Vortex Backpacks 2200

Review Date
September 10, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: smccla01(Unregistered User) ,  Snowboarder , from Salt lake city UT

Price Paid:  $160.00 at milo sport

Summary:
baccountry snowboarder for Winterstick snowboards. I purchased one of the early 2200 models as my first good pack. fortunately winterstick ordered OEM via VORTEX and I used and Tested three generations of the 2200. I have ridden, camped, hiked, caved, and toured europe with a 2200 on my back. surely it was and still is the most comfortable and versatile packs I have ever had the privelege of using. i have ovverloaded this pack too many times, untill I learned sensibility on a 9 mile hike.
Since I no longer ride for Winterstick, I no longer have limitless backpack connections. I recently had my 2200 vortex stolen from me. It had been in my service for 4 years and had just been serviced at the factory. I want to assure Bill crawley that some of us would be willing to pay exorbitant prices for your domestic made bags, however I personally understand the dilemma of turning a buck in this expensive country. They way that freemarket economies are, drives nearly every unsubsidised manufacturer out of country!!!! You can thank your government for that one!!!
Anyway. Bill, I will be paying, finally, for a replacement pack I will buy another 2200 VORTEX, because true purpose built design and comfort along with durability are still your main concerns. Thanks for making the best damn pack I ever hauled daily throughout my snowboarding career, and thanks for creating something I hope to enjoy for the rest of my outdoor life.

sincerely,

Scott c McClarin

Customer Service:
Vortex has the best policy on repair. rip it up, tear it, tie it to the bumper and drag it to the rockies!!, they will fix it no questions asked!!!!! Beat that corporate america!!!!

Similar Products Used:
there really is no comparable backcountry pack made in america, or any place else for that matter.

Review Date
August 19, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: Willis Richardson(Unregistered User) ,  Skier , from Oakley, Utah

Price Paid:  $160.00 at Vortex

Summary:
Sorry to hear your reviewer comments about Vortex packs being made in Asia. The reviewer should really spend some time talking with people like Bill Crawley who owns Vortex and see the real problems they face with cost and the small margin in which they operate. There are no big bucks especially when you are dealing with a very high end product which is also price sensitive.

Review Date
March 20, 2002

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 4 votes

Reviewed by: Warren Cole(Unregistered User) ,  Day Hiker , from Cedar City, UT USA

Price Paid:  $165.00 at Backcountry Store

Summary:
I purchased a Vortex 2200 after days of research on the net. I thought they were built in Salt Lake and was looking for a domestic, high quality product. When it arrived, I went over it with a fine tooth comb and deep in a bottom seam was a tag with "Made in Sri Lanka" on it. I called Vortex and they confirmed they had out-sourced their production about 18 months ago. Said no one could make it paying US wages. I believe they "sold out" for the big bucks. I returned the Vortex the next day, called Arc'teryx to confirm they still produced in Canada and placed an order for a Bora 40.

Review Date
September 24, 2000

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: djmacedonas(Unregistered User) ,  Mountaineer , from Salt Lake City, UT USA

Price Paid:  $100.00 at Vortex Factory

Summary:
This pack was a gift from my girlfriend. She has an older model of the 2200 which I didn't like as much as this new one. I went to the factory with her to try one out and pick one out for my birthday. They had a unique pack with a 'rasta' color scheme that they admitted they put together from spare parts. Nevertheless, I wanted it. Anyway, I've had opportunities to test this pack excessively. It hauls skis, snowshoes, shovels...anything, no problem. I also used it in Europe for a 3 day hike up and down a mountain, and I would not recommend this pack for this type of activity (as it was not designed for that). I found the shoulder straps painful due to lack of adequate support. I've also experienced some hip pain when I overload the pack (again, going past it's design specs). As a day pack, however, this thing is a keeper.

The amazing thing about this pack is that I keep finding new uses for all of it's features. An internal sleeve behind the rear access is perfect for maps or a small hydration bladder, and the outside (main) pocket and straps acommodate a camelback. The amazing thing about this pack is that I keep finding new uses for all of it's features.

Customer Service:
I have no experience with them personally, but I have many friends with vortex packs who have completely beat on them. Returning them for repair or replacement has never been an issue.

Similar Products Used:
North Face day pack

Review Date
September 3, 2000

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Reviewed by: Jason Goodfellow(Unregistered User) ,  Climber , from Salt Lake City, UT, USA

Summary:
For a day pack, this is by far the best pack I have ever used. I have had my pack for about 4 years now. It has endured many climbing/backcountry snowboarding trips through the mountains of the western US without any hang-ups. I have 6 close friends with the same pack (moving Vortex comercial as it would seem) and everyone claims it is the most functionable/comfortable pack on the market. We highly recommend it.

Customer Service:
While climbing one of the 50 classics outside lake tahoe, my climbing partner noticed a curious marmott inspecting our packs at the base of the climb. Because we were at the top of the first pitch, we couldn't descend to guard the gear. As luck would have it, my Vortex was the only pack with an energy bar in it. The marmott wasted no time chewing several holes in the pack.
When I took the pack into Vortex for repairs, they were happy to fix the damage (which included holes in the top of the pack, holes in the internal pocket, and 2 zippers) at no cost. Very impressive!

Similar Products Used:
Mountainsmith-Bugaboo, Vortex day-pack