Looking for a 50 to 55 liters alpine pack

t.farrell wrote:

Mystery Ranch Scepter 50 looks interesting

https://www.mysteryranch.com/scepter-50-pack

thanks but it 's a bit on the heavy side. So far, the Pata Ascensionist and the BD speed are making it on my shortlist. 

My partner is selling a BD Speed 50 (brain not included) for like $40+shipping… it’s in good shape, she just has other packs she uses more…

Rexford Nesakwatch wrote:

I like the MH AL 50 best too, and did these same mods. The thin static cord for tool handles loosened too easily. I am considering adding an extension tube collar to increase the capacity. I assume the newer MH (made with Xpac) will not be that durable but no rips yet.

I replaced the Mutant 52 with the MH because the MH is lighter, had more features, and climbs better.

The Arc FL packs are great to climb with but are more uncomfortable when loaded. I only use my FL 40 occasionally now.

+1 to MH packs. I've got a AL35, AMG105, and well, had a AL55. The 55 carries quite well, but might be lacking in durability. The collar ripped while hauling the bag through a squeeze (or so I suspect) in the AK range. That being said, it finished out the remaining 2-days of the climb, though needed to be babied. 

A replacement? Making due with the 35 right now. I'll likely crawl back to the AL55 or explore a CCW pack.

greggrylls wrote:

+1 on the speed 50.   Great bag and carries weight well.   Climbed well enough.  HMG and Dyneema packs are great but expensive/fragile/ and IMO don’t carry as well.  

Speed 50 is a classic for a reason and my defacto rec for people that don’t know what they want.  

It cinches down very well with the compression straps if you’re only putting 20-30l in it as well

FYI, with more advices from a friend I ended up buying the Mountain Hardwear AMG 55. Above my original price point but seems very burly and comfy enough under heavy load.
Fingers crossed, it is as good as it looks for really life use...

That looks like a great pack but it's ironic that you passed up another great pack for being too heavy despite buying one that's over 500g heavier.  

I've carrying a Mystery Ranch Scepter 50 for over a year now, mostly on Baker, and have really liked it.  The MR packs fit my shoulders the best and have been the best weight carrying packs I've had.  I miss the modularity and ability to configure my Cilo to the objective and I really miss the ability to drastically overstuff the Cilo but the suspension just didn't work for me.  I've also had great luck with an older Mammut Trion that I wore out.  My only two complaints against the Scepter are the lack of a brain or something equivalent for the handful of things you want to keep handy and the lack of an extended collar that would allow it to be overloaded for an approach easier.  If it had an extended collar then the 35l version would probably be my Baker pack.

Jason4Too wrote:

That looks like a great pack but it's ironic that you passed up another great pack for being too heavy despite buying one that's over 500g heavier.  .

You are right, but isn't contradiction a quintessential human trait? ;)
In all seriousness I reconsidered the weight factor. This pack will be really heavy once loaded and my good friend assured me the extra weight was worth it when you consider carrying confort.
I will see if he was right...

Irony

I agree that if you’re going to carry heavy loads it’s worth the weight penalty to have good suspension and that MH pack does look nice.  I just couldn’t pass up the chance to point that out. :D

I hope you have a great trip!

I had this pack, (Mountain hardwear  alpine light  50L, 2022 edition)  for a year and i already ripped it.

The handle used to lift it show some early sign of tear . I did not even load it heavily

Do someone else experience the same issue ?

curvenut wrote:

I had this pack for a year and i already ripped it.

The handle used to lift it show some early sign of tear . I did not even load it heavily

Do someone else experience the same issue ?

What pack is this?

Nolan Nolan wrote:

What pack is this?

Mountain hardwear  alpine light  50L, 2022 edition

curvenut wrote:

Mountain hardwear  alpine light  50L, 2002 edition

2002?!

bearded sam wrote:

2002?!

2022 !

Osprey mutant 52.  Great warranty, customer service.  Brain is removable, carrie’s well.  I’ve used it for crashing and rainier.

curvenut wrote:

I had this pack, (Mountain hardwear  alpine light  50L, 2022 edition)  for a year and i already ripped it.

The handle used to lift it show some early sign of tear . I did not even load it heavily

Do someone else experience the same issue ?

Yes, I've had a similar occurrence on my 35L version. Its [likely] more cosmetic than structural? My 35L has been in continual use as a daily driver and climbing bag for a couple years now. I noted these bags may lack durability after a 2023 trip.That being said, I got my 50 warrantied (wasn't really usable otherwise) and have stuck with the brand / bag.

I’ve had that issue on MH and Mammut bags in the past. I used to get them warranted, then I eventually moved on to HMG, and then added Samaya to the mix. Never looked back. 

 MHW has significantly downgraded the alpine light packs— gen 1 was hybrid laminated DCF (like HMG) with woven UHMWPE bases, gen 2 used ultra (woven UHWPE/poly blend with laminated backer), but the current version is just 200d nylon. Sucks for anyone who gets a warranty replacement.

ETA: Just to emphasize how egregious the cost cutting is, 5oz DCF and ultra200 are both $56/yd from RSBTR, while 210D ROBIC (nylon 66, presumably what MHW means by high tensile nylon) is $12.50/yd

Is 50-60 liters generally enough room to have stuff for multiple nights along with technical alpine gear (trad gear, rope, etc)?

Branan Andreu wrote:

Is 50-60 liters generally enough room to have stuff for multiple nights along with technical alpine gear (trad gear, rope, etc)?

The true answer is "it depends." I've been able to make it work on a number of occasions, but it depends on a lot of variables. Alpine rock routes in the summer and 3-4 nights out, I've been able to do it pretty easily but I tend to cut out all of the creature comforts and have really compact ultralight backpacking gear. Winter or true alpine mixed climbing, it's harder and 50-60 might only get me 1-2 nights and a lot more is being carried or worn outside the pack.