Jun 10
11
GoLite Pinnacle Hiking Backpack
GoLite Mens & Womens Pinnacle Pack
When the backcountry beckons, you’re the first to answer its call. If your hike doesn’t take you off the beaten path, you may as well be strolling in the park. When you expect more from your adventures, you expect more from your hiking backpack.
Expect more — and get more — from the GoLite Pinnacle Pack. Only 2lbs,1oz for a 72 liter pack! Perfect for the guy or gal looking to reduce pack weight while still carrying enough for hiking the AT.
This Pinnacle pack by Golite (the largest in GoLite’s ultra series) upholds GoLite’s commitment to the environment, by featuring strong, durable recycled materials and an eco-friendly manufacturing process. The pack’s structure is gender-specific, ensuring that the shoulder straps and hipbelt can be adjusted to your measurements.
Quick-drying mesh on the back panel means you’ll stay cool and comfortable even while hauling a weekend’s worth of gear. The Pinnacle lets you pack your own water reservoir (up to 3 L), and dual drink tube exit ports mean you can hydrate without having to slow down. If 3 L aren’t enough for you, 1L water bottles can be secured in stretch mesh pockets on the pack’s sides.
The men’s Pinnacle backpack weighs an average 2 lbs. 1 oz — truly ultralight. It features five pockets in addition to the main compartment, so there are plenty of ways to stash your gear. Reviewers on REI.com say the Pinnacle offers a surprising amount of room: “The pictures made it look like a relatively small pack, but when expanded there is no limit to the amount of room! … The pockets at the waist are great and the padding isn’t cut down too much at all, 20 pound-plus loads are manageable and I even removed the back foam padding.”
Experienced hiker and blogger Philip Werner at http://sectionhiker.com/golite-pinnacle-backpack-a-second-look/ concluded that the men’s Pinnacle pack has a lot to offer and is well designed once you figure out its quirks. Among those quirks: compression straps that are great for attaching external gear, don’t cinch them too tightly when compressing small loads, or it will pull too much on your shoulders; load lifters that work best when the pack is so full the main compartment rests over your shoulders; and a detachable sternum strap that can be adjusted up or down for your comfort.
Trailspaces.com says the Pinnacle backpack is great for “high and cold adventures with light but bulky loads [and is] is designed for all-season backpacking, alpine-style backpacking, mountaineering, and backcountry skiing.”
The GoLite Women’s Pinnacle backpack weighs an average 1 lb. 7 oz. and features user-pleasing updates such as a larger front pocket and improved suspension.
Margaret, a gear tester of the Pinnacle women’s pack, said, “I am 5’5″ and I ordered the medium woman’s backpack. At first it was uncomfortable, but I was able to adjust the straps, and now I can walk for several miles without any discomfort. My max pack weight was about 30 lbs with bear canister and snowshoes.”
Another reviewer was disappointed in the frameless Pinnacle’s curved foam support system, saying that it loses shape if it gets wet.
Backpackinglight.com reviewers were happy with the Pinnacle. One who has a women’s small used the Pinnacle for climbing and search-and-rescue training. The pack’s “grocery bag” design allowed for instant volume adjustments, the light weight was appreciated and the fabric (made from recycled materials) proved strong in pack-scraping climbing environments.
This reviewer was, however, disappointed in the lack of a frame, which made the pack less comfortable (more pulling in the shoulders) than the heavier Osprey pack. As noted by Philip Werner, a bit more experimentation and adjustments with the Pinnacle (such as compressing smaller loads less tightly) can make a world of difference in the comfort and performance of this pack.
Go check out the GoLite Pinnacle backpack now to see how you can start doing more with less.
