So I reluctantly returned it and ordered this pack instead (the Titan line was a brand new design when I ordered it).
Bottom line is I love this pack! It is 10L smaller in volume than the AT, so careful packing is important. But aside from that, there is nothing not to love. Like all the High Sierra AT and Sentinal backpacks, it has a built-in rain cover carefully tucked at the bottom. There is ample storage space, lots of pockets big and small, and some very clever access venues. There is the traditional top-down draw-string approach, but also a bottom zipper above the sleeping bag compartment so as to get to things you may have accidentally left at the bottom of the pack without having to take everything out.
Furthermore, there is a side zipper for another way of accessing your main storage compartment, and a nice side handle for easy carrying when at camp. The pack has held up well on a couple of weekend outings. I will be taking it to Philmont Scout Ranch in NM for a 10-day, 65 mile hike. I look forward to it!
For the price this is a fabulous pack, and I look forward to putting it to many miles and nights of use!
JUNE 2012 UPDATE: I just got back from the Philmont Scout Ranch in northern New Mexico. I took this pack on a 10-day 69-mile hike up and down mountains, valleys, etc. It worked just as I had hoped. The five-star review remains valid, and I am happy to report that this pack is durable, sturdy, end endlessly customizable. Due to the nature of a Philmont hike (I won't bore anyone with all the details), your pack tends to be unpacked and repacked differently nearly every day. This Titan pack excelled no matter how I packed it, and it always felt good on my shoulders and even more so on the hips. This is a very good, very solid pack for a great price.
ONE MORE UPDATE: I was also thinking...the built in rain-fly is a very convenient item (tucked in at the bottom of the pack) IF...you don't have a lot of extra items hanging off the side or bottom of your pack. For most weekend outings that will be the case and the built in fly will prove to be a very nice touch. However if you have a lot of extra items (pots, rope, etc) dangling via clips and carabiners, then you might want to bring an oversized plastic bag for rain protection, as the built in fly may not be able to stretch over those items.
Buy High Sierra Tech Series 59405 Titan 65 Internal Frame Pack Now
Bought this pack not to long ago, took it out on a short 10 mile day hike when I first got it. I was very surprised on how well this pack is constructed. Thought I would be getting a alright pack for the price. Couldn't be farther from the truth. This pack has gone out with me on 4 three day hikes and getting ready for a 2 week hike in Teton. I have every confidence in this pack. My hiking buddies have a Kelty Lakota 65 and a Granite Gear Vapor Trail and so we decided to compare those packs to this one. Other then the weight difference I can't see any major difference in the packs. I look foreword to putting many miles on this pack. Oh and the included rain cover which the other packs do not have works great. I'm no Ultralight hiker so the 5.2lbs doesn't bother my. I can hump extra weight thanks the the US Army, but if your looking for a lightweight pack then this one is not for you. Hope this helps.Read Best Reviews of High Sierra Tech Series 59405 Titan 65 Internal Frame Pack Here
I thought I was upgrading this bag because of some of the really innovative and neat features (adjustable chest strap, camera case on main, decent sized pockets on the belt, expandable back pocket for big soft stuff like jackets. Really a great design all the way around...now the bad news. The quality was terrible. I had the left load strap unravel (the stitching came out) on a major back pack trip on the JMT (John Muir Trail). The other strap is loosening with definite stitching weaknesses. The lower strap attachment is also shwoing signs of considerable wear (same stitching problem)I can provide pictures if you like...the thing is, I only used this (overnight) once, and it utterly failed on the third day! Since this involved a 5 day hike ending with a climb to the top of Mt. Whitney I was very careful to keep the weight as low as I could. It weighed 32 pounds fully loaded with 2 liters of water when I started from the trail head, hardly over packed! It was definitely full as I had a jacket and a bunch of clothes, food, tent etc. but it was not over stuffed by any means. The quality was just plain bad! I cannot in good conscience recommend this bag due to its failure after such a limited time and usage. I will be contacting the company for a replacement and if it turns out to not be a fluke and of the same qulaity I'll post here again, but for now stay clear.Want High Sierra Tech Series 59405 Titan 65 Internal Frame Pack Discount?
This is a great pack, especially for the price. I bought it after some research since I wanted to maximize quality under a certain price point and this bag for sure accomplished that goal. I have done a few couple day trips as well as week longs in Germany, Africa, Turkey, and Spain with this bag. It has held up well. I have realized that I would like a slightly larger bag but that is pure personal preference and has nothing to do with the bag itself.It is very comfortable to wear all day and the plentiful straps keep everything secure. The hip belt pockets are oversized compared to many other popular brand bags, which is amazing because it means i can fit whatever i need or want in there.
The only negative thing i have to say about this bag, and to me its an important one, is that the seams and stitching do not seem to be as sturdy as other brands like REI or Dueter. Some of the stitching seems to have already started to stretch near the handles and the bottom of the shoulder straps that connect to the bag. With the way that I travel, I don't see it lasting a year. For a bag that is 1/3 the cost of its competitors, you have to expect that.
All in all, it is a extremely good bag for someone just getting into backpacking that doesn't want to invest a large amount of money into a new hobby, or for someone who is the occasional adventurer, but for someone who will be depending on this bag, living out of it on extended world travels, I would look elsewhere.


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