"I have owned the Contour III for only about 8 months, but after a
recent trip to the Great Smokey Mountains National Park, I
wouldn't trade this pack. On the last day of the trip we hiked 12
miles up the Noland Divide Trail (see Outside Magazine's best
hike in North Carolina) and this pack was unbelievably
comfortable. It is extremely easy to fit and distributes weight very
well, even when fully loaded. It has many lash-on straps and
pockets. The only criticism I have is that the sleeping bag
compartment panel is very narrow due to its A-shape. However, if
your bag is small this shouldn't be a problem. For around $200
you can't beat it!"
"after a 23 day trek through the high sierras doing 20+ miles a day this pack literally failed. i carry around 50lbs. the shoulder harness twisted and dug into my shoulders and felt like i had a rope carrying the pack and the hip belt reduced blood circulation to the point i couldn't tighten the hip belt and had to carry the pack on my shoulders. this pack is very comfortable for trips up to 5 days and keep your weight around 40lbs or less. i would not recommend this pack for long mileage or extended trips. i will be switching to a mchale & company alpineer bayonet pack which i feel will handle all my trekking needs."
"I purchased this pack a few months ago. I am very satisfied with its performance so far. I have used this pack on a few 15 mile hikes and the pack handled them very well and weight distribution was very good. The torso fit system is very helpful in fitting the pack. The only thing i would like to see on this pack are some pad straps and a bigger sleeping bag compartment. This pack is very comfortable and i would reccomend it to anyone wanting to carry up to 40lbs for 4-5 day trips."
"This pack is both amazingly comfortable and very easy to maneuver with when packed correctly. I would suggest this pack to anyone looking for a very comfortable, controllable, high-quality internal frame.
On the other hand, I would advise AGAINST this pack for any beginner: it's just got too many bells and whistles on it that could go wrong if not adjusted correctly.
However, this pack has been perfect for me, and I'll bet anyting I'm not alone in that."
