Swiss Gear Ibex Large Top Load Internal Frame Pack

Price : $69.97
You Save : $28.02 (32%)

Product Description

Amazon.com
Offering optimum organization and comfort for the road and trail, the 3100 cubic inch Ibex Backpack from Swiss Gear has a sturdy and lightweight internal frame with aluminum stays and framesheet and is equipped with multiple features to keep your gear secure and accessible. The hydration compatible Ibex can carry a 2-liter reservoir (not included) to keep you hydrated as you hike. The bag's large top loading, divided main compartment has bottom zippered access so that you don't have to unload from the top to get at lower contents. A front pocket with an organizer, front stowaway system, two side mesh stash pockets, an easy access media pocket for mp3s with a waterproof zipper, and a detachable GPS pocket on the shoulder strap keep everything you need organized, protected and at your fingertips. Designed for maximum comfort even with heavy loads, the pack features padded, contoured adjustable shoulder straps with shock absorption, a padded adjustable back panel with lumbar support, a padded adjustable waist band, and an adjustable sternum strap with integrated whistle buckle for safety. Equipped with a hideaway rain cover, the Ibex Backpack from Swiss Gear has you covered.
Specifications:

• Top loading
• Internal frame
• Aluminum stays and a frame sheet
• Padded, contoured shoulder straps with shock absorption
• Padded adjustable waist belt
• Padded adjustable back panel with lumbar support
• Adjustable sternum strap with integrated whistle buckle
• Hydration compatible for a 2 liter reservoir (sold separately)
• Divided main compartment with zippered bottom access
• Front pocket with organizer
• Front stowaway system
• Two side mesh stash pockets
• Detachable pocket on the shoulder strap
• Easy access media pocket with waterproof zipper
• Hideaway rain cover
• Size: 23.5 x 13 x 9 inches
• Capacity: 3100 cubic inches

The Swiss Gear Ibex Large Top Load Internal Frame pack features comfortable padded, contoured shoulder straps that include shock absorption. This pack is hydration compatible for a 2 liter reservoir (not included). With a capacity of 3100 cubic inches it measures 23.5 by 13 by 9 inches. The sternum strap is adjustable with an integrated whistle buckle. Pack your gear in the divided main compartment with zippered bottom access and the front pocket with an organizer. A front stowaway system and two side mesh stash pockets allow you to access water bottles or accessories quickly. A detachable pocket on the shoulder strap secures your GPS while the easy access media pocket with its waterproof zipper holds your MP3 player and a hideaway rain cover protects it all. Constructed with aluminum stays and a frame sheet it also features a padded adjustable waist belt and a padded adjustable back panel with lumbar support. Specifications: • Size: 23.5 in x 13 in. x 9 in. • Capacity: 3100 cu. in.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 28 x 15 x 6 inches ; 5.2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 5.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B00370Z3WA
• Item model number: SG25096
  

Product Features

• Adjustable sternum strap with integrated whistle buckle
• Padded, contoured adjustable shoulder straps with shock absorption, padded adjustable back panel with lumbar support
• Front pocket with organizer for hiking gear, detachable GPS pocket on shoulder strap
• Divided main compartment with bottom zippered access
• Hydration compatible for 2 liter reservoir (not included)

 

Swiss Gear Ibex Large Top Load Internal Frame Pack

 

Customer Reviews

Pros:
Good quality materials
Decent price if below $75
Looks attractive/sexy
Has done well on a trip to South America, 2-3 weeks, but these were not hard trekking trails - more like carry and drop off at the hostel kind of trip.
Roomy enough if you're an experienced traveler, though not a whole lot of space in the main compartment.
Bottom compartment fits a lot, so good for heavier stuff like boots and for stuff to launder, unless you have a sleeping bag there.
Cons:
My big complaint: while the shoulder straps are padded - they are not padded along their very edges. So the edges cut into your shoulders and chest if the pack is full. This is kind of stupid. Of all things on a backpack, you want the shoulder pads to be the most comfortable as the shoulders/back carry the load.
The backpack material is soft - this is not the toughest backpack out there.
I would venture to say that this is a woman's flashpacker backpack. If you're female or male, and backpack hard, this is not for you.
Conclusion:
If the shoulder straps were fully padded around, I would have given this 4 stars.
If you backpack for short periods, say 2 weeks-1 month, and don't beat up your backpack too much by traveling on mules, bus roofs, rafts and such, and drop off your pack in your dorm/room for the most part - this is a pretty fine backpack. It's cheap!
If you're a real country-to-country, hostel-to-hostel backpacker, look for stronger stuff, as this one will be cast aside after a couple of trips. I would not buy this pack again.
It's unfortunate, because the fabric and the foam padding on the back is really nice.
Update Nov 2010
I'm off to Asia on a bit harder trek (jungles, rivers) than the last 2 in South America. After much research on amazon, and still trying to keep within a small budget, I bought the High Sierra Sentinel 65 Frame Pack for $78. High Sierra Sentinel 65 Frame Pack It's way better in terms of shoulder straps padding, toughness of material, and space (65 liter vs 50 lit).

This backpack has held up very well so far and I have been on 4 very rigorous backpacking trips. Has been an excellent pack for the price. Has all the same features as the high end packs that you pay upwards of $200.00. I stuff my extra large mummy sleeping bag in the bottom compartment and have had enough room in the main compartment for all my clothes and food for 6 days. Carried atleast 60 lbs in it on every trip. I like the side pockets and the back pocket along with a pouch on the very top that covers the main top loading compartment. Can also access the main top load compartment from a zippered side. Also has a hydration pouch for 2 liter camel back blatter. Plenty of lash points. Has place on bootom of pack to thread straps through and that is where I fasten my tent. To top it off, there is a rain fly in a pouch at the very bottom of the pack that pulls out and over the pack to protect it from getting wet. The only reason I did not give this pack a five star is because I have never owned another pack to campare it to.