Mountain Hardwear South Col Backpack

Mountain Hardwear South Col Backpack

Our big mountain pack. Trek to basecamp, and then strip down for the summit. Hip belt, frame sheet and lid are removable, and the pack can be compressed to the body for stable, quick runs. Attachment points accommodate a full load of tools. Fully loaded, this pack carries 76 liters, stripped down is will hold over 70 liters, and weigh almost 3 lbs less.

• Dual-density foam shoulder straps and fixed, padded waist belt
• Compression molded backpanel balances comfort, ventilation, and snowshedding
• Fully reinforced three point haul system
• HDPE framesheet with alloy shaping rod for load support
• Hide-away, full wrap compression straps offer clean appearance and maximum versatility
• Hydration compatible
• Lightweight, high durability 100% Spectra front panel and wand pockets
• Minimalist Option: Remove framesheet and top pocket, swap padded belt for 1 1/2 in. webbing hipbelt (included) for reduced weight to 2 lb. 4 oz. for summit push
• New buckle design is easy to operate with gloves
• Under-lid rope strap

Purchase the Mountain Hardwear South Col Backpack from Altrec.com. All order totals over $45 qualify for free ground shipping.

Reviews

Altrec.com Shopper - October 15 2009

Perfect mountaineering backpack
Purchased the South Col for Mt. Aconcagua in Argentina and have found it to be perfect. Can strip down for summit push but rigid enough for tough walking all the way in. Huge expandable volume and enough straps to be technically efficient. Very impressed.

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Alpenrocker - March 31 2009

Great versatile backpack!
When I first bought the South Col Backpack, I was not sure what to expect. It is so much lighter than other backpacks of the same volume, so i did not expect it to be super rigid. I was wrong. The fabric is surprisingly tough. The backpack itself is ultra versatile. Doesn't matter if you are carrying 30L or 80L, you can size it to the right size and it still feels pretty comfortable. However, during one trip i accidentally put the backpack on a rusty iron bar in a Jeep and the vibrations caused by a bad road made a hole in the backpack. Mountain Hardware Customer Service is great though. They fixed it super nicely without any charge. I just had to send it in. The only two cons i can think of: 1. If you choose to remove the aluminum frame, it is super difficult to get it back in again. 2. Due to its simplicity and missing compartments its a bit difficult to reach stuff in the bottom of the backpack.

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