Fusion 65

Best fitting pack EVER! Great features, good design. Perfect.

I bought the original Fusion 65 and just about wore it out on four thru-hikes of the Colorado Trail and elsewhere. That was the most comfortable pack I've ever owned, but it had a couple of drawbacks: the color (ugh!) and the pockets, which were too shallow and not well sewn. Both of those problems have been fixed with the latest version of the Fusion 65, which I purchased to carry the much heavier loads I anticipated on the Arizona Trail. Having just returned from that hike, I can now say I consider the Fusion 65 to be almost the perfect pack. Even with 7-8 liters of water, the pack carried well and was as comfortable as a heavy pack can be. The pockets are now deep and well made, but it is still possible to reach around and get my water bottle when I needed it (constantly!). And the color is a delight, blending inconspicuously into the desert. The pack also held up to rough treatment in rough terrain. It is hard to make this pack look beat up and old! Highly recommended to anyone looking for a lightweight pack that can occasionally carry heavy loads comfortably. I can't wait to get this pack out on the Colorado Trail for hike number 5 where water isn't a problem and I can fly down the trail.

Seriously the best lightweight backpack you have never heard of. I noticed in some reviews how it doesn't fit well. Take the time to measure yourself for a pack then order this one. Comfortable, light, and tuff.

I have now had the chance to take this pack on a couple of prep hikes and I have been very happy with it. I have the pack right at 40 pounds for my prep hikes. This is probably about 5 pounds more than my max weight will ever be during my trek, but I want to prep for worst case scenario. This pack is very comfortable, even when carrying 40 pounds. The updates for 2015 (overall capacity, color options, larger side pockets, etc.) are all great. They addressed all the issues I had with the original version. When empty, the pack weighs exactly 51 oz. (standard yoke/medium belt/hydration pocket). While this is not an ultralight pack, it is one of the few that are this light and can still carry a heavy load. The ZPacks Arc Zip (27 ounces configured how I would want it) and Gossamer Mariposa 60 (36 ounces) are both lighter. Both of those are great packs, but they really drop off in comfort when you get above 25 pounds. For what I am doing, a max weight of 25 pounds is just not feasible. The Arc Zip is also much more expensive ($455 configured the way I would want it). Overall, I am very happy with the 2015 Fusion 65. It is a comfortable, lightweight pack that can handle a heavier load with no problems.

Just got back from my first outing with the Fusion. Overall, I am very pleased. The pack carried very well, after I got the adjustments sorted out. I was much less fatigued at the end of the day versus my old pack. I am not a super light packer, so I appreciated that this pack has more structure than most lightweights, with little weight gain. I sweat heavily so I enjoyed that there is minimal contact with my back. Not going to complain about lack of features or pocket size after dropping 2.5 lb from my old bag. Can't say about longevity yet, but I look forward to finding out. I did almost take a star off for the color.