Mammut Neon Gear 45L Pack Review : Everything you need, nothing you don't.

Today I took the new Mammut Neon Gear 45L pack out for a test run and right out of the gates I was stoked to pack this thing up for a day of climbing. Our plan for the was to head down to the Owens River Gorge and climb a few pitches before heading into work. I packed the following items, and everything fit easily inside the pack with room to spare. Here is what I brought:

• 70m Rope
• 16 Quickdraws
• Harness
• 2 pairs of Climbing Shoes
• Grigri and Belay Gloves
• Chalk Bag
• Chalk Bucket with extra chalk
• Liquid Chalk
• First Aid Kit
• Snacks
• 2L Water
• 1L Bottle (Gnarly BCAA’s)
• Puffy Jacket

This pack carries well and is extremely comfortable with ample padding in the shoulder straps and the waist strap, which is nice on a longer approach or when you have it packed to the gills. When loading this pack, you have two options, from the top, or laying the pack down and opening the back panel. I found that while the pack was empty it was easiest to load from the top, and once we arrived at the wall it was really nice to lay the pack down and unload my gear from the back panel. There are also two mesh pockets on the inside of the back panel perfect for storing a pair of shoes and your harness or chalk bag. This pack also comes with a rope tarp that doubles as a rope bag making it easy to move from route to route without having to coil up the rope. Another key feature for your Indian Creek trip when you fill the entire 45 liter pack with a quadruple rack, food for an army and 18 puffy jackets, and the rope is still not packed inside… you can just strap it on the top with the integrated rope strap!

The downside… well not much really. This thing is bomber, fits all the gear you could possibly need, its comfortable and comes in at an affordable price of $159.95. The only thing I would say is that the rope tarp that comes with this pack is a little on the small end. If your crag is like the ORG with dirty sandy bases at the cliff you may want to stick with your rope bag or a larger rope tarp. But Other then that this thing was awesome.

Pros:

• Plenty of space for all your gear
• Carries well and is extremely comfortable
• Has all the right features while keeping it simple
• Easy to load and unload
• Affordable price point

Cons:

• Rope tarp is a little on the small end

Summary: Don't wait for the temps to drop and you're still stuck with that old crummy pack that doesn't fit the gear you need or provide you any comfort while its latched onto your back for dear life ready to blow out. Do your self (and your climbing) a favor and elevate your crag pack status with the Mammut Neon Gear 45L. Trust us, your climbing partners will be stoked too. Why? Because you're always stoked to carry the rack AND the rope because this pack makes it just so easy!