CiloGear 60L & 20L Review

[einzelgaenger80]

I picked up the CiloGear 60L and the 20L the a few months ago. After playing with them both, thought I would toss up a brief review:

 

They are freaking great.

 

I attach the 20L to the back of the 60L when I am doing any kind of extended alpine trip where it is convenient to have quick access items within quick reach (rescue equip, first aid, snacks, screws, pulleys, phone, etc) -- and I do not have to overfill the lid and make looking up annoying. The 20L itself works great as a cragging pack, summit bag, or what-have-you. It attaches easily to the larger pack.

 

The strap configurations allow one to quickly and securely attach anything to the outside (esp useful as one sheds layers, switches tools, etc). During a recent extended alpine trip I had my two ice axes, mountaineering ax, crampons, pickets, trekking poles, wands, and shovel all strapped securely to the outside of the pack in a nice compact cluster down the middle of the pack - the flexibility of the strap system allowed me to do this. I also glasscaded about 4,000 ft with all that stuff on the back and nothing fell off (along with a pad, helmet, and other various items strapped on back there). The ability to compress the sack into a smaller summit bag )but with the capacity to have all your “emergency” equipment) was nice. The materials are of high quality in all the right places; the ice axe "sleeve" design is also very thoughtful.

 

And really the best part of the packs lies in the owner, Graham. He is easily accessible, listens to any issues, and works with you to get them resolved. It is refreshing to have a pack like this and still have access to the maker.

 

Anyways ... they art great packs and buying one is a great way to support a small business and a fellow climber who decided to take a step forward in pack design.

 

 

edit: here is an image of a 2 day load.

 

 

 

Edited June 28, 2007 by einzelgaenger80

[Maxtrax]

Hey, do you live anywhere in the greater Seattle area? I would love to get a chance to check out your pack, I'm just about ready to bite the bullet and buy a 60L worksack but i just can't quite shell out the money without having at least seen one first.

 

Thanks

[einzelgaenger80]

Not anymore, unfortunately .... but I think there are probably some Seattle guys with that pack?? If you do a search on cilogear on the board I think you may find a couple other guys who had posted reviews.

[rob]

I've got the newer 60L. Overall, I'm very happy with it. I removed the aluminum stay to make it lighter and more comfortable. The straps are useful for really dialing in the load. However, I did get a small tear in the pack fabric near one of the strap points from cranking the compression too tight, though.

 

My biggest complaint is that the shoulder strap material is not bonded to the padding inside the strap -- the cover material slips around, causing the load lifters and sternum straps to shift into uncomfortable positions along the strap.

 

I placed a couple of strategic stitches, but they aren't strong enough to hold the material in place. I think I'll get a couple of bartacks thrown on there to hold it down. In the meantime, I'm constantly readjusting the fabric to get it back in place.

 

Also, the zippers on the lid seem kinda cheap -- the metal zipper pulls have already broken off. Luckily, the zipper itself is still OK, I just threaded some shoelace material through the zipper head to replace the missing pulls.

 

Overall, a great pack -- super lightweight and adjustable.

[Kane]

Rob, the exact thing has happened to my pack. Basically all the padding is now in the front, and not on your shoulders. Its impossible now to get a comfortable fit and I cant get the padding to adjust to the right possition. So I was going to get pictures of it and send them to cilogear, hopefully they will do something about it, and I believe they will. I tool the stay out as well and find it more comfortable. No problems with the fabric here.

[Kane]

Oh, and I have the new version. To the op how does that plastic shovel really work?

[Aya]

Sure that he'll chime in sooner or later (probably sooner), but undoubtedly if you contact crackers and get your pack back to him, he'll fix the shoulder strap problem for free.

[rob]

undoubtedly -- great customer service.

 

But...then I'd be without a pack for what? a week? two?

 

I'll just head down to rainy pass. Can't be too much to have a bar tack thrown in.

[olyclimber]

Graham is a great guy. If you're having any problems with his packs I'm sure he'd like to know about it and will fix things up for you.

[crackers]

I was taking a much needed break from work this weekend.

 

The shoulder strap twisting is a Bad Thing. I am happy to take care of it for you. Just get in touch with me. It takes about ten minutes of work to get the tacks in and a pack back in the box. However, the shipping thing is definitely a PIA...so, for Seattle area folks, I'll call Rainy Pass this morning and see what kind of deal I can work out with them.

 

The packs currently being shipped out have tacks in the shoulder straps so that the twisting doesn't occur.

 

 

[rob]

Crackers is why I send all my friends to cilogear

 

shoulder strap problems aside, the pack still rocks. It's pretty much the only pack I use now, for single or multi-day.

[Weekend_Climberz]

Crackers, you rock

 

I've beat the hell out of my 60L and plan on doing it again this summer, too. I'll be getting a 30L work sack, soon.

 

There's only one thing that I am a little confused about though and that's the pronuciation of the brand name. Is it Chai-Low or is it See-Low? Keep up the good work :tup:

[rob]

Chee-low?

[crackers]

Chee-low?

 

The C is a glottal J in Turkish. But who cares? How to you pronounce tange or dead bird or ...

 

 

The Cilo - Sat massif.

 

Also:

 

 

[jared_j]

Maxtrax,

I've got a 60L that I could show you - I live in the Queen Anne area and work downtown. This weekend I'm going to Mt. Baker, but I can meet up with you an evening next week or next weekend. PM me. The pack is dope. I've only had it for a few months, but it carries very nicely and is definitely durable.

 

Jared

[einzelgaenger80]

Some similar issues I had with the pack were jumped on immediately by Graham. I didn't really mind too much -- the pros of the pack far outweighed, for me, a couple R&D issues. A fair trade off for having a manufacturer who actually listens to comments and suggestions.

 

.. not to mention I am in NYC most of the time and can go to give him my pack to look at in person!

[Kane]

No doubt, I really do love the weight and design. I ll be sending mine back and I am sure its going to return in A+ shape. Thanks!

[crackers]

the address is:

CiloGear

155 Sullivan St. #1

Brooklyn, NY 11231

 

BTW: it's been between 99 and 104 in my office for the past few days. It's just too hot to work for me. My new A/C was supposed to be delivered yesterday, but they didn't show. Hopefully, everything will cool off tomorrow and I'll be able to get back to work.

[Aya]

Crackers finally admitted that my hips are not normal after I tried some of his off the shelf hipbelt and offered to make me a custom hipbelt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He's the best!!

[crackers]

I'll just head down to rainy pass. Can't be too much to have a bar tack thrown in.

 

Rob, Jared, Anybody else:

 

Shoot me an email for the RA number, and then take your pack down to Rainy Pass, and they'll fix it up.

 

Thanks!

Graham