Initial Report:  31 October  2003

Personal Information

• Name : Graham Blamey
• Age : 59
• Height : 1.82 m (6' 0")
  
• Weight : 75 kg (165 lb)
• Email : gg@higray.fsnet.co.uk
• County : Essex
• Country : UK
• Additional product related information
  
• Torso :  53.3 cm (21")
• Chest : 106.7 cm (42")
• Waist :  86.4 cm (34")

Backpacking background

I first went camping at about age five and have been camping, on and off, ever since.  I started serious walking about 21 years ago and backpacking a few years later.  I have backpacked, with my wife Ginny, mainly in Europe and the UK. We have spent three weeks of each year for the last six years, backpacking the GR11, a long-distance, high-level route, that follows the spine of the French/Spanish Pyrenees.  We are fortunate in living in an area surrounded by countryside and are able to walk daily on a network of public Rights of Way that exist in the UK.  We additionally spend at least one day a week on long day-walks in different areas within a two hours' drive of our home.  We take a number of three-to four-day backpacking trips throughout the year and take part in several night and weekend orienteering events.  Our backpacking style is getting increasingly lighter as we get older and explore the possibilities brought about by new materials and designs.

Product  Information

• Manufacturer: High Sierra Sport Company
• Manufacturers website: http://www.highsierrasport.com

The following is taken from the information leaflet included with the pack:

• 70 liter (4272 cu in) capacity, top-load main compartment with gusseted drawstring closure under the lid
• 10 liter (610 cu in) easy-access drop-bottom compartment
• Adjustable lid with neoprene sport flap holds a helmet
• Multiple compression straps secure gear
• Lashing hardware holds ice ax or hiking poles
• Elastic shock cord on front holds a shovel or other accessories
• VAPEL mesh Airflow padded back wicks moisture
• Ergo-Fit VAPEL mesh Airflow padded shoulder harness with adjustable load-lifters 
• VAPEL mesh Airflow adjustable padded waist belt helps secure the pack
• Adjustable sternum strap stabilizes the pack
• Dual-side mesh water bottle pockets
• Reflective accent piping for safety
• Stowable rain cover in bottom zippered pocket
• Torso length: 14"-18" (35.6-45.7 cm ) (Internal frame adjusts from 18"-20" (45.7 -50.8 cm)
• Pack weight:  6 lb (2.7 kg)
• Size: 28.5" x 14.5 x 9" (72.4 x 36.8 x 22.9 cm)
• Made with High Sierra's super-durable 1000-denier Duralite, 600-denier Duralite, Duralite Diamond and Mini Ripstop
• Hydration port (reservoir not included)

Product Overview

The HSSC Naja 70+10 is a big, fully featured backpack, suitable for multi-day trips and winter use.  It has a 70 L (4272 cu in) main compartment and a 10 L (610 cu in) base compartment.  It has a 'floating' lid that can be extended but not completely removed, lid pockets, side mesh pockets and a number of attachment points for axes and/or trekking poles.  A helmet can be carried on top of the pack and other incidentals can be attached under the side compression straps, on the various gear loops on the harness or under the elastic cord on the front.

Detailed Description

The Naja 70+10 arrived via UPS in a large box.  Inside I found the pack, which had been stuffed full with plain paper and which initially increased the total weight of the box and caused me some alarm.  However, this did mean that when I removed the pack from the box, it looked as I might expect it to when fully loaded for use. (see photo right).

Starting at the top of the pack, on the outside top of the lid,  there is a neoprene 'helmet flap' measuring approximately 18.5 cm x 16 cm (7.3 in x 6.3 in).  This is fixed to the lid by four adjustable straps.  The amount of adjustment on each is 9 cm (3.5 in).  I couldn't find my old climbing helmet, so I tried a motorcycle helmet (really a lot bigger).  It just about squeezed in, so a climbing helmet should fit easily. It would be possible to remove the neoprene flap completely but this would leave the four straps to flap around loosely. It might be possible to use this flap to carry other items, I shall have to see, so I'll probably leave it on. The lid has two pockets, one accessed from the outside by a zip, the other, also zipped and made of mesh, accessed from inside the lid.  The lid itself is extendable but not removable. On the inner edge, nearest to the top of the main body of the pack, are two adjustable straps. Loosening these allows the lid to extend upward.  There is an additional concertina'd piece of material connecting the lid to the pack and this and the adjustable straps, allow the lid to extend 21 cm (8.3 in).  When not extended, the lid is secured by tightening the straps and securing with a strip of hook and loop fastener.  

The main body of the pack seems cavernous (but then it is 70 L (4272 cu in) ).  It appears to be made of at least four different  types and colours of material.  These materials appear to be robust and in some cases a type of 'ripstop' weave.  Where these are sewn together the stitching appears to be solid and strong, despite a few loops and loose ends of thread showing.  Inside the main body, against the back, is the hydration sleeve.  This appears to be easily big enough for a 2 L (2.1 qt) Platypus and would probably take a 3 L (3.2 qt) .  On each side of the pack, in near the harness system is a hydration tube outlet.  This appears to be very well designed with overlapping material and not just a slit.  In the bottom of the pack main compartment, is the divider between it and the base compartment.  This has a heavy duty zipper which runs one way only so it's not possible to open this divider from both sides.  

The base compartment has nothing additional inside it.  Access to this from the outside of the pack is via two zippers. The zippers meet in the middle so it's possible to access this compartment from either side, or both pullers can be moved to one or other side.  At the bottom of the base compartment is a zippered pocket which contains the rain cover. This appears to be large enough to encase the whole of the pack; handy for checking the pack at airports or on buses. I've yet to see whether this means that there will be surplus material when using the rain cover in the field, wearing the pack.
The top of the main pack body is closed by means of two drawstrings each with a cord-grip fastener.  The first is 19 cm (7.5 in) from the top of the pack.  The second is around the rim.  In addition to the draw string closures, there is an adjustable strap running across the pack from front to back which also has a side-release buckle connector.  I would imagine that if the pack were really loaded to the top this additional strap could be used to compress the load and also to ensure that nothing escaped from the top.

Turning to the outside of the pack, I've already described the lid and neoprene helmet flap.  Running down the front of the pack is a criss-crossed elastic cord that can be adjusted by a cord-grip at the bottom.  This could be used to hold a fleece jacket or similar item (I don't think it's wide enough to take a snow shovel or snow shoes though) or might be useful for taking in some surplus pack material, should the pack not be fully loaded. There are also two axe/trekking pole loops and fasteners on the front of the pack.  Two long adjustable straps run down the front to secure the lid and there are two similar straps to secure (or compress) the base compartment.  Each side of the pack has two horizontal compression straps and under the lower one on each side is a mesh pocket.  At the bottom of each side is a small zippered pocket. This could be used for small items or possibly, unzipped,  to set tent poles or wands in, additionally securing them under the compression straps.

The harness and back system, which, so far, appears comfortable and well padded is quite simple in design. Two (visible) malleable aluminium struts, about 25 cm (1 in) wide, run from top to bottom between the harness system and the pack body (see photo right).  Due to this, I'm almost tempted to say it's a hybrid external/internal frame system. The harness is attached to the struts by several plastic rings, which allow it to slide up and down thereby making adjustment to the back length. There are two adjustable straps connected to the lower part of the harness which can be fastened, once the desired setting has been reached. This amount of sliding adjustment only appears to be 10 cm (4 in) which on first impression seems to be remarkably little for a pack of this size and volume. There is quite a substantial pad where the two, slightly S-shaped, shoulder straps meet at the sliding point.  There are 'load-lifter' adjustment straps at the top of each shoulder strap and a sternum strap which is elasticated and adjustable but which only slides up and down the shoulder straps by 9 cm (3.5 in).  The hip-belt is broad, 16 cm (6.3 in) at it's broadest, where it runs beneath a lumbar pad, (which seems to be sufficiently well padded), tapering to 12 cm (4.72 in) at the front ends, where it continues as a 50 cm (2 in) wide webbing belt. There is a fairly substantial side-release buckle, to fasten the hip-belt at the centre.  This hip-belt foxed me at first as there appeared to be unequal lengths projecting from either side of the lumbar pad.  After sliding my hand in between the hip-belt and the body of the pack, I felt a section of hook and loop buried in there and it was possible to disconnect this and slide the belt to where I wanted it and then press the hook and loop into contact to secure it again.  This seems to work quite well.  Two adjustable straps from each side of the hip-belt also run to the main pack body, one horizontally and one at a 45 degree angle.  These may be useful to adjust the angle of the hip-belt.  All webbing straps, buckles and fixings appear to be of very good quality.  
 
Impressions so far

Having taken the pack out of it's shipping box and given it the once-over, I then proceeded to see if I could adjust the pack to  fit me 'intuitively'. This proved to be easier than I thought it would be.  The harness simply slides up and down on the alloy struts.  Once the required length has been arrived at the two straps at the bottom of the harness are adjusted to take up any slack.  Although simple in my case, this was due to the fact that I needed it on the longest setting (and would have preferred a little more length had it been available).  At this setting the hip-belt is only just where I like it to be and I initially felt that I was struggling to get it down even that far.  The hip-belt though, when fastened, is very comfortable and feels as if it has just the right amount of compromise between stiffness and padding. The 'wings' of the hip-belt also come far enough around my hips so that tightening the belt should not cause any sore spots on the tops of the hip bones.  The shoulder straps also felt comfortable and seemed to sit in the right place around my shoulders and chest. Bearing in mind that the pack was only loaded with paper, things felt reasonably OK .  I couldn't work out the proper adjustment of the load-lifter straps, but maybe these will be better 'tweaked' with a heavier load.  The sternum strap also seemed to be in the right place for me (quite high, so that it doesn't constrict chest movement) and the level of adjustment appeared to be sufficient for when I might be wearing two or three more layers.  When carrying a heavily loaded pack (for me - 18-20 kg [33-44 lb]) I like to adjust the harness so that I am carrying a large part of the weight on my hips.  This, by necessity, means that the hip-belt must be good and comfortable and supportive.  It is also necessary for me to be able to tighten the hip-belt quite tight so that the pack is not continually slipping down, as I have fairly slim, straight hips.

Having played about with the pack for a little I thought I'd better see whether I'd made the right adjustments (or overlooked something fundamental) but I was really surprised not to be able to find any notes on fitting the pack, in among the paperwork that accompanied it.  There was a letter from HSSC thanking me for testing the pack, a brochure telling me of other HSSC backpacks, a registration document (containing a 24 section questionnaire :), separate hang tags telling me that; these are all the features, this is the rain cover, it's hydration bladder compatible, and that HSSC are official suppliers to the US Ski Team - but nothing on adjustment and fit.  Granted, it is fairly simple to fit the pack but it also is fairly important for a novice or first time user to get the fit right, particularly if they're not very experienced and might be going to load up everything but the kitchen sink for a few nights out.  That first experience of shouldering a heavy pack can make or break someone's enjoyment of the experience.  I think a few, well written words might not go amiss.

Another point that has been nagging at me, ever since I read the data for this pack: this is an 80 L (4882 cu in) pack.  A 'biggie' by my standards.  It's not as if the +10 L (610 cu in) is gained by expanding pockets that were flat before, or extending the lid, the bottom compartment is there, period, whether one uses it or not.  In that respect I think the term '70+10' is slightly misleading, and I've never known another manufacturer refer to the bottom pocket as +10 L, but it's probably a marketing thing.  In addition, it does have a facility to expand the lid and this would probably allow a further 10 L to be loaded in, increasing the carrying capacity to 90 L (5492 cu in) so it could legitimately be called '80+10'.


Field Testing


As we go into winter here in the UK and the second phase of testing the Naja, we can look forward to wet, windy, cold weather - or wet, windy, mild weather  - or any possible combination.  Weather in the UK (especially at the moment) is notoriously unpredictable.  Last winter was very wet but not especially cold, we only had snow on a couple of occasions. We can get prolonged periods of rain, followed by periods of clear, cold, frosty weather with temperatures hovering around 0 C (32 F) and below (all of this applies to the south-east UK where I live, winter can be quite different and very hostile in the Scottish Highlands or the Welsh mountains).

I shall initially use the Naja on day-walks, to get the fit and carrying comfort right (although, as it will probably look and feel a little strange, I'll probably load it up with more than I'd normally need).  In addition, I have several short (3-5 day) trips planned in various locations in the UK, the first being in mid December in the English/Welsh border area.  It will be interesting to see whether the Naja's adjustment scope can meet my demands.  Is it as comfortable as it first appears to be?  Can I carry it loaded all day with no discomfort? Are the various pockets and lashing points useful?  Does the rain cover work well?  I'll probably need to bend the alloy stays a little for it to conform to my slightly curved back shape, will this be possible?  It's a heavier pack than I would normally carry, but will the apparent comfort make me forget this?  How well will it stand up to the stresses and strains that are par for the course when backpacking?


I'd like to thank BackpackGearTest and High Sierra Sport Company for the opportunity of testing this pack.