Mont Escape Hiking Pack Review
I have used a various number of packs over the last 41 years, mostly that I have owned, sometimes I have borrowed while at work.
It is a high priority for me to buy Australian made backpacks. For two main reasons:
- They will always be made for tough conditions because going `off track` is a fairly common and frequent freedom we have the opportunity to do here
- I want to be able to get my pack serviced here, with the access to spare parts fairly quickly for turn around useability again after those trips where I have pushed things a little too far , and the pack is damaged
I have used packs made by Wilderness Equipment (WE), Mountain Designs and now I have a Mont pack. My 10 year old WE is doing fine, however I needed something smaller than the 80 litres, hence why I settled on the Escape, which is 70L in the large size, suitable for me as I am close to 6ft tall. I could fit into the medium as well, which is 65L in volume.
I really like the Escape Hiking Pack, and it was hard to decide which pack amongst the Mont range would work best for me. In their range of backpacks the focus on durability is present. Using Infinity Core spun canvas predominantly, I have had no concern for wear and tear issues, and I have learnt over the years that owning a canvas pack means that UV rays don’t shorten the life of your pack, or cause internal de-laminations and the like.
Its hard for me to fault the Mont Escape Hiking Pack. I would have liked the top removable "head" of the pack come with its own waist strap, for when I want to do side trips, but the loops are there, at a narrow 19mm. So I have acquired some webbing , with a side release buckle , myself, which suffices for the job. Wider than 19mm would have been more comfortable, around my waist.
The large open side pockets are good for drink bottles and easy access gear have drain holes, which are reinforced on the outside. There are two vertical grey nylon webbing bands that allow me to position the elasticated attachments for my ski or walking poles, but also double up for strapping other gear on including carabiners. There are sufficient reflective tabs on the posterior to get you noticed in the dark with a flashlight.
The new and improved exterior posterior pocket is no longer mesh but a more durable nylon with some padding of approximately 5mm deep, which will protect the material from hard objects being placed inside being forced up against hard objects on the outside in the environment when you lay your fully laden pack down or against anything.
Overall I would highly recommend this pack to anyone who is planning or hoping to do a mix of activities, from hiking to ski touring, mountaineering or just a durable bag which might be put into a boat some of the time. Expect to have a long term relationship with this pack or any of the similar packs, like the: Tanami, Backcountry and Flyte.
Written by Mike, Former Bogong Staff Member
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