Black Diamond Bandit Winter Pack - 690cu in

Black Diamond claims the pack only holds 11L. Maybe that's true, but it seems bigger-that or my old, old, old Camelbak from a decade ago was a lot smaller.

I can't decide.

The ski carry works pretty good, just don't lose the top (detachable) strap. The pack opens up almost completely, almost "hinged" at the bottom, which is great for access, but too easy to dump all your crap in the snow by accident when searching for the one item you buried at the very bottom. The way the pack is shaped, the middle and top are a little tight, so bigger stuff very often ends up at the bottom.

Pockets are a weakness-there's one small exterior one and one bigger interior one, but not much in the way of useful pockets for smaller stuff otherwise.

I also have concerns about how waterproof it is on the bottom, but that might've been me being sloppy when filling my reservoir.

Aside from the lack of pockets, the other quibble is the reservoir pouch. It's sized for a 2L reservoir, which BARELY fits. The top cloth hook to hold the bladder is also cut a hair too short, which makes it difficult to unhook if you're in a rush and the bladder is still partially full. That could be fixed, and they could've sized the sleeve wider and taller for a 3L reservoir and still had room. Granted it's a small(ish) pack, but the option would've been nice. Also make sure your reservoir has an on/off switch for the bite valve, less you accidentally press on the sleeve and it leaks...

Honestly, it's a pretty good pack once you get used to its quirks. The sleek profile is nice, the size for a single day of skiing is about right, the ski carry works well. It just feels like Black Diamond could've used a little more refinement.

I use this first and foremost as a hydration pack. Water management isn't perfect, but it thoroughly beats the dedicated "hydration" pack that it replaced. Moreover, it's quite comfortable on my frame (I'm about 5'10", 167lbs). And, it stays put.

I highly recommend it with the following caveat: though it's described as "made in the USA" at an otherwise reputable retailer, it might not be; mine, bought from just such a retailer, was not made in the US.

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I am very happy with my purchase of this backpack. That being said, when I received it from Amazon I was kind of shocked at how small the bag actually was. The quality and comfort more than make up for the size.

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