Marmot Talus

Review Date
November 4, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Reviewed by: (Unregistered User) ,  Day Hiker

Price Paid:  $139.00 at Gear Store

Summary:
Well made pack, probably good for the outdoors but pretty useless for travel and urban environments.

PROS:
Well made (in Vietnam)
Roomy
Good stabilization, (aluminium and polycarbonate support)
Neat sunglass pocket
Removable back support,
Removable 3D DriClime® mesh waist belt is light and stores/folds easily,
Tough material.
Side water-bottle mesh bags can be cinched.
Supposed to be hydration pack compatible (according to literature) but I don't know how to do it.
Great confortable back support.

CONS:
No carrying handle (BIG PROBLEM)
Carrying using the opening between the shoulder straps, pinches your fingers and it not possible to use for extended periods, especially when the pack is heavy.
The shoulder strap design is horrible, it eats into the back of your neck, and there does not seem to be anyway to avoid it.
The pack is reather heavy. Removing the internal backsupport is difficult as it is poorly designed. You have to bend the polycarbonate sheet to extract it via a small opening.
The sunglass pocket at the top is convenient but is only padded from the bottom and NOT the top. So if you plop somethiig onto the top of your pack you could crush your glasses. What were the designers thinking ?
This pack is no different than most other packs in that the wide-mouthed Nalgene/Lexan water bottles do not fit.
There is no way to lock/secure your pack. I guess you do not need this when out in the wilderness, but in urban, travel environments this is a must. The zippers do not have the 'handles' only the loops. (I guess this was done when the designers realized that the pack was becoming too heavy and they needed to reduce weight.)
There is no way to tuck in the Biospan system bents when one removes the 3D DriClime® mesh belt, and they are left dangling.
The single internal mesh pocket does not expand too well, with no pockets for pens, tickets etc. So access things like this you have to open the main pack.
The external pockets are too easily accessible for pickpockets and there is no way to cinch them or 'lock' them with a carabiner.
Very expensive at $139

Customer Service:
Not used . Have heard independent reports of it being very responsive.

Similar Products Used:
North Face Yavapai, Kelty Panagea,

Review Date
June 19, 2001

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Reviewed by: Phillip(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Tarboro

Price Paid:  $130.00 at Footsloggers

Summary:
Its a tough pack although I have carrie dalot it is mainly my back pack I have put quite a load on it at times. the should strap had frayed a bit where it is stiched to the top of the pack no big deal though Its cool It was tough enough to carry a 6 pack and various other articles up a mountain.

Customer Service:
Not yet

Similar Products Used:
NONE

Review Date
March 19, 2001

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Reviewed by: Matthew(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Omaha

Price Paid:  $75.00 at Rei-outlet

Summary:
One of my better gear investments. The molded back panel and framesheet/single stay suspension do a wonderful job of putting the load on your hips, which was my goal for a technical day pack. Althought mine doesn't, the new models have a nice removable waistbelt for using in town. On mine, I can tuck the belt away behind the back panel. The sunglasses pocket is an unusual but very handy addition, especially for early alpine starts. One important note: although I have about an 18" torso (medium in every pack I have ever seen), the large was a much better, more comfortable fit for me, so you may want to try it on before purchasing. I am glad I did.

Customer Service:
I have emailed them once about a random, non product-related question and received an immediate reply. No product support experience.

Similar Products Used:
Arc'Teryx, Dana Design