You Can’t Get This Yet: Columbia Montlake Day Pack
Columbia Montlake Day Pack $115, columbia.com, available Fall 2012
Good: Take anywhere style, take anything performance.
Bad: Give me a few more outside pockets!
Ugly: No sleeve for a hydration reservoir? What?
After years of use and abuse, I’ve grown to appreciate Columbia Sportswear’s commitment to making legit gear. The Montlake daypack keeps up the exceptionally high standard that I have come to expect from this sportswear enterprise. I found the pack online in Grey, Green or Black. I was impressed with the quality of materials, easy to access pockets, deep main compartment, and even a dedicated side access laptop compartment. I immediately loaded it down with too much gear and headed out for a day hike into the expansive Trinity Alps with Trek Tech’s fearless leader Billy Brown. The hike was fast paced and scenic through alpine meadows and ending at Stoddard Lake which is one of the largest in the Alps. Even with more than enough gear in my bag for the quick hike, the bag didn’t weigh me down. It was light and the distinctive EVA foam/mesh shoulder straps distributed the weight well. The side cinches really pulled the load in tight against my back to keep pack movement to a minimum.
Looking closer: the pack is made of durable ballistic polyester and has two full length external pockets that are great for water bottles or a rolled up fleece, and also one top pocket to keep small gear organized. It would be nice to have a couple small mesh pockets on either side near the hips to tuck a camera or GPS within easy reach; this pack has smooth sides with no stash points at all. The main compartment of this pack is a spacious 2000 cubic inches for all the essentials with a drawstring top and flap closure. Along one side, there is a soft lined laptop pocket all of my 15.6” fits right into. There’s also a small velcro pocket for a flat map or book. This additional padded compartment is a great example of what Columbia designers do to make this pack more functional for everyday commuter use as well. Against the lower back is a removable waist strap that is easy to adjust and comfortably supportive. I also found and tested a rescue whistle built into the sternum strap; my ears rang for 10 minutes afterwards. Gear straps on both sides help cinch the load down nice and tight. The entire pack is treated with Omni-Shield, a molecular coating to keep your precious cargo protected from the elements, and the unique Techlight L.O.A.D. straps really helped keep airflow across the shoulders during a hot dayhike.
This pack is light, durable, and has all the little extras that make a day hike into the wilderness a blast. I am considering a lightweight overnight trek to see how well I can handle living off ramen and UV filtered water while sleeping in a tiny hammock, and this will be the workhorse to hold my gear. So If you’re looking for a great all around outdoor pack, the Columbia Montlake will definitely be worth a closer look this fall. Just be sure to pack a water bottle.
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Tags: backpacking, camping, columbia, columbia sportswear, cycling, gear, hiking
Author: David Skinner
