Mountain Hardwear Iguana Pack
Retail price: $76
Specs per manufacturer: Multi-function suspended sleeve in main compartment carries notebooks, laptops, hydration bladder, etc. Spacer mesh shoulder straps and backpanel pads provide ventilation and comfortable carry. Front mesh pocket secures helmet, shoes, jacket, etc. Fleece-lined sunglass pouch inside main compartment. Fleece-lined top slash pocket for MP3 player etc. Side compression straps stabilize load. Side mesh bottle pockets. Reflective accents for safety. Removable waist belt.
2 lbs 1 oz, 32 liters
Findings: I first used this pack as my sole luggage on a 10 day trip to Nicaragua. It was the perfect size for all my gear and fit under the seat in front of the plane too! Perfect. The large mesh pocket is great for stuffing lots of soft stuff into. Let me emphasize SOFT stuff. My kids stuck a bunch of sticks into mine which ripped a hole in no time at all. Sadness… If that isn’t bad enough, I left a dog biscuit in the water bottle holder on the side. Yep, you guessed it, my dog ripped a hole in that in no time at all. But these aren’t really the fault of Mountain Hardwear, just a reminder to lock your pack away from your dogs and outlaw stick packing from your kids. The various holes have put a serious damper on my use for this pack, so I’ve passed it on to my son who loves it. He uses it on hikes, bikes and even school. Despite his super heavy use, no further damage has developed. Conclusion? Pack is 12 year old boy proof, but not sharp stick or dog proof.