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GEAR
GORP Tested: Alpine Packs
Wild Things Andinista
By Paul Cleveland
Wild Things Andinista
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Brandon said it best, calling the Andinista"a climber's dream," as he fondled the pack with a possessive gleam in his eye. The Andinista is a very slender design with many functional climbing features, and it comes minus the additional weight we expect from full-featured alpine packs. Nice accessories include easy-access crampon straps, tool tubes, and a removable bivy pad.
The Andinista's lithe profile works like a charm when climbing with moderate loads, but if you pack it full, the pack's height creates a sensation of top-heaviness. We also discovered that the lack of any reinforcing frame put a strain on our necks and shoulders under any kind of substantial load. On the plus side: Removing the bivy pad and using the compression zippers and straps quickly converts the Andinista into a day pack.
Weight: 3 lbs., 6 oz.
Capacity: 2,8005,000 cubic inches (unextended-extended)
Price: $295
Suspension: Simple bivy-pad suspension with fixed shoulder straps and
hipbelt.
Pro: Ability to morph from tiny day pack to 5000-cubic-inch workhorse.
Con: Big loads are tall and tend to teeter.
Comfort: 4
Versatility: 5
Comparative Ratings Chart
For more information: Call Wild Things at (603) 356-6907, or visit www.wildthingsgear.com.
Article and photo © Paul Cleveland, 2000.
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