At first glance the condor looks like a giant stuff sack with a harness, not alot of padding, top loading, etc. Nothing is further from the truth. It is a very close fitting pack that can handle 60 lb loads over a fair distance with ease. I've used it in the Rockies and on the West Coast Trail. It fits my 6' frame like a glove. It took me about an hour to figure out the correct suspension adjustments. After that, I've had no problems. Its monster capacity allows for all of my gear. I've yet to have the pack throw me off balance, it feels very much like a part of me, riding from step to step. If you don't mind a top loading pack and are a tall person this pack may be for you.

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MEC Brio
Chinook Expedition 7000

Excellent value in a no-frills high-volume expedition pack. You don't get side zips or weird suspension set-ups, just a very functional (and rather light) heavy-duty backpack. I've had mine for 4 years and it is still going strong and shows very few signs of wear.

This pack is basically one very large compartment, almost as deep as it is wide. The shoulder straps are well-padded (but not too bulky, I have no problem carrying the pack and my canoe at the same time) and the suspension is the old "ladder" style. All stitching is well-done and materials are quite heavy.

The pack works best fully-loaded since it is quite deep and has only one compartment. Pockets (mine is 1st generation and has a large front pocket) are very functional and have good quality zippers. All straps and buckles are good quality (no cheap copies) and none have broken.

This is not the best hiking pack for really steep terrain, although it is quite light, since its sheer size can make it a bit unwieldy if you pack it full. With clever packing you can get the weight close to your back but you might be better with a thinner pack to keep your centre of gravity close to where it is normally.

My pack has had very heavy use canoe tripping which really shreds packs - the Kevlar canoe and constant loading/unloading really tests materials and stitching - and has easily survived everything thrown at it.

For the money this is hard to beat!

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Lowe, Gerry, MEC house brand

This pack can hold a lot of stuffand is light. I loved it until I tried the Alpine Guide. The Guide is much more comfy and sturdy. But Alpine guide costs much more.

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Alpine guide.

I have owned this backpack for 4 years. I have hiked about 400km with it and never had a problem. Once the internal frame was adjusted for my back it fit like a glove. I have never gotten any hot spots due to friction. This pack has the ability to pack alot of stuff when you use the external pockets. At 160CDN it is a awsome pack.

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Out of all the packs at the local MEC, this one was by far the most comfortable of the lot. Other packs tried on were Arc'teryx and Gregory. It is pretty large, 80L, toploading, with a zippered pocket on the back. No frills, but good back-hugging suspension, with the best lumbar support we've (me and my girlfriend) found thus far. Durable construction, not to many seams, and a great price: $179 CAN!!!

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Been using this pack for a couple of years. It fits me perfectly and is quite comfortable compared to other packs I have tried. I like the large size; it allows me to take some extras if I want. The pack is well made and shows no signs of wear after a couple years of heavy use. Gotta like the price... only $180 CDN at MEC.

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Excellent pack for a great price (about 130 US). Very light (2.2 kilos) with ample space (96 liters) for all my stuff (at 6'4"" and 260 lbs and on a tight budget, my gear is bulky). Carried me easily on a 5 day trip across Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan. A simple design: one big pocket with a daisy chain and bladder pocket and two side mesh pockets for water bottles, etc. I would certainly recommend this pack to anyone, particularly if you are just starting up or are on a tight budget or just want a good all around pack.

Customer Service

Mountain Equipment Co-op (www.mec.ca) carries this pack and it takes about 2 weeks to deliver it from Canada.

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