They should have named this pack the Shapeshifter. It quickly expands from 40 to 55 liters without adding top-heavy bulk. Or you can pull out the back support—a foam insert that also serves as a minimalist sleeping pad or emergency splint—and it lightens up to a scant two pounds ten ounces.
Testers found thecomfortable and highly functional in all configurations. “I loved the way it cinched down,” said one. “Even when I had a lighter load, it didn’t feel like overkill.”
Constructed from ultrastrong, high-performance polyethlene fiber, this top-loader easily endured squeezes through Utah slot canyons.
Bottom line: A single bag that acts like three—which explains the price. 3.5 lbs
$499,