Clik Elite Compact Backpack Review

I reviewed the Clik Elite CE706GR Compact Backpack on Amazon.ca. Here's the review, edited slightly.

I desperately needed a daypack that could hold a hydration pack and yet would leave my camera with lenses readily accessible. The Click Elite Backpacks seemed to fit the bill: rugged camera backpacks with a sleeve sized to fit a 3L hydration bladder. I have a smaller camera system (Panasonic G1, lenses: 14-45mm, 45-200mm, 45mm prime) and prefer to travel light so I thought that the smaller backpack would work well

Pros:
- comfortable, carries the weight of a camera, 2L of water, snacks, and a small tripod well
- seems bombproof, except for the pulls and toggles for the elastic straps
- appears to have space for a camera body with lens and two spare lenses

Cons:
- it's possible to fit a 3L Camelbak bladder with up to 2L of water, but when it's full with 3L of water it's a pain to get it into the sleeve
- it's not *practically* possible to fit my camera with a lens mounted, plus my two extra lenses in the camera compartment. With two lenses in the lens holders, there's no room for the mounted lens when I insert my camera body. I now have to choose which glass to bring with me on my hikes, and I've cursed a couple of times when I had a perfect shot for the lens that I didn't have with me.
- the camera compartment zippers get stuck when opening and closing the compartment. It seems like the turn radius at the corners of the compartment is too tight for this size of zipper
- external pocket & elastic strap not practical - would've been more useful with a larger-volume pouch. The pull for the elastic strap came off when I tried to "encourage" it to hold a light jacket in place.

Field notes:
I went hiking near Port Hardy, BC, on a very rainy day. Found out to my dismay that the rain cover couldn't accommodate my tripod, which was in the tripod holder. I also found out that the cover wouldn't stay put - it would become dislodged at the slightest provocation. I really wanted to like this pack since it got rave reviews in other places, but it's barely functional for me. I'll keep it until I can find a suitable replacement but there doesn't seem to be much else out there...

2/5 stars.

Overnight Backpack on Mill Brook Ridge, Catskills

Misty Alder Lake

Note: This hike was actually done in August 2010 but for some reason I didn't hit "Publish Post" on this entry.

I went on an impromptu overnight backpacking trip in the Catskills. My intention was to hike from Alder Lake, along the Mill Brook Ridge to the Balsam Lake Mountain trailhead, and continue along the Neversink-Hardenburgh Trail to spend the night at a campsite just past Vly Pond. Essentially, completing the Mill Brook Ridge and part of the Fall Brook sections of the Finger Lakes Trail. You know the saying, "No battle plan ever survives contact with the enemy"? Well, none of my plans survive contact with... well... me.

Spent Friday night at a campsite at Alder Lake. Experimented a bit with taking nighttime shots with my new camera, and then just lay down on a picnic table to catch the tail end of the Perseid meteor shower.

Saturday dawned bright and clear, and after a quick breakfast I hit the trail. Given my previous Catskills hiking experience, I made sure that I was carrying enough water to last me the two days. My backpack (Gregory Z55) wasn't really designed to take this kind of weight and the way it was distributed (5L in bladders in the pouch inside the pack, another 2L in bottles in the exterior pouch) so it wasn't long before it - and my shoulders - started complaining. Off to a great start...

This trail doesn't seem to get a lot of use and the ferns and other plants grow quite close to the path, so for much of the time there wasn't enough room to place my hiking poles. I do like this kind of terrain though, and the greenness is very refreshing. With the many streams along the way, it's quickly becoming obvious that I needn't have worried about the water situation. Just as well, since my hydration pack bladder sprang a leak and emptied itself overnight.

Directions to the spring

The two scenic lookouts (at Mill Brook Ridge and at the Balsam Lake Mountain Fire Tower) revealed nice enough views, but nothing really to write home about.

By the time I got to the Balsam Lake Mountain Fire Tower, my chronic plantar fasciitis was acting up in a big way. Rather than continuing on to the Neversink-Hardenburgh Trail, I decided to make camp at the Balsam Lake lean-to, thinking that I was better off knowing I could make my way back, rather than suffering through an extra 10 miles of up- and downhill hiking. Turned out to be the right decision.

Catskill Mists

Gregory Z55 Backpack Review

This is a review of the 2008 Gregory Z55 backpack.

I've had this backpack for almost two years now, and have had an opportunity to put it through its paces. What follows below is largely a review I posted on the Mountain Equipment Co-Op (MEC) product page, with a couple of updates.

I bought this pack after using its bigger brother, the Baltoro, for a year. I've taken the Z55 on several long day hikes and a couple of overnight backpacking excursions, and it works quite well for these kinds of trips, even though it's a bit of overkill for day trips. The suspension system is well-thought-out and I found that it's very comfortable to carry as long as the bag is not overloaded. I've generally enjoyed Gregory's suspension system on my two large backpacks and found that it works the best for me in terms of fit, comfort, and adjustability of all the designs I've tried from a few manufacturers (Osprey, MEC, Arc'teryx, Black Diamond). Of course, fit is a personal thing, and obviously your mileage may vary.

The belt pockets are very handy, and the plethora of compression straps means that I can stabilize the load when the bag is less than completely full. One thing that could be improved is access to water. If I'm in an area where fresh water is available, I'd prefer to use water bottles to make it easy to refill/purify as I go, rather than using a hydration bladder which requires the removal of the pack contents to refill it. Unfortunately there's no exterior water bottle holder that's accessible when wearing the pack, so I have to remove it to take a drink. Three other things to note: first, the fabric is very thin, so you have to be careful about packing things with hard edges. After just a few excursions, the bag developed holes in a couple of places where hard objects (e.g. plastic trowel) have poked through. I guess this is the price you pay for light weight. Second, the bag is definitely not waterproof, but this isn't an issue for me since I pack all essentials in waterproof stuffsacks. Third, while my back length requires a medium size pack, with a ~30" waist, I'm at the very edge of adjustability for the hip belt - I can't tighten it much further.

Pros: Lightweight, Good Value, excellent suspension system, hip belt pockets

Cons: poor water bottle access, needs to be packed carefully to avoid hard objects against the pack fabric
Overall Rating: 4/5

I'll update this post again with pictures when I have a chance.