TETON Sports Technical Pack

I took quite a while before I finally decided to write this review. If I seem a bit harsh, there is a back story, which is worth relating here. Teton has an excellent reputation for Customer Service. Several years ago I bought their Fox 5200 pack, which until today I think represents excellent value for the money. I only had two problems with that pack: 1) the lid would constantly slide forward almost every time I used it, leaving the inside exposed to rain if you didn't use the rain cover; and 2) it could not handle weight over 50lbs. It became very uncomfortable once you hit the 50lb mark and just wouldn't serve my needs any more. I contacted Teton and asked if there might be a defection on my bag that the straps pretty much collapsed around that weight, and was told (again, prompt reply, great customer service) that the Fox is the lower end bag and not really designed for such a load. They sent me a new lid (not much better) but suggested if I was carrying a lot of weight I need to upgrade to the Grand 5500. The reviews were impressive and I thought there would be a lot of additional capacity. It was an expensive mistake. The Grand 5500 is around double the price, and the increase in comfort, size and utility is negligible. Let me list my opinions on the features: Cons: -This bag gives up at around 60lbs. After 20 or 30 minutes the strap cushion collapses and you have the straps digging into your shoulders. - The waist belt does not properly grab your lumbar. I should say, my lumbar. I can't speak for everyone, but my experience is that the belt grabs my hips only, and needs constant shifting. A nightmare on hikes over 2 or 3 hours. - The top lid simply cannot stay on straight. Even with nothing in the lid pockets, it will slide forward and leave the main bag cavity exposed. Yes, there is the interior closure, but it eventually gets filled with water in the heavy rain - The flimsy plastic insert that is supposed to give some structure and help the shape of the bag closest to your back (see picture) has sharp corners that eventually tore through my bag and are now exposed. It has also lost its structure and just kind of wobbles around back there. Useless. - The Fox had lots of pockets for organization. This one has only one side pocket, a belt pocket and two on the lid. Those on the lid, of course, if they are filled, drag the lid down even further and unbalance the pack. There is the detachable pocket/pack too. I don't used that as it just gets in the way and hangs off the back, but I can see the how others would like the feature. - This pack has essentially 4 accesses to the main compartment. The top, the front, the side and the bottom (which is also the sleeping bag compartment) This means that all of my gear is now in individual dry sacks (read, more weight) rather than just putting things in their own pockets. This is a personal preference, but I think the Fox is way better organized. - The Poncho "rain fly"...what is that about? I have seen reviews of people who think its a great idea. Well, my opinion is that it's an ineffective and poorly conceived solution. I didn't have an opinion until I needed it. Firstly, I don't want to wear a poncho in the rain. I like the rain. I am in the Jungle, where its hot. The rain makes me cool. So now I have to choose to cover me and my pack, or let my pack get soaked (read above, because of the lid it will fill with rain water). In addition, the poncho is silly. It doesn't have any snaps or closures, just some tabs. That means that you have this flappy, chaotic poncho whipping about like a sail in a storm unless you tie it around your waist with a string or modify it at home. Imaging trying to climb up a muddy mountain trail in a poncho that can't even close during a storm! It really doesn't work...at all. - I have been using it for less than a year and I feel that it is not holding up very well. There are areas of wear that really shouldn't be there. Pros: - It is, for the most part, more comfortable than the Fox, by a hair. Not double, maybe 10 or 15%. - It does carry somewhat better than the Fox, another 10lbs before getting uncomfortable. - I like the side pocket, I wish there were two. I can fit an Olympus TG5 in there with room to spare. I primarily use this backpack for Weight Training. I fill it with 60 or 70lbs and walk up steep, hilly roads. This is not excessive or abusive. I have only taken it into the bush 5 or 6 times, and all of the wear so far is just water jugs filling it up. I might not be as critical if not for having been told, and having this recommended by Teton when I was quite specific about my needs. My disappointment is compounded in that I feel I was upsold something that really doesn't perform significantly better than the Fox. I don't know if I got a Lemon (I do hope so) and again I have been impressed with the Teton customer response, but it was through an email exchange with them directly that convinced me to upgrade, and I hope it is clear I feel I was, if not cheated, at least misguided that this would be worth upgrading to. Stick to the Osprey's and Gregory's, folks, if you need to go up. If not, I would still highly recommend the Fox for a casual user. UPDATE 11/20/2018: I also emailed Teton with my complaints, and, as usual, their excellent customer service responded immediately. They are sending me a new pack as a replacement (awesome!) and I will update this review after I have used it. I am hoping that mine was a lemon, and that my review, of the quality at least, will change after I have used the new one. UPDATE 9/9/2020 Teton Customer Service is Legendary. I can't believe it took so long to write this update. I tried a few times and it didn't upload on Amazon and I guess I forgot to go back and let you guys know what happened. So Teton sent me a brand new bag as well as a Backpack Cover (to resolved the problem with the Poncho flapping in the rain). They sure do their best to make the stand behind their products. I have increased the rating by one star for that, and also more experience with the bag. I won't go up more than a star, because many of the underlying problems are the same. The lid still flaps, the cushion is a bit better, but it still can't handle really heavy loads. For a kind of middle-of-the-road pack, this works, especially if you don't load it with much weight. I have since moved to a Gregory Baltoro Pro 95 and the difference is night and day. Having said that, its 2x the price, so know what you really need then make the decisions that work best for your budget and requirements.