“Life is adventure, not predicament.” – James Broughton
Whether tackling backcountry trails, riding through mountain towns, or picking your way through a busy terminal, life is indeed an adventure. Yet, in the midst of a difficult economy many outdoor enthusiasts have found themselves in a predicament. While nature beckons with a lifetime of cost-free adventures, paying for the gear necessary to meet those adventures can prove to be difficult.
Since their founding, Outdoor Products® has built their business around the philosophy of quality and value, which serves as the driving force behind the design of products built to meet the test of any outdoor adventure. For outdoor enthusiasts seeking a pack that is as affordable as it is versatile and durable, the Gama Internal Frame backpack delivers an impressive bang for the buck.
On Performance and Dependability…
Known as “The Crown of the Continent” and the “American Alps,” Glacier National Park is unquestionably one of the most beautiful places on this planet. Home to hundreds of glacier-carved peaks, hundreds of rivers, waterfalls and streams, and over 800 miles of hiking trails, it’s a place that can as challenging as it is beautiful for the outdoor enthusiast. In other words, the perfect place to put the Gama backpack to the test.
After our treks around Glacier National Park, we sent the pack off to the Tahoe Rim Trail for an even more vigorous vetting. Through it all, the Gama Internal Frame Pack proved to be as dependable as it is durable and versatile.
A bellowed main compartment allows you to stuff the Gama Pack to the gills with gear without causing this backcountry adventure buddy to burst at the seams. No matter how you fill the 2,390 cu inches of space, the lightweight aluminum internal frame helps stabilize the load.
For the treks you do fill the Gama to the brim, bottom d-rings are perfect for attaching a sleeping bag, towels or other bulky items in the instance you don’t have a mule making the trip with you. The Gama also fits most 2 liter reservoirs and has exit ports on both the right and left sides of the bag making it easy to utilize your hydration engine whether it’s a Platypus reservoir or Geigerrig Pressurized hydration engine.
If you’re the type the gets extra thirsty, feel free to load up water bottles in the left and right accessory pockets – or take our approach, pack up a burrito especial and then zip up the pocket so your trail buddies can’t raid your survival stash three miles into the morning adventure.
Since your summer excursions may be muggy and warm, Gama’s mesh back panel ensures you won’t be trapping excessive heat and sweat against your back. The suspended mesh back panel allows air to circulate against your spine while offering a comfortable fit. Articulated, yoke-style padded shoulder straps match the comfort of Gama’s back panel keeping you comfortable when you decide to add a few more pounds or tack on a few extra miles.
Outdoor products refers to their ergonomically designed waist belt as extra padded, which is extra nice when you need to shift some of the weight from your shoulders to your waist. For those who prefer to go without the strap on day hikes, the width of the Gama’s waist belt may be mildly bothersome to who would rather tuck their strap away and hike onward. Otherwise, our reviewers only critique was that for those over 6’3”, the height of the pack never quite matches up with the torso enough to make the waist belt as effective as it could be.
The Gama comes with Outdoor Products unconditional lifetime guarantee making this rugged and roomy choice for day hiking and urban adventures an outstanding value.
Bottom Line…
If your plans include hiking the local trails every weekend this summer and fall, the ventilated Gama should be on the top of your gear list. Not only will you be prepared with more than enough room to stash your gear, you’ll have plenty of money left over to pay for those increasing park entry fees.
Manufactured by Outdoor Products, the Gama Internal Frame Pack retails for $49.99. www.outdoorproducts.com
Dimensions : 22.5in H x 13in W x 8in D / 2,390 cu in