Montane Summit 50+15 Backpack Review

August 26, 2016
Montane_Summit_0.jpg
GEAR INSTITUTE RATINGS
89
Comfort/Fit
8
Stability
8
Storage
7
Fit
8
Features
8

The Good

  • Removable 15 liter daypack
  • Three storage pockets in the lid
  • Integrated rain cover

The Bad

  • Sternum strap adjustment is clunky
  • Shallow side water bottle pockets
  • Comfort diminishes with loads over 40 pounds
THE VERDICT

The Montane Summit 50+15 backpack provides some good features and comfort for weekend backpackers or extended trekking trips. The 15 liter removable daypack is a nice feature for versatility.

FULL REVIEW

Storage
The Montane Summit lid is one of the best and most versatile lids I have found in a backpack. The lid itself has two zippered pockets on the top and one on the bottom for great organization and storage. The lid can also be completely removed and turned into a full 15 liter day pack for short summit bids, or day hikes from a base camp.  

The main storage area of the Summit has one large main compartment that has top access via a storm flap and side access from a zipper that runs the length of the left side of the pack. Inside this side zipper are two mesh pockets that provide more storage options for inside the main compartment. There are also two vertical zippered storage pockets on each side of the pack for storing extra items of clothing or other items that you may want to access on the fly.   

The two side stretch water bottle pockets each hold a 1 liter water bottle, but like most packs on the market, the pockets need to be a bit deeper to secure the bottles better. The Summit utilizes the traditional internal hydration sleeve to store up to a 3 liter hydration bladder.  

Comfort
Hip Belt 
The Montane Summit hip belt has light-weight padding that proved to be comfortable and fit well, but not quite as comfortable as other packs in this category. The hip belt has two zippered stretch pockets that allowed me to store many more and larger items than you would think due to the stretch of the pockets.  

Back Panel/Shoulder Straps
The Summit has a supportive back panel that provided adequate ventilation, but was not as good as several of the other packs in this category. The shoulder straps are lightweight but provided adequate comfort with lighter weight loads. 

Stability
The Summit was stable and comfortable carrying loads in the 30 to 40 pound range, but with loads in excess of 40 pounds began to float and the comfort of the pack was decreased due to the light weight frame and padding.     

Overall Comfort
The Montane Summit provides good overall comfort while carrying loads up to 40 pounds in a variety of conditions. The pack’s light weight padding was comfortable, but not as comfortable as some of the other packs in this category that had thicker padding in the hip belt and shoulder straps.    

Durability
The Montane Summit pack proved durable in a variety of conditions. The zippers, pockets and fabrics all performed well despite weeks of rugged use. The Summit showed little wear.

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