Early Draft Owner Review VauDe Siena 40 Daypack

Name: Mark Verber
Age: 41
Gender: Male
Height/Weight/Torso: 5'10" (1.8 m) / 180 lb (82 kg) / 19.5" (50 cm)
Email: email address
Region: San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Date: Aug 6, 2003

Item

Review Item: VauDe Siena 40 Daypack
 Volume: 2200 cu ( 39 l)
Listed weight: 2lb 15oz (maybe wrong?)
Weight as delivered: 2lb 5oz
MSRP: US$95 (paid $50)

Description

Semi teardrop shaped panel loading daypack designed for biking.  The VauDe Aeroflex suspension system consists of metal struts which which runs along the top and bottom of the pack, with connecting struts that arch away from from your back which hold a rubberize nylon mesh taut.  This design provides something like a 2" air gap between your back and the pack, but reduces the storage capacity of the daypack.  There are huge mesh pockets on either side of the pack which are large enough to hold two modest size water bottles (or two 12oz cans).  There is a hide away gear spider for holding a helmet, and a hide-away waterproof pack cover.  Near the bottom of the back of the pack is a tiny pocket,  with a slightly larger pocket in the middle of the back.  The pack itself has one large compartment, with a sleeve in the middle of the spine which can hold a 100oz (3l) hydration system. There is a Velcro closing hole at the top of the pack for threading out a hydration tube.  There is a small compression strap on either side, near the top of the pack.

Conditions

I have used this daypack as carry-on luggage on region jets (just fits in the overhead bin), biking in the SF bay area, and a few summer overnight trip, and day hikes in California and Utah.  Weather has been between 50F and 110F and dry.

Performance

This is the coolest daypack I have ever used.  When I first put the pack on it almost feels like my back is being air conditioned, especially if the hydration bladder spent some time in the freezer.  At the end of a long hikes in 100F weather I found my back dry, with the shirt under the shoulder straps was pretty damp from sweat.

The suspension system has been very comfortable.  The shoulder straps are adjustable  (claims to fit torsos which are 17" +/-4").  The "SwingWing" waist strap is well designed and keeps the pack stabile under a variety of conditions.

I prefer a daypack with more internal divisions to organize gear, but I am willing to forgo organization  for the comfort this daypack gives me.  I typically store a flat first aid kit in the back pocket, a long lens for my SLR in one side pocket, a couple of water bottles for the family in the other side pocket.  In the main compartment I have an SLR + some smaller lens in the bottom which are protected by Domke wraps, a pair of binoculars, and then jackets, lunch, and guide/identification books which fill out the space.  I typically have a 2L Platypus hydration bladder in the hydration sleeve.  This all adds up to something like 18lb.  The pack is comfortable with this sort of weight.

When I am using this pack for overnight trips, it's in the summer.  I place a 3L platypus in the hydration sleeve. I carry a poncho/tarp in one side pocket, and items for the day (snacks, camera, etc) in the other side pocket. Inside the main compartment of the pack I carry a down quilt, an air mattress, alcohol stove, small pot, extra base layer shirt, Montane Featherlite pants & smock, extra socks, warm hat, and food.

Summary

Rather heavy for a daypack, but in hot weather the extra weight is justified by excellent ventilation.

Backpacking Background

I did a lot of backpacking from 1972 until the mid '80s. During this time I hiked sections of the AT (approximately 1/3 completed), spent a significant amount of time backpacking in the Rockies (Rocky Mountain, Yellowstone, Tetons, Glacier National Parks), and frequented Red River Gorge and various destinations in Canada. I recently started backpacking again... mostly in the Sierras. My base weight is now 11-18 lb (4-7 kg). Full carry weight including food and water is typically 20-35 lb (7-16 kg) depending on the length of the trip and what I have taken from other's packs to lighten their load.