Packs @REI recommendations

My brother and my father used osprey's in the past. I was never a fan of the shoulder straps. They are too narrow for my liking. Do others not have this problem?

-Stephen
If you are interested in the Osprey Atmos 65 I've got one for sale on Gear swap in the medium torso size. PM me if you are interested.

I have a dueter act lite. It carries very comfortably and well balanced. Ie: great harness, frame, and shape (narrow, curved in over shoulders).
The shoulder straps don't feel narrow (my golite straps do though). The padding is very supportive.
The adjustable torso is great – custom fit with winter or summer clothes. More stable / less wobbly than using load lifters to adjust the torso length a little.
The big things I don't like are: it weighs 4 pounds, and it has an air vent channel where the lumbar pad should be. Without the lumbar pad, the hip belt slips downward in the back and I have to readjust its position every 15 minutes to keep the weight off my shoulders when carrying 30 pounds or more. This is a fit issue, and YMMV.
REI also sells the lighter dueter act zero which is the same pack, but with a removable lid, no bottom access zipper (useless IMO), and a large bellowed fabric shovel pocket rather than the small stretch mesh rear pocket. The stretch mesh pocket is durable enough and holds a heavy duty gortex parka fine though.

HI Eric,

Thanks for that.

I was looking to buy from Rei as I can try them instore and return it if needs be.

Cheers,

Stephen

Thanks John,

I have used sone Deuter kit back in Europe and its good quality.

Will check them out tomorrow when in REI.

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This looks like a good contender for heavier loads
http://www.rei.com/product/844652/rei-xt-85-pack?stop_mobi=yes

Hi Rog,

I hear you in the bells and whistles, I will stop by Moosejaw if I don't see anything I like in REI.

Thanks Dan,

I was hoping for something a bit lighter.

>This looks like a good contender for heavier loads
>http://www.rei.com/product/844652/rei-xt-85-pack?stop_mobi=yes

I've got that pack – just picked it up in January. It's heavy at 5lbs, but lighter than my old 6lb external frame pack. Tons of storage and organization and very comfortable so far with a 15lb load. While not consistent with the lightweight ethos, all the rest of my gear is/will be and so the skin out weight should be a wash. It seems they have also addressed most, if not all, of the complaints people had about the older green version of this model.

I'm a bigger guy and so i like a bigger pack. I have the size L, which is actually 90 liters.

Cheers Michael,

Hi folks,

Got an REI Fash 62, I got myself measured properly and it turns out I am the hight end of a medium and not a Large as I thought all along.

The flash comes in at just under 3 pounds and has some very nice features.

It will for all my winter kit with room to spare for food and fuel.

Cheers,