Highlander Outdoor Explorer 45+15-Liter Ruckcase

Intended user is 11 year old boy under 5 feet tall and under 80 pounds. This 45+15 is the only pack I found on amazon that had an adjustable ladder back on a small case around 45L, and the straps will adjust tight enough for his tiny waist. That is why this pack was purchased above all others. The mom also wanted a pack where the internal frame bars can be removed in case they want to squish it smaller so it can become an airline carryon bag instead of just checked luggage. The boy is a Webelo going into scouts and this will be his first "big boy" backpack for weekend outings. To a kids mind, the bag is like a magic trick, because it looks like a suitcase but unzip and tuck away the strap cover and it is an internal frame pack. Strap a bed roll on the bottom and hang a few gizmos like walking poles to the attached D rings on top and it has more of a traditional boy scout backpack look. "Smellables" can all go in the 15L bag which can be zipped off for camping where bears can be a problem. I also like that it has a zippered expansion gusset that circumnavigates the upper two-thirds. The color is darker and more "masculine" in teal than the photos show which was great for a gift for this boy. I like that the top two-thirds can become divisible from the bottom third by cinching a barrel tie cord like a traditional backpack. If you like top loading or side loading the main compartment, it can be accomplished any way you like because it is a double zipper that you can put anywhere on the track that makes it convenient for you to get at your gear without unloading the whole thing. The things that kept it from being a 5 star pack? No rain cover and no place to put a Nalgene-type water bottle or hydration bladder, so I'm going to have to buy a rain cover and a water bottle holder that hangs from the waistbelt webbing. The mesh pockets on the 15L bag are too small for even a woman's fist. They say it has an MP3 port on the 15L bag, but no luck finding it. 15L is too small for school books if you are trying to visualize the size of 15L. Overall it is well made and tricked out with lots of cool features, so I'm looking forward to giving this as a gift to the kid soon.

Verify that this is what you truly want before purchasing. It's a good pack but not exactly what I needed. I love Amazon and as I use Amazon to purchase items I want with the hope that I will keep them. However, sometimes I have to return them if they are not exactly what I need. In the case of Highlander - beware of the return fees. You will not get free return shipping in this case. It's a shame. I returned this and paid a bunch. Not worth keeping it but it hurt a bit returning it.

I took this pack to Africa for a month and it is a functional, pretty well made, travel pack.The bottom compartment, however, is difficult to access. While you can store shoes in the bottom, getting them out is not an easy proposition.The price is great and the materials seem to be tough...

Great size, not super comfortable and the small detachable pack zipper end up breaking very quickly.

Fell apart at zipper returned