Macpac Ascent

Ron Burgundy
Reviewed: 22 March 2011

Bombproof, but a bit too wide

Durable

very wide, kept getting snagged whilst scrambling on the glyders and tryan. It's heavy.

Purchased a berghaus arete 45 in place of this pack, I'm sure that it won't be as durbale as the ascent, but it did cost £50 less. It's much narrower and lighter than the ascent, i'd also opt for an osprey talon over this too.

Wilco
Reviewed: 14 March 2010

BOMBPROOF BUT HEAVY

I've had mine for over ten years ... it's been all over and is grubby as hell but won't die so I can buy a shiney new one. I will put it my will to my kids ...

It's heavy - really heavy. There's some slippage on the shoulder straps (the new model straps seem to be textured) so it shouldn't be a problem now.

Brilliant bit of kit - bombproof climbing/alpine sack.

Ian Scovell
Reviewed: 09 August 2007

A VERY TOUGH & DURABLE 'SAC

The reinforced fabric makes this a very tough rucsack, plenty of attachment options, comfortable shoulder straps and easy to adjust to get the perfect fit

There are new packs that do similar and weigh less, but maybe not as ultra tough. Could do with an external pocket for attaching wet items ie gloves tent etc. Lid not removeable.

As soon as you get this rucsack out of the box, you realise the fabric is some sort of ultra reinforced material. It feels like very thick cordura and because of this the pack fabric has no give and feels like something you'd get in army boot camp rather than some ultra light easy to rip uba-pack. It is a little heavy compared to the rest of the market because of this. I have the size 3 which weighs 2.1kg whereas the OMM Mountain Mover which is new this year is of a similar ilk as this pack but weighs 1.6kg.

I purchased this pack in March 2007, and it was an end of line model from Nevisport. My reasons for purchasing were because I want to take large format photographic equipment, tripod, tent etc into the Scottish Mountains in winter. I also wanted a pack that was slimmer (ie Alpine style) because my Lowepro Pro Trekker is just too square and also weighs 3.1kg empty. After talking to lots of shops (Needlesports are the best) I had it down to a POD Black Ice & This. I went for this because the POD is more of an out and out climbing pack rather than a trekking/mountaineering pack.

After testing the pack I've come to the conclusion that I have purchased the correct one for my needs. The extra weight of the pack/fabric means it can handle far more abuse, it can also handle heavier loads a lot easier (15kg no problem). Its also better for carrying a tripod in the external wand pockets than my photographic specific lowepro.

It's also possible to lighten the pack slightly by removing the 2 alu bars for the back padding.

There are various comments within these reviews about how waterproof or not it is. Well, to test this I filled the pack with water when I first got it. Despite being monumentally heavy, the pack took the weight of the water inside and only leaked water out through the seams, not through the fabric itself!!

Overall a really great rucsack, especially if you are taking heavy loads and going into unfavorable territory in the winter. If you're just doing a weekend camp in the lakes in summer or something you may want to look elsewhere as there are other things which will do the same job.

The only major negatives I can think of is that the inside is black, coupled with the narrow design its really hard to see inside, also an external pocket, like the OMM mountain mover to hold soggy gear would be a bonus.

Ray Britton
Reviewed: 08 August 2007

CAN ANYONE COMPARE THIS FOR ME.

I note that all the reviews of this bag are positive. I am looking for a new bag to supplement my BERGHAUS CRUSADER, which is the strongest and most comfy pack I have ever worn. How do any OM'ers (who have used both), think they compare?
To sum up my CRUSADER, it is still going strong after ten years of weekly use, and regularly carries very heavy loads (up to 70kg), it also used to get regularly thrown out the back of 4 tonne trucks, and also was thrown out of the odd aircraft. Do you think that the MACPAC will come close to this?, as I am trying to cut down on the amount of kit I use in "olive green"
PS, ignore my product ratings please, I had to put them in to be able to submit my request

Sam Callard
Reviewed: 05 August 2007

NOTHING ELSE CAN BEAT THIS IN DURABLILITY

Uber-strong. Has all you need.

hasn't got any frills, including water outlet. A bit pricey, although this may be outweighed by the fact it'll be the only pack you may ever need.

An amazing pack that I've used for backpacking, mountaineering, cricket-stumps and wight training. Utterly bombproof