Guide Light MT Frame

[TheHammer]

I’m 5’10” on a good day, my mountain shape was 212lbs this year. I have a 32” waste and a 44” chest. I own 3 mr packs, 2 are GL framed. My pack going in on my archery elk hunt was over 55lbs on the way in. Didn’t have any issues with the pack on the 5days back in. Besides the infamous noise, the only complaint I have is bending over to pick something up, the top of the frame cuts into the upper part of my neck, making something very simple more awkward than it needs to be. The only struggle I have while using a GL frame pack is the same with all packs, they seem cut into my traps, more so a me shape problem.

 

[t_carlson]

I've used MR packs from back in the NICE frame days to a model purchased this year.

I've also used a few other brands (Eberlestock, KUIU, Kifaru) but keep coming back to MR. I will say that Kifaru seems to be a bit more comfortable with loads over 60 lbs, but their packs are too tall and stiff for hunting. Packing, they are maybe a bit better. Hunting, I prefer MR.

I haven't seen any drop in quality from the NICE days. If a MR pack doesn't fit comfortably, I think its usually due to operator error. My personal adjustment is WAY OFF from what their recommended fit says it should be. I found it through trial and error.

I'll try a Stone Glacier and an Exo one of these years. Maybe they are better. Who knows? At the top end, differences are usually pretty small. But for everything I heard about Kifaru, I expected their pack to be much more comfortable than an MR, and it wasn't.

I guess that is a long way of saying that an awful lot will come down to subjective user preference. For me, MR makes great packs.