HIGH SIERRA SPORT COMPANY  NAJA 70+10 BACKPACK LONG TERM REPORT : MAY 2004

Personal Information

• Name : Graham Blamey
• Age : 60
  
• 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 on variations of 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 hour 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, although essentially traditional (mid-weight backpacks, Therm-a-Rests, tent etc.) is getting increasingly lighter as we 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 under the Neoprene flap 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.

For a full, detailed description of the pack, see my: 
HSSC Naja 70+10 INITIAL REPORT and FIELD REPORT
 
Extended Use

After using the Naja for several day-walks, loaded with my usual kit for a winter day-walk, I loaded the pack up for an over-nighter.  Because the weather wasn't too good; overcast, gusty winds, raining on and off and overnight temperatures near to 0 C (32 F) I decided to take my Nallo 2 tent and a fairly warm (bulky) sleeping bag.  A 3/4 length standard Therm-a-Rest went in, as well as a few extra clothes in a waterproof bag.  An MSR Superfly stove and a small gas cartridge, a 1.5 L (50 oz) pot and grip, a small 0.75 L (25 oz) kettle, and a mug, plate and spoon took care of cooking and eating utensils.  As it was only an over-night stay, I'd be wearing most all the clothes I'd need but I put in a pair of waterproof over-trousers, a fleece hat and a pair of fleece gloves.  I was wearing my boots on this occasion, so put in a pair of trainers for wearing about camp.  A bag containing tea bags, dried milk, sugar, some muesli bars and a dehydrated meal for the evening took care of the food side of things and a  full 2 L (70 oz) Platypus took care of the water.  In another bag went a headtorch, knife, spare glasses and other odds and ends and this, more or less, completed the load.  To see how this looked ready to pack, see the photo below:
It was relatively easy to pack the Naja.  Inside the main pack went the tent, sleeping bag, Therm-a-Rest, all the cooking and eating gear and food and the bag of spare clothes.  The full Platypus slid into the hydration sleeve and my waterproof overtrousers and trainers went in the bottom compartment.  Hat and gloves went in the lid pocket, the map and compass (in an Ortlieb map case) went in one side pocket and the muesli bars went in the other.  I also managed to slide my waterproof jacket under the criss-cross elastic cord running down the front of the pack.   The total backpack and load weight was 13 kg (28.6 lb). A photo of the Naja loaded can be seen below left:

I was really surprised on loading the Naja to find that I needed to use a little of the extension collar to hold everything, but really I could have crammed and squashed things in more had I tried.  In reality, once the basics are packed, all one would need for more than an over-nighter would be perhaps an extra base layer top and some more food.  I think that the Naja would take 7+ days supplies, but I think this would push the capacity to it's maximum and one would be cramming every available corner and using the extension collar and pockets to their maximum.

After my earlier experiences trying to get the Naja to fit comfortably with half a load (see my Initial Report and  Field Report), I was really hoping that I would find that a full load would go some way to extend, or 'stretch' the harness system to fit my torso (53.3 cm (21")).  This was not to be though, no matter how much I tried, adjusting and fiddling with the numerous straps.  With the shoulder straps loosened right off I managed to get the hip-belt (admittedly comfortable, and with enough belt for someone twice my size) to sit on my hips  where I wanted it.  This left the top part of the pack hanging away from my back and feeling really unstable (see photo right).  Tightening the shoulder straps pulled the pack closer to my back, but immediately, the hip-belt rose to waist level, became slack and didn't transfer any load to my hips.  After walking for a while and trying various combinations, I eventually settled on: comfortable on my hips, but away from my back.  This meant that I was leaning slightly forward all the time to try and counter the backward pull of the load and it became very tiring as I started to feel my back muscles beginning to ache.  I was pretty glad that I was only going for one night.  I've used it a few more times, but can't find the adjustment that suits me, so I wouldn't want to use it for anything more than over-nighters.

Conclusions.

In terms of long-term durability, I'm confident that the Naja is pretty 'bomb-proof'.  It's well made and shows no sign of wear whatsoever.  I fully intend to loan it to a 15 yr old friend who's doing an outdoor course (in the UK, The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme).  She is a lot shorter than me and is very impressed with the style and look of the Naja.  I'm confident that we can get it to fit her, but I think that for anyone over about 1.75 m (5' 9") the back system just doesn't extend enough.  It's a pity, because with the volume and load-carrying capacity the Naja has, it could well be a good choice for larger people who are physically able to carry that amount and subsequent weight.

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