I purchased this backpack in spring 2003. I love this pack. It eats up my gear and still leaves me room to pack any extras. I have used it for short 2 day trips as well as few week long expeditions. Pack fits great and adjusts well with my body. There are a lot of straps, but not overwhelming. I wish they would have built more pockets for storage (but then again, I love extra space).

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On the whole a pretty good pack. I have one of the older models and the wastebelt could use an update, it pinches under some loads. I have had up to 90 pounds (groceries, climing gear, a type writer) in it, but only for short periods of time.
I would only take maybe 65 for real walking. I love the fact that it can handel these loads and also the 30 pound loads that I am more likely to carry. It also compresses farely well for use on sumit aproaches, though leave the mushroom fanny pack behind, it will ruin your balance by bouncing around on top.
Oh yeah, the mushroom is useless as a day pack. Its lack of compresion straps mean that, unless it is perfectlly loaded everything will swing around inside, destroying itself and your but. Maybe check out something slightly better if you have the money but this is a cheap and servicable.
I recently went on a trip with a freind who had a newer one and found that the mushroom to pack frame atachment is worse then on the older models...it will throw you off balence unless the pack bag is packed tall. Also, the lower compression straps interfere with the waterbottle holders. On the plus side the suspension has been updated to bake it more ajustable and i assume better.
I recomend it for people just getting into backpaking and wanting something that will last them and for experienced packers who are looking for a big sack with a good suspension system for long trips. It may not fit smaller frame people.

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Gregory, Lowe...some others

This pack is great for carrying a big load. Everything buckles down snugly, and it rides very well on my large (6'5") frame. It doesn't have many external pockets, but you can buy some for the pack if you really want them.

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If you haul everything, including the kitchen sink, this is the pack for you. Affordable, and light for it's size, the Great Star a great value. this is a very durable load hauler. I have carried loads up to 70 lbs in this monster.

Customer Service

I had one of the shoulder straps begin to rip after a heavily loaded trip. I took it in and asked if they could double stitch both straps to ensure this wouldn't happen again. Without any complaint they did just as I asked. REI is great!

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I had a tough time finding packs that would fit me well, and I urgently needed one for a trip to the Smokey Mountains. I tried on the Great Star, and, while it was bigger than I originally wanted, I love it. It's a very basic pack, but it gets the job done. There's more than enough room for an extended trip, and for the price, it's unbeatable (I found mine for $130). Most importantly, it adjusts very quickly to give a great fit. I highly recommend this pack.

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Jansport Redline 48

Two things define this pack - simplicity and size. It's as big as they come and almost as spartan. If you're into pockets, don't get this bag - it comes with all of two external zippers, but if you can do without and don't want anything fancy, then the Great Star is more than adequate. It's comfy and incredibly roomy. I got mine online for $130 - one of the best deals I've ever seen. If you can afford to wait, hold out for REI's sales.

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old North Face internal frame model, REI external

I bought a Greatstar for an AT trip in Virginia and have really liked it. It is comfortable, not as heavy as a lot of other packs, and very affordable. I'm an average 5'11" frame and it rides very well. I do need to lower the shoulder harness assembly a bit but this pack is very adjustable. I especially like the zipper panel so I don't have to dig through everything on the top to reach what I need. This thing is huge! It packs well, has plenty of external compression straps, a few velcro loops, and a nice daypack on top. If I were this pack's designer, I might try to find a way to make the side water bottle mesh pockets a little more accessible. My arms can reach waaaaay back there but sometimes it becomes a feat of dexterity.

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This is my first internal frame pack but I compared it to my friend's TNF.

After finally discarding my 20-yr-old external frame pack, this pack feels great. Like buckling into a Cadillac after junking the '69 VW Bug. I was leery about internal frame packs after seeing my brother bend his up pretty bad. But, it saved him from injury after a bad tumble. The padded straps, balanced pockets, roominess, and higher weight distribution make this a winner. I whished I would have had this pack the previous 20 years.

Customer Service

Very helpful folks answering my questions (no complaints) about the pack.

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A very good simple pack. I would pack approximately 55 lbs of gear in my old pack, but with this pack I can add another 15 lbs with no noticeable difference in comfort. It would be a good idea to add a hydration system in future models.

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