Mountain Deisgn Main Range 75L Hiking Pack

[ThomasW]

Was wondering wither anyone has any experience with the Mountain Design Main Range 75L Hiking Pack , thinking of getting this or maybe the Macpac Cascade . Main use is for carrying bulky and heavy fishing and camping equipment to isolated points. So would need a strong and robust pack which is designed to carry a heavy load.

I like both brands, and I know the Cascade has a good reputation but the Main Range has a few compelling features and is better priced. I normally use ultralight packs, but they are terrible for carry land based fishing gear.

[wayno]

ideally the shops should have dummy weights in them so you can load the pack up and try it on and see how it feels with weight in it and how well it fits you and adjusts to your build. failing that take a bag in full of similar weight to what you will carry and try the packs on... some packs you might find the belt isnt right for you or it just doesnt suit you for whatever reason.
i've got a cascade but hardly used it, it was ok when i did use it on a four day trip, in the end i opted for a lighter pack with a more flexible harness and it wasnt an ultralight but worked out more comfortable. i think the cascade is only needed if you're going bush bashing or thrashing it in rocky terrain, otherwise its overkill. since i'm not walking the length of the amazon like ed stafford i'll pass on it.. since the mountain designs pack is the same weight it may be in the same category...

[ThomasW]

The places I often go to have no maintained tracks, so bush basing is required at times. Seen both in stores, was wondering how others find it handles in real life.

[wayno]

my only complaint on the cascade is it's over engineered for teh trips i do usually which arent bush bashing, otherwise it was a comfortable pack. other brands i think do better harness systems where they let the hipbelt pivot.
theres teh black diamond mercury 75, I have that, and that has a pivoting heipbelt. it's a kilo lighter than the cascade. the nylon on it looks pretty robust.. i havent taken it out yet but i have a 60 litre pack with the similar hipbelt and I love it.
http://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/en ... ry-75-pack

[Kinsayder]

I've got a Main Range. I think it's a 65 litre from 2004. It has copped a lot and other than looking a little dirty it shows absolutely no sign of wear. I do often go with my 35 litre Macpac for one or two day hikes though and that's in a similar boat. Both are super comfortable. Macpac packs are probably a slightly better fit for me and are very durable. Not sure if this helps at all. Good luck!

[ThomasW]

Good to know that the Main Range (at least the older ones) are extremely durable. They do look like a well made pack in the stores.

[ThomasW]

Got myself a 90L Macpac Cascade in the end. Always useful to have surplus capacity, especially If I can get someone else to carry the pack when fully loaded. It was on a good price to to begin with, then much to my surprise got a extra 10% off at the counter. So was not much more then the MD Mainland.