Jun 10
1
GoLite Quest Pack for Women
Golite Quest Pack for Women
Hiking is such a simple enjoyment — just you and the natural world, wide open and inviting. A weekend adventure is the ultimate escape from a hectic lifestyle; the farther you can get from the “real world,” the better.
When you want as little to come between you and nature, you want a reliable, no-frills backpack that carries all your gear so comfortably, you hardly know it’s there. You want the versatile GoLite Quest women’s hiking backpack.
Get the best deal on the Golite Quest Womens Pack at backcountry.com today.
Rated as GoLite’s best-selling hiking backpack, the Quest is tailored to fit the woman hiker. Its lightweight frame features narrow, padded shoulder straps; a short sternum strap that has a built-in whistle; and a hipbelt angle that’s more pronounced than a men’s pack, keeping the weight of your pack distributed comfortably.
Those who have tried the Quest in the field note that the waist belt is comfortable and stays put. The shaped back panel really does seem to fit a woman’s body, taking stress off the back. The shoulder harness rests neatly across both shoulders without gaps. It’s also simple to adjust the pack if you need to change your clothing layers on the go.
Although it weighs about 3 lbs., the Quest is a heavyweight when it comes to haul. How much can this pack carry? As much, or as little, as you want. GoLite recommends a 45-lb limit, and field tests have proved that guideline to fall well within the comfortable range.
The top-loading main compartment offers ample room for your food, clothing, sleeping bag and more. A large front pocket is great for go-to items like your rain jacket and snacks. There’s space for your own 3-liter hydration reservoir, plus side stretch pockets for extra water bottles.
You can attach trekking poles and winter gear (snowshoes, snowboard) to the outside, too, using compression straps that can be cross-buckled to grip and secure external gear.
The Quest is a great backpack for multi-day ventures. You might be wondering: Is this pack designed for long trips, daytrips, warm weather or wet, frigid hikes?
Actually, this women’s backpack is designed for all-season backpacking, mountaineering, alpinism, and adventure travel. Backpackgeartest.org reviewer Gail Staisil of Michigan said she found the Quest hiking backpack to be “ideal for medium-length trips (3 to 4 days) during the cooler months … or for much longer trips during the warmer months.”
Said Gail, “I really like this pack as it has filled the gap between the space qualities of a small pack and a large pack. During the entire testing period, I have used it with loads that varied from 20 lb to 40 lb and it’s been consistently comfortable. The pack remains easy to pack as the corners of the pack fill in easily with soft gear.”
Another reviewer who took it for a test drive with a compact, 10-pound load was pleased to find the Quest cinches down pretty small, despite its cavernous gear capacity.
The Quest wins accolades for other features, including how easily it stores flat when empty; its user-friendly hipbelt pockets; its durability; and cinch straps that lock down loads tightly and keep things from shifting while you’re on the go.
Reviewers were disappointed in the mesh side pockets, which aren’t deep enough to keep a 1L bottle secure. The internal hydration sleeve won’t hold a 4L bladder, so some creativity may be necessary when planning water storage.
One reviewer noted how difficult the lid is to remove and reattach, making it difficult to shave a few ounces. Another noted that the top handle on the Quest is small, thin and hard to grasp.
Overall, the GoLite Quest is a great multi-day hiking backpack or daypack that combines affordability, versatility and high performance all for under 3 pounds.
