SMD fusion 65

Nathan,
It's kind of amazing how similar my initial impression of this pack was to yours aside from your issues with the shoulder straps not being big enough (they were fine for me).

Like you, I also found that the sternum strap is impossible to adjust vertically without cutting the webbing end. It has triple backed webbing inside of there!!! That's just pure silliness.

By the way, just for future reference: those "plastic slip lock thingies" are called triglides. :)

I'm glad to know you (and Chris, above) think that the side pockets are way too small. I was scratching my head with that one for a little while at the store and I thought I might be missing something. And, I agree, the shoulder strap pockets are so small as to be almost useless.

There are just these little design problems with the pack that add up enough that I don't think I'll end up buying it.

It's such a shame too because these Fusion packs just knock the suspension elements out of the park. It's such a well designed ride for the weight. I just wish the rest of the pack could have been as smartly designed as the suspension.

I'd buy this pack in a second if it had really well-designed, large, external pockets (and a real internal security pocket, not that suspension pocket garbage).

The ULA Circuit and the Gossamer Gear Mariposa seem to get the pocket formula about right, I just wish I liked their respective suspensions as much as I liked the suspension of these Fusion packs.

Oh well. Here's to hoping that the SMD Fusion 65 version 2.0 will fix all these issues, whenever they come around (I'm not holding my breath).

one comment about the adjustable yoke: in Europe there are plenty of models with that and it gives the impression that such a pack will fit all (plenty of experience with such packs). Well, it isn't. For me, it is a no. The adjustable yoke is ok as long as the framelength is ok for you, but that may be too short or too long for you. But that's not given anymore. So, at least for some, some important/crucial information is lacking.
BTW, I know of at least 2 manufacturers who offer some of those packs in a size with a longer framelength, so-called for very tall people. Mmm, could there also be another reason ?

Shane, Derek, Nathan,

I would again suggest looking at the Elemental Horizons Kalais. Great side pockets, shovel pocket, hipbelt, suspension, etc.

edited

shane, yes i loved the suspension and the hip belt. the fact that the "spine" runs infront of the hip belt so that when you tighten and adjust the belt it really makes for a solid connection from the spine to your lumbar. Add the adjustments with the articulated hip belt and its super comfy

Thanks to all for their initial impressions.
Too bad about the small shoulder strap pockets.

Nathan – does the pack not feel like it falls away from the body? In the pictures with your wife it seems the top is a bit far from her shoulders/back (not in height, but in horizontal direction). It might just look that way though, but I was curious if you felt it rode well and close to your back?

Thanks for any possible feedback.

Remember that these are initial impressions only, not an in field review.

take what i say with a grain of salt (or whatever metaphor you choose)

As for the pack falling away from the body. I was going to add that to my review but i decided on not mentioning it.

Since you asked I will tell

When my wife and I were looking for a pack (a few years ago) we were looking at the dueter packs. A 65 liter dueter pack that has an adjustable back to be specific. The Dueter ACT lite 65 + 10L to be exact. We had the shoulder straps adjusted pretty low so there was a big gap between the straps and the back of the pack. This is adjusted via the load bearing straps at the top of the shoulder but it was pretty bad still.

This pack is similar with the gap between the bag and the shoulder straps at the small setting. (partly the reason we used the medium setting for her and the max large setting for me when we were setting up the pack) The frame of the pack rises but doesn't really fall back away from the pack as bad as the dueter she tried on a while back. The only reason i mention the dueter is it has a similar adjustable torso as the Fusion. this is accomplished from what i see partly because of the load adjustment straps at the top of the pack AND the hip belt. The hip belt makes a rock solid connection to your lumbar area and makes a very stable platform.

I'm guessing and i'll try it out tonight, that my wife could use the pack on the large setting as well, and that would reduce the shoulder strap/pack horizontal space there.

If the load bearing straps (official term?) were loose the pack did sit away from the back but I did not feel like it was falling back enough to mention it in my previous post.

As far as the shoulder straps are concerned they are 18 inches in length. I wish they had a 21 or 22 inch length.

I do have very broad shoulders and am "thicker" up in my chest area (XL shirts, 17 – 17 1/2 neck for dress shirts)

EDIT:

I put in an order for a ULA catalyst. It is heavier than the circuit but I bought it for the slightly bigger main compartment. They are similar so I will compare the both when they get here, but the Fusion is going to be returned… UNLESS anyone wants to buy it from me??

I think the shortcoming from the Fusion 65 will be made up with the ULA Catalyst/Circuit pack and it is manage weight in a similar fashion.

SECOND EDIT:

good news. I emailed SMD yesterday about a different yoke (larger one) this is the email i received:

Nathan,

We are planning on making a longer version of the yoke. Expect it to be
available soon. If you send back in your current yoke assuming that it
is still in new condition we can exchange it for the longer one. If it
isn't in new condition then we can modify your current one to be longer.

Thank you,

Brandon Moak

So they will be coming out with a larger yoke.

I'd be appreciative if anyone could post a few detail photos of the adjustable harness system and hipbelt. The shoulder strap length sounds like it might be a little small for me but the hipbelt sounds promising as does the adjustable torso length. Curious to better visualize how it all works. Thnx

expect some pictures this afternoon when i get off work. possibly a video…but I hate making videos…. sooooo you'll have to convince me.

Thanks Nathan. Photos would be just fine for me.

Cheers, Nico

@Nathan
it's DEUTER, not DUETER :-)

Nathan, I would guess that if you let the shoulder yoke out a hair longer and bent the top of the stay in a bit that gap would largely cease to exist.

Nathan W. — another HUGE "thank you" for all the trouble you've taken to share the details of the SMD Fusion 65!

LOL, I thought that — once I had enough info on the Fusion — I would feel CLEARER in my mind about the ULA vs SMD debate, but now I realize that it has only created more CON-Fusion!!!!

It sounds as though the pack would fit me very well (the Deuter Women's ACT Lite 60+10 does, as well, but it's about 1.5lbs heavier). But I'm still concerned about how much room there will be, esp. with a BearVault 500. I don't mind the dinky shoulder pockets, because I don't really use those anyway. It sounds like I could figure out a quick fix for the sternum strap.

So the remaining issues are: room in the main compartment; and the small side pockets. I might be able to do some MYOG modifications on the side pockets, but the main compartment "is what it is"…

Nathan, I think I'm in a similar place to you — ULA Catalyst versus SMD Fusion 65…

What's the dimensions of the bear vault. I could simulate it here at home

Nathan – you're winning the Super-Nice Guy of the Month award!

The BV500 is kind of a whopper:

It's a cylinder (duh!) 12.5 inches high, and 8.5 inches diameter.

I would want to the Fusion 65's main compartment to be able to hold:

– the BearVault
– a down sleeping bag
– a Synmat LW
– spare clothing (including warm layers)
– cook kit, stove, canister

If all that doesn't fit, then it wouldn't work for my longer trips (it might work for shorter trips, but do I really want to spend $250 for a separate pack just for short trips????)

this is going to sound ridiculous but I have a juicer that meets those requirements almost spot on…..

should i stuff a juicer down this pack?!?!?!

Nathan,

I don't know if you should stuff a juicer into the pack, but what I DO know, is that if all the members of BPL came to your house with fruit, you could apparently provide plenty of juice for everyone!!!! ;^)

Pack full of pillows and towels with a smart water bottle in it.

Shovel pocket full

width of the hip belt at the spine

Hip belt on the inside of the pocket, you can see the material that forms the plastic part the the hip belt separates and creates the articulated part of the belt.

Pockets are huge on the hip belt

The inside of the bag, the "interior security pocket" houses a pocket and the spine

I was able to get a tums container in the security pocket (for reference) but could not zip it up with the container laying length ways in the pocket, not a big deal. space enough for a key, id, and some cash or credit

THE SPINE!

Adjustable sternum strap

Triple sewn = to thick to get into the tri glide

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtxttlPL-w4

only for you Valerie

^
ROTFL!!!!

Dude, you sure go backpacking with some strange stuff!!!! At least with all those towels you'll be very, very clean! (Still giggling…) ;^)

If that doesn't answer every question I had, then I don't think they can be answered (by anyone ever).

Big, big, big THANKS to Nathan W!!!!

Thanks for the initial reviews Nathan and Derek. I was recently in the market for pack that can carry loads up to 30-35lbs, and was considering the Circuit, Windrider, and Fusion packs. Ended up going with the Circuit because, for me, it's a bit more refined than the other two packs in a lot of areas, although probably doesn't carry quite as well. No slouch in its own right though. Either way, your reviews make me feel a bit better about my decision.

If SMD will make changes as necessary seems like they will have a great all-around pack. Light years ahead of their old models for sure.

Ryan

“Read ” far too complex for US production” as being “far too expensive and hard on our profit margin for US production.” Plenty of great packs made in America, just at higher prices then the market SMD is aiming for. I found the comment unfortunate and offensive.”

But you just might be able to find this pack at your local retailer. At least that’s how Ron explained it.

I find the comments below Ron's post to be especially enlightening.

Will those water bottle pockets hold a Platy?

Yes definately