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Backpacker Magazine – October 2009

Gear Review: First Ascent Big Tahoma Backpack

Trek for many days and miles with this lightweight, supportive, durable and highly waterproof pack.

by: Peter Rives, Matthew Grey

First Ascent Big Tahoma (Courtesy Photo)
First Ascent Big Tahoma (Courtesy Photo)

This versatile pack is supportive and comfortable enough for a weeklong trek, but simple and light enough for tackling big alpine peaks. The 4,270-cubic-inch Tahoma was ideal on a posthole-fest through the Wind Rivers.

The (removable) hipbelt never interfered with high-stepping, and two aluminum stays transfer loads up to 40 pounds directly to the hips. And the double ripstop nylon used in the packbag is not only superdurable, it's highly waterproof. firstascent.com.

BETA
$249
4 lbs. 4 oz.
Men's regular and long; women's regular

Best For
Mountaineers who hike and backpackers who climb mountains

Tester Data
Peter Rives, Matthew Grey
Duration June and July
Locales/conditions WY, CO, UT; steep mountain terrain, snow, rain, sleet "You'd need a belt sander to damage the 1,000-denier Cordura."


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Reader Rating: -

READERS COMMENTS

wheres a pack thats waterproof,and a detachable day pack,of course, strong and lightweight/!
Posted: Nov 20, 2009 leo

4 lbs. 4 oz. is "lightweight?"
Posted: Nov 16, 2009 Buddy

Patrick's post of 11-2-09 is an unfortunate example of why "Reader's Comments" can be unhelpful. If you're going to post and ask a question, ask it in a manner that is constructive, rather than in the form of a silly accusation.
Posted: Nov 15, 2009 Mark

I agree
Posted: Nov 09, 2009 keedos

Looking for a new pack.
Posted: Nov 06, 2009 villajoe

Searching for a new pack that would surpass any atmospheric condition and meets the standard of a hiker / climber / camper when feasible.
Posted: Nov 06, 2009 villajoe

Not a very good review. Just hyping the manufacturer for his ad money in my opinion.
Posted: Nov 02, 2009 Patrick

So the pack had no downsides?
Posted: Oct 18, 2009 matthew

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