Opinions -- Mountainsmith Phantom?

[Alpine_Tom]

I'm finally ready to replace my Golite Trek, and it looks like the Mountainsmith Phantom has about the right mix of size & features I want (3500 cubic inch, 2 ice axe loops, internal frame, hydration sleeve, 3.2 lbs, $110 at Campmor)

I did a search in this forum and didn't come up with any Mountainsmith hits. Anyone have any feeback about this pack, or Mountainsmith in general?

[Blake]

I picked up the previous model of this pack for ~$50 back in November, and it's been great since then. http://backpackingzone.com/gear/mountainsmithphantom_backpack.html

 

 

It's light, and I love the fact that you can remove the hip belt and top to streamline it down. For single-night climbs it's perfect. The pack seems well made, with a light and waterproof fabric, and just the right amount and locations for the straps, gear loops, etc. I think mountainsmith makes nice stuff for sure, but there are lots of quality brands of packs. Go as light as you can get away with based on $$ and other needed features. Check out Granite Gear and Cold Cold World packs as well for comparison.

[hydroman]

I picked up this pack last year on clearance for $70 and used it quite regularly over the season for day and overnight climb/ski trips. I may be in the minority but in general I don’t like the pack very much. I don’t like the odd shape of the pack (narrow at bottom wide at top) Though this would seem to make sense as it mimicks the shape of a person (wider at shoulders than waist) it makes packing it a pain. I also hate the way the lid attaches through the load lifter straps. I find that design just sucks and I’m always having to yank the buckles back through the opening in the lid material. One other preference is that I much prefer to have two straps connecting the lid to the bottom rather than just the one in the center (makes utilizing the bungy system easier) though this is more personal and some people like the one strap system better.

 

From a design standpoint the simplicity is nice though and the material is a good balance of weight to durability. I like Mountainsmith’s packs but I wouldn’t buy this particular one again.

[Bill_Simpkins]

Where do you put your crampons and sleeping pad?

Check out the Granite Gear Alpine Lite . No internal frame, but you just wrap a 3/4 length pad around the inside which gives it more of a frame then the other 1/4 is in a Z-rest you can pull out of the pack. There is even a V-Thread holder built into the crampon area. Weighs the same as the Phantom, but you can strip it down to just over 2 pounds. The pack is indestructable. Works with or without the top lid. Gear loops, packs small etc... except for doesn't work well with leashless ice tools.

If I went went Mountainsmith, I would probably go with the Ghost though.

I don't know much more about the Phantom, but my buddy has had really really good luck with the ghost and it holds weight really well.

[hydroman]

That reminds me of one other issue. The side straps only have a couple inches of spare strap so forget about putting a pad on there. They are more for skis or pickets. Crampons are an issue also as there is no attachement point and the bungy is too weak to hold them well over the long term and becuase the pack is small putting them on the side doesn't work well either (the pack is not very deep so you hit your arms on them.

 

They cut these little corners to make the pack a couple ounces lighter but in the process made it far less usable. It wasn't worth the weight savings

[Alpine_Tom]

Where do you put your crampons and sleeping pad?

Check out the Granite Gear Alpine Lite . No internal frame, but you just wrap a 3/4 length pad around the inside which gives it more of a frame then the other 1/4 is in a Z-rest you can pull out of the pack.

I looked at that before I got the Golite. The idea of using your pad to replace the stays is great (that's what you do with the Golite too) but if you're out for a day, do you really want to drag your sleeping pad along? I want a pack that I can use for a day hike with room for rope, clothes, helmet, etc, as well as light overnights. That's what I got the Golite for, but if it's not really full, it carrys really lousy.

 

This pack has straps at the bottom which, I understand, can be used to strap on your sleeping pad or tent.

 

I didn't pick up on it being conical-shaped. That might be a big problem.