Along with my two sons – ages eleven and thirteen, I am very active with our local Boy Scout troop. I’ve been involved with Scouting as an adult for the past ten years. Besides being the Committee Chairman, I’m also the High Adventure Leader. As such, one of my responsibilities is to teach the young people about the "Great Outdoors". I especially love to teach them about hiking, backpacking and canoeing – my true loves!

Trip Description: The first trip was a 3-day trek that occurred the last weekend in November, 2003. Location was to Schoellkopf Scout Reservation. This is a six hundred acre Boy Scout camp located about 40 miles (64 km) southeast of Buffalo, NY. Terrain is described as heavily forested rolling hills. Weather was crisp, with daytime temperatures of 35F (1.7C), and nighttime temperature of 17F (-8.3C). Conditions were clear skies throughout the weekend.

The second trip was a 3-day trek that occurred 9-11 January 2004. Location was a section hike along the Finger Lakes Trail through Letchworth State Park in New York. Terrain is described as rolling hills with more abrupt terrain in the park itself caused by the Genesee Gorge, resulting in elevation changes in excess of 500 ft (152 m). Weather was frigid, with daytime temperatures of -5F (-20C) and nighttime temperatures of -20F (-29C). There was approximately 2-3 ft (60-91 cm) of snow on the ground on average. Fortunately, wind was virtually non-existent, skies were clear and sunny, nights were star-filled.

The second trek required a switch to winter gear. I gained a little space by swapping out the large cook pot with the famous grease pot. The Reflectix was also removed. The closed cell foam pad was rolled and secured on the outside along the side of the pack, under a compression strap. I carried another pad on the other side. More clothes were included, as well as my summer bag, to be inserted into my other bag. Under the helmet flap, I carried a tent. The pack was filled to capacity.

On the dayhikes, I carried gear for the day, that included clothes, the 20F (-7C) sleeping bag, plenty of snacks, sometimes a meal, a thermos full of hot drink, my stove assembly, Camelback, sit pad, and personal gear. The pack was never filled completely, but still held a substantial load.

Functionality: In the Initial Report, I commented that the inside lining of the lid pocket was made of a soft, fleece-like material. I contacted the manufacturer to find out why. They responded very quickly to my email, stating that the material was nylon tricot, and it was used to protect fragile gear that might be stored there - like glasses, providing a soft, protective environment. Kudos to High Sierra on that one!

I've worn the Naja now with several different layers, sometimes hiking in a base layer and fleece, other times that along with a bulky overcoat and/or windbreak. There were ample adjustments in the harnesses and belts for me. I found the straps easy to adjust on-the-fly while hiking and they held well.

I've already said my piece about the size of the Naja in the Initial Report, and with the reduced size of the pack, I find it difficult to pack all I need for winter outings, especially when I need to carry extra gear when I'm with the Scouts. To its credit though, so far I've been able to fit all I need into the Naja.

The pack layout suits me well. I find the gear I need to get to quickly is easily accessible. So far, I prefer to use the pack as one cavity and remove the shelf separating the main body and the lower section. I've not yet needed the rain cover, although I have practiced deployment on the pack with various loads, and it has always fit over everything. The bladder pocket and hose routing options have all worked fine so far.

On The Trail: For the most part, the Naja has been a very comfortable pack to wear. My one complaint is at the top of the shoulders. In normal harnesses, the load lifters would remove the stress at these points, but because the lifters are more like stabilizers in the High Sierra Ergo Fit system, there is no relief at the top of the shoulder. I've tried various adjustments, but still haven't found the "sweet spot". The hip belt is very comfortable and transfers the pack weight nicely. The shoulder straps are comfortable, and the sternum strap is not binding. The pack has an insulative effect on the back, and since Field Testing has occurred during winter conditions, this has been a welcome feature.

I've found the sport flap to be a useful spot to shove many things and haven't lost anything yet. At various times, I've used it to hold toilet paper, jacket, maps, a book, tent, hammock, hat and gloves. The lashing hardware holds my hiking poles securely and is easy to operate. There is a plethora of lashing opportunities on this pack; it can be really loaded up if necessary.

Durability: The stitching and pack are holding up well. After scrutinizing the seams, I cannot find any stressed spots. The pack material shows no signs of wear. The only thing that has suffered any sort of failure is the neoprene helmet flap. I caught it on a low hanging branch and put a 3 in (8 cm) rip in the flap. Out of curiosity, I let the rip go unattended. It has not grown worse after several outings.

Packability: The Naja is easy to pack and easy to empty. When not in use, it folds fairly flat for storage.

The Naja 70 + 10 pack is a pretty nice pack. It rides well on me, except for some shoulder strain as mentioned. I'll continue to test the adjustments and loads and see if this can't be rectified. I plan on reporting on this in the Long Term Report. The pack size is adequate, although smaller than advertised. The lack of room may become a problem with more winter gear or extended outings. I will report on that more in the Long Term Report as well. Overall, the pack materials are holding up well, albeit the neoprene sport flap. It received damage from a tree branch on the very first trek. It has not gotten worse, and so far, I've found all sorts of uses for the flap.

Continued testing will include evaluation throughout the remainder of the winter, monitoring the pack limits with respect to an increase in gear (snowshoes, skis, tents, etc); the long-term effects of loading, especially with respect to shoulder strain; the pack's applicability to hauling spring gear, along with its ability to repel water, and always keeping a careful eye on the craftsmanship of the pack and how well it's holding up.

Summary of testing so far:

Thank you HIgh Sierra Sport Company and BGT for allowing me to test this product.