuter as, “…polyamide 6.6, are break-proof and remain elastic well below freezing temperatures.” The shoulder strap buckles sometimes slip in use. The lower-compartment zipper is two-way and covered by a weather flap. The internal divider zip is also two-way, which means I can use the flap but still leave an opening for storing long, slender objects inside the main compartment (tent poles, fishing rod, etc.). Other pockets have single-pull zippers. Spring toggles are provided for the main compartment drawstrings and a plastic drinking hose clip rides on the right-hand shoulder strap. Long-Term Report Once the initial thrill of a new pack has passed, it becomes much clearer whether I’ve forged a good relationship with it. I’ve been disappointed many times by packs that feel great in the store but degenerate to torture on the trail. In use, design and fit flaws emerge. Also, whatever the pack fabric and stitching stretch, foam padding compresses, buckles and zippers break-in and metal stays bend and shift. Dried sweat and trail grime add their patina and distinct aromas as well. These processes make some packs less comfortable, and others more so. After half a year, a lot of experimenting and a number of trips, I feel as though the Deuter ACT Lite 50+10 and I have become pretty good friends. An observation I made early on remains true: the pack doesn’t dig into my shoulder blades or the front points of my hipbone, potential rub spots made sore and even bruised by many packs I’ve worn. This performance is very impressive for a one-size-fits-all pack offering no interchangeable waist belts or shoulder harnesses. I’ve toted the 50+10 on trails steep and flat, smooth and rocky, clear and brushy and, well, nonexistent, mostly in the Sierra Nevada. I wore it during hot weather and cool, dry and wet. The pack seldom disappointed and never let me down. Since my Field Report, I put in a few more trail days and experiment sessions with the 50+10. The main differences from my longer trips were leaving the bear canister and big foam pad behind, instead taking a smaller, self-inflating pad and bagging my food. While the sleeping pad went inside the pack rather than on the back, packing was much easier, despite bulkier fall clothing and sleeping bag. Without the canister it’s much easier to pack the Deuter and tweak the weight distribution, leading to both a more-comfortable carry and less-frequent strap slippage. Generally speaking I try to place dense, heavy items high and close to my back. Carrying the sleeping pad inside also enables me to use a pack cover in the rain. A size small Equinox silnylon pack cover fits snugly and weighs a mere couple of ounces, keeping the pack and everything inside nice and dry. (I long ago gave up seam-sealing backpacks as a futile pursuit.) Otherwise I have to line the pack with a large trash bag before packing it, which can be a chore. My heaviest load carried during this test (gear + food and water) was roughly 37 or 38 pounds (17 kg) as determined using the subtract-my-weight-from-the-pack’s-weight-on-the-bathroom-scale method. On that trip, I generally began the day carrying two to three liters (quarts) of water, meaning two to three kilos (four to six pounds) of water weight alone. Later season, shorter trips had me carrying much more pleasant loads in the 27-pound (12 kg) range. Ahhh, what a nice fit with less weight and no canister. As noted in the Field Report, when packing a bear canister in the 50+10, everything stored above the sleeping bag and clothing (upon which the can rests) must fit over or around the can itself. I’ve carried my Bearikade both vertically and horizontally; each method has its positives and negatives in how well the load packs and the pack-weight balances. Note that the canister can ride horizontally beginning about mid-way down, but the top of the main compartment is too narrow to accommodate the can sideways. My small camera lives in its padded case attached to the base of the right-side shoulder strap. My GPS (Magellan Sport Track Pro) clips to the left-hand shoulder strap. Long trip gear list: Western Mountaineering
Ultralight sleeping bag Short trip gear list: As above, but no bear canister, substituting a tote bag and
tree line instead About Those Pockets Here’s how I’ve settled on using the 50+10’s pockets: * The hydration pocket, and its associated hose portal and hose clip house a two-to-three-liter (quart) reservoir and drinking tube (e.g., Big Zip Platypus). In this role it works very well. The pocket is low in the back, which means the reservoir must be placed there early in packing. * The top pocket/pack lid has three zipped compartments: The main compartment holds my first aid kit, toilet paper and digging tool and camp utility kit (random small gear). The smaller top compartment with key clip holds a lanyard with multitool, mini flashlight, house key and whistle. The photo kit bag (film, battery, lens tissue) also goes there. The concealed pocket underneath gets a zip bag with maps and guidebook pages not being used that day and my glasses and contact lens supplies. * One side mesh pocket carries a filter bottle and sunscreen, the other carries a drink mix bottle, snacks and the pack cover. * The waist belt pocket holds lip balm and a snack or two. * Finally, in the spirit of Colin Fletcher, I declared the inside back flap pocket to be my sanctum sanctorum*, where my trail wallet hides. Suspension and Load Control Deuter’s X-suspension functions well, both in load management (keeping a portion of the weight on my hips) and in keeping pack contents away from my back (nothing jabs me between the shoulders). It’s hefty and it works. The waist belt and shoulder straps remain comfortable during long trail days. The ACT Lite 50+10 is sensitive to load balance. Packed and adjusted correctly, the pack tilts forward in a fashion that provides good load balance and control. When I get it out of whack, however, the load shifts back and away from me, pulling against my shoulders. This alters my balance and gives me an instant neck and shoulder-ache. The peculiar thing about this pack is that it can start out balanced wonderfully and suddenly, boink, shift and become uncomfortable. Weird. One cause is the shoulder straps, which slip in their buckles and loosen without warning. This is a chronic and significant problem. I suspect that the load inside the main compartment is also shifting, because tightening the shoulder straps doesn’t always bring things back into order. This may be caused, in part, by reduced water reservoir volume over a day’s hike. As noted, without a bear canister I can do a better job packing and experience fewer load problems during a day’s walk. On the trail I find that while I can readily remove bottles in the side pockets I have a much harder time replacing them. I often have to get help or when soloing, actually take off the pack to put a bottle back. The Aircontact System On my hottest days with the ACT Lite 50+10, the Aircontact system worked very well and I was pleased with the results. Temperatures ranged into the mid-80s (30 C.) for several days and I wore an excellent wicking t-shirt. With this combination I could feel air circulating across portions of my back. The areas where the pack was in contact felt as though the fabric-and-foam pads were wicking away some of my sweat. Upon removing the pack, my shirt would be moist but not sopping wet as with many other packs. I’ll go so far as to say the Aircontact system ventilates better than any other internal frame pack I’ve used, significantly better than packs without air-channeling back panels. I try to minimize sweat in cool weather because the moisture chills me quickly on stops. As a result, I found Aircontact to be a benefit regardless of the weather (the lowest temperatures I experienced with the pack were in the mid 40s F [7-8 C]). Damage Control The Deuter has proven plenty tough against scrapes and punctures. I’ve taken it cross-country enough that it’s been poked and clawed at by brush, scraped against rock and has fallen with me (fortunately taking the brunt of the impact). The pack fabric shows minor wear and tear in spots and considerable dirt, sap and dried sweat, but there’s virtually no important damage. Conclusions Upside: The ACT Lite 50+10, correctly packed, is a very comfortable backpack. While not especially feature-laden, its features (pockets, bungee strap, sizing adjustments, etc.) are mostly welcome and quite useful. The Aircontact ventilation system works well to limit sweat accumulation. The Variquick system adjusts for back length in seconds, encouraging in-field experimentation. The frame and packbag are tough and effective in load control and against damage. This relatively small pack holds a week’s worth of gear and food for fair-weather backcountry travel. The price is very competitive with other offerings in its class. Downside: The ACT Lite 50+10 can be tricky to load-balance, and can unbalance on the trail, in part due to shoulder strap buckles that don’t hold a setting. The side mesh pockets aren’t very easy to access with the pack on. The Variquick adjustment system has more free-play than it ideally should. Four-and-a-quarter pounds isn’t especially light for a “Lite” mid-sized backpack. Suggestions: I don’t know whether it’s possible, but I’d love to see this pack lose a pound or so through careful lightening of materials and deletion of certain features (such as the main compartment divider and bottom access zip). I’d like to see the hardware upgraded so that strap tensions hold tight and the waist belt buckles with a confidence-inspiring “click.” This appears to be the only area where cost-cutting has affected performance. Recommendations I have no hesitation in recommending the Deuter ACT Lite 50+10 to anybody in the market for a mid-sized internal frame backpack. It’s among the best packs I’ve used, and is a bargain to boot. Brief Hiking Bio I learned camping and hiking in Boy Scouts, tramping the Washington Cascade foothills (lugging canvas pup tents, Trapper Nelson and BSA aluminum-canvas backpacks, kapok sleeping bags and always an axe). I eventually learned backpacking as a singular pursuit and found a home away from home in the Cascades and Olympics. Living in northern California most of my hiking is now in the Sierra Nevada, the trips ranging from overnight to weeklong excursions. Total pack weight for three-day summer excursions, including food and water, is now roughly 25 pounds (12 kg), longer trips see pack weights ranging into the mid to upper 30s (17 kg) with water. My thanks to Deuter USA and BackpackGearTest for the privilege of participating in this test. --RTD 1.20.2005 * [n] a place of inviolable privacy Read more reviews of Deuter gear Read more gear reviews by Rick Dreher Reviews > Packs > Internal and External Framed Backpacks > Deuter Act Lite 50 10 > Rick Dreher > Long Term Report | |||