New Packs Durableand Good Value

Sun., Aug. 25, 1996

Bryan Chitwood Special To Travel

Product: Quest Summit I & Summit II packs

Description: A pair of internal frame packs from Quest, both designed with winter enthusiasts and climbers in mind, and well-suited to year-round use. While the Summit II is the larger of the two, the differences don’t end there. There are different suspension systems, as well as a detachable floating lid on the Summit II which becomes a fanny pack. In addition, the Summit II features an adjustable harness.

Shared features include zippered side pockets suitable for water bottles or other essentials, ski slots, overload/shovel pocket with ice tool/shovel handle sleeve, ice axe loops, daisy chains for climbing gear and a large pleated top pocket.

Pro: In addition to being based on solid design executed in durable materials, these Quest packs are good values. Padded waist belts with load adjustment straps, sternum straps and upper and lower ladder buckles on the harness provide plenty of adjustment for proper fit. Ski slots and side compression straps make hiking with skis straightforward, as well as helping keep the load close to the back.

Zippered side pockets are quite handy for water bottles, skins, snacks or other essentials. The pleated top pockets feature cinch straps for reefing down on top-heavy loads - and make a good way of carrying a hat, gloves or other miscellaneous gear. The Summit II also features a flat pocket on top that’s just right for maps.

Con: Although the Summit II features the beefier Alpine Plus suspension, I had better luck with the Alpine suspension of the Summit I when it came to dialing in the pack’s fit. The culprit was the ladder-buckle straps at the top of the Summit II’s shoulder straps they’re too short. These are the straps you use when you wish to draw the top of the pack in tight against your shoulder blades, and I found the straps just a little too short to work with.

Quest says that deficiency has been corrected. In addition, I found that the floating lid on the Summit II tended to slide backwards in use, exposing the “innards” of the pack - something that doesn’t happen with the Summit I. With the Summit I, however, it’s more difficult to make the top pocket “float” for oversized loads.

Comments: I’ve skied and hiked with the Summit I since last summer, and found myself very satisfied with its performance. It’s big enough for ski touring and day hikes, even if they turn into unplanned overnight outings. The fit is quite good and it rides close to the back, allowing plenty of arm movement while following your movements nicely. I’ve used the Summit II for backpacking and mercilessly overloaded it - the bigger bag handled the loads nicely and rode comfortably. Its suspension features a beefier hip belt that helps with the heavier loads, as well as a heavier-duty T-6 aluminum stay. Both packs feature highly padded, contoured high- density polyethylene framesheets for pack rigidity. The Summit I is available in four sizes, ranging from 2,300 cubic inches to 3,650. The Summit II comes in four sizes as well, ranging from 3,350 to 4,750 cubic inches.

Suggested retail: $120 for the Summit I; $156 for the Summit II.

Company: Quest, 569 Charcot Ave., San Jose, Ca., 95131. Call (800) 875-6901 for a retailer near you.

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