ThruWay™ 50 4.5 5 2 2
Burly yet lightweight backpack The Thruway 50 is an excellent choice for a lightweight backpack (weighed 38oz) with plenty of room for use on long distance treks. The fabric and seams are burly yet lightweight. Loads of room. I bought the size large which provides 55 liters in the main compartment plus the exterior shovel pouch, which is huge, plus stretchy side pockets on the exterior. Due to the large interior volume, you must pack your gear appropriately in order to achieve proper back support and pack load balance. I would suggest a firmer/stiffer suspension sheet rather than the rubbery folded-into-fourths sit-pad sheet. Flexes too much. The best feature is the roll-top enclosure: opening and closing is quick and easy and waterproof. I would prefer the ordinary shoulder straps featured on other Mountain Hardwear packs, such as the Summitrocket40 (I own one - completely awesome pack - please manufacture a 60L version), rather than the perforated ones on the Thruway 50. But that is my personal choice. Overall, a very useful and well made piece of gear. March 12, 2013
Great pack light and customizable I dropped 4 lbs just by changing packs I love the pack its lite and you can pull pad and/or frame sheet for minimalist day pack or you can pull them and use your sleeping pad as frame/padding.Great big awesome pockets with lots of mesh to stuff bottles, spade, tent stakes etc.CONS- no bladder compartment but going to platypus soft sides you can save weight and just tuckem right in the side pocket mesh soAll in all great pack !Remember it is fairly ultralight so keep you pack weight below 25lbs,I'm 5'8 and 120lbs and the medium fits great January 13, 2013