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Built To Send X0 Pack Initial Impressions
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Built To Send X0 ^^^I wrote some more notes on the description of each photo, so check those out. BTS X0 Specs: Size: X-folded: 25 L Overload mode: 35 L Comes with 4 removable straps, 4 shock cord ice axe loops, and one long shock cord for crampons. VX42 Laminate Fabric
V92 Thread
This pack seems to really be made pretty ruggedly. I appreciate that they didn’t cut any corners in their material choices or construction. Most big name climbing pack brands are made of a flimsy 100d or 200d coated ripstop nylon. These materials are fine for on-trail daypacks, but they have absolutely no durability when it comes to alpine climbing or heavy cragging. They use VX42 x-pac and a heavy duty sail and vinyl thread (v92) to double and triple stitch the structural seams of the pack. When I flipped the pack inside out, I was impressed at how big the seam allowances were and how many bar tacks they used. The pack seams are bound with a much thicker webbing than the typical grosgrain most packs are bound with. The shoulder straps are reinforced with a 1 ¾ webbing piece of webbing with ~6 lines of stitching where they attach to the pack. The included removable side compression straps have a strong aluminum locking G-hook on one side and attach on the other side with an aluminum triglide. The straps are long enough to secure a rope or be used diagonally to compress the load. I don't find myself on many hanging belays personally, but the rolltop opening has a 2" webbing reinforcement/stiffening to use the pack as a rope bag on steep pitches. The bottom is double layered of the same VX42. Pros: -BURLY I would have no qualms with taking this thing on international travel, hauling it, or loading it down with cams at the creek. It’ll take it. -Waterproof. While the seams aren't taped or sealed, the fabric is waterproof, which is nice. -Grab handle. The grab handle on this pack is awesome. It feels great in your hand and is the widest on any pack I’ve seen. I tested it out with some beefy Outdoor Research mitts and grabbing it to move the pack around was no problem. The handle is also heavily reinforced. -G-hooks/metal hardware. The proprietary hardware that BTS made for these packs does add some weight, but they are very secure and won’t fall off on you. They’re also crush-proof, and I’ve been known to step on plastic buckles. -Minimal The X series alpine packs are all stripped down and simple, just the way an alpine pack should be. Nothing to snag, nothing to loose. -Load carrying. For a 25-35L pack, this thing really hauls due to the rigid and thick foam shoulder straps. -Rope straps. Many packs have just one rope strap in the middle of the top of the pack, while this pack has two. With both of these top straps and the two side straps, you have a lot of secure options for the rope. Cons: -Stiffness Due to the stiff nature of the foam and the VX42 fabric, this pack and its shoulder straps are very stiff out of the box. The X-fold also needs some breaking in. They loosen up well with use and some time carrying weight. The straps break in nicely, but are still very firm. I find this pack is more comfortable the more weight you have in it. With light loads, the straps definitely feel like overkill. -Sternum strap placement. The sternum strap is attached with a fixed triglide, and the height is not adjustable. It is also set much lower than I am used to for a sternum strap. Surprisingly, it was still comfortable for me, but I have very broad shoulders. I find this decision to be a little odd. If you’re a woman, the placement of the sternum strap will likely give you some issues. This could be easily fixed by cutting off the tri glide and using some ¾” webbing to attach it higher on the shoulder strap daisy chains, but I think it would have been a better move to set it up to be adjustable in the first place. -G-hooks. The locking G-hooks are sweet hardware. They are very secure and won’t come undone, especially in locking mode (see pictures). The one problem that I’ve had with them is that sometimes they’re too secure. They can be a bit difficult to undo. This gets a bit easier with practice, but I can see the problem being exasperated with gloves or on a hanging belay. -Price/availability. Built To Send Packs are handmade in the UK, and are therefore not yet available to check out yourself here in the states. The X0 comes in at £279.00 ($348) + $20 international shipping, so it's definitely not a cheap pack. I feel confident however that it's in the same league as other handmade packs in the same price range. Summary This pack (the X0) comes in at 830g or 1.83lbs. With all of the extra compression straps and shock cord (which you likely will only use one or two of) it comes to 960g or 2.12 pounds. This pack is very stripped down and minimalist. In my opinion it uses the right materials for the intended use. In spite of this, there are still some lighter alpine packs out on the market that use lighter nylon fabrics. I believe that this is always at the expense of durability and quality. I think that BTS packs are as light as they can be without making sacrifices like like switching to vx21 or more fragile plastic hardware. I really appreciate their commitment to making bombproof and high quality stuff. |
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Dude, it's just a pack. |
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At least try to pretend that this was an unsolicited review... |
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This smells shilly. |
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Not too pleased that the design is a rip off of the Mochilla. |
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What's the benefit of this pack over buying 2 TUFA's for the same(ish) price? Which does have a movable sternum strap, doesn't have a G Hook, and is made in the US. |
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Damn, wasn't expecting that response. As someone who makes packs and quilts and other gear myself, the brand really appealed to me from a nerdy gear perspective. I made a post about them here, because I truly found it really interesting. I think they fit an interesting niche in the market with they're use of x-pac, modularity (like cilo), and the sizes that they offer (smallest size starts bigger than the mochilla). I do not think that any one thing in particular they're doing hasn't been done before, but I do think that they've chosen a pretty cool combination of features. After posting the other thread to see what other people thought and to have a discussion with the other members on here, Built To Send reached out to me and offered me a small discount code for giving them a shout out. I did pay my own money for the pack, and I really do think that this pack fits my needs well. In the review, I very intentionally didn't compare the pack to any others on the market. My goal wasn't to tell you what pack to choose, as I personally think cilo, tufa, CCW, Alpine Luddites, and others are all incredible options. I didn't want to draw out similarities, as you all know the others and you can make informed decisions for yourself about the designs without me telling you what to think. Whether or not the pack looks too similar to the mochilla, is up for the individual to decide. I personally think they've made their packs to fit into the Alpine climbing category and the mochilla fits a bit more into the leader pack category, although there is a decent amount of overlap. The mochilla expands to 24L, while the X0 (their smallest pack) expands to 35L. That being said, I'm more than happy for you to have a different opinion. |
Caleb Schwarz wrote: Most big name climbing pack brands are made of a flimsy 100d or 200d coated ripstop nylon. These materials are fine for on-trail daypacks, but they have absolutely no durability when it comes to alpine climbing or heavy cragging.This bit was a little over the top for me. |
Rexford Nesakwatch wrote: This bit was a little over the top for me. Your mileage may vary, but all I can draw from is my experience with the BD speed zip and the Patagonia ascensionist. Both are well designed, but they both get pretty shredded on granite. I've found the dead bird alpha fl is better for durability though. |
Dallin Carey wrote: Not too pleased that the design is a rip off of the Mochilla. I've got news for you if you think the mochilla was some sort of revolutionary bag design.... small no-thrills climbing bags tend to all end up pretty similar, and its been that way for probably 50 years. |
