The New Deuter Pace 30

ISO: Something That Dan Likes

Filed under: , , , , , , , by: TRuC


Light as a feather stiff as a board. To anyone that has done team building activities, this statement might make you cringe. To the uninitiated, imagine someone standing on a wooden platform 10 feet off the deck with 6 people waiting to catch them screaming, “Keep your back stiff as a board and imagine yourself light as a feather!”

This statement also holds true for ultra lightweight backpacks. On one hand, you want your pack to be light (light as feather); on the other hand you want it to be able to carry a load without feeling like you're strapped to a backboard (stiff as a board). With this in mind, I decided to try out a new Deuter pack called the Pace 30.

When I first picked the pack up, I realized it easily met my first requirement of being light as a feather (2lbs) while still having a lot of sweet features - a vented waste belt with goo stash pouch, gear loop as well as a front panel roomy enough for a helmet - making this pack an excellent, jack of all trades.

Since the pack screamed "DO IT ALL," I decided to test it doing a couple of different activities - an approach hike and climbing. I was hoping to test it with more climbing but our “hike” turned into a full on bushwhack, “If you are curious the approach was rated a BW3+. We're talking a full on alder vaulting, black berry bush, and things that go F*** in the night experience.” Even at about 25lbs, I barely noticed the pack while doing my best Rambo impression through the brush, “Sorry for jumping on you Dan I was little caught up in the moment.” This is primarily due to the tensioned Delrin U-frame stay system that adds just enough stiffness (stiff as a board perhaps?) to keep the weight on your hips while still being super flexible.

The pack is super streamlined and compresses down easily which allowed me to stalk my prey…I mean follow my partner without getting snagged on limbs or anything else that goes bump in the night. In the end, the fabric held up better then I did. I don’t know if this was due to the bombproof Hexlite 210 fabric or the fact that my face took the brunt of the abuse. Either way, this pack held up so well that Sylvester Stallone would be impressed. This versatility and durability at $99 dollars makes this pack a must have for Spring 2010.

Pro’s: Lightweight, durable, and affordable makes this all-arounder appropriate for all your alpine endeavors from fast and light alpine climbing to back country skiing, “Yes it does carry skis!!!”

Con’s: I don’t know. The fact that it isn’t called the Jack of All 30 or the Rambo 30. Or maybe the fact that I have to give this back to the rep and won’t be able to acquire my own until Spring 2010.

Bonus: My friend Dan likes this pack. Dan never likes anything. Enough said.

Specs: 2lbs Capacity 30L MSRP: $99.00



Associate Blogger Jeremy Park can be found hiding in the alpine ranges of the Pacific Northwest and occasionally ditches a day of work to return from his adventures. As a crusty contradiction, he enjoys ice and rock of all types and more importantly, lives for general tomfoolery.


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The Super Ego Messenger Bag

by Tom Bihn

Filed under: , , , , , by: TRuC

On a recent google inquiry of "What is Seattle known for," I found that the Emerald City is known for many, many things. From the obvious and infamous rain, fish tossing of Pikes Place, the Space Needle, to the almost immediate access of the incredible panorama of sea, sky and mountains of the Pacific Northwest; Seattle definitely ranks high on the tourist allure scale.

What I failed to find on my research, was the undeniable fervor and support for local business. When I first moved here, my long time friend and Seattle resident explained to me that despite its size, Seattle lends itself to creating a small town feel. It's been about a year now and although I haven't been able to totally find that feeling, I have learned that Seattle has more locally owned businesses than any city I have lived.

There aren't any Wal-Marts on every corner (there's just one that's barely on the cusp of the Seattle border) and a person could drive a single street everyday for months without knowing that they passed several independent shops, restaurants and other businesses.

With that said, in a 7 story building where almost every floor is run by the company I work for, there's a secret floor that I passed everyday for over 6 months. I had heard rumors of a small business gig that made awesome products. Operating mostly online, you couldn't get into this place unless it was on the one day of the month the showroom was open, or by special appointment. I finally made contact a couple months ago...















For 20 years, Tom Bihn (TB) of Seattle has been cranking out a unique brand of bags that carry the image and reputation of durability and reliability as well as distinctive designs. I met up with June (VP of Production) and Casey (Shipping) one afternoon to tour their shop and to pick a bag for my review. When I exited the elevator, I was immediately drawn to the fact that TB operates solely out of their office in Seattle. The production area is adjacent to the showroom complete with machines, cutting tables and assembly. No overseas production here. June and Casey were more than happy to let me review one of their bags and basically cut me loose like a child in a candy store to determine which one I wanted.

I chose the Super Ego to satisfy my requirements for a large capacity, do-it-all and take-everywhere needs...some would probably argue that I chose it to match or surpass my own ego. The Super Ego (SE) is TB's biggest messenger styled bag, boasting 27Litres or 1680Cu.in. I chose this bag because 1) I prefer messenger bags for their easy access 2) its lower profile despite the large, accommodating capacities 3) less back coverage = less sweat 4) I think I favor messenger bags a lot based on my cycling days 5) backpacks remind me of being back in elementary school.

While writing this, I'm constantly reminded of the onslaught of messenger bag styles. From the generic boxy designs of private school book sacks to the strange and somewhat functional pregnant inner tube look, I find that I need to discern the TB designs over the rest:
Quality and innovative materials. The exterior of the SE is made of U.S. 1050 denier Ballistic nylon - the thick, tough stuff. I've taken this bag climbing, runs to the store and on my daily commute via motorcycle and can't make it even appear to be dirty or used. It still looks brand new! I even accidentally shut it in the door of my truck and drove around the city for a day and didn't even kink it. In addition to the bomber materials, I'd suggest also checking out their cork-made materials...pretty cool indeed.The splash-proof zippers never jammed and are more than enough to handle a deluge. It hasn't been raining here much since I got the bag (yeah, believe it) so I took it to the backyard R&D department at my home and hosed it with max pressure. Inevitably, some things got wet after I focused the nozzle onto the zipper to simulate an event that I end up swimming with it.

The fit is pretty comfy. For a bag this size, I was surprised that with my daily work commute load (rain pants, jacket/shell, notebook a wealth of papers and miscellaneous crap I have been too lazy to go through and sort or throw away), this bag felt like nothing on my back. Even on a recent hardware store run where I carried about 10lbs of nails, screws, two tubes of caulk and a jigsaw (yes, a jigsaw), I felt unhindered by the weight or had anything poking into my back- thanks to the incorporated padding.

There are three different shoulder straps available for the SE: The Standard Shoulder Strap (included) is a 1-1/2" wide heavy nylon webbing strap with a comfortable, wide foam pad designed to conform to the shoulder and back. The Absolute Shoulder Strap is designed to alleviate pin point strain on the shoulder by incorporating a stretch/shock absorbing feature in the internals of the strap itself. Adjustments aren't complicated to make and I couldn't live without their Q-AM Shoulder Strap - a great solution to stabilizing the bag to stay on your back.

One of the major features that sets TB bags apart are the details and the focus for accommodating the user. My other messenger bags were essentially big, unorganized, bottomless pits. The SE has compartments for just about everything. Underneath the cover flap, a big organizer pouch sandwiches a larger main compartment, which is then heeled by a totally separate compartment that is zippered for quick access without having to open/unbuckle the flap. Within the zippered pocket are two bomber clips for the super cushioned TB Brain Cell - Tom's laptop carrier. This is where we could begin a whole new path of discussion...but we won't. This design definitely appeals more to the business side of things where organization is important and to be honest...organization is always a welcomed application to my lifestyle. However, laziness always got the better of me and bypassing the organizational apparatus and treating it as a 'bottomless pit' was just as convenient. Finally, another noticeable feature worth mentioning would be the reflective strip on the front of the bag. On the front flap of the SE is an interchangeable strip that has a dual purpose of form and function. The strap is pretty cool and available in 19 different colors and different materials (Cork?!). The strip also serves as the buckle for closing the main cover flap. While riding on my motorcycle, I felt a bit more comfortable that this strip was there for added visibility. It almost felt as though this bag was designed for the motorcycle rider...or maybe it's the business minded person that refuses to carry a briefcase...or the urban bike rider...or the guy that just wants a bag that can do it all and carry it all!

So my journey to one of Seattle best kept secrets has landed me in a cool place where bags are a lot more than some chic accoutrement. Quality craftsmanship and a vision towards purpose and dependability puts Tom Bihn in a rare niche outside of the 'planned obsolescence' arena.
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The Deuter Guide 45+ Alpine Pack

SWM ISO: My Amazonian Goddess

Filed under: , , , , , , , , , , by: TRuC



I see backpacks as a necessary evil to outdoor endeavors. They never fit right, are too heavy, don’t have the right bells and whistles, are uncomfortable and the list goes on. Personally I would love to have a Star Trek Transporter magically teleport my gear to the prearranged bivy/campsite anytime I hike or climb. Seeing as the chances of this actually happening (I’ll hold out and hope that I’ll eventually marry some Amazonian goddess that will schluf my gear anytime I want) are zero to nil, I am on a continuous search for the “do everything” bag. This bag would be comfortable, light weight, durable, and have just the right frills – basically, I want the perfect satchel for my gear. As you can see, there’s a reason I haven’t found my Amazonian goddess. However, I’ll settle for the current contender for my “do everything” bag - the Guide 45+ from Deuter. This all around alpine pack is made from a 1000d nylon Duratex and 420d Microlite fabric making this beefcake, well, super beefy. Both of the fabrics are PU coated, making this bag effectively waterproof (minus the occasional river dunking or typhoon conditions since the seams aren’t taped). My first impressions of the bag out of the packaging are mixed. On one hand, the bag is super durable (beefy fabric, beefy zippers, beefy…beefy) and seems to have all the right bells and whistles ( A-frame ski holders, ice tool holders, NO trekking pole holders, NO pull cord to lunch Patriot missiles, etc.), there are add-ons that seem unnecessary. This includes the side-access zippers and bottom compartment access zippers - I’d have one, but not both. As for the bottom compartment separator - I’d probably cut this out. All of these features are nice but add a lot of unnecessary zipper weight. Another feature I would like to see would be some sort of haul system using maybe a 3-point haul system for more vertical travel.

First impressions aside, I started packing the bag. Although listed as a 45L bag, I think it’s a little conservative (think far right wing conservative). I packed all my climbing gear, a rope, a bivy set up, food, stove and still had enough room for a bottle of wine. Compare that to my current 45+10L alpine pack which barely has enough room for the essentials much less enough room for a small flask of whiskey.

The Guide is also the most comfortable alpine pack I’ve ever used. Most light weight packs, the shoulder and waist straps are so trimmed down that they feel like a boa constrictor working on squeezing out your innards; leading to sore muscles and massage therapist bills. The Guide was a champ even on a 2 mile 2500ft approach.

There are plenty other things to like about the pack. Like a high priced stripper I once knew, this pack strips down to nothing but the bare necessities, the simple bear necessities. You can easily, “easily” being the operative word here, remove or put back together the pack stays, hip belt, and foam sheet - which doubles as an emergency bivy pad. On other alpine packs, I’ve found that removing these things can be easy but putting them back in can be a huge pain in the ass (I still haven’t fully gotten my Grivel Alpine Pack stay back in and I’ve had it for almost two years!!!!).Even stripped down and sans hip belt, the Guide was super comfortable. Although the “stripped down system” isn’t perfect and you can’t remove the top lid, it is by far the best system I’ve seen on a alpine pack. All in all, it's a nice alpine pack.

Pros: Über durable (no worries about punching through the pack materials with your crampons), Strips down easily, SUPER comfortable to carry, Reasonably priced at $169 (It was the cheapest pack out of all the comparable packs)


Cons: This is the heaviest pack (4lbs 4oz.) out of all the comparable alpine packs I looked at (I looked at Black Diamond, Osprey, Cilogear, and Grivel). This could easily be fixed by losing the bottom compartment opening and the internal separation flap. Neither of these changes would take away from the carrying comfort.

Bonus: Printed directions underneath the top lid on how to facilitate a rescue that doesn't involve you running around naked.

Conclusions: Amazonian goddess this pack is not (no one’s perfect) but if comfort and durability at a stellar price point is what you're seeking, then get this pack for all your alpine endeavors. Specs:


Volume: 2750-3350 cubic inches
Torso: 16.5-20 inches inches
Weight: 4 lbs. 4 oz. (3lbs. 10oz. min. weight)
Dimensions (HxWxD): 29 x 13.5 x 9.5 inches



Guest Blogger Jeremy Park can be found hiding in the alpine ranges of the Pacific Northwest and occasionally ditches a day of work to return from his adventures. As a crusty contradiction, he enjoys ice and rock of all types and more importantly, lives for general tomfoolery.










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