I love my backpack!
Written: Aug 28 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Very durable and comfortable; a number of handy compartments
Cons: Small side pockets, lid is hard to close at times; no bottom end access
The Bottom Line: Not the cheapest, but VERY durable and comfortable. A couple of features could use improvement, but overall it's an excellent traveling or day pack.
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| sweet_caroline's Full Review: Arcteryx Bora 40 |
I'm not going to claim to be a reckless and hard-core outdoors person. But I do get out and go hiking, biking and traveling fairly often. And for my uses, the ArcTeryx Bora 40 pack has done nothing but serve me well.
The Upside:
I find it very comfortable with its padded and ventilated backboard and cushioned adjustable shoulder straps. The waist belt takes considerable pressure off my shoulders when buckled up (make sure that your pack is fitted to your size, or the waist belt, arm straps and backboard may cause you some discomfort).
If I pack well and tight, I can fit in quite a lot of clothing and other items, almost all that I would need for a trip. There is a pretty large pocket on the front of the pack and it can hold several items (mine - toiletries, maps, sunscreen, etc.). There are also two compartments, one on either side of the lid to hold other smaller items as well (mine - wallet, flashlight, sunglasses, etc). The front compartment is closed by an adjustable strap and buckle, and the lid compartments are closed by heavy duty zippers.
There are various other adjustable straps on the pack to help you tighten up the sides, lid, arm straps, and pockets. I find them handy when traveling to keep things compact, secure and together. There are also ice pick loops on the bottom of the pack for those who need them.
Areas for future improvement:
There is also an elasticated pocket on either side of the pack, which can hold smaller drink bottles, shoes/sandles, and other small items. However, I have found that if you try and fit larger items into the pockets, they may fall out easily if they stretch the pockets to their maximum.
The pack also has another small issue. It does not close well if you stuff the pack really full. Although it has a couple of handy strong adjustable straps that buckle the lid down in front, the lid can be fairly strained and lop sided if you cram the pack full. However, I haven't been bothered bothered by this problem more than a couple of times.
The last thing that may need some attention is that there is no opening to the main compartment at the bottom of the pack. I've found that some other other packs have an extra zipper at the south end of the main compartment, to grant you access to things stuck in the bottom of the pack. I find that without this feature it can sometimes be aggravating to have to unpack everything to get at something that I forgot to leave out.
The pack I love:
Even though there are some features I would change on the pack if I had the opportunity, I still really love it. It will surely last me many, many years, and it shows no sign of wear after 4 years of steady use, through airport baggage handling and all. It's great for traveling, and also very reliable for more strenuous activities, such as hiking, camping, etc. I don't think I'll need to replace the pack for a long time, if at all.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
sweet_caroline
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Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Reviews written: 27
Trusted by: 6 members
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