Comfort/Adjustability
Offered in 4 different sizes and featuring removable moldable frame-stays, this pack can conform to most shapes and sizes. The close fit of its minimalist suspension, combined with waterproof fabric, affords the user very little ventilation at the back panel.

Stability
The Southwest rides close to the back and can support smaller multi-day loads if carefully loaded. The absence of load-lifter straps was occasionally noticeable, but rarely affected performance.

Capacity
The addition of twin frame-stays and a nicely padded hipbelt to a voluminous main pocket really boosted the Southwest’s carry-capacity—when loaded with climbing gear, rope, water and cold-weather clothes it performed more like a pack twice its weight than an ultralight rig.

Organization/Access
Organization availability on this pack was surprisingly ample and well designed—the waterproof hipbelt pockets were a notable highlight—but top-only access to the main compartment kept the Southwest from scoring higher here. A bright white interior makes hunting through the large main bag considerably easier.

Features
The water-resistance and volume-adjustability provided by the roll-top design of the Southwest really set it apart from other bags we tested. Removable frame-stays and snag-proof exterior pockets rounded out an impressive feature set for a pack that we expected to be more minimalistic.

Value
The 2400 Southwest is an awesomely versatile bag, but it’s also one of the more expensive packs of its size.

*  One bonus points for packing so much performance into such a light piece