Bora 80 Backpack

Comments about Arcteryx Bora 80 Backpack:

I purchased this pack for a five day trip to Glacier. It's the most comfortable pack that I've ever used. My friend who tried the lightweight backpack was miserable and had a sore back. I carried more stuff but never noticed due to the great Arcteryx suspension system.

Comments about Arcteryx Bora 80 Backpack:

This backpack is a beast. It's awesome for long trips into the backcountry. I put my "gear style" as minimalist, but this backpack is amazingly comfortable when fully loaded and is meant to be in it for the long haul. I've been a mule with this thing on and still felt comfortable. Great hip-belt, probably the best I've come across. Thick, comfy shoulder straps. Lot's of room at 80L. My only gripe: the water bottle holders--they're difficult to access while walking because they sit kind of high. But, they're a minor inconvenience in an otherwise superb backpack.

Comments about Arcteryx Bora 80 Backpack:

I bought the mercury version of this pack and I'm amazed by how big this thing is. I bought it for a 14 day trip through the UK and found that it was adequate. I typically pack very light but decided to bring a lot of extras because I had the room for it.

This pack has a ton of features. I haven't bought a pack in over 10 years so I feel out of date when I look at these new complicated packs. Everything is adjustable which is good for the most part, but it took me a few trips to get the "settings" just right.

Once the pack is setup properly, it does an excellent job of balancing the load. I carried over 50 pounds of stuff for a few miles and didn't feel terribly bogged down.

The padding is very nice. It's firm and supportive. I didn't feel like the pack was uncomfortable.

I love all of the compartments. The bottom compartment (which is intended for sleeping bags I think) is very spacious. The lid is also huge and I love that you can take it off and wear it like a fanny pack. You'll look ridiculous since the lid is almost the size of my chest!! It's still nice having that feature though. Another cool pocket is the outside one, which is great for putting running shoes. I actually found that to be very helpful during my trip.

I do have some very small complaints. I want to say that none of these small cons would deter me from buying this pack again so don't let these scare you away from this amazing pack.

1. It's a little complicated. I'm not very familiar with all the adjustments so I felt like I needed someone to help me fit the pack. The pack has these metal bars for support, and on Arc'teryx's website they show how you can bend the bars to fit your back. That's great and all but I feel like I need some specialist to help me with that!

2. The hip support is very comfy but it's also very stiff and big. I couldn't fit this in the trunk of my car (it's a sports car) because the straps stick up and the bag is somewhat bulky. This can be easily fixed since you can take the help belt off, but it was annoying at times.

3. I found that if you pack the bag to the max, the lid can be hard to close. I always felt like there was some small gap and it took a lot of tweaking to get it right. If you don't stuff your pack to the max it's not a problem.

I love this pack. I don't have anywhere to put it in my apartment now that I'm not using it at the moment. That's OK b/c I love it. I think the only pack that is better than this is the Naos from Arc'teryx. If you don't have money to burn then I think the Bora 80 is a great pack for most uses at a somewhat affordable price. I definitely would buy this pack again.

Comments about Arcteryx Bora 80 Backpack:

Perfect for multi-day trips and virtually water-proof. Have never had any issues with water that I didn't put in it. Have used it for Alpine climbing, backcountry ski trips and epic hikes.

Comments about Arcteryx Bora 80 Backpack:

If you want a pack with all the bells and whistles this is the one. It has every compartment you would ever want. Durability is great. Love the padding.

Comments about Arcteryx Bora 80 Backpack:

I've had my Bora 80 since May 2000 and used it on many multi-day backpacking trips around the country. It has held up really well sometimes under brutal conditions. The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is the pack weight itself. I wish it were lighter but I value durability very much in the real world. Later, my wife purchased a Bora 62. Our son then wanted the Bora 65. Each could be mico-adjusted for a great fit. They're sweet....and weight less than mine.