Comments about Jansport Carson External Frame Backpack:

20 mile backpacking hike with our Boy Scout Troop.

Comments about Jansport Carson External Frame Backpack:

Great, functional, lightweight, even pretty comfortable for an external frame, at a very good price. Plenty of capacity and places to strap stuff on. Includes a pocket for a water bladder which was a nice unexpected surprise. I do wish the hip belt extended further and included some pockets for quick access to stuff. Since it's an external frame, I'd recommend having a duffle bag along to stuff it into if you intend to check it in for air travel. I'd also recommend getting a 100 L Duck's Back rain cover to go with it.

Comments about Jansport Carson External Frame Backpack:

My regular backpack was getting old and I had a Philmont trip planned so I purchased this pack for that trip. I did two 25 mile weekend treks and a 90 mile Philmont trek with this pack. I carried about 45 pounds, including food and water. THe good news is that the pack has lots of room, plenty of pockets, and separate storage areas. The bad news... the padding on the straps and waist belt is minimal. The waist belt bads do not even come close to fitting where they should. I wear a size 34 pants, so it was not my siz that caused the problem, the pads are just too short. Tere is some adjustment for the straps, but it is really minimal. It is difficult to properly adjust the weight so that most of it is on the waist straps instead of the shoulder straps. That makes for very uncomfortable treks with 45 pounds. The strap that goes across the chest is way to high... I actually felt like it was choking me. I ended up not being able to use that strap which lowere the stability of the pack. It should be lower. Also, the quality of the pack was not good. The webbing that was used for one of the water bottle pockets came unsewed during the Philmont trek. Also, the waiste buckle broke during the trek. If you are maybe 14 to 17 years old and are going on weekend treks, this pack might fit your needs, but for any serious backpacking, it is better to upgrade to a pack that can be properly fitted and won't break on a 100 mile trek. I prefer external frame packs becuase you can easily attach gear to the outside, but this one was a waste. I will be selling it at my next yard sell for $10.

Comments about Jansport Carson External Frame Backpack:

I use a pack to carry heavy loads which include rocks - the pack on the Jansport is attached to the frame only by Velcro straps which ripped off during the very first use of the pack. I cannot recommend this pack for serious backpacking.

Comments about Jansport Carson External Frame Backpack:

Used this for weekend camping with the Boy Scouts. Also for summer camp. It will hold everything you need for a week of camping - aside from water proviosions.

Comments about Jansport Carson External Frame Backpack:

First, I loved this pack when I got it. The contoured frame is excellent, the pockets and compartment are minimalist but appear well thought out, load capacity is high, and load support was good... under light loads.

And herein lies the problem. This is a high capacity pack, so why equip it with suspension that is only good through light to medium weight loads?

When I tested this pack with about 25 lbs on a 6 mile hike, the pack was excellent; comfortable, limited motion (for an external) and good load support.

But when the pack weight climbs to 35+ lbs the weak suspension and padding start to become apparent on multi-day trips.

Under this weight the hipbelt sags badly. This is because the belt is not secured to any ridgid plate or beam, instead just hanging suspended by a few straps that are cinched to the frame rails to keep it from slipping.

When the belt sags, the load is transferred to the shoulders, and the lack of shoulder padding becomes evident after just a few miles.

So the bag is average, it has good capacity and design, but the suspension does not live up to the promises of its capacity.

I would recommend this pack, but with a warning about the hip and shoulder straps. Won't be a problem for some, but was for me.

Comments about Jansport Carson External Frame Backpack:

love this pack great spacious pack i used to use an internal frame pack then i picked this up at campmor on a steel and fell in love with it. the padding is amazing, if u put it on me and didnt tell me id tell u that it was an internal frame but i can still put my sleep pad on the outside leaving more room in its already spacious capacity

Comments about Jansport Carson External Frame Backpack:

This came highly rated by my son's scoutmaster. Looked big compared to my son, but he carries it comfortably and he will grow in to it (back measurement is 15" while minimum pack adjustment claims to be 16").
It didn't come with a water bladder, but I now understand comments I have read from others that if you did use one in the pocket for it, you would feel it on your back/neck. Mesh pockets on side work fine for quart bottles.
I wouldn't mind a couple other pockets, but the ones it does have are quite functional.

Comments about Jansport Carson External Frame Backpack:

All the best everyone else has said! I'll add...
It is a filet pack, that is it not only top loads but the pack zips along it's length to access the middle and bottom items without digging everything out the top! Huge feature!

Also the 2 lower pockets will fit plastic military surplus canteens perfectly. Just have your hiking partner grab one for you while hiking.

I recomend a universal pack cover to keep it nice.

Comments about Jansport Carson External Frame Backpack:

Great buy for the price