Gear Review: Alps Mountaineering Red Tail 65 Pack
ALPS Mountaineering is a company that I've only recently begun to work with, but they have been in the game for a long time. They're a family run company, which I really love. They were started back in '93 by a guy named Dennis Brune, who had previously been the head of the outdoor brand Kelty. Since their inception ALPS has grown to produce many camping and hiking products including tents, backpacks, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, air mattresses, and camping furniture like chairs, cots, and tables. The ALPS product I'll be reviewing today is the Red Tail 65L Pack.
ALPS sent us a Red Tail 65L earlier this year and we had the chance to take it out with us on our 11 day trip to Sedona. It is a well built, durable multi day backpack that won't break the bank. It's made with lightweight polyester fabric that can take a beating at just 5.75 lbs. The lycra-covered suspension system has what ALPS dubbed a “webbing ladder” adjustable harness that can be easily arranged to comfortably fit your body. It can accompany a torso range of 13.5 - 19 inches. The Red Tail 65L can also be fitted with multiple size waist belts to further enhance our ability to get that perfect fit.
The bag is a top loading pack with an easy access lower sleeping bag compartment. The pack has a huge zippered pocket on the front to quickly stash all of our loose items. It has lashing points strategically located for hauling extra gear and compression straps for tightening down the load perfectly. Additionally, there is easy to use hydration ports, and a rain cover included so we never get our gear wet on our NW adventures. Best part about the Red Tail 65L is that once we setup our base camp we can ditch the pack in our tent and the top lid converts to a fanny pack!
The only negative I could find is weight. If you're an ultra-lighter obsessed with every ounce this probably isn't the pack for you. It may have been considered lightweight just a few years ago but coming in at just under 6 pounds, it's leaning on the heavy side for a multi day pack. That considered, the ride is comfy, storage is great, the pack is durable as hell and you can't beat the price. If you want a great pack that will last for many years, the Alps Mountaineering Red Tail 65 is an excellent choice.
