MoutainSmith Apex 100 Backpack Review

I wanted a bigger backpack to handle family backpacking trips where our little ones would be coming along and not yet able to haul the bigger stuff and for cold winter backpacking trips where I would get to pack some extra essentials.  In to my life came the Mountain Smith Apex 100.

It's an upgrade from my other MountainSmith Cross Country 70 backpack that I love.  The Apex 100 is a beast, it hauls it all with ease.  I have only tested it on weekend trips and have found it to be very comfortable and handles the load as if it wasn't even there.

My few complaints are that I don't have it dialed in perfect yet, it feels as though it's slipping off one side of my body and I'm pretty sure that's just how I am wearing it.  I am a little disappointed that with a pack this big the waist straps don't extend much larger, but it works fine.  I'm on the bigger side, 6'3" and 260 pounds, it fits my profile well.  The shoulder straps are also very short on adjustment as well, but it is okay.  If I had known they'd be changing the design I'd have held off until getting the newer design that has side stash pockets and back panel instead of zippered side pockets and no back panel pocket.

I'm hoping to get to use it much more often, it's a great pack and I feel very comfortable wearing it.  I just need to find more adventures suitable for it's immense carrying abilities.