On Walkabout Gear Review: Granite Gear Blaze A.C. 60

Basic Information

• Item: Granite Gear Blaze A.C. 60 backpack
• Price: $229.95 (Lineloc Top Lid is $39.95 extra)
• Weight: 2lbs and 14 ounces
• Gear Capacity: 60 liters
• Material: Cordura nylon/ripstop nylon
• More Information: REI website

Review

Since I do mostly day hikes I mostly use my old hiking day pack that I bought 5 years ago in South Korea for $15.  For longer multi-day hikes I use an old Army rucksack that is about 15 years old which has plenty of room to carry things such as a sleeping bag and tent in.  However, the frame in my old rucksack finally broke which gave me the excuse to go ahead and invest some money into getting me a quality backpack.  After reading a lot of gear reviews and visiting my local REI store I finally settled on purchasing the Granite Gear Blaze Ac 60 Pack:

This is one of the more expensive backpacks for sale by REI where I do just about all my gear shopping at, but I figured since I will likely be using this backpack for the next decade it would over time be worth the $229.95 cost.  What I like the best about the backpack is its simplicity where it is composed of one large pouch to put bulky items like tents and sleeping bags in while leaving one large pocket on the outside for items that a hiker would like quick access to.  It also has two convenient side pockets to put water bottles in.  In addition to the two side pockets for water bottles the pack also has a pocket on the inside to put a hydration bladder in.  My Camelbak bladder fit into the pouch with no issues.  Something else I like about the pack is that according to various reviews I read, the Cordura ripstop nylon is extremely rugged and does not tear easily.  This further built my confidence that this pack would last a decade.  Plus the fact that a pack of this quality weighs only 2 pounds and 14 ounces was the final selling point for me.

In addition to purchasing the Blaze I also purchased the add-on component the Granite Gear Lineloc Top Lid:

Here is how the Blaze looks when the Lineloc Top Lid is added to it:

In an effort to get used to the pack and get all my straps and gear sorted just the way I like it I took the Blaze out on a short hike outside of Colorado Springs.  Here is a picture I took of the pack during that hike:

I have taken the Blaze on various other hikes the past few months with no issues.  It sits comfortably on my back and I like how the belt seems to ride on my hips thus further reducing the strain on my shoulders.  The belt also has the ability to attach items with straps.  For example I attached pouches with my Gerber, small knife, and camera inside them to the belt for easy access.  Below is a picture of the pack with items attached to it that I took on my hike up New Mexico’s highest mountain Wheeler Peak:

The bag also has some waterproof capabilities.  I have walked through some light rain with the pack and the water did not go through the material.  However, in a heavier rain storm water was able to get through the fabric.  This is not a big deal to me since I pack most of my gear into plastic bags anyway.  I have also found that the bag his lived up to its reputation of being durable because I have had no rips or any other damage to the bag in the last few months of heavy hiking with it.  Also the pack’s stretchable material has allowed me to pack a tent and summer sleeping bag inside the pack with no issues.  It is a tight fit with a winter sleeping bag though, but I was able to get it into the bag.  Besides the sleeping bag and tent I was also able to get a inflatable sleeping mat into the bag plus a few other miscellaneous items such as food as well.

Conclusion

Overall I highly recommend the Granite Gear Blaze Ac 60 Pack t0 to anyone looking for a high end backpack to bring with them while hiking.  The bag is large enough to support multi-day hiking however for trips over 5 days I would recommend a larger rug that can pack more food because this pack just doesn’t have enough room to support an extended trip like that unless camping in a bivy which would free up room in the bag.  For what I need the bag for it works great and I am quite happy with the purpose.  Though the bag is pricey I do hike enough and expect it to last long enough to where it will be a worthwhile investment for me.  So depending on how much you are into hiking and plan to use this bag it may also be a worthwhile investment for you as well.