The one piece of gear every person needs when taking to the back country for any time longer than a single day is a backpack. While there are many choices-frame type, capacity, technical features, and more-we've decided to focus on the internal pack frame, which is still the most popular selling pack.

We tried the following packs and have rated them using a 1 to 5 pack scale, 5 packs is the highest rating:

Osprey Silhouette (men's) and Amelia (women's)
JanSport Alaska
Serratus AlpineGuide
Vortex 4500 series

The packs vary somewhat in capacity-ranging from 4500 cubic inches (ci) to 6200 ci-at the large end of the scale, being suitable for multiple day trips.

Osprey Silhouette (and Amelia)

Capacity:  5400 cu. in to 5600 cu. in Price:        $369

Osprey's Silhouette exemplifies the complete internal frame pack-you name a feature and this pack has it. The Ameila is the women's version of the Silhouette with the same feature set, but designed specifically for a woman's (usually) shorter torso.

Features include ice axe loops at the top of the sleeping bag compartment, removable (i.e. with a buckle) straps along the base of the pack for attaching a sleeping pad, tripod, or tent, and a top lid, or pocket, which converts to a fanny pack. The top lid also provides a separate zipper pocket underneath the lid for a hydration bladder.

Both packs offer a unique sleeping bag stuffer. Inside the sleeping bag compartment is a sewn-in stuff sack which Osprey claims makes it easier to load your sleeping bag and adds an extra moisture barrier to keep the bag dry.

Silhouette and Amelia's fits are highly customizable. Osprey offers three sizes of shoulder strap/harnesses and hipbelts for each pack-small, medium and large in both Men's and Women's sizes-which you mix and match for a perfect fit.

Suspension components include a wide, padded, removable hip belt, aluminum stays with an additional delrin rod for torsional flexibility, and a harness system which connects all the pieces together.

The Vector Compression system consists of an interchangeable series of panels, pockets, and accessories which buckle to the front (away from the body) of the pack via the compression straps. Options vary from the Vector Two with two zipper pockets and daisy chain loops, to a snowboard carrier, an easy chair, or ice-gear panel. We tested with the Vector One flat panel and the Vector Two.

The Silhouette weighed in as the heaviest pack in this review, but only by a quarter to half pound.

We had two reviewers each try out the Silhouette and Amelia. The men differed somewhat on their comfort ratings. While the first didn't rave about comfort, he experienced no problems. The second could never quite get the hip belt to fit comfortably. "I don't really remember what I felt was wrong with the belt, I just have a note that it wasn't comfortable," he wrote. The women were consistent and emphatic-they loved the Amelia's fit and comfort.

Three things bothered the testers. First, they noted that the straps on the pack were all flat. It is common to have all of the straps stitched back on themselves at the end so that the plastic clips can't slide off so easily. A small complaint, but an important convenience on the trail.

Second, the sleeping bag stuff sack was universally disliked by everyone, feeling it wasted too much space, and was inconvenient. They noted it was too big for summer bags, and too small for some large winter bags. One reviewer wrote, "Anyone who carries a sleeping bag that big is a glutton for punishment. I just don't like the drawstring compartment." While you can zip open the divider over the bag compartment to save space, this was not evident. One reviewer wanted to do this but failed to find the zipper.

On a related note, two of the testers found the bag compartment's external zipper difficult to open or close when full, especially with a large sleeping bag.

One final problem-the absence of pouches or pockets at the base of the back to put skis in. "While not everyone uses packs for skiing, I often use a side pouch to attach a tent or fishing poles to my pack instead of trying to fit them all inside."

Everyone made positive comments about the Vector compression system. For example, one reviewer noted, "One feature I really liked about the pack was the Vector Two Compression. I guess it was because I liked having the extra little pocket on the outside for those knick knacks that I wanted to keep easily accessible."

Summary:
The Silhouette and Amelia are first-class packs with all the features you'd expect from Osprey, a leader in pack design and sales. While our reviewers had a few picky complaints, the sleeping bag stuff sack seemed to be the only big disappointment. Comfort rated high with the women, and average for the men. Durability is also high. Its hard to go wrong with an Osprey.

Contact Osprey at 970-882-2221.

JanSport Alaska

Capacity:  6200 cu. in Price:        $189

JanSport's Alaska is a mammoth pack at 6200 ci (7000 ci fully extended) capable of handling the largest loads you'd want to throw at it; perhaps larger than you'd like to carry. (Another model, the Rockies is smaller with a capacity of 5400 ci, but almost identical in design. Although we tested only the Alaska, in general our comments should also apply to the Rockies.)

The Alaska's design differs from the other packs in this review. The pack is a top loader with lots of exterior pockets. This is definitely a pack style for organizers. With JanSport's modular add-on systems, you can extend the Alaska with a variety of other specialized accessories, such as a first-aid pocket, camera pocket, patrol kitchen, tools scabbard, or hydration pocket.

The pack's features are similar to the others, with the exception of ice axe loops, and fewer daisy chains lash points, which are more technical features. Alaska's feature set include bottom clip straps (sleeping pad straps), side compression straps (attached to the side pockets), top lid which doubles as a fanny pack and with a elastic cord compression system, zip out divider between the bag compartment and main bag, and mesh water bottle pockets, and functional zipper pulls throughout.

A unique shoulder harness system, which JanSport calls the velcro torso ladder, allows you to adjust the harness to twelve different setting by moving the harness strap among various loops along the back of the pack. In our testing this system proved difficult to master. When not attached correctly, the harness pulled away from the pack frame creating a sloppy, loose feel.

The surprise of the review was the comfort of the JanSport packs. For a low price point, less technical pack reviewers found the Alaska to be quite comfortable, especially the hip belt. About the only negative comment was that the hip belt could be firmer. "I felt that the belt was too spongy and soft for a pack designed to carry this large a load," wrote one tester. Despite that observation, no one felt the Alaska was uncomfortable.

Functional back padding proved adequate and the mesh covering kept the pads from heating up or getting too wet from sweat.

Summary:
A great pack for the price point and to round our your lines.. While not for the technical backpacker or mountaineer, the Alaska is a good pack for infrequent packers and price sensitive customers. While you give up a few technical features, you loose little in comfort. Durability may be less than packs like the Osprey or especially the Vortex, so if you plan on torturing your pack, you may want to consider a higher priced model.

Contact JanSport at 800-558-3600 or on the Internet at www.jansport.com.

Pelion Mountain Products (Serratus) AlpineGuide

Capacity:  5000 cu. in Price:        $289

Pelion Mountain Systems' Serratus line of packs are designed to meet the needs of mountaineering, yet also appeal to general hiking, backpacking, and skiing usage. Mountaineering packs tend to be slender, lightweight, and emphasize stability.

The AlpineGuide is strictly a single compartment top loader-no sleeping bag compartment here.

The pack's great accessibility is perhaps its greatest strength, and the feature most appreciated by our testing crew. Access occurs through a large full-length zipper, with a fabric flap to cover and protect the zipper (i.e. to keep water and dirt out of the pack). One tester noted, "While on the trail I can get at anything, anywhere in the pack. I simply lay it flat on the ground, tug on the zipper and the entire load is opened up to me."

The main compartment expands upward to with an extra 1200 ci of cargo space, while maintaining the slim profile and side-to-side balance.

This pack offers four sizes of hipbelts and shoulder straps to accommodate all people. The belt is firm with adequate padding. A molded foam back panel cushions the pack against your back, and horizontal channels, or flutes, provide extra circulation to reduce heat and sweat.

The standard pack features are pretty much all there: ice axe loops, a full-length daisy chain for hanging carabiners, ropes and such, mesh bottle pockets at the base of the pack, and a top lid with daisy chain, which doubles as a fanny pack. The lid has an extra pocket on the bottom with a key holder, which could also hold a hydration bladder.

One complaint was the lack of straps across the bottom of the pack to attach a sleeping pad or tent. In place of these straps the AlpineGuide offers two free-floating clip straps which you can position anywhere between loops of the daisy chain. While useful and very flexible, the vertical orientation of these straps makes them less useful for attaching longer items like pads and tents.

A unique feature was a plastic slider to cinch down the top opening of the main bag compartment. Our field crew found this to be easier to open and close than traditional cinch systems, especially when the pack was fully expanded.

Comfort was good. As with the Osprey Silhouette, we had one dissenting opinion, a reviewer who just couldn't get the pack to fit comfortably, especially in the hip belt. For the rest, comfort was not an issue. "I noticed the hip belt for the first hour or two, after that I never felt any discomfort. The entire pack rode well-no hot spots."

"The adjustments were effective in allowing me to distribute the weight between hips and shoulders," said one reviewer after a three day excursion into Southern Utah's Coyote Gulch. He continued, "I know a pack was comfortable if I can look back though my notes at the end of a trip and not find any complaints."

Summary:
A good solid pack that will especially appeal to mountaineers, bushwackers,and others who need good stability. For top-loader lovers this one is also a good choice as every reviewer commented on the ease of access. Most rated the comfort medium to high, with one exception. A good mid-range price point between the JanSport and the high-end Osprey and Vortex.

Contact Pelion Mountain Product at 604-444-3348or on the Internet at www.serratus.com.

Vortex 4500 Series

Capacity:  4500 cu. in. expands to 4950 cu. in. Price:        $375

We reviewed the Vortex 4500 series in a stand alone article in the August 1997 issue of Outfitter. We've included it in this review for two reasons. First, we raved about the 4500 last time-by reviewing it again in a comparative review, we'd give ourselves and readers a chance to see if the raves hold up against competition. Second, we've had time to further test the Vortex and can add a few more observations.

The Vortex is a top-of-the-line pack, with all of the features you'd expect and more. A top-loader style with a large horseshoe zipper access pocket, the Vortex features ice axe loops, bottom "sleeping pad" straps, a large front pocket similar to the Osprey's Vector Two accessory, lots of daisy chains and the best fitting top lid we've seen. Extras like the built-in key-holder clip, mesh pocket inside the large front pocket, hydration bladder holder under the top lid (with a special hole for the tubing), and huge rubberized zipper grabs demonstrate Vortex's attention to detail.

Vortex packs emphasizes comfort and durability.. Our tests show they've done a great job. Every reviewer who tried the Vortex, both male and female, rated the Vortex first in comfort. Instead of judging the pack's comfort by the lack of complaints in their notes, many reviewers actually had positive comments about the fit and feel of the Vortex. "I almost enjoyed strapping on the Vortex!", joked one reviewer. "The hip belt felt firmer than the other packs, but seemed to just melt onto my hips," stated another. Yet another stated, "The belt was more contoured than the others and molded around my hip bones."

While the Vortex does not have a model specifically constructed for women, the 4500 small pack was rated first in comfort by the women, even slightly ahead of the Osprey Amelia, a pack designed for women.

For fit, the 4500 series comes in small, medium, and large sizes with hipbelts and shoulder harness also in three sizes. The packs, belts and harnesses can be mixed and matched to fit.

As for durability, the Vortex utilizes Kevlar (the fabric in bulletproof vests) throughout for stitching, and double tacks all seams. For example, each strap continues through the initial tacking-point to a second tack point for extra strength.

The pack fabric is thicker than most, such as the 1600 denier bottom fabric, without raising the overall weight of the pack beyond comparable models.

A polycarbinate single-piece frame gives the 4500 good torsional stability, although we did not see specific comments rating this aspect as better than either the AplineGuide or the Silhouette and Amelia.

One of our few complaints was about the bottom sleeping pad straps. These could be improved by making them detachable clip straps rather than cinch straps (i.e. you can loosen and tighten them, but not detach them).

Summary:
Vortex's emphasis on comfort and durability is evident throughout. We experienced no problems with fit or comfort-unusual for our picky test crew. Durability is superior. For retailers, once you sell a Vortex, you can be confident that the customer won't be bringing back the pack with blown seams. If problems do develop, Vortex offers and unconditional warranty and will repair or replace the pack free of charge. Our previous ratings stand-we rate the Vortex as the best overall pack in this test. Although pricey at $375, its worth it.

Contact Vortex at 800-3-VORTEX