Mountainsmith Auspex

Review Date
November 13, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Reviewed by: (Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Little Rock, Arkansas, USA

Price Paid:  $220.00 at campmor

Summary:
Great pack. I needed to cut down on pack weight, since I'm getting old, so I expected to have to sacrifice some comfort to do so, but I was pleasantly suprised by this pack in that respect. I have used it on a5 day trip in Scandinavia, and several 2-4 day trips here in Arkansas, and have no complaints whatsoever. Weighs 1/2 of what my old Gregory Teton did, and is almost as comfortable. Price was kinda steep, though.

Customer Service:
Haven't needed it.

Similar Products Used:
Gregory Teton.

Review Date
May 28, 2002

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Reviewed by: Phantom(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
This pack is almost perfect for long distance hikers, or anyone looking to trim pounds off their pack weight. The suspension is great up to 35-40 lbs. The backpad is only two vertical pads that help in keeping your back plenty cool. Mtnsmith's Delta hipbelt straps are supercomfortable, i can't believe other manufacturers aren't putting these on. The really help suck the pack onto your lumbar area. The packbag itself is very straightforward, just a tall main compartment with two mesh side pockets and a bungee on the front. I don't use the top lid, it just makes getting in and out more complicated. I wish they would just have one buckle to the lid.

As for complaints, they are few and minor. Placing the hydration sleeve right behind your back means you never have very cold water. The hipbelt is a little thin for my bony hips, and leaves bruises only after the first day out. Although claiming 4200 cu. in. the packbag seems a little smaller than that. And like I said earlier, I wish it had a monobuckle lid. All in all, this isn't much considering it weighs 3 1/2 lbs and carries 35 easy.

Overall I think this is an excellent pack, and kudos to mountainsmith for setting the new trend in pack design.

Customer Service:
never used

Similar Products Used:
Gregory Reality, Palisade, Dana Glacier, Arcteryx 70

Review Date
April 5, 2002

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: berkaser(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker

Price Paid:  $210.00

Summary:
This is an awesome pack. I purchased it because it's simple, light, and fairly weathertight for an AT thru-hike this year. I just got back from a 5-day trip on which I was carrying much more (around 35-40 lbs) than I will this summer, and the pack worked great. I really think the simplicity of the system is great, with no excess padding, and the back ventilation is the best I have found on an internal frame. The only weakness might be the lack of organization (no zip opening and only 1 compartment) but this helps keep the weight down and helps with the durability. It's also a great value, even at the MSRP of $250. Nothing is perfect though, so I'd give it 4+ stars.

Similar Products Used:
Gregory Pallisades, TNF Renegade, External Framed (Kelty, Peak 1)

Review Date
January 6, 2002

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Reviewed by: Chad Brow(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Middletown, RI

Price Paid:  $250.00 at Bluff Mtn. Outfitter

Summary:
I used this for my AT thruhike and was totally happy with it. I originally used an EMS 5500 cu. inch pack, it was too big and way too heavy (almost 8 lbs). I'd say this pack is perfect fot thruhiking or any 3 season hiking carrying up to 30 lbs. It has great support, like a full hip belt and load lifters. In the summer I leave the top pouch at home and save 6 oz. The new 2002 Auspex is even lighter at only 3 lbs. 6oz! Nice...

Customer Service:
Wayne at Bluff Mtn. Outfitters was very helpful and carefully gave me pack options and fitted it for me.

Similar Products Used:
EMS 5500, it has a lot of options, is big, and HEAVY!

Review Date
December 5, 2001

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: Backpacker Jim(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from lexington

Price Paid:  $200.00 at campmor

Summary:
I bought the auspix back last summer and used it all summer and fall. I bought it to reduce my pack weight and it worked. I am an old school backpacker and am not willing to give up comfort for weight. With this pack I didn't have to. I kept working on it and got my pack weight down to twenty pounds with this pack in the summer with all of my gear including my water, tent and food. Boy what a difference it is to hike with fifteen pounds less. The auspix is a great pack much lighter than my shasta and is just as comfortable when carrying light loads like twenty pounds. The spinal chimmney works great, my back doesn't get quite as hot and I can feel the cooler air flow through it. The hydration blatter pocket is great to have and a lot less trouble than the pocket in my shasta. I load it up with my one hundred ounce cammel back and have water all day long. The pockets on the sides are great for storing my fuel bottle and spare water bottle. The little pocket inside of the top hood pocket is great for storing my keys as not to lose them. The cons are if I load it up with twenty five to thirty pounds then it's not quite as comfortable as my shasta plus if I backpack in the winter there is not enough room for all of my winter gear. I have switched back to my shasta now to be able to haul all of my winter gear. At thirty pounds the shasta is more sited for the job. and is more comfortable. Bottom line the aspix is a great little pack for three seasons use with light loads of up to twenty five pounds and its narrow profile makes it easy to walk through the trees, but if you carry a lot of gear or heavy loads buy the gregory. If you have two different systems, one for summer and one for winter like me, than the auspix is ideal for a summer time system.

Customer Service:
Great! when I bought threw the mail it came with too small of a hip belt I e-mailed Mountain smith explaned the problem and they promptly switched with me

Similar Products Used:
coleman, kelty, ll bean, gregory