Arc Teryx Nozone Internal Frame Backpacks
Arc Teryx Nozone Internal Frame Backpacks
USER REVIEWS
[Jun 21, 2002]
noidchipmunk
Mountaineer
Just recently bought this pack to replace my Lowe Alpine Contour Crossbow. It wasnt that the Lowe Apine was rubbish it just couldnt handle the heavier loads with crampons and axes lashed externally. Anyway, after a lot of searching and much deliberation I decided on the Nozone, the competition including both Pod and Macpac but this has it all. Firstly what other packs seemed to lack was a place to strap a camp mat whilst crampons a axes were also lashed on. Arcteryx solved this by having four straps that are completely removable - two down each side of the sack. This is the reasoning for the 'ghost' compression straps, its so you can slide tent poles and a camp mat out without catching on the straps. (Very clever) The hypalon crampon material is incredibly durable and sewn onto this hypalon patch are two daisy chains, my first impression was were do I rack gear when I take of the crampon patch? Luckily enough there are two daisy chains hidden under the crampon patch. Removable axe keepers are becoming more of a standard as companies try to allow their packs to be stripped down for summit attempts and the Nozone is no exception, with a strip down weight of a kilogram the summit is always in reach. Removable hipbelt allows the thinner one to be added again for climbing or summit bids - with the added to holsters, gear loops and 3d formed foam belt comfort is matched step by step with functionality. The lid pocket has vertical access rather than from the side, this is handy when there is a lot of stuff floating around in there, ie. snacks, penknife, first aid kit - etc. The main compartment is fairly standard - very slim but wide enough to accomodate an alpine sleeping bag. The lack of hydration pocket was the only downside on the entire pack, but the rest will wow you so much you wont even notice it. This is definitly an alpine sack and not the backpacking kind - the features dictate this as well as shape. Similar Products Used: Lowe Alpine - Alpine Crossbow, Contour Crossbow and Alpamayo. Many others on shop floor. |
[Jun 21, 2002]
Alex
Mountaineer
Just recently bought this pack to replace my Lowe Alpine Contour Crossbow. It wasnt that the Lowe Apine was rubbish it just couldnt handle the heavier loads with crampons and axes lashed externally. Anyway, after a lot of searching and much deliberation I decided on the Nozone, the competition including both Pod and Macpac but this has it all. Firstly what other packs seemed to lack was a place to strap a camp mat whilst crampons a axes were also lashed on. Arcteryx solved this by having four straps that are completely removable - two down each side of the sack. This is the reasoning for the 'ghost' compression straps, its so you can slide tent poles and a camp mat out without catching on the straps. (Very clever) The hypalon crampon material is incredibly durable and sewn onto this hypalon patch are two daisy chains, my first impression was were do I rack gear when I take of the crampon patch? Luckily enough there are two daisy chains hidden under the crampon patch. Removable axe keepers are becoming more of a standard as companies try to allow their packs to be stripped down for summit attempts and the Nozone is no exception, with a strip down weight of a kilogram the summit is always in reach. Removable hipbelt allows the thinner one to be added again for climbing or summit bids - with the added to holsters, gear loops and 3d formed foam belt comfort is matched step by step with functionality. The lid pocket has vertical access rather than from the side, this is handy when there is a lot of stuff floating around in there, ie. snacks, penknife, first aid kit - etc. The main compartment is fairly standard - very slim but wide enough to accomodate an alpine sleeping bag. The lack of hydration pocket was the only downside on the entire pack, but the rest will wow you so much you wont even notice it. This is definitly an alpine sack and not the backpacking kind - the features dictate this as well as shape. Similar Products Used: Lowe Alpine - Alpine Crossbow, Contour Crossbow and Alpamayo. Many others on shop floor. |
[Feb 11, 2001]
john miller
Climber
Two words...too heavy. Alpine packs have no need to be that beefy. The spectra is not tough enough. A alpine pack has to be able to be hauled occasionaly. I made that mistake only once. Arcteryx is a sell-out company. REI owns a good chunk of these guys now. Customer Service Arcteryx is not the quickest warranty and return company. Similar Products Used: granite gear alpine, cold, cold world chernobyl, wild things ice sack, and climb high long shot. |
[Aug 25, 1999]
Paul de Laat
Climber
I used the Nozone for 2 weeks to walk the glaciers of the Haute Route in France & Switzerland. My findings are very positive. For one thing, the hipbelt system for carrying the weight suits me very well. I hauled along some 15 kilo (food included). Next, the pad and net system worked fine; under the pad I put gamashin, rain jacket, and/or fleece, on top of it under the net I put gloves, crampons (bare and wet if necessary) etc. There is just one minus: the rain. I walked two times in a 3-hour snowy, rainy weather. In the end, the rucksack was a bit wet on top (the zipper), and a bit wet on the bottom part (but in all fairness, it seems that all rucksacks leak through after a few hours rain, no sack is perfect..). Customer Service Almost none. Just their telephone customer service: it is fine. Similar Products Used: Berghaus before; the hipbelt broke, no replacement available.. |
[Oct 28, 1999]
Barry
Backpacker
Excellent alpine pack. Great carry and great blend of features for the wieght. Especially the removeable padded hipbelt and INTERNAL compression straps. Other pluses: spectra fabric, excellent suspension, head cavity reinforcement, removeable crampon pocket (beavertail shove-it is similar) and ultra durable. All around it's an excellent pack and a great deal at 320 CAN. For a lightweight pack for backpacking, take a look at the new Khamsin 52 and 62 coming out Feb. 2000. Bonus: it looks cool, but that shouldn't matter should it? Customer Service Their customer service is tops. Knowledgeable people on the phone. Once I left a message, and the guy called me back! There's a first. Don't really need anything other than info, as their quality and quality control is tops. Similar Products Used: North Face, MEC, Gregory, Mountainsmith |
[Dec 19, 1999]
Barry
Climber
In one word: outstanding. Customer Service Excellent knowledgeable phone people who are also friendly Similar Products Used: North face, but I like Arc'teryx fit and constuction best. |
[Mar 31, 2000]
Ajanii
Backpacker
This review is partly in comparison to the Bora 40 by ArcTeryx. This pack carries more gear than my Bora 40 with a few more features that make it great for serious moutaineering and rock climbing. It is a bit heavy and definitly less comfortable that the Bora 40. But the shoulder straps are smaller for a reason, it makes scrabling much easier, especially 4th class. The gearloops on the waist belt are great. The first thing I don't like about the pack is it's durability. The ripstop rippedmy first day out at Red Rocks as I brushed up against some sharp brush. Never happened with my Bora 40. That pack is tuffer by far. The other thing I don't like about the pack is the price. In light of the ease at which it ripped, it is not worth $300 especially with the warranty the company provides. 2 stars for features, 1 star for fit, 0 stars for investment/return value, -5 stars for unacceptable warranty service. Customer Service Upon contacting the company to get an exchange or repair of their theoretically superior product, I was told it could take several months for the repair to take place and that I should keep my tracking number incase I don't hear back for the warranty department......Because of this, I will likely never buy another pack from this company. Similar Products Used: Bora 40 (not enough technical features but still a great pack), Alpine Lowe Crossbow 50 (no thanks, Various REI packs (okay but I'll spend the money for the name brands thank you) |
[Apr 01, 1999]
kgb
Climber
one word: amazing. any mountaineer worth his/her stuff should get this pack. Too many good things to list. Just a few: Bomber construction. Gear/pro loops on waistbelt. Tool holsters also. REMOVABLE!!! side straps and front crampon pouch. Internal compression straps. I have hauled over 60 lbs of gear w/ this comfortably! ArcTeryx really thought this one out to a tee. Similar Products Used: None |