MOVES WITH YOU
Built with a light plastic frame and hipbelt system and an Allen-wrench-adjustable pivot point that attaches a separate shoulder harness to the pack, the BA1 offers independent hip and torso motion. Testers were skeptical at first: The BA1 seems like a lot of money for a lot of plastic for such a small pack. But it’s lighter than it looks, and the pivot system (much like Gregory’s, page 114) really works. Even when scrambling up Boulder’s Flatirons, the pack never threw off our balance. And while it’s clearly overkill for mellow outings, testers found it to be great for backcountry skiing and mountain biking as well. 3.1 lbs, 976 cu in; ergon-outdoor.com