CRAG BAG PLUSTapering like an inverted missile nose cone, this two-pound-ten-ouncer is one sweet summit-poacher. The main chute easily gulps down a stove, fuel, clothes, and a tightly compressed sleeping bag. The front hopper accepted my Nalgene and a couple of energy bars, while exterior diagonal lash points secured my ungainly sleeping pad and hiking poles. Descending a steep, slippery trail in New Mexico’s Sangre de Cristo Mountains, this pack stayed secure even when my footing didn’t.
Bonus: Waterproof zippers and a 630-denier-nylon hide repel rain.
Bummer: A narrow bottom makes a tight stash for a bulky sleeping bag.