Reviews > Packs > Internal and External Framed Backpacks > Ultimate Direction Cohiba > James Triplett > Initial Report

Initial Test Report:

Personal Biographical Information:

Backpacking Background:

I grew up car camping all through my childhood as a means for family vacations.  I later started hiking to bouldering areas in Southern Illinois, which somehow led to continuously hiking the lower 1/3 of the Appalachian Trail, with an external frame Kelty Tioga (loaded to over 50 lb / 23 kg) and some rather massive Vasque boots.  Now I hike every day, and backpack when possible, which leads to many weekends backpacking and camping each year.  I try and take at least one annual one-week backpacking trip, in addition to many one to three-night weekend trips.   My style can best be described as lightweight, but not at the cost of giving up too much comfort.  I prefer a tent over a tarp, in fact I love tents, but have not yet tried a hammock.

Manufacturer Information:

Product Information:

Fabric:

• 420D Nylon Matte, 300D Polyester baby rip, 600D polyester oxford, Hydrophilic Interlock with Ciba anti-microbial finish, Four-Flex, 3D AirMesh
  

Features:

• TransFORM System
• Adjustable Torso Link Suspension System
• 3D AirMesh back panel
• Frame Sheet and single aluminum stay
• Two Four-Flex side pockets
• “S” shaped shoulder harnesses
• Strap Secure webbing control
• Adjustable sternum strap with elastic webbing
• Load lifting straps
• Dual ice axe loops
• Removable Pack Rain Cover
• Detachable logo key ring

Colors and Sizes:

• Dark Green
  
• One-size (adjustable)

• FDA (Food & Drug Administration) Approved Polyurethane

• New and innovative Kicker Valve
• A tighter sealing roll top closure with air dam hydro seal
• A Radio Frequency welded perimeter makes seams more secure and allows reservoirs to stretch up to 300% of its size and recover to its original shape
• Care and maintenance instructions as well as volume measurements printed conveniently on the outside of the reservoir
• A wide opening top allows for easy filling and cleaning
• The center baffle keeps the reservoir shape from becoming tubular as well as eliminates excess sloshing
• Large diameter drinking tube [5/16" (7.9 mm) inside, 7/16" (11.1 mm) outside]
• 14 ml Polyurethane material is FDA and NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) approved, tasteless and odorless
• Insulated tube cover

• X-cut opening provides increased flow with a draw rate of 1000 ml or 34 oz per minute (no need to bite to draw water out)
• New soft touch opening (Durometer is pliable for easier drinking)
• FDA/NSF approved, medical grade silicone for mouthpiece
• One piece versus two or three to eliminate moving parts that could cause leaking problems
• Only Ultra Sonic Welded valve on the market with a higher retention than friction fit valves (radio frequency weld process seals the valve tight to eliminate choking hazard)
• No maintenance (unlike other valves that require a lube of the O-ring so it doesn't dry out)
• Patent pending

The TransFORM System is simple.  You can remove the two side pockets, and the front pocket, or any combination thereof, to "transform" the capacity (and weight) of the Cohiba backpack to a smaller and lighter version.  If all three pockets are removed the net savings would be half a pound (227 g).  The side pockets are held in place with sleeves at the top and bottom through which webbing straps run.  The webbing straps are compression straps and integral to the pack design, and it could be argued that they are necessary regardless of the TransFORM system, and thus there is no additional weight for this feature beyond the sleeves on the pocket.  That is mostly correct, although another argument would be that the fabric comprising an entire side of the pocket could be eliminated if the pocket were sewn in place.  The front pocket attaches with an elastic, shower cap type system.  A permanent part of the pack is a flap with has the webbing loop spine on the front, and feels like stiff cardboard covered with the pack material.  The removable front pocket (which is actually on the rear of the pack, or the side of the pack furthest from my back) stretches over this flap with elastic to provide the additional volume of the pocket and a duplicate webbing loop spine.  The upper compression strap buckles feed through the front pocket so there is no danger of it coming off.


The Adjustable Torso Link Suspension System is two-fold.  First, it consists of the harness on which the shoulder straps attach to the base of the pack by looping around a plastic dowel.  This acts as a pulley, with the two straps fastened to each other around the pulley, allowing the shoulder straps to slide causing one strap to be longer than the other when movement necessitates this.  The other ends of the shoulder straps are mounted at fixed points behind the hiker's shoulders.  The second feature of the Adjustable Torso Link Suspension System is a Velcro attachment point, which allows for raising and lowering the shoulder straps relative to the backpack.  The attachment mechanism consists of a large Velcro pad which attaches outside the pack and folds over attaching inside the pack as well.  This is shown in the picture above as it is being put in place.  There is no guide to insure the harness is straightly aligned. 

Backpack manufacturers often tout the breathability of the harness portion which contacts the hiker's back.  Ultimate Direction is no exception offering the 3D AirMesh back panel.  All I can say at this point is "yes, it is there".

Besides the removable side pockets (which are actually closable side pouches), each side of the Cohiba has a Four-Flex side pocket.  These are Nalgene bottle pockets, in my estimation, but of course can be used for a variety of things.  They are angled forward for possible access while wearing the backpack, and are made of black stretchy fabric which I assume is where the "Four-Flex" name comes from.  It is indeed quite stretchy and reminds me of the material in a neoprene knee support, although thinner.


The "S" shaped shoulder harnesses are curved with the right side being the mirror image of the left.  This makes the straps wide on the shoulders, but closer together on the chest - allowing for more freedom of arm movement.  I like the looks of this feature, as on my straight strapped packs I find myself pulling the straps toward each other quite often while hiking.


The small loop of elastic at the end of each web-strap which I spoke of above is officially called the "Strap Secure webbing control" feature.  Also as mentioned above, this is a clever idea, but I will need to prove its usefulness in the field.  In the picture above the left strap has the Velcro holding the coiled webbing in place, while the strap on the right is loose.

The Adjustable sternum strap with elastic webbing is just that... an adjustable sternum strap with elastic webbing at one end.  The sternum webbing can be adjusted up and down on the shoulder straps and has elastic on one end for some give.  It also has a standard plastic clip connector and the length is adjustable by pulling the webbing through the connector.

The Load lifting straps are located on each shoulder strap to help pull the weight of the pack forward and keep it high.  There are also tensioning straps on each side of the hip-belt.


The Dual ice axe loops are simply loops made of webbing material sewn into an existing seam on the backpack.  At first glance they seem like an afterthought as they aren't' reinforced in any way and there doesn't seem to be any additional strength provided by the way they are attached.

I like the fact that the Removable Pack Rain Cover is, well, removable.  It hides behind a zipper in a small pouch in the floor of the Cohiba.  It is attached to the pack with a flat elastic cord which is threaded through a buckle on the pack just inside the secret compartment.  Unfortunately the buckle is just a securing point and is not a snap connector.  This means that to remove the removable rain cover the cord must be unthreaded through the buckle, and to reattach it the cord must be rethreaded back through the buckle. 


The final feature of the Ultimate Direction Cohiba backpack is a Detachable logo key ring.  This is hardly worth writing about, although it is a cute little trinket.  I had to search for it and found it inside the removable front pocket.  There is a little clip sewn into the inside of the pocket, and the logo key ring clips to it completely covering it.  I suppose it would be okay for a spare truck key, but I would have rather seen a nice key ring for everyday use, and a simple safety clip inside the pack.


Initial Fit:
I have tried on the unloaded Cohiba and fiddled with the Adjustable Torso Link Suspension System.  The system is adjustable in infinitely small increments and there is no restriction on how long you can make the harness, other than the fact that you'll run out of Velcro at some point.  This adjustment appears to be adequate for my long torso, which is great!  The pack feels narrow, which I mean in a good way.  With the curved shoulder straps and the removable side pockets there is lots of room for arm movement.


Test Plan:
I will be using the Ultimate Direction Cohiba backpack on all my short outings and weekend trips.  This is not a large pack, but I plan to test its capacity with at least enough gear for my upcoming overnight trips.  This will primarily be in Iowa, although I am currently planning a Rocky Mountain National Park trip which should fall within the test period.  The temperature and precipitation data for Eastern Iowa is in the table below.  The elevations here range from around 480 feet (145 meters) near the Mississippi river, to around 800 feet (245 meters) around my house.  I do not have temperature data for Colorado, although the last time I was there, at the same time of year, the temperatures ranged from 70 F (21 C) in Estes Park, down to 35 F (2 C) at higher elevations.  The elevations where I plan to go in Colorado will be above 7,500 feet (2,300 m), and hopefully as high as 14,000 feet (4,300 meters). 

Reviews > Packs > Internal and External Framed Backpacks > Ultimate Direction Cohiba > James Triplett > Initial Report