Owner Review - REI Talus 35 – women’s pack

Name: Emily Barkanic 

Age: 21

Gender: Female

Height: 5’3” (1.6 m)

Weight: 130 lbs (59 kg)

Email Address: estinkurios@juno.com

City, State, Country: Gray, Tennessee, USA

Date: August 23, 2004

Backpacking background:

            I began backpacking in my teens, then worked for an outfitter in Canada the summer after I graduated from college, leading weeklong canoe trips in Algonquin Provincial Park. I continue to go on 2 or 3 day backpacking and climbing trips throughout the year with my husband and dog, and still lead occasional trips for some groups. Most of these trips are in relatively temperate environments in Pennsylvania and Tennessee and surrounding states, with occasional longer trips, sometimes to Canada or to the Northwest US. I hike both on and off trail, on moderate to difficult terrain. I tend to pack fairly light, although I wouldn’t consider myself an ultralight backpacker by any means.

Product information:

Manufacturer:  REI, Inc.

Year of Manufacture: 2004

URL: www.rei.com

Listed weight: 3 lbs 8 oz (1.6 kg)

Product description:

   (according to REI, Inc.)

Women's technical top-loading day pack with side zip access features a unique compression flap and strap system for carrying skis or a snowboard.

• Fabric flaps and webbing straps hold a snowboard, snowshoes, shovel or other gear--or, flip to the side for securing skis
• Fixed top lid has two zippered pockets to keep essentials close at hand
• Main compartment features a large hydration sleeve (reservoir sold separately) and plenty of room for hiking or alpine gear
• Molded foam backpanel features suspension mesh that is cool and comfortable plus it sheds snow and leaves the dirt behind
• Anatomically curved, padded shoulder straps with sternum strap, padded hipbelt with stabilizer straps
• High-density polyethylene framesheet curves to fit the shape of your back and protects it from bulky, pointy loads
• Along with the HDPE sheet, providing frame support is an aluminum Y split mono-stay
• Two adjustable ice axe loops, two side tool loops and a daisy chain let you attach extra gear

Imported.

The pack is made of nylon and polyester, and holds about 2150 cu in (35 L). The manufacturer says it fits a torso of 17-19 inches (43.18 – 48.26 cm), and waist/hips of 28-48 inches (71 – 122 cm). It has a hydration pocket, a roomy top lid with a document pocket zippered into the underside, and a main compartment for gear. It has a padded back panel and hipbelt, and one aluminum y-shaped stay in the back.

I have carried this pack on several climbing, camping, canoeing, and backpacking trips over the summer, in the Catskills, the Mohonk Preserve, the Adirondacks, and Algonquin Provincial Park in Canada. The terrain ranged from very easy to very difficult, with elevations from about 500’ (150 m) to 5000’ (1520 m). The weather was generally cooperative, as it rained only about 80% of the time I have been out with the pack. The temperature ranged from about 40 F to 90 F (4.5 C to 32 C). The longest trip was 6 days. Including food, water, raingear, tent, sleeping bag and pad, extra clothing, headlamp, and other small items, the pack weight was about 25-30 lb (16-18 kg).

            This pack has performed exceptionally well over the trips I have been on. I packed it as completely as possible while on the canoeing trip in Algonquin, and felt little discomfort carrying it and a 50 lb (22 kg) canoe over a 3.5 mile (5.6 km) portage. All the weight of the canoe was on the pack, and I was very impressed with how well the suspension system of the pack performed. This pack has hauled as much weight as I could put in it. This was the first women-specific pack I have owned, and I immediately noticed the difference in the way the shoulder straps and hipbelt fit. The hipbelt and shoulder straps fit snugly and comfortably. They did not ride on their edges or leave gaps between the pack and my body. The pack rode very well and I did not notice any uncomfortable pressure points. On a trip to Wright Peak in the Adirondacks, I noticed that the pack moved well with me, instead of throwing me off balance on steep, rocky trails.

            When I bought this pack, I had questions about its ability to survive the abuse I would give it on a trail, but after several trips it shows no signs of wear or damage. The material appears to be extremely resistant to abrasion and the seams are solid under heavy pressure.

            An unusual aspect of this pack is the means by which the top lid fastens to the main pack body, It clips to a plastic carabiner, which then clips to a daisy chain on the back of the pack. I found this difficult to access when items were strapped onto the outside of the pack.

            The only complaint I have about this pack is that the top lid does not fit very well over the top of the pack when it is full. Instead of securely fastening over the top, the lid feels “perched” on top of the pack, producing questions about gear staying in the main compartment if the pack is inverted (important when climbing). There is a drawstring on the top of the pack body, but it will not close completely, and I have experienced smaller items falling out of it when inverted.

            In summary,  this is an excellent pack for day hiking, short climbing trips, or backpacking trips of up to several days in warmer weather. I found it to be well-fitting for me, as I’m short, but it may not be as comfortable for people with longer torsos.