Name: Joe Martinez
Age: 32
Gender: Male
Height: 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Torso: 19 in (48 cm)
Weight: 180 lbs (82 kg)
Email address: joe@jmmsoftware.com
City,State,Country: San Jose, California, U.S.A.

Backpacking Background:

I am very new to backpacking. My first trip was only 6 months ago, but I have gone on a total of 4 trips in that time. One trip was solo, and the rest were with a child. My trips so far have been anywhere from 2-4 days in duration, but I hope to take some longer trips in the future. Most of my trips so far have been in Henry Coe State Park, in the Diablo Range in California.

Backpacking Style:

I did read quite a bit about backpacking for several months before my first trip, and thus have always been careful about weight. I try to eliminate unnecessary items and buy the lightest items possible, but not at a major sacrifice to comfort. I am still learning what I need to carry to be comfortable, and what can be left at home.

Product Information

Front View

Manufacturer: REI
Product Name: Morningstar 65
Manufacturer's URL: www.rei.com
Year of manufacture: 2003
Listed weight: 4 lbs. 4 oz. (1.93 kg)
Current actual weight: 4 lbs. 5 oz. (1.96 kg)
Listed capacity: 4,200 cubic in. (69 L)
Listed dimensions: 29 x 13.5 x 9 in (74 x 34 x 23 cm)
Listed torso lengths: 17-19 in (43-48 cm)
Listed waist/hip sizes: 29-50 in (74-127 cm)
Listed material: "Made of lightweight yet tough 420-denier nylon with 1000-denier nylon Kodra® bottom"
MSRP: $135.00

Back View

Product Description:

This is the first and only pack that I have owned. I picked it out by shopping at REI. I chose it because of it's low weight, low price, and the fact that it fit my gear well and was comfortable walking around the store with it on.

REI describes this pack as a "feature-packed, entry-level pack made for adult, mid-size framed hikers", which I feel describes this pack well. It features a top-loading main compartment, and a separate lower compartment, which is separated from the main compartment with a zippered flap, which can be opened to make it all one large compartment. The entry to the main compartment has an extension collar to increase the volume.

The frame consists of two aluminum stays, which are removable. Each stay is accessed by opening a small Velcro flap on the outside of the back of the pack, at the top. The pack has a padded hip belt and shoulder straps. It also has load-lifter straps, a sternum strap, and side compression straps (2 vertical and 4 horizontal).

Side View, showing side pocket, mesh pocket, and horizontal compression straps. There are 3 zippered pockets on the body of the pack (one tall/narrow one on each side, and one wider one on the front). There is a floating/removable top unit with two zippered compartments. The pack also features 2 mesh side pockets, which REI advertises as "water bottle pockets", though I don't use them for that. This pack does NOT have a built-in hydration bladder sleeve.
The pack features several ways to attach extra gear externally. It has an ice axe loop, 6 daisy-chain loops, and 3 dog-bone-style accessory patches through which additional straps can be threaded (2 on the bottom, and 1 on the front pocket).
The pack that I have is black and a sort of rust color, which appears to be an old color now. The current color at the time of this writing is "Buckskin/Root" (two different shades of beige/brown).

Bottom View, showing dogbone accessory patches with straps (straps are not included), and ice axe loop.

How I Load and Use This Pack

Since I often backpack with one of my children (and carry almost all of the gear for both of us), I tend to push the limits of this pack's capacity. I generally have all compartments and pockets pretty much completely full, including the extension collar, and so I never use the compression straps.

The things that I will likely need access to during the day (such as my toilet trowel, bug repellant, journal, headlamp, Aqua Mira, and camera), I put in the outside pockets. The tall/narrow side pockets are the perfect shape for the toilet trowel and bug spray bottle, with some room left over for plastic bags, toilet paper, writing implements, etc. I put most of the food in the floating top unit, so that I can take it into my tent at night to keep it away from critters (unless I'm in bear country of course). The lower compartment generally holds one of the sleeping bags and some of our extra clothes.

In the main compartment goes the other sleeping bag, an inflatable sleeping pad, kitchen gear, camp footwear, some more clothes, my hydration bladder, and a few other miscellaneous items. Things that I may want to reach while walking go into the mesh pockets (as they are the only ones reachable while wearing the pack). This usually isn't much, as I also wear a fanny pack (which works just fine with this pack, by the way).

I attach straps to the bottom dog-bone patches, and use them to secure the tent, a Therm-A-Rest pad, and a pack chair. I have not used the ice axe loop or the daisy chain loops.

Once loaded, the pack usually weight about 35-40 lbs (16-18 kg), including food and water.

Fit/Comfort

I find that this pack fits my body well. It is easy to adjust so that all of the weight is on my hips. The following works very well for me. I cinch the hip belt up nice and tight. I keep the load lifter straps all the way tightened. The shoulder straps are adjusted so that they just barely touch my shoulders (almost floating above them). Although it may go against conventional wisdom, I use the sternum strap to pull the pack forward, against my back, so that the shoulder straps do not pull back on my shoulders at all. So, this way, the weight is all on my hips, and my shoulders are not strained at all. I can hike all day wearing this pack, without it causing me any discomfort. After a full day of hiking, I may be tired, but the only thing that gets sore are my legs.

Trail Use / Durability

I have used this pack on all 4 of my backpacking trips so far. 3 of these trips were in Henry Coe State Park, in the Diablo Range in California. The other was in Lassen National Forest, also in California. The pack has been used in winter and summer, in conditions ranging from cold and rainy to sunny and hot. In most cases, the pack has remained outside at night, either flat on it's back, or propped up against a tree or rock.

I have a total of about 12 trail days on the pack, which although I'll admit isn't a lot, the pack shows no signs of wear, and still looks almost new.

The zippers all work great and seem to be of high quality. I frequently brush against tree limbs and other vegetation, and so far, I can't find any rips or abrasions on any of the material. The dog-bone patches don't show any sign of ripping, despite having a tent hanging and swinging from them most of the time.

I have taken the pack on one trip where it rained. The pack does not come with a cover, so I lined the inside of the main compartment with a trash bag, but even the gear in the outside pockets and floating unit stayed dry.

The only thing that I've had any problem with on this pack is the hip belt clasp. As I said, I like to wear the hipbelt nice and tight, and often, the top side of the clasp pops open. The bottom side has never popped open, and when I re-connect the top side, it usually stays closed for a good amount of time. I have had this same problem with child carriers in the past, so this issue may be related to my body shape and to the degree of tightness that I like.

Summary

As my first pack, the REI Morningstar 65 has served me very well. Although I don't have much to compare it to at this point, I don't feel the need to upgrade to anything else in the near future. I don't expect it to wear out anytime soon, and I expect to get a lot of use out of it in the years to come.

What I Like about it:

It fits me well and is comfortable.
It is inexpensive.
It is made by a company that's known for standing behind their products.
Several ways to attach extra gear externally.
The removable floating top unit.

What I dislike:

I could probably use a little more volume. I tend to push the pack to it's limit, capacity-wise. However, the fact that it makes me scrutinize what I take may actually be a good thing.
The top of the hip belt clasp popping open. Maybe I can find a replacement clasp that stays closed under more tension.
Although it is typical of internal frame packs, I don't really like the fact that most of the room is in one large compartment, which can be challenging to pack space-efficiently.

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Owner Review by Joseph Martinez

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Reviews > Packs > Internal and External Framed Backpacks > REI Morningstar 65 > Owner Review by Joseph Martinez

Owner Review REI Morningstar 65 Internal Frame Pack

August 24, 2004

Tester Information

Backpacking Background:

Backpacking Style:

Product Information

Product Description:

How I Load and Use This Pack

Fit/Comfort

Trail Use / Durability

Summary

Reviews > Packs > Internal and External Framed Backpacks > REI Morningstar 65 > Owner Review by Joseph Martinez

Owner Review
REI Morningstar 65 Internal Frame Pack