We live in Colorado for a reason. No, it’s not just because of the beautiful sunshine or the fact this is where my husband decided to plant his roots, but more so because of the plethora of amazing outdoor activities at our doorstep! We love to go hiking, snowshoeing, snowboarding, and camping!
Our equipment? Historically we have used cheap-o packs from Goodwill or garage sales. While functional, they’re never comfortable and just don’t seem to sit right on my frame. So you can imagine my excitement when I was asked to try out the Summit 2800 Ultralight pack from Teton Sports!
The first thing I noticed is that this backpack is SUPER lightweight… after all, it’s not called "Ultralight" for no reason! Teton Sports hasn’t overlooked anything when it comes to the weight of this backpack… even the buckles have had unnecessary material removed from them to save precious ounces! If you’re an outdoor enthusiast who has ever gone on a long trek you’re intimately familiar with the saying "an ounce in the morning is a pound in the evening!" Right? That’s why the Summit 2800 Ultralight pack’s weight of 3.2 lbs is so appealing to me! Sure I make my husband carry the heavy stuff and we even make our dog pack her own gear, but knowing that I’m not lugging around unnecessary bulk in my backpack – sure is refreshing when we get to our destination at the end of a long day!
Speaking of bulk, this pack doesn’t have any of it! The durable polyethylene backer board (as opposed to an internal metal frame) gives comfortable support, while maintaining a low profile that hugs my body with a fit that rivals my mummy style sleeping bag! Padding is made of a durable open-cell foam which I noticed really helps with airflow when the hiking gets hot! The 2800 cubic inch capacity is the perfect fit for someone my size – it can easily be packed and taken on a 2-3 day trek.
Teton Sports has spared no expense in the feature department either. One of my (and my husband’s) most loved features about the Summit 2800 is the built in water-resistant rain fly. If you’ve ever done any hiking or backpacking you know that keeping your gear dry is a must and finding an appropriately sized pack cover can be a challenge. The fact that Teton included one that fits the pack perfectly was an awesome added bonus! Look at this bright yellow cover! Can you spot me?
While keeping water out on a hike is clearly important, maintaining adequate hydration is equally important. Well, the Summit 2800 has an internal compartment for a 2.5 liter hydration bladder and appropriate clips for a drinking tube. The side mesh pouches are perfect for water bottles and in a move that clearly defines Teton’s knowledge of the sport, the compression straps cinch over the pouches to keep them secure and minimize bounce.
The backpack is constructed of 420D Double Line Ripstop which is light AND durable. I was also delighted at the chest strap clip-whistle which was clearly designed for getting our dog’s attention when she gets distracted by grazing geese! 🙂 All in all, this pack is clearly well made and fits super comfortably with more features than you can shake a stick at!
Teton Sports was started in 2005 in our neighboring state of Utah just at the foot of the Wasatch mountains, so you know they know their stuff! If you check out any of their gear over at Amazon.com you’ll see that they’re receiving almost flawless feedback on all of the other products they make. The company seems to focus heavily on customer service and that’s something that can’t be understated. A lifetime guarantee is only as good as the company that stands behind it and I’m pretty confident in Teton Sports’ ability to help us out if we should need a replacement part.
We’re heading to Yellowstone in exactly one month and I’m really excited to have the Summit 2800 as our core backpack to take on our excursions while we’re there. My husband has been nagging at me to go on an overnight backpacking trip for a couple of years now and my excuse was always that I didn’t have a good backpack… not anymore! I’m super excited to use the Teton Sports Summit 2800 on our next, and first, overnight backpacking trip!
Purchase it! You can find the Summit 2800 on TETONSports.com
Disclosure: No compensation was given for this review. I did receive a sample product from the sponsor for the purpose of this honest review. This did not affect the outcome of this review. All opinions are 100% my own. For full disclosure click here.