[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] The 65L Ampex Hiking Backpack as a whole is lightweight, comfortable, and breathable. Overall, it has plenty of smaller exterior pockets that are accessible within an arms reach when needed. The waist belt pockets are a pleasant feature that I’ve never experienced on a hiking ruck before, which add to the accessibility of its pockets given that the pack doesn’t need to be removed to reach them. The padded shoulder straps are comfortable and have plenty of lashing points which are great for attaching lights or other tools. The waist belt serves well to distribute weight and secure the pack, and the pack seemed to be highly adjustable but I didn’t need to play with it much. The top of the pack has a quick access pouch for essentials that serves well to store smaller items without having to access the main compartment. The main compartment has plenty of space being a larger sized ruck, and has one divider that appears removable towards the bottom if it was to be needed. The top compartment of the pack is removable as advertised and can be used on its own, however it leaves the ruck feeling somewhat naked with just an exposed drawstring closure underneath. The removed “pack” achieved by taking it off would not serve well for a day pack as the straps just buckle into themselves to form shoulder straps. This in and of itself feels like an unnecessary feature. The main compartment has access by way of the drawstring at the top, or zippers located on the front which are great for horizontal access without unpacking the entire ruck to access deeper items. At the bottom of the pack there is an included rainfly that tucks away nicely in its own pocket. There are lashing points located on the bottom of the pack that held a sleeping mat for me quite nicely. The wire / mesh frame that the pack sits on is breathable, comfortable, and distributes weight well when carrying lighter loads. One glaring issue that I had was the manufacturers recommended load limit of 42 pounds. For such a large capacity pack, you would think that it would not be an issue. However, any experienced camper or hiker knows that when carrying a sustainment load or anything other than a days worth of supplies, that weight will be eaten up very quickly. While this pack has many of the amenities and features of a more expensive ruck, I would recommend a sturdier pack and frame for more extended trips, hikes, or hunts. All in all, the pack is ideal for day trips or light camping. If the buyer doesn’t foresee themselves approaching or exceeding the weight limit, it is a very light and comfortable ruck that was clearly designed with accessibility in mind at a competitive price.
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