Mountainsmith Lily Pack : Lighten Your Load

Before I left for a trekking vacation in the Himalayas of Bhutan, I was working long hours and weekends, which didn't leave me enough time for all the dry-run hikes I had planned to take in order to get used to my new Mountainsmith Lily day pack.

So, I was a bit worried that carrying a heavy pack day after day would slow me down as our group trekked to over 14,000 feet. (Although pack horses would carry our sleeping bags and pads, I would be carrying quite a load, including rain gear, cold weather gear, warm weather gear, several liters of water, cameras, sun protection, my journal, snacks, binoculars, first-aid kit, and other small items.) Turned out, I needn't have worried.

Designed specifically for a woman's frame, the Lily pack is truly the best-fitting, most comfortable pack I've ever worn. For a relatively small volume (day use) pack, the Lily has an ample waist belt, dual density foam shoulder straps, and four load adjuster straps distributed the weight evenly. The molded foam back panel was soft against my back and prevented "sweaty back" syndrome. It was actually sort of amazing; I hardly felt the weight at all. Maybe I was partly fueled by endorphins from the amazing surroundings.

This pack has tons of pockets and other useful features that helped me stay organized, such as the two canted water bottle pockets on each side of the pack and a hydration exit port for my water bladder. When I wasn't using my trekking poles, I could store them easily on each side in pole mounts, with Velcro attachments to hold them in place. I stashed my sunglasses in the fleece-lined eyewear pocket, and I stored smaller things like lip balm, lotions, pocket mirror, passport, wallet, contact lenses cases and solutions, bandanas, compass, travel umbrella, and Pepto Bismol tablets in the many other smaller pockets. The pack also comes with a safety whistle, ice axe loop, and key clip. My primary challenge was to remember where I put everything in the multitude of pockets and compartments.

I also particularly liked the large outer mesh pocket between the main zippered compartment and the zippered vertical front pocket, which allowed easy access to my fleece jacket, long-sleeved shirt, binoculars, gloves, and hats.

Because this pack was also my carry-on luggage for the several flights it took to get to Bhutan, the sturdy handle at the top of the pack was useful for hauling the pack in and out of the overhead storage bins on airplanes. The waist belt also tucked away so it wouldn't snag on things. (For an additional cost, you can purchase a rain cover.)

The Lily is available in three colors: celeste blue, current red, and green mist. (Vol = 1922 cu. in.)

Bottom Line: I love my Lily pack (and the sweet lily emblem embroidered on the front of the pack). I plan on using it all summer for short overnight hikes, as well as for longer day hikes.--J.I. (June 07)

Price: $99

Buy Online:

Manufacturer's Site: www.mountainsmith.com

See Outdoors Online....

Plan a Paddle or Hike: