SMD Fusion

Pics when you get it or we will hunt you down….

I'll be purchasing this pack or a ULA Circuit soon. Need to hear the upsides/downsides of the SMD before making a decision. Biggest drawback for me (for cost reasons) is that there won't be any used market for a while, but the pack looks awesome.

Just got confirmation my Fusion 50 shipped. I'm gonna break it in on a 100+ mile section of the AZT next month.

Has anyone else received their Fusion yet? I wanted to touch base with a couple folks regarding a couple issues/questions.

Hello Chad,
I should be receiving mine tomorrow. What concerns do you have and I'll be looking it over?

My Fusion 50 arrived yesterday. I loaded it up with 25 lbs and it felt fantastic, no pressure points and great weight transfer. That was the pack's big selling point and it delivered.

I'm going to have to get creative with the limited useable volume though. My previous pack was also 50 liters, but had what I believe to be a much more functional outer stretch pocket. The tapered shape of the Fusion pocket really limits the functionality for me personally. And that's really my only critique of the pack, all in all I'm excited to use it and wouldn't trade it for another pack (other than perhaps the Fusion 65 to better accommodate my bear canister).

Anthony, at the base of the yoke, where the fabric is sewn together, there is a rather large bump which I can feel very aggressively against my back when wearing the pack. Yours doesn't have this issue?

I'm hesitant to say it wouldn't become an issue during a hike, but when I tried it on I felt no discomfort. And I'm bony, scrawny, and am likely to be more sensitive than most when it comes to such a design oversight. I think the bump is both low enough on the spine (situated close to the bottom of the hip belt) and small enough to be a negligible issue for my own physique.

I'm talking right on the front of the base of the removable yoke, so this bump is just below the middle of my back. I'll see if I can capture it in a photo later tonite. Otherwise, the pack is very comfortable. I really like the shoulder straps, they have just the right amount of padding and are a nice width. I do agree with you on the front pocket, there really isn't much useable space, compared to what I am use to.

I've had some time to do some more tweaking with the pack and I believe I have the "bump" issue resolved. Where I had the yoke, the bump was exposed between M and S slots, thus causing the bump to poke through. With a slight adjustment, the bump is now covered and I really don't feel it any longer. Something to note, in case some people are not aware, with the toro adjustment, you are not limited to S, M, L, there is the ability to set between and beyond the sizes. This offers great opportunity to really dial in the fit. There is also a single aluminum stay running the length of the spine sheet, which is removable. I didn't see that mentioned on the product page anywhere.

I'm on call this weekend, which means I'm tethered to the house, so if anyone would like some specific photos, I'll see what I can do, just let me know.

I wish you two owned cameras…..; )

Anything in particular or just some pics of it loaded up?

Just some general pics – also of it on you if possible as I would like to get a sense of capacity. Thanks,

Looks great. Is the three torso sizes fixed in that there are only 3 or is it variable within a range?

It's variable. Since the yoke attaches with velcro, there's enough play to adjust it between sizes. I think it's a pretty good design, especially for those people who frequently fall right at the end of a torso size. I'm curious to hear from others who have the 50 regarding weight. It is advertised at 36oz but mine weighs 39.6oz with medium hipbelt and regular yoke. Normally, that would really irritate me, but since I got this as a water hauler, i'm much more concerned with comfort than with pack weight.

That's a nice looking pack.

How many compression straps are there per side?

Per Chads comment above: "Something to note, in case some people are not aware, with the toro adjustment, you are not limited to S, M, L, there is the ability to set between and beyond the sizes. This offers great opportunity to really dial in the fit."

I thought I was a Medium torso, but the pack feels better set at the Large mark, may need to do some measurements between the small medium and large markings on the pack as there wasn't any corresponding sizes noted with the pack or on the SMD website that I could find. The adjustment is very much in the manner by which Mystery Ranch uses.

The front pocket isn't overly small, it will hold my tarp and pegs without much of a problem, but I wish there was a cinch cord there to prevent things from falling out.

I really like the hip belt so far, but in fairness I haven't loaded it up yet. For the given volume of 65 liters I hope it is going to be my pack of choice for most outings of 3-5 days, and certainly replaces the ULA Ohm 1.0 I have.

Just weighed my Fusion 65 and it is 40 ozs.

My Fusion 50 with a small hipbelt comes in at 38.65 oz.

Don't break the hip belt buckles whatever you do. Is it really as bright green as the photos show?

"Is it really as bright green as the photos show?"

-Yes-…..at some point might have to try a dye job.

Oh yeah. Certainly not the best color scheme . . . unless you are a NY Jets fan.

The only really negative point about this pack IMO is the split back pocket.

It's not that I don't like having the pockets this way. I don't like a single huge floppy pocket. However, I just don't understand why the separation between the 2 pockets isn't 1 inch or just a stitch?

On the other hand, it's a small issue. This packs ability to carry on the hips is amazing and very comfortable. The split belt and the tensioning is far better than any pack I have tried out.

Unfortunately I have a broken clavicle on one side of my body and arm on the other. Both give me some issues, but the clavicle didn't heal the way it should so I have an inch and a half over-lap. This means most packs shoulder straps rub my neck.

I do not have this issue with the Flight 40 while this packs still carries on the hips very well. It may not be quit as good with the weight distribution as the Fusion’s spine, but still a great pack. I don't think I will have any overheating issues with the excess front coverage with it's vest design???

These really are nice packs.