Shakedown 2.0 – Professor Carl

The AZT was my first outing with an HMG pack! I went with the Unbound 40 because it was a bit on the smaller end of the scale while still having enough room for me to carry the Unbound 2P tent for my partner and me (she brought her four-pound camera, so I balanced us out by carrying the shelter). Honestly, the feature that sold me most on the Unbound 40 was the bottom pocket. I've gotten used to having accessibility there using smaller packs over the years, and I just gotta have it now.

I tried several hundred miles on the AZT going hip beltless, but I found the loads I was leaving towns with were just a bit too heavy for comfort. The modular system made it easy to slap my hip belt back on, which I'd left at home, and get right back to moving with ease. I was also a big fan of the double pocket system on the front panel, making it easy to divy up my "outside the pack" gear. I'd keep my water filter and bladder in the little pocket and everything else in the normal larger pocket.

Continue reading to learn more about what Professor Carl packs for backpacking, written by Carl Stanfield.