I trecked, bushwacked, waded, fell over the pack from a 10feet ledge, etc in Denali NP for three weeks. The pack was something that carried my whole life and saved me all along from my back to my camera gear. It is a very confortable bag made of durable materials (though not bear proof it withstood rock and tree brunch encounters). The only complaint I have is that I found no way to attach or hang camera bags to the front harness or hip belt and it does not make room for a hidration bag (like platipus type). I am about to traverse the Inca Trail here in Bolivia preparing myself for a long awaited month trip to Arches NP in Utah

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I rented few The North Face (like Profet 65) and La Fuma (Extreme 72, Landcruiser 80) back packs, Dana's felt better that I ended buying it on sale.

I love this pack. I got it on sale so the price was not as bad. However, I am a Scoutmaster, and as a result, I often carry 75+ pounds just in case some of the young boys forgot something or if we have an emergency on the trail. I looked hard and long before buying this pack, and I found it to be the most comfortable with large loads. I have used it in the extensively in the mountains around Salt Lake City as well as some trips to the Wind Rivers in Wyoming. I have never regreted getting this pack. It is so comfortable and bombproof, I will never buy another pack again. If you are big like me (6'4") and haul a lot of stuff, this is the pack to get.

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Jansport
North Face
Kelty
Osprey

I got my Dana two years agoand we (the pack and I) have been inseparable ever since. In the beginning I wore it around the apartment, to the store, walking in the morning, and of course every weekend on the trails. Oh - this pack is just so wonderful I can hardly wait to put it on. I've actually started trips with a sore back and felt better at the end of the day with that pack on all day. It's great and absolutely worth every cent. I hope to have it for years! Yum. The straps hold it close to the body at all the right points and the hip belt actually stays on your hip points instead of sliding up to strangle your vital organs like other packs can. Dayhiking is accomodated with the compact version, the fully open version holds everything required for a couple weeks backpacking. Convenient outside pockets and a "safety" pocket making car keys and money easily accessible.

I look forward to putting on this pack each day of the summer. Somehow even with a load of 85+ lbs it feels great to heave it on. The suspension system Dana has incorporated is the best I have ever used,including Gregory, Osprey, Lowe, and Mountain Smith. As a backpacking guide,who relies on this pack to save my back, I would give any of my gear away before I gave up my pack. I would highly recommend this pack to anyone who is expecting to carry excessive loads in any conditions. The side zips make for easy access, the compression straps can tighten any load, and the hood/fanny pak is large enough to be used as a sumit pack or long day pack. Don't buy anything else before looking at this pack and trying it out.

If you're climbing Denali this is the pack to get. The outside pockets made high-use gear easily accessible and helped keep equipment organized. The volume is so enormous I could squat inside my backpack (thats good right?). The only trouble I had was having it fit me correctly. I suggest getting help from a Dana rep or salesperson who knows what they're doing. The feature I love the most is the extremely HUGE top lid it comes with. I've taken it off and used it with my other Dana packs because it's so roomy.
This pack is for expedition climbing, not the two day summit climb.

Agreed. The bag is pricey. That said, it's worth it. I'll never have to buy another bag in my life (unless this one burns up in a lava crater or is washed down a river, etc.) and will probably pass this one down to one of my kids when I'm an old fart. I bought an overkill 5 years ago when Dana's production was in the US and each bag was handmade. I'm not sure what their practices in Mexico are. It's heavy, about 7.5 lbs. But it's 1000 denier. It will never, ever wear out. It has a storage capacity of 7500+ cubic inches. My theory is its easier to go smaller than larger. That's what compression straps are for. I've use this pack for everything from overnighters to two-weeks trips. The hip belt and top lid come off to make a sweet summit waist sack with plenty of room to carry anything you'd ever need. The design is simple. The contour system will fit anybody. It's about the lightest 80 pounds I've ever felt on my back. If you can find a used one, buy it.

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All sorts of external frames and they are for the birds!

The only way I could affors this pack was to be lucky enough to find it at a consignment shop. The price is outrageous, and should not be paid. If you can find one cheap though, this thing carries like a dream. Never has 70 lbs seemed so comfortable. I would guess the reason I founfd it so cheap was someone got it and realized it was just to damn big. This can be true. Most people don;t need a pack this big, and its heavy even empty, compared to many packs. But if you are a trip leader like me, or just like to go on really long summer and winter trips. This bag is rad. Crank dowwn all the straps, and this thing is part of you. I've skied with it fully loaded, and actually cranked some turns! Not just survival skiing. Also a concern, K2 bought Dana out recently, and the rumor is that their production has moved to Mexico if Dana is watching this page, please respond.

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LOVE IT!!! I have used a Quest internal frame for years, and bought my Astraplane Overkill just last season. I can now pack more, hike longer, and still not be as tired as I was with my older pack. I bought mine onsale, you should try to also. They are discontinuing the release of the overkill models as of this year, so if you want a black one instead of Dana's dreamy pumpkin color, you better hit the shops.

Customer Service

Dana's Warranty is simple. If it's their fault they fix it free. If it's yours, they fix it for a small cost.

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Quest Internal Frame Marmot Sleeping Bags

the standard in big flippin' packs. suspension is bulky, so if for some reason your are trying to go light while humping in to base camp, this ain't the one for you

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the gamut

I carried an Astralplane through the Southern Talkeetna Mountains of Alaska for a month on a NOLS course. I was carrying between sixty and seventy-five pounds at any given time and the Astralplane made it feel like nothing. I enjoyed wearing the pack. The day pack (made from the flip top) was great as well. I had to rent it but if I had the money I would buy it.

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