Granite Gear Escape AC 60/Escape AC 60 K is named the 2010 Best Ultralight Backpack
“The strategy with this stripped-down top loader: Get the most from the least. The packbag is reinforced with Codura on the bottom and corners (key wear points), while gram-counting designers used silnylon on the sides and substituted cylon webbing with cordage for the compression straps. A single-compartment lid extends six inches for overpacking, and a stretchy front pocket with vertical zip access carries rain gear. To test load transfer, our tester stuffed it with 48 pounds – 12 more than it’s rated for – and set off for three days in Utah’s Escalante Canyon. The verdict: “It carries as well as a pack twice its weight.” Credit the full-length polyethylene backpanel, which flexes slightly for mobility but is rigid enough to rest weight squarely on the hips and lumbar region. Stability gets a boost from the shoulder harness, which has two straps that slot directly into the backpanel, creating a stay-free ride (two frame sizes fit torso from 15 to 22 inches). Testers’ take: A great choice for mileage-oriented trekkers (hello, thru-hikers!) who want an ultralight pack that can handle any load.”
MSR $200; 3660 cu.in.; 3 lbs 2 oz
“The strategy with this stripped-down top loader: Get the most from the least. The packbag is reinforced with Codura on the bottom and corners (key wear points), while gram-counting designers used silnylon on the sides and substituted cylon webbing with cordage for the compression straps. A single-compartment lid extends six inches for overpacking, and a stretchy front pocket with vertical zip access carries rain gear. To test load transfer, our tester stuffed it with 48 pounds – 12 more than it’s rated for – and set off for three days in Utah’s Escalante Canyon. The verdict: “It carries as well as a pack twice its weight.” Credit the full-length polyethylene backpanel, which flexes slightly for mobility but is rigid enough to rest weight squarely on the hips and lumbar region. Stability gets a boost from the shoulder harness, which has two straps that slot directly into the backpanel, creating a stay-free ride (two frame sizes fit torso from 15 to 22 inches). Testers’ take: A great choice for mileage-oriented trekkers (hello, thru-hikers!) who want an ultralight pack that can handle any load.”
MSR $200; 3660 cu.in.; 3 lbs 2 oz
