Dream day pack - does it exist?

My direction has been graciously directed (by a certain advocate of more basic packs) to the Dynafit website's super-trick 3D view (which I had somehow overlooked).

The only problem is that my friend's pack -- perhaps the second year of production? -- is ever-so-slightly different than the pictured pack (which I suspect is the first year, especially since some other product views on the website were not updated for this season), plus the close-up of the water bottle holder attachment is a hard-to-discern mix of various black objects.

But looks like it attaches by threading the pack strap through the holder's metal clip. Although this is very secure, the process takes awhile and requires pliers (given the relative widths), so kind of a pain if the goal is to switch back and forth frequently. (I generally prefer a hydration bladder in winter, but during the spring, the easily accessible Dynafit water bottle holder makes frequent refills very convenient.)

Getting back to the original topic, previously I’ve been skeptical of gizmo-laden ski packs, but the Manaslu has me reconsidering.

As background, over the last couple years I’ve been using the following very light packs:
- an old BD Shadow (current version is the Quantum) climbing pack for overnight trips;
- a BD Speed 40 climbing pack for daytrips that require carrying skis, crampons / ice axe, and/or avy gear;
- an old Salomon 30L adventure racing pack for winter-time below-treeline New England glades (i.e., no need to carry ski, crampons / ice axe, and/or avy gear); and,
- a slightly older version of the Camp rando race pack for shorter outings very close to civilization.

But this spring I’ve often been using my Dynafit RC20 rando race pack on long tours when the weather was good enough to go really light on the packed clothing. For transitions, access to crampons / ice axe and stowage of skis:

. . . is ridiculously fast & easy.
During this tour:
picasaweb.google.com/jshefftz/20100516Ci...#5472049679644831842
. . . we had countless transitions. I had the Dynafit RC20 pack, and one of my partners had the Dynafit Manaslu 32 pack. Our other partner had a BD ski-specific pack (Revelation?) – his skin<>hike transitions were fast by any normal standards, but compared to what we were doing, he was always playing catchup.

The Manaslu also carries all sorts of other things well. At one transition, when helping my partner switch from skiing to climbing, I attached his ski poles to his pack so quickly (and securely) that he didn’t realize I’d already done so.
The only exception is that the shovel pocket holds only relatively small blades. The only other drawbacks are that it’s a one-size-[maybe]-fits-all pack and the weight is a bit on the heavy side.

For next season, Dynafit will have a 28L Broad Peak model:
www.wildsnow.com/2446/dynafit-gear-review/
. . . which looks like a slightly larger version of the RC20 race pack.

Good review of various options here (starting at pdf p. 13):
offpistemag.com/themag/pdfs/op45.pdf

I'm borrowing a friend's Manaslu pack, but I'm having trouble figuring out the water bottle holder attachment.  Does its top metal clip go through the same metal loop that the bottom of the ski holder anchors to?  If so, then the water bottle is carrying very low and kind of out to the side.

I threw it away just extra weight. My came attached to the left shoulder strap, in the front.

Joe, did you have this same pack @ Crystal Fest?

I think I saw you with something pretty small, and you list so much stuff you can fit!

I should probably buy one at this price just in case

Cheers
Ivo

There are a lot of good (and some not so good) packs out there that are no longer being made.  While i appreciate the best of what s being made today, and some modern inventions aside, i doubt that they're better than the best of what's been available in the last 5 or 10, or maybe longer.   New and improved, gotta have it, drives much of the economy today.  I doubt there's a better pack out there now than the Arcteryx Borea (ski tour interest), but it's been out of production for a couple of years now - what are the chances of finding it on Craigslist?  How about other legacy packs, classics and boutique builders?  Don't know if there is an archive of info on this anywhere, but I'd love hearing about it.  Personally I still enjoy my Dana Bridger (20 some years later), although it could use a little adaptation.

Any other classics still in circulation?

I like my Dynafit Manaslu much more than my old Mountainsmith, Dana Bombpack, and Arcteryx Khamski for its size, ability to carry skis, weight, a few accessory pockets, and water resistance.  I still have the Dana and Arcteryx; the Dana is in good shape but the Acteryx sucks water out of RH of 30%.

I like my Dynafit Manaslu much more than my old Mountainsmith, Dana Bombpack, and Arcteryx Khamski for its size, ability to carry skis, weight, a few accessory pockets, and water resistance.  I still have the Dana and Arcteryx; the Dana is in good shape but the Acteryx sucks water out of RH of 30%.

That's good info, I'll have to checkout the Dynafit afterall.  Never was a fan of the Khamski, and the lack of pockets, etc on the Bomb kept it off my list although it was iconic at the time.  Bought one for my son because he just had to have it ~ it was orange..