Osprey Mutant v Patagonia Ascensionist

RJNakatawrote:

Is it realistic to expect to carry a 2-3 day trip with either of these?  Bag, mat, tent, stove, rack, harness, rope, shoes, shell, puffy, clothes, food, filter, 1ltr water, 1st aid, (tools, crampons) 40#?

...or does my partner need a 60L?

Anyone have experience (good or bad) with the 55L Ascenionist? And whether that would be a good candidate for multiple night trips?

Nate Hwrote:

Anyone have experience (good or bad) with the 55L Ascenionist? And whether that would be a good candidate for multiple night trips?

Yeah, I've only owned the 50L (55?) Whatever the large size of the OG Ascensionist is. You can sure fit a lot of stuff in it for such a small bag, but will have to carry most of your shit on the outside. I'll upload a pic of my fully loaded pack if you're interested. I've heard that recent models deleted the little rain skirt that let you expand the bags internal capacity by like 10 liters or so and that a few people find that annoying when packing for overnights. 

Personally for multiday alpine missions I'd want something with more room like the Cold Cold World Chaos 70L

Dirt Kingwrote:

Personally for multiday alpine missions I'd want something with more room like the Cold Cold World Chaos 70L

To each their own for sure, but dang, carrying 70L worth of stuff up a steep multi-day route sounds really not that fun!  Bring less stuff, man, 70L is Denali sized!

Kyle Tarrywrote:

To each their own for sure, but dang, carrying 70L worth of stuff up a steep multi-day route sounds really not that fun!  Bring less stuff, man, 70L is Denali sized!

You're not wrong, I still find a 50L pack to be on the small side when packing a 4 season tent, glacier gear, and all the rest for a 2-3 man team on a mountaineering trip. If it's just a bivy sack and sleeping bag with a small rack that's a different story but also not always practical in the Alaskan backcountry. On the climb I usually ditch the approach bag for a smaller summit/ day bag with just the essentials.

Ira OMCwrote:

My biggest gripe about the ascescionist is how there isn't a place to put your helmet on the outside... 

I put a triangle of bungee over the brain with a pinch style cinch slider on two sides of the triangle to make Y shape. Adjust and stretch over your helmet. Works great. Don't know if that makes any sense tho. 

Mountain Equipment Tupilak 37 . Classic style, great suspension!

Chase Nyewrote:

I put a triangle of bungee over the brain with a pinch style cinch slider on two sides of the triangle to make Y shape. Adjust and stretch over your helmet. Works great. Don't know if that makes any sense tho. 

A photo of that would be super helpful... thanks! 

Ira OMCwrote:

A photo of that would be super helpful... thanks! 

I'm on mobile and can't figure out how to. Let me know if this link works. 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/D65UfSgtLsAQn77m8