Deuter Rise Pro 34+
Now that I've used the pack a handful of times (a short ski tour, a day hike in the snow and a few indoor climbing sessions), I thought I'd add some thoughts on the pack's performance, in addition to my initial overview of the specs and features, which can be found here.
Load bearing
While I certainly havn't lugged around an awful lot of weight in the pack yet, a 35+ litre pack can certainly get pretty heavy with lots of kit, so the suspension system and comfort of the pack are crucial. One of the main reasons I picked out this pack (compared to others) was the superb fit when I tried it on in the store.
Indeed, it did hold up very well carrying a days worth of kit. The hip belt and shoulder straps are very comfy, and the load is distributed well. One point mentioned in my initial overview is that, due to the U-shaped back opening, the pack uses a U-shaped frame, as opposed to a parallel vertical or even X-shaped frame system found in some similar packs. I found that, when packed full, the back bulked outwards slightly in the lumbar region (pictures to follow). I initially noted this with some concern, however after carrying the bag for a few days, I never actually felt this bulge in my back, and it did not seem to compromise comfort.
Therefore, with the relatively low weight carrying I've done so far, the pack definitely performed well, and was extremely comfortable.
Features
When browsing over the specs of this pack, you'll notice straight away how laden with features it is. So, how useful are they, and do they justify the extra weight of this relatively heavy pack?
Luckily, as noted in my features overview, most of the extra straps etc. fold away in little stash pockets, so that was nice. Nevertheless, I still felt like I was messing about with an awful lot of straps and buckles, which was most noticeable in cold, windy conditions while wearing mittens.
One thing I will certainly consider is shortening the main straps for the lid; they do seem excessively long. However, that should be an easy fix.
The front pocket is a fairly useful feature, and actually creates a zip/toploader hybrid. Besides holding essential safety gear in winter, its a great pocket to hold an extra shell etc. It should be noted however, that in order to fully access the pocket, the two lid straps must be unbuckled. This is perhaps a mild design flaw, as it effects both access speed (for avvy gear) and practicality (for accessing other stuff). Not a massive deal-breaker, but something to note nonetheless.
The U-shaped back zipper is wonderful, and may well be one of my favorite features on the pack. That it necessitates a U-frame hasn't proved an issue thus far. As a friend of mine pointed out, being on the 'inside' of the frame, it seems like it might come under quite some stress when bearing loads, so only time will tell how durable this zipper is. That being said, it is really practical!! I found I almost used this zip more than the actual top access (I know, maybe I should've bought a top zippered bag after all...) because it allows me to store heavy yet essential items (water bottle, thermos mug) towards the bottom and close to the back (where they should be) yet access them very easily.
My biggest gripe so far has been the horizontal attachment straps (meant for snowboards and snowshoes). When closed, they somewhat obstruct the front pocket, the excess strap material just hangs around and gets in the way, and as a non-snowboarder, I havn't really found much use for them yet. I've tried tucking all the straps away in the pocket, and tucking the buckles away with elastics - maybe I will find that better. However, if in a few months, I've still found no use for them, I might consider cutting those straps off. On the flipside, for someone considering this pack for snowboard touring (with snowshoes), this could be a critical feature.
Conclusion
The suspension system works great for me, and I find it very comfortable. Of course, that's something that's best tried out on your own, since everyone has a different back shape etc., but this is still a great plus-point for me!
This pack is of a fairly traditional design and construction, and concedes weight in exchange for feature richness. So far, this has mostly paid off for what I use it for, as I don't generally do many activities where weight is absolutely critical, and I've gotten fair use out of most features. Nevertheless, I probably will take a knife to some of the features eventually to make the whole thing a bit more streamlined.
