The Dana Designs Terraplane is the best internal framepack on the planet. Don't believe me? Ask ten experienced backpackers to name the pack they'd want if money were no object. See what I mean? Now ask ten more. If you still have doubts, take 50 lbs. of gear to your local specialty shop and try one on. You're the rare bird if the Terraplane leaves you anything less than stunned. It's that good, that often, to that many people. Get BACK!

Now let's play word association. Say Terraplane to as many savvy backpackers as you can find, and see how many times the word "comfort" comes up. It's no mystery; people drop the big coin on the Terraplane because it carries like a dream. Comfort is the absolute number one factor you should look for in a high-quality, high-dollar pack. The Terraplane delivers in spades.

As to specs, the Terraplane is one of those products to which they are almost an afterthought. The point is, it's big, it's expensive, and it's the goods. You don't ask what kind of stereo comes in a Bentley, do you? But for the gearheads out there, the Terraplane Classic, the original, weighs in at 6 lbs. 9 oz., the '99 Terraplane at 7 lbs. 5 oz., the Terraplane X at 7 lbs. 9 oz. At 5,800 cubic inches, the pack is perfect for multi-day trips. FlatBack pockets hold gobs of quick-access gear and redistribute weight and bulk along a flattened plane, meaning you get a wide and skinny load rather than a plump and round load. The former carries much better. Full-on Dana suspension and harnessing is the industry standard. You won't find better anywhere. ArchAccess bottom gives you options when stuffing gear, and Wand-bottle pockets are perfect for stashing water bottles and waterproof accessories, like GPS unit and compass. Fabrics range from 500 D nylon to 1000 D nylon to D2. It's all tough, tough and tough! And daisy chains lets you strap on the family dog. What more do you want?

If there's any knock on the Terra, it's the price. Sit down. The Terraplane X will run you $469 before tax. Ouch! The good news is that you'll only feel the pain once, not on every hump into the boonies. Also, 5,800 cubics is sometimes a bit tight, despite the daisy chains. If you think this might be a problem, check Terraplane's big brother, the Astralplane, or the excellent LoadMaster LongBed, Dana's revolutionary external framepack.

When it's all said and done the question is simple. Are you serious enough to invest in the best pack on planet Earth? When you're ready, get it right.

The Dana Terraplane is IT.





Recommended: Yes