Mountain Hardwear Truckee 35 Daypack

high quality spacious light backpack
October 27, 2011

I'm 5'3" petite female. I wanted: - a spacious backpack that I could hike with - travel to conferences with (a weekender) - carry my yoga mat easily on my back while riding my bike - carry water bottles or a small umbrella with easy access in side pockets - carry my laptop, books, and occasionally groceries, etc. This bag does all that, and the fit and design of the bag makes the load feel light -- super easy to carry while biking, hiking, etc. The laptop compartment is large (can fit a 17") and has a strap so you can adjust/tighten the laptop area so your laptop is not bouncing around. The two "compression" straps on the front allow you to tighten the bag if you're not carrying that much (this makes the bag not bulky), and attach a yoga mat/skateboard with ease (no messy bungee cords to fuss around with), and you can adjust them so that keeps the yoga mat/skateboard strapped tightly to the bag (no wobbling). You can also use them for a coat/jacket, wet clothes, or a sleeping mat if you're hiking/camping. The two side compression straps tighten so that whatever you're carrying is fitted to your back (not leaning away from you). This reduces bulk, and allows you to move easily and not feel like you're being weighed down. For a petite female that carries lots of stuff, this is a must! There are two pockets (with interior pockets) on the front. They have room for your keys, pens, notepads, wallet, sunglasses, yoga straps, or even books. The two carrying handles (on top and in front of the bag) are lined with this smooth leathery material that goes easier on your hands than typical straps. They make it easy to load your bag (if it's heavier) into the airplane overhead compartment. All the zippers are easy to use/locate since they're brightly colored and sturdy. The bag feels high quality: not cheap materials, not plastic or too thin. And for something that carries so much, it's a stylish bag (I have it in black and can wear it with a suit to work and not feel too out of place -- granted, a dooney or coach bag probably gives you a more polished look, but for a practical outdoorsy professional this bag is perfect). I am so glad I made this purchase! I would definitely make it again. And altrec was fantastic -- quick, on time, no hassle delivery.

Excellent day-to-day pack
March 30, 2012

Since I already have an Osprey Stratos 36 for dayhikes and overnight trips, I bought this bag for my day-to-day needs such as carrying my 15" laptop, water bottles, change of clothes, extra running shoes, whatever. I'm on the move a lot between work, my girlfriend's house, my grandma's house (I'm her primary caretaker), and staying active, and the Truckee functions great for this task. I love the grab handle and built-in daisy chains for clipping on extra gear such as running shoes. At 35 L or 2150 CI, the bag holds everything I need and the main compartment has a separate space for my laptop or 3L bladder. The two outside pockets are great for sunglasses, iPods, head lamps, extra batteries, pocket knives, multi-tools, and my Moleskine journal. The two exterior water bottle compartments easily hold a 1L Nalgene or Camelbak bottle. Now I need to mention that I sent my first bag back to Altrec. I spent 3 years abroad, and I abuse my gear, so I have high expectations for my gear. I found a tear in the right shoulder strap after 2 weeks of normal usage. I never even took the bag on a trail. So I sent it back to Altrec and with nary a hassle, they sent me a new bag in 5 days. I think it was a quality control issue rather than design flaw, and thus far and I've had no additional issues with the second bag. I would've given this bag 5 stars for the design alone, but I'm only giving it 4 because of my initial experience.

Great weekender
January 30, 2012

I purchased this bag to be used as my weekend and gear check bag for long distance racing. I used the bag the first time this weekend, when I traveled for a half marathon. I was amazed at the volume of this bag! I checked out a lot of bags and picked this one because of its size, but also because it had great exterior loops/straps for additional items. I was able to haul 2 days worth of clothes, 2 days worth of outdoor running clothes, small overnight kit, running shoes and waterbottles. I used carabiners through the exterior loops for my shoes and even clipped on my dirty clothes bag on the way bag, and the carry-ability and weight of the bag was still balanced and easy to manage. The weight distribution was really great - I could barely pick up the bag with one hand, but when I got it on my back, I was able to walk a long distance without discomfort. I am running Hood to Coast in August and looking forward to bringing this bag with me.